How Much Push/Pull Tube Power for Maggies

I use to have the Magnepan 3.6R passively bi-amped with VTL 200 watt triode on top and Bryston 7BST on the bottom. Very nice, but it is recommended that you use similar if not exact amps when Bi-amping or go to active bi-amping to reduce amp synergy issues.

Nonetheless if you are talking about MMG's you CAN NOT Bi-amp these unless there are some significant mods done to the crossover. You'll need to move up the ladder to 1.6R's or older 2 series speakers to biamp.

Base on your past experiences with DB99's I suspect these will be used as a secondary system. Given that the 40 watts should work well for the MMG's especially of you use a small sub with them. You can make up your mind after that.

When you're ready to bi-amp there are several good(Sub $400) used SS amps to use including Rotel, Adcom or older Brystons.

That is my 2 cents.

If you want to hear them play beautifully even at low volumes you need a lot of Juice. I think the amps I have now made maggies sound fabulous. That was how they were used.They are 600wpc into 4 ohms and Solid State high bias class A then A/B. The tube amps he switched to are 220wpc class A/B. They aren't cheap no really powerful tube amp is. e-mail on the side. I use these amps with cones.

jimmyrod you are right on the money. these are for a 2nd system and i was thinking the mmg's and i do know you can't biamp these. so, i'm hoping my 40 watts will drive them just fine, and it out the bottom end with a sub.the mmg's may be perfect for the 2nd system, and i won't even have to move up the line. we'll see. thanks

I have owned over 5 different models of Magnepan and topped out at 3.6. This is about 2 years ago. I have driven them with various tube and SS amps (Rouge, Audio Research, Conrad Johnson) and get good sounding, at least i thougth i did. Never owned a tube amp with more than 70 watt/channel so I can't comment how would tehy sound like. These highly ineffient speakers don't begin do show their potential until i drove them with a pair of DNA 500s/Audible Illusion 3A.

i disagree with warrenh.

i own a pair of 1.6s and previously owned a pair of 2.7s. i used a vtl deluxe 120 in the triode mode--approx 40 to 45 watts.

i listened to jazz, classical, blues and new age. i had no problems getting enough spl from the speaker. my room may have been a factor, i.e., 12 x 18.

the question is what does drive mean ?

perhaps someone would say i listen at low volume levels and do not subject the speakers to overly dynamic material.

the point is it is not sufficient to say that a 40 watt tube amp will not drive a pair of magnepans. it depends upon the tube amp.