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Class D vs Class AB - Looking for best used budget amplifier for Magnepan MG12

I am in the market for a budget used amp for my Magnepan MG12.

I tried Parasound classic line, model 2125 and currently using Parasound model 275. Both amps can easily drive the maggies up to 90db without any audible distortion.

I am considering a budget class D amp like Crown, Behringer etc. or a class AB amp with MOSFET output stage, like B&K or other options like, Parasound, NAD, Anthem, Sunfire etc.

Price range $300 - $600 for a used unit.

What I’m looking for is an improvement in power, soundstage and detail to get best performance out of the Maggies MG12 compared to current setup with Parasound 2125 or 275.

Amps came into my mind in that price range so far:

B&K ST125.2

Parasound HCA 1500A

Crown Pro XLi1500

Crown XLS2502


Questions:

1- Can Crown modern Class D-Drive Core Technology like Crown Pro XLi1500 or Crown XLS2502 with lot of power sound as good or better than a class AB amp with maggies?

2- Is B&K ST125.2 a good match or better than Crown XLS2502 - Crown Pro XLi1500 for the MG12? Which one does sound better with the Maggies?

Thanks


thxbest
18 responses Add your response
spatialking's avatar
spatialking
610 posts
 
This is an interesting question.  I have had a Marantz four channel Class D 450W amp on the four subs in my system for some years now.  I often wonder if the sound would be better with a good quality 250 to 275 W Class AB amp.   One of these days I will try swapping out amps and see if it is worth the upgrade cost.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,299 posts
 
Whatever the amp type the maggies will benefit from as much clean power as you can throw at it. Current not as critical with Maggies in my experience. I’d just throw the most powerful good quality amp you can manage at them and tweak from there as needed.
lak's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
lak
4,642 posts
 
Possibly a Class D Audio SDS amp with the highest wattage you can find. I saw a used one advertised on another major audio site.
bgoeller
73 posts
 
I have the Magnepan 1.7s, currently driven by an HCA 1500a. I have directly compared the Parasound to a single Crown XL1500, two Crown XL1500s run in mono mode and a single Crown XLS2502. I also tried a B&K st50 just for giggles knowing it was probably under powered. There was an integrated Rotel in there too at some point.

The Parasound was clearly superior to my and my listening partners' ears, especially at lower volumes. The overall presentation, particularly in the higher frequencies, was significantly more musical.

At high volume the Parasound has plenty of juice.
BG

 

gdnrbob
4,447 posts
 
If you really want Class D, get the most recent iteration. The technology has been improving by leaps and bounds in the past few years.
If Atmasphere finally gets one to offer, I will be one of the first adopters.
Bob
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,169 posts
 
Rogue audio has several digital amps with a Vacuum Tube preamp stage that are very respectable.
arcticdeth's avatar
arcticdeth
1,572 posts
 
A. OR A/AB.  
mess with D and be disappointed


 don’t be fooled by the hype. 
 There is no substitute,,,,,,,,,
moofoo
292 posts
 
There are some used Acurus amps, used to be made by Mondial (?), out there on a couple of the used sites, pretty reasonable prices. These were popular back in the day and seemed to get good reviews. I think the Acurus brand had a re-launch a few years ago. Just a thought.
batman1971
96 posts
 
Those crowns are industrial sounding.     If you listen to speed metal you might like them.  If you listen to any other kind of music it will sound like a PA  amplifier.    The paramount or rotel or adcom amps of the 90s should be in your budget maybe old Aragon or soundcraftsman would be a little more rare to find but sound pretty darn good  on your budget 
erik_squires
16,118 posts
 
A. OR A/AB.  
mess with D and be disappointed


 don’t be fooled by the hype.
 There is no substitute,,,,,,,,,

<< cough >> Haha!

I have a pair of ICEpower 250 ASP based monoblocks. You could not tell them apart from Parasound A21s of similar power with most speakers.

We are 20 years into the 21st century, it's time to step up.
There are some excellent Class D amps out there.

Best,
E

jay23
210 posts
 
The majority of Class D Amps will sound better in that price range, except in the low level highs. The current state of design will result in the choice of distortion, roll off, or cover up with even order distortion to deal with distortion created by the high frequency switching.
alaric62
80 posts
 
To clarify, Class D amps are not "digital". They are analog with fast switching power (the digital part). As the new kid on the technology block, it will have the least refinement and I have yet to hear a cheap Class D that sounds like anything other than a cheap amplifier. I'm not saying they can't exist, just not worth the trouble.
erik_squires
16,118 posts
 
Used Parasound A21??
tweak1
3,667 posts
 
I no longer have maggies, but the EVS 1200 should make them stand at attention ~$2300. I mentioned this somewhere and a couple maggie owners are using newest class D. I tried several older class Ds but none cut the mustard

He does offer a 30 day money back

Would love to hear your comments
johnto
1,025 posts
 
If you read the Maggie web page they recommend to against class d amps. High current is the way to go. I drove my 1.7 with a Parasound integrated ànd they sounded amazing (used a cheaper high watt amp previously that just keep failing). From my experience budget amps will get you budget sound.
normansizemore
601 posts
 
Old post but I had to jump in here.  The Crown Pro XLi1500 does not sound like a PA amplifier.  There is nothing harsh or hard sounding about this amp.  I've been using one in a basement system with a marantz 1030 as the preamp and it's not bad at all.  We are not talking tubes here, but certainly gives any AB class amp I've owned a run for the money.  Endless clean power and dirt cheap. 
I bought it to use in my garage, then when I heard it I moved it into the house and my Adcom 535 out to the garage.  It has way more authority, and the mids and highs are clean.  Obviously, no snob appeal whatsoever, but good solid clean power.

N.

gdnrbob
4,447 posts
 
I would wait for Ralph Karsten's Class D amp to hit the market.
If his new amp is as good as his tube amps, and I expect it to be so, then Class D is going to be moving to new territory.
Bob
normansizemore
601 posts
 
Gdnrbob,

I would have to agree.  I also need to correct myself. The Crown XLI 1500 is a class AB amp.  The XLS 1500 is class D.  Clearly I need to up my caffeine intake.

With that said, the Crown XLI 1500 class AB amp is a gift at its price point.  The sound is very good.  But it’s also ugly.  Not that matters much.

N
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