2. amps-preamps
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Amp help for the Maggies?

Well I have settled on a pair of speakers. I went to audition a pair of maggies and was blown away. I have never heard something so musical and transparent. The dealer does not have that much selection apart from the maggies, but just for comparison sake I listened to a comparably priced B&W speakers and was almost offended. So the choice is made, I am getting maggies (MG12 or 1.6).

I have a source (AH, Njoe Tjoeb 4000), but still need to match an amp and pre-amp with these. I am thinking about doing a DIY preamp. Most likely a Modified Grounded Grid or a Modified Foreplay design. I am not sure what to do and would welcome any suggestions. My real problem is I need an amp that can deal with the power hungry 4ohm load of the maggies. My budget is about $1000 and would like to buy used. I am considering the McCormack .5 Rev A of DNA 125 but I am nervous about having that little solid state power. If anybody has any ideas please help me out. I know there are some diehard Maggie fans, let me know what you think, I have very little to audition here in Memphis TN.

Thanks
Eric Baer
iamcrazy111
55dok
162 posts
 
If you want a very inexpensive solution get a used luxman R-117 receiver that drives the 1.6 QRs to concert levels and has a CD bypass switch to run the speakers directly from your CD player into the Amp. The Nakamichi stasis SR 3A receiver will also drive the maggies well enough for jazz and chambermusic and sounds a bit sweeter than the luxman but runs out of gas on loud symphonic concert music. The luxman will run approx $275-325 (with remote) and the Nakamichi stasis (no remote) $100-200 on Ebay. At those prices you can't go wrong and you will have to spend 5-10 times as much to get similar sound with new equipment. I would also get superflatline shotgun cables from nordost so you can remove the metal jumpers from the 1.6 QRs high and low rear inputs.
flg2001's avatar
flg2001
543 posts
 
I had 1.6qs some years back driven by a Rowland 2 amp, I think a Rowland 1 will do the job as well and is within your budget.

Check out the many modifications available for the Maggies, things such as Autoformers, removing some panel covering, etc.. they do work.

Fernando
slv
87 posts
 
I have Maggie 1.6QR's and drive them with an Aragon 8008BB (pre-Klipsch design). I personally love this amp, and it will output 400W into 4 ohms with tons of current. They usually sell for around $1200 used - there's one currently for sale on this site (I'm not associated with this sale in any way). :o)
sonofnorway
62 posts
 
What was driving them when you auditioned them and were "blown away"? Maybe that is your answer?

Seems like we're always trying to duplicate the magical sound we heard somewhere with different components.
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
MG1.6 respond well to CarverPro ZR1600 digital amps. Good for 600 watts into 4 ohms. Mine cost only $840, but the price seems to have gone up to a grand or more. It's said that with some mods these amps rate with the best. Mine are good enough without mods.
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