Upgrading my integrated amplifier for my Magnepan 1.7’s

Musical Fidelity M5si or M6si pairs well with the 1.7s.

Hegel!!!

Money to burn?  Upgrade to MG 2.7i…the ribbon will “elevate your listening” more than swapping amps…especially when you have a GaN FET already.

crustycoot

637 posts

10-29-2024 at 07:57am 

Money to burn?  Upgrade to MG 2.7i…the ribbon will “elevate your listening” more than swapping amps…especially when you have a GaN FET already

This.

Thanks for everyone’s thoughtful responses. Crustycoot and Secretguy, that’s an idea that’s been rattling around in my brain (upgrading my Maggie’s) and would be less expensive than a new amp. 
Here’s where my ignorance shows however. I remember back in the ‘60s going into a stereo store like Lafayettes chain on the east coast, they were selling stereo receivers with outrageous ‘watts per channel’ numbers. Turns out the term ‘ihf’ allowed them to crank up power claims at the expense of sound quality. Once ‘rms’ became the standard measurement it became easier to compare. 
Can  I assume that my Peachtree GaN 400 watts per channel is comparable if not superior to the 300 watts per channel, for instance, offered in the Macintosh MA9500?
 

Agree with the others.

Keep your amp.

Upgrade your speakers.

No, do not keep the Peachtree integrated amp.  Your speakers are just fine.  I owned the top Peachtree integrated amp for a while, and I found it to be less resolving and less refined than the Hegel H390 integrated that replaced it.  I replaced the Hegel H390 with a H590 and it took things to a whole other level.  Happy listening.     

Keep the Peachtree! The difference in decibels between 300 and 400 watts is negligible. Another factor is the Peachtree has the advanced gallium arsenide output transistors with their much higher switching frequency.

I owned the PeachTree GAN400 2x for my Magnepan LRS+. The GAN400 has enough power but has a bit of hardness on top.

The 2 amps that I loved with my LRS+ are the CODA #16 which is expensive and the Sanders Magtech which can be found for under $4k. The Sanders is well known to be a go to amp for Maggies.

I sold my LRS+ since I lost my room and ended up buying a used Magnepan Mini. I run it with the Sanders Magtech and it is impressive.

The Sanders is 500 watts at 8 and 900 watts at 4. It was specifically built for Maggies if the designer is to be believed. He told me on the phone.

Send me a DM if you want to discuss.

I own the PeachTree GAN400 and have owned Magnepan 1.6, 1.7, 3.7 and 20.7's.  So I know a bit about what I'm talking about here.

1) The Peachtree is fine but not optimal.  It is an excellent amp, especially at the price point, but it is better suited to more efficient, less current hungry speakers.  Any Maggie will really shine with high powered Class A or AB amps.  My 3.7s didn't come into their own until I purchased the PS Audio BHK 300 monoblocks.

2) Every step up in the Magnepan line provides a significant improvement in sound quality.  The 3.7s are much better than the 1.7s and the 20.7s would be an endgame speaker for most people.

Upgrading either the amp or the speakers will be a big improvement.  If I were you I would buy used and hopefully be able to upgrade both.  

I don't know anything about the MA 9500 but Google says it costs $12K new and that isn't where I would spend my money.

Every step up in the Magnepan line provides a significant improvement in sound quality. 

The Mini Maggie's are supposed to be a miniaturized 3.7. My impression is that the Mini is definitely better than the LRS+ in terms of clarity and smoothness. Based on my experience with the Mini the 3.7's must be great in a nice room.

Coda CSiB is an amazing integrated and is one of the best amps I’ve heard. I believe Doug Dale (Coda designer) uses or used that amplifier with Magnepan. Give him a call. 

Thanks again for everyone's comments and suggestions. At this point I'm preparing to go to the store for a comparison listen and have narrowed it down to three integrated amplifiers. There's Mcintosh's MA9500,  Hegel's H400, and Bryston's Bi200.

I should also offer a caveat about my choices in that the 'look' of the device is important to me. I have no love for the Mac's retro look-- but it's a MAC! In fact if the Mac had the look of a Yamaha or Technics I'd push the button right now. The look of the Hegel and Bryston I'm cool with.

Maggies like lots of stable current and lots of damping factor to control the panels.  I'm a Luxman fan for those factors.  509X?  Best of luck in your quest.

I'm a "Maggie man" since 1977.  Maybe my 2 cents can help.  Maggies like CURRENT. That's much different than wattage. 

I have a bias toward Audio Research because back in the day Jim Winey (Magnepan) and Bill Z. Johnson (ARC) were neighbors and besties and they used each others equipment to test and refine their products. Basically "They play well together"  Perhaps a used set of Ref 250s (8K) and a 2.7 upgrade would thrill you. I would me! 

I have had wonderful results with Bryston monoblocks driving Maggies (again current) and they really "wake up" with the 700B SSTs I have used.

As always go to a dealer and audition them. You cannot make a good and satisfying final evaluation based on old guys like me chortling about what they love. Results may vary! 

I agree with @pinwa , you need to stick with class A or AB.  My 1.7s sound much better with a 1990's 150 wpc NAD class AB Amp than they did with newer 300 wpc amps.  Hegel has a very good dac and high damping factor.  I like the suggestions of  luxman, bryston, coda and Audio Research as well.  There is no shortage of good amps in your price range.

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650105803-parasound-halo-hint-6-black/

I listened to 1.7i in a showroom paired with a Mac (cannot recall model). To my ears, I was a little disappointed in some sound aspects, particularly the lower octaves. I’ve had a different dealer tell me that isn’t uncommon with Macs. Prefer my Plinius.

That said, I agree with others that - space/room allowing - upgrading to a true ribbon model will be far more impactful than an amp upgrade.

If you're staying with the 1.7 the Parasound Hint integrated is a great match I used the paring myself before moving up to 3.7 Maggie's. Mac autoformers do not play well with Maggie's I called the factory when upgrading amps and they were the ones who told me also I know magnepan in the past recommended against class D amps. Pass makes a terrific pairing with Magnepan speakers as they have plenty of current. 

Good luck happy listening.