Amp For Maggie 1.7's

[southall-1998]

I'm putting up this thread on behalf of my father.

His speakers are Magnepan 1.7.
Naim CD5si CD Player.
SME Model 10/V.
QED Genesis Silver Spiral Speaker Cables.

Unfortunately I can't remember the remains of his system, sorry!

Ideally he wants an integrated solid state amp, with plenty current, grip & control. And is also comfortable at high levels too! His music taste is 99% anything :)

The 1.7's are notoriously hard to drive and do require an amp with muscle!!

Some ''warmth'' to the sound is welcome!

His budget is around £900-2k.

I'd appreciate some suggestions from ''experienced maggie'' users here. Information will be passed onto my father by myself.

Ta!

S.

[petrat]

Heard Maggies at shows being driven by the Rega Osiris ... used examples are going for around two grand now. Doesn't have a phonostage, though, if that matters.

[Ali Tait]

Secondhand Krell?

[RichB]

That hefty Teac floyddroid is selling over in Private Exhibitions might well do the job within the budget.
http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?35081-FS-Teac-AI-3000-amplifier

[walpurgis]

Creek Destiny 2.

It's the right money, well made, sounds gorgeous and will drive just about anything.

http://www.hifichoice.co.uk/news/article/creek-destiny-2--pound;1749/9718

Check it out. It's perfect for the Maggies.

[southall-1998]

Creek Destiny 2.

It's the right money, well made, sounds gorgeous and will drive just about anything.

http://www.hifichoice.co.uk/news/article/creek-destiny-2--pound;1749/9718

Check it out. It's perfect for the Maggies.

Hmmm, looks a bit too weedy for a maggie :)

S.

[struth]

If you can lay hands on an A1000 MF class A amp it will drive them easy peasy.

[hoopsontoast]

The Restek Challenger went really well with my MMGs.
Ooodles of power and control, ran nice and cool as well.

Pretty brutal aesthetics though:

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8057/8192095557_a633dffbca_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/dtUCAR)
System (https://flic.kr/p/dtUCAR) by RSdesignUK (https://www.flickr.com/people/16900818@N06/), on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8200/8193181458_b780313213_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/du1cph)
Restek Challenger + Sony DVP-S9000ES (https://flic.kr/p/du1cph) by RSdesignUK (https://www.flickr.com/people/16900818@N06/), on Flickr

[Ali Tait]

We had a pair at the last Owston, were driven beautifully by an SE 211 amp ( runs into A2) which delivers about 30w. Sounded great.

[southall-1998]

That hefty Teac floyddroid is selling over in Private Exhibitions might well do the job within the budget.
http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?35081-FS-Teac-AI-3000-amplifier


Thanks, that looks interesting!

S.

[walpurgis]

Hmmm, looks a bit too weedy for a maggie :)

S.

I'd very much doubt it. The Maggies are 86db sensitivity, so 100 genuine watts should be plenty in any normal listening room.

[Stratmangler]

We had a pair at the last Owston, were driven beautifully by an SE 211 amp ( runs into A2) which delivers about 30w. Sounded great.

I've only heard Maggies on a couple of occasions, both during the course of this year.
First time was by the distributor at the Cranage Hall Audio Show. Whilst they displayed some desirable qualities, the overall sound there was rather lacking in my opinion.
The sound was lacking body and drive.

At Owston - WOW!!!
In truth these were not the standard fare, and had had substantial rebuilding work done to them. I'm not sure if they'd had any mods other than the framework stiffening, but I thought they were counties (streets is not big enough to describe the difference) ahead of what I heard earlier in the year.
And I agree, they sounded great with the SE211 driving them, but it's rare that that amp ever gets flustered with what it's driving ;)

[southall-1998]

Fair enough, Geoff. But having that ''extra muscle'' in an amp gives more peace of mind ;)

S.

[CageyH]

What amplification is being used at the moment?

[walpurgis]

Fair enough, Geoff. But having that ''extra muscle'' in an amp gives more peace of mind ;)

S.


The Creek is excellent and I'm sure you'd be surprised how good it is. It's what I'd be looking for if I wanted an integrated.

If you want big muscle and top sound quality, it'll cost you a lot. I find bigger amps, say over 120 watts, may have plenty of grip and punch, but often just don't sound that smooth and clean to me, there's a hint of an edge sometimes.


What about Karan? Not cheap though:

http://www.karanacoustics.com/ka-i-180-mk2

Super quality!

[southall-1998]

The Creek is excellent and I'm sure you'd be surprised how good it is. It's what I'd be looking for if I wanted an integrated.

If you want big muscle and top sound quality, it'll cost you a lot. I find bigger amps, say over 120 watts, may have plenty of grip and punch, but often just don't sound that smooth and clean to me, there's a hint of an edge sometimes.


What about Karan? Not cheap though:

http://www.karanacoustics.com/ka-i-180-mk2

Super quality!


Last week I saw a lovely (MK1) Karan KAI 180, for sale over on PFM. Sadly, the damn thing sold before me attempting to inform my father about it!

Anyway, my father is aiming for Steve's Teac AI-3000 amplifier.

S.

[struth]

Its a cracker of an Amplifier Shane; Big, gutsy beastie.:eyebrows:

[Ali Tait]

Cool. Not heard it, but looks well up to the job!

[Roy S]

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?35189-Krell-FPB-300

[daytona600]

Magneplanar use sanders at shows to drive there speakers
google amps for stats or planars and only one name ever comes up



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIW3uCwy7VM