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Tubes for Magnepan’s.

I think next up on my acquisition list is a tube amplifier. I'm not looking for the be all end all, cause I don’t think there is a definitive "Best", so am looking for as good as I can get for $3-4k.


Because tubes drive speakers so much more efficiently than solid state I am only looking for 40-50 watts to drive my modded Maggie’s, 1.7i's. (Or what you have when you add a new crossover and planer tweeters to 1.7i's.) Maybe 2.7x? I haven’t settled on that yet. And I have some Zu Dirty Weekend's upgraded to the max coming in in 2 months to replace my KEF's.

Anyway, I haven’t had a tube device since my Halicrafter short wave radio, and reviews are not the same as advice from people that own something. There is a Rouge Audio dealer in my area, last I looked, (opps, they no longer carry them), so I may have to go to another market to hear something, or get a try before you buy from a manufacturer or dealer.

You folks have taught me a lot, and I think asking users is the right thing to do on this change in direction.

Thanks in advance.
128x128william53b
ejman's avatar
ejman
62 posts
 
I have Magneplanar 1.7's and power them with a Jolida 502 P with KT 150 tubes.  This is a 60ish watt per channel amp and I find no problem at  my normal listening levels (70- 75 db with peaks up to 90 db or so according to my radio shack db meter)  I also have a Conrad Johnson MF 2300 amp (240 watts into 8 ohms, tested at 400 watts into 4 ohms).  Of course, the CJ will play louder but I find the Jolida very satisfactory at the loudness I like and with the music I listen to mostly - Jazz, classical, earlier rock and such.  Room size is 14X24 and I sit about 10 ft from the speakers.  The speakers are run full range with a sub set at a very low level for bass augmentation only. 
william53b's avatar
william53b OP
211 posts
 
@jc4659 

I have a Benchmark AHB 2. It sounds more dynamic than a Parasound A23; lots of punch.

So tubes are just a "satisfy my fancy" thing. 
Room is 12x24x8.

2 KEF R400 B's for the bottom.
william53b's avatar
william53b OP
211 posts
 
I think I'm just admitting at this late stage in life that no 1 thing will ever satisfy, so the Maggie’s are for Jazz and Classical and the Zu Dirty Weekends will be for head banging rock. 
For a hi current amp I’m thinking of a Parasound or Hegel. And if Russ is right, I may not need a tube amp, just a tube pre. 
It's not just the sound, it's the playing around with all of it.

If the Zu's don’t work out, I may go in the direction of the Klipsh Heritage line for Rock.
william53b's avatar
william53b OP
211 posts
 
@clearthink,

Yes, less efficient, just more musical when overdriven. 
frogman
7,437 posts
 
Drove Maggies with Manley tube monos for many years. I’m sure there are some that do better than what I tried, but no ss amp that I tried sounded nearly as satisfying as the Manleys or the Berning tube amp that I also had. IMO, Maggie’s benefit for the full bodied sound that a good tube amp offers. The ss amps that I tried, with the exception of a BEL all sounded too lean, even sterile, for my tastes. I do agree that Maggies like power and while it may seem counterintuitive, ESPECIALLY if most of your listening is at low volumes. Not enough power reserve and at low volumes my Maggies tended to sound a bit sluggish and dynamically lifeless.  I agree that 40-50 W is not enough.  Personally, I would look for a good 100 tube watts.
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