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Tubes for Magnepan’s.

I think next up on my acquisition list is a tube amplifier. I'm not looking for the be all end all, cause I don’t think there is a definitive "Best", so am looking for as good as I can get for $3-4k.


Because tubes drive speakers so much more efficiently than solid state I am only looking for 40-50 watts to drive my modded Maggie’s, 1.7i's. (Or what you have when you add a new crossover and planer tweeters to 1.7i's.) Maybe 2.7x? I haven’t settled on that yet. And I have some Zu Dirty Weekend's upgraded to the max coming in in 2 months to replace my KEF's.

Anyway, I haven’t had a tube device since my Halicrafter short wave radio, and reviews are not the same as advice from people that own something. There is a Rouge Audio dealer in my area, last I looked, (opps, they no longer carry them), so I may have to go to another market to hear something, or get a try before you buy from a manufacturer or dealer.

You folks have taught me a lot, and I think asking users is the right thing to do on this change in direction.

Thanks in advance.
128x128william53b
ieales's avatar
ieales
1,201 posts
 
I hope the big shows return this year so I can attend one.
Be sure to take along the rest of your system.
fstary's avatar
fstary
18 posts
 
My Berning EA 230 sounds a little better than my McIntosh 2105, even with a pair of Velodyne subs. The Mac does play a little louder, though. It is too much work to switch back to the Bernings.
I am referring to Magnepan 1.7i speakers. Frank
ianderson
92 posts
 
If you’re still open to a tube amp still, and you want to give the the current they need, there is one amp I know that’s well within your budget that would do an awesome job with them - it’s the Antique Sound Labs Hurricanes. 100w triode, 200w pentode. There are a number technicians whom have done mods on these an they are stellar sounding on the Maggie’s. 
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kingbarbuda
514 posts
 
@william53b This is all very interesting to me, as well. I have two systems. One has a pair REL T/9i and a pair  Magnepan 1.7i which has evolved to be my solid state system. I also have a system with a pair of Magico A3s. I move the RELs around when I play them. This is evolving to be my tube system. The Maggie system is driven by Bryston equipment: 17B3 preamp, BDA-3 DAC and a pair of 28B3 monoblocks. The 28B3s are beasts with a lot of headroom for dynamics and sound great. But it seems that folks are having success driving Maggies with high power tubes. I haven’t gone back to inspect all the prior postings. But I suspect that 300B and EL34s won’t cut it. KT88 tubes might. But the safer bet is KT120 or 150s. I would be very interested in learning what your experience with tubes on Maggies might be or the tube preamp. As for a tube preamp, if you are unsure you can get a B-stock Schiit Freya+ and see how that goes. If it’s not good then sell it. It will move. If it does work then you can either stay with it and save some $ or sell and get a Backert, Rogue or AR preamp. However, I too am wondering how much tube flavor is transmitted by a tube preamp across solid state power amps. I am thinking that the best chance of the tube preamp affecting the power amps like that would be with the Benchmark AHB2s since they are very transparent amps. Let us know what happens. 
secretguy
1,710 posts
 
Since someone got their panties in a twist over my last comment,  I will just quietly enjoy the misinformation being spread here. Carry on.
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