Appropriate Power for 1.7i's


I am sure this is the type of question that gets asked a lot, so I beg your indulgence for one more:

I have recently upgraded my speakers to a pair of Magnepan 1.7i's.  I am enjoying these speakers even though I know they are not receiving an optimal signal.  My goal is to provide a better signal.
 
My primary source is TIDAL HiFi, and here is my current setup

Power:  Yamaha HTR-5450 (only front channels used).  Ostensibly 85 w/channel --- I am aware that the specs for home theater receivers tend to be -ah optimistic.

DAC:  ifi nano iDSD (burr-brown)

Digital signal provided by PC

My budget for upgrading the Yamaha is modest:  $700-$900

Here is my want list:

100+ w/channel Stereo into 4 ohms.  ( I have no need for more channels):  Preferably Class A/B  (as opposed to D)

I am not opposed to purchasing used, in spite of the additional effort involved.

I am considering the Denon Heos and  Sonos Connect as a preamp.  I am not opposed to an integrated amp, but I like the fact that these units allow me to control my selection via a phone app (my phone is an LGv20 w/ Android 7).  Since I tend to listen to albums rather than individual songs or even playlists, the lack of this convenience is not a deal killer for me.


128x128markainsworth
Recently I have heard of people just hooking up their DAC's to their amplifiers.  Is this doable?  If so it might work for me since I am not intending to use multiple sources and I am not a big fidgeter of base / treble / balance, etc.   An advantage of this approach for me is that it would provide a few more dollars to spend on the amp.  Thanks for your comments.
I am currently leaning toward a Parasound A-23 or Carver TFM-35.  What say you on the relative merits of those amplifiers paired with the Magnepan 1.7i's ?

John Curl v. Bob Carver??

Maggies want high current delivery into about 4 ohms - how are those 2 rated into 4 ohms?

BTW, I use a Sunfire (Carver design) to drive my 3.7i's

also, what is wrong with the Yamaha? is it clipping?  or is your room & listening distance such that the SPL is low even when the amp clips??
Carver TFM-35 definitely has better specs for this application with 380wpc @ 4 ohms. Its more comparable with the A21.
Careful, Mark. Many years ago I had the Carver TFM-35 when I bought a new pair of Apogee Stages. The dealer said the amp would work fine with the Stages. It did not. Within five minutes of warm up at low volume with the new Stages the Carver dumped DC to the ribbon tweeters and large blue-white arcs shot from the tweeters.  No more tweeters. Talk about a bad day.

The switching power supply Carver used on the TFM series to generate specs turned out to be a disaster with the Stage's low-impedance ribbons.

FWIW. Not intending to dump on Carver, just sharing this in an effort to be helpful.

Dave