2. amps-preamps
  3. 136835-20132

Amplification for Magico S1 (mk i)

Hello,

I could use some advice.
I own a pair of Magico S1 (mk i) and I was running them with a Mcintosh 7000.   I didn't love the sound- soundstage seemed a little too recessed and flat;  on the other hand the width was quite good.   What is interesting, and which surpised me, was that the Mac had to work hard to drive the S1's which are not an the easiest load at 4ohm (which can dip to a tad over 3) and have a sensitivity of 86db.  Still the Mac should not have had any problems negotiating this speaker so I was a little puzzled- on several occasions the Mac clipped without playing particularly load.
Anyway, it turns out the Mac had something wrong with it and it is now in for service.  In the meantime, when I got the Magico's I was planning to move to separates anyway which brings me to the original question- what amplification might work well?
I currently own a Primaluna Dialogue premium pre-amp which I always wanted to try.  So now I am looking for some good amplifier choices.  I have the possibility of picking up a pair of rogue M180's but I have also been very intrigued by some of the new interesting solid state options that have cropped recently- namely:
PS Audio M700
Benchmark AHB2 (single unit in stereo)

I am trying to stick to somewhere around $3k, new or used, and these seem like some very exciting products.  I realize I will only be able to judge with my own ears but I would be interested in hearing your views and considerations as to which way to go (including the rogue).

Many thx.
pgastone
pgastone OP
79 posts
 
I'd love to get the Primaluna's with KT150's- it's just that they are a bit out of budget- a used single unit usu goes for $3000 and that is with EL34's.
Nobody seems to be getting a warm fuzzy feeling from my suggestion on the M180's.  I have not heard them but from what I have read they come highly recommended and do not sound overly tubey.
But maybe I should rethink?
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,385 posts
 
I owned 2 rogue components, a RP-5 preamp and a Cronus Magnum with KT120 tubes..  I always felt the Cronus Magnum amp with 4 KT120 tubes sounded a little bit grainy.   I did a lot of tube rolling and nothing could get rid of that.  So I wonder if the Rogue 180 will have the same type of sound.   The RP-5 tube preamp was an excellent sounding preamp once I changed out the cheap JJ tubes for a pair of Mullard NOS tubes.  I would have kept it but a very expensive McIntosh preamp came into my view and had to have it.

If you are buying new, Uncle Kevvy will charge you only the difference on the KT150 tubes from the stock EL34 tubes which will not give you the bass slam and power of the KT150's, but may sound a bit sweeter in the midrange.  There was a pair of those Prima Luna Monoblocks with the 150 tubes for sale here a couple of weeks ago at a good price.  Not sure if they sold.  The search feature really sucks now.
melbguyone
294 posts
 
Within your budget, there are a couple of amps I could suggest to drive the S1’s. The first is an Australian-made amplifier which I first heard at the Australian International Hifi show last year, the Holton Five-Zero-Zero power amp - https://holtonprecisionaudio.com/collections/fully-assembled-amplifiers/products/fully-assembled-and... The Holton is very well made, has a lot of power & punches well above it’s price point. That amp will drive the S1’s with authority & has a high input impedance which would be benight to any tube preamp.

The other amp I could recommend would be a 2nd hand Modwrigth KWA-150SE. The Modwright has good power, sounds tube-like, is very quiet and has excellent inner detail. It is a beautifully made amp. The Holton however has more power & would provide better control, which in the case of the S1’s is very important. You would also be buying new in that case vs 2nd hand. My 2c.
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