Musical amp/pre/integrated for Maggies 1.6Qr

I liked the Mcintosh 6500 and the 6900. i owned the 6500 for about 1 year. Very nice but not enough power for my 4 way inefficient speakers. The Classe and Plinius integrated amps are also very nice.

Go with the story about the BEL 1001...its the specs. I know, 'specs don't matter, its the sound'. That is what you say when your amp does not have the specs but you like the sound of the system. You are a 'connoisseur of coloration'. You want warm, sweet, laid back, etc., etc.

But, if you want to hear what is on the CD, the good and the bad, then select good sounding CD's, go for the specs.
THD 10k ohm / Damping Factor >20

You CAN find them in tubes, but it probabaly will not be the famous brands. Rogue meets the specs and is affordable. Or solid state, ATI, Jeff Rowlands, Hafler DH 200, or DH 220, Muse 60, and of course the BEL 1001.

But you have to retrain your ears for 'true to the original'. When you can hear it, then your reference becomes your recall of the sound of live instruments. Its a whole different path for audio.

I owned the Proceed amp 2 for a couple of years with my 1.6's, and then bought the McIntosh MA6450. Both pieces were good. I sold the MAC MA6450 and bought the McIntosh MA-6500 and McIntosh CD player. My 1.6's never sounded better. I'm keeping all these pieces!!
I love what the McIntosh units do for Maggies, great sound, warmth, resolution, bass, truly a match made in heaven!

Both the MA6900 & MA6500 have plenty of power, I have a big room and listen loud (sometimes). The MAC never runs out of steam and is always crystal clear.

Hope this helps, Happy listening,
Bennett (hififile)

Being a Maggie with a readily accessable x-over, you have the option to actively bi-amp. Magnepan will even help you if you talk nice to them. Get a Marchand deluxe electronic 2-way x-over (~$400 US) with the frequency module Magnepan recommends (probably in the 300-500 hz range). Then bypass the 1.6's internal x-over so that the amps are hooked directly to the "ribbons". You can now pick you amps. Solid state I can highly recommend (2)Forte 4's for about $500-600 each, very smooth and can readily control the bass panel. A single Citation 7.1, 4 channel amp is also a good pick at ~$800. Just as smooth as the Forte but a little less open. For tubes,(2) Rogue 60's would be great but a little on the high side price wise. Whatever amps you choose, my experience is to keep the amps the same.

Another option is to get a good sub with a GOOD built in electronic x-over (like a Velodyne FSR-12..$500). This will increase system extension, tighten the bass and relieve the Maggie's bass panel and the main amp of significant bass duties. This can really open up your system and make those current starved tube amps sing.

I used to have the same Maggies and did many tests with few amplifiers including at that time the Classé CA-400. I finally chose the SimAudio W-5. The match was outstanding !
Highly recommended for the price.