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Appropriate Power for 1.7i's

I am sure this is the type of question that gets asked a lot, so I beg your indulgence for one more:

I have recently upgraded my speakers to a pair of Magnepan 1.7i's.  I am enjoying these speakers even though I know they are not receiving an optimal signal.  My goal is to provide a better signal.
 
My primary source is TIDAL HiFi, and here is my current setup

Power:  Yamaha HTR-5450 (only front channels used).  Ostensibly 85 w/channel --- I am aware that the specs for home theater receivers tend to be -ah optimistic.

DAC:  ifi nano iDSD (burr-brown)

Digital signal provided by PC

My budget for upgrading the Yamaha is modest:  $700-$900

Here is my want list:

100+ w/channel Stereo into 4 ohms.  ( I have no need for more channels):  Preferably Class A/B  (as opposed to D)

I am not opposed to purchasing used, in spite of the additional effort involved.

I am considering the Denon Heos and  Sonos Connect as a preamp.  I am not opposed to an integrated amp, but I like the fact that these units allow me to control my selection via a phone app (my phone is an LGv20 w/ Android 7).  Since I tend to listen to albums rather than individual songs or even playlists, the lack of this convenience is not a deal killer for me.


128x128markainsworth
raindance
56 posts
 
You probably want 150-200 watts RMS per channel into 4 ohms.

Don't get excited by the concept someone will probably chime in with regarding tube watts being more powerful. It just isn't true. You still need the raw RMS power.

There are lots of used solid state class AB amps out there. Parasound is a safe choice.

I do not like Class D sound, but a Class D or "digital" amp might be the ticket for you. The newer Crown XLS series pro amps have great power. I did not like them on my Maggies (1.6) because they softened high freq harmonics, but who knows, they may work for you. The 1.7 is much brighter sounding and this may be a good thing.
markainsworth's avatar
markainsworth OP
93 posts
 
Thanks, raindance.  I will consider your advice.  It is good to hear from a fellow Maggie owner.
kdude66
1,200 posts
 
It's been several yrs but when I had 1.7's in a large room,30x40x20ft 
I needed at least 150 watts a side.That gave enough headroom so the speakers never sounded strained.I listened at moderate levels and not super loud.


Kenny.
kalali's avatar
kalali
1,977 posts
 

Considering your budget, I'd recommend a lightly used NAD C275BEE. The Ncore Hypex NC400 is getting great reviews but its a little outside your budget at $1500 for a pair of monoblocks. Probably one of the best class D amplifiers out there according to the reviews.They do need to be assembled. For the record, I haven't heard either one driving Magnepans but I have owned the smaller Magnepan MMGs and my experience told me the more power they get the better they sound. Buy the most powerful amplifier your budget allows and save some money to put a tube preamp in front of it later if it sounds too bright.

markainsworth's avatar
markainsworth OP
93 posts
 
Recently I have heard of people just hooking up their DAC's to their amplifiers.  Is this doable?  If so it might work for me since I am not intending to use multiple sources and I am not a big fidgeter of base / treble / balance, etc.   An advantage of this approach for me is that it would provide a few more dollars to spend on the amp.  Thanks for your comments.
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