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Building an all analog system around Magnepan .7 for 4K and under

Dear Friends, 
My wife and I are professional musicians, and we are saving up for a system to listen to mainly classical and jazz on vinyl. I'm a jazz drummer, and she is a classical double bassist. The more realistic our system is to our real instruments, the happier we are. We will be using this in a medium/smallish 12' x 11' room. 

We will not need a dac, just speakers, amp, turntable. We prefer an integrated amp with a phono preamp, to keep the set up simple as possible but we can consider buying an external phono preamp,

I've read recommendations for for Rogue Sphinx and Pioneer Plx-1000 to go with this system, but I was wondering if there are any other suggestions for our needs. We are also open to set ups that we can build on in the future, Like buying a Nad C 375 BEE and bridging it with a C 275BEE couple of years down the road, or buying a subwoofer later. 

Thanks again for your input, 
Emre

128x128emremusic
randy-11
1,913 posts
 
Rega & Marantz make such products.  You'll want good current delivery to power the Maggies.  Beyond that, you'll need to do listening tests.  IIRC, Music Direct will allow returns for 60 days or so as will Audio Advisor.
mesch
3,509 posts
 
All components impact the quality of a system, however with a vinyl system, the two transducers, speakers and cartridge, have the greatest impact on the character as well as the quality.  Since you already have chosen speakers, I would focus on identifying a integrated amplifier that will drive them to your satisfaction, power and sonic synergy wise, then focus on the TT, cartridge, phonostage front end. My preference would be to use an external phonostage for the flexibility it would provide with different cartridges. Many are designed to match with a wide range of cartridges regarding gain and loading.  Of course if you purchase a integrated with phonostage, an external one could always be purchased later. You should be able to find a integrated in the ~$1500 range (the Rouge and NAD fit this) leaving a larger budget for the vinyl front end. 
Thought you don't want to short the Maggies on power, your listening volume levels and room size make a large impact on actual power requirements. 
emremusic's avatar
emremusic OP
7 posts
 
Thank you for the suggestions.. 

I think I narrowed the amp to either Rouge Sphinx or Nad C 375 BEE. Does anybody have experience with either of these amps for Magnepan? Any preferences on one over the other? If not, I'll go for the Rogue because of the cheaper price. 
Post removed 
randy-11
1,913 posts
 
I have heard Maggies (3.7i and 1.7) on a $4,000 Rogue amp and it sounded very nice.

Dunno re the Sphinx but be sure it can deliver a lot of current at 4 ohms.

Is there any chance I can convince you to put the turntable in another room to acoustically isolate it from SPL in the listening room??  That will solve a host of problems....


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