Tubes for Magnepan’s.

Atmasphere knows of what he speaks. I have been using the Paul Speltz designed Zero autoformers for over a year now, with Nominal 6 ohm electrostatic hybrids (91 db/1w/m) and a 40 watt/ch PP tube amp (an Elekit TU 8340 with KT 77's). Doubling the resistance (and being able to utilize the 8 ohm output taps) was an astonishing revelation! The largest improvement I could ever hope for without changing the main components entirely.
The effect of the impedance change is a Speaker modification, not an amplifier tweak. Maggies are probably even more deserving of this amazing benefit (Nominal 4 ohm) and may even require the x3 configuration.

Atmas-Sphere, Anti-Cable and Magnepan  are awesome products... 

What a Great Hobby...

Driving my LRS with a variety of gear right now:

McCormack .5 (100 watts SS) with Rogue Perseus tube pre
Rogue Atlas Magnum 3 (100 watts, kt120 tubes) with same Perseus
Hegel H360 integrated (250 watts SS)  

The Mc/Perseus and Atlas/Perseus both do a good job and sound great - different of course - if you are staying under or around 75 - 80 dB.  But if you want that last little giddyup the Hegel does the trick.  So smooth and effortless.  By most accounts a great match for Maggies.  Paid under $3k used for the Hegel so within your budget.  Definitely worth a try if you come across one.  

But, sounds like you're not really looking for giddyup so a tube pre/SS combo should be great.  It might take a few tries to find the right combo but that's the fun part!

I will add that my Jolida 502brc tube integrated at 60 watts just can't cut it with the LRS.  Runs out of gas way early.  

Keep us posted.  I am curious about different gear for Maggies as it looks like I may be hooked.  Would like to hear the Hegel H20 with a tube pre for sure!

@pkatsuleas


Thank you. 

A wealth of information pertinent to the topic.

Investigate a rebuilt Harman Kardon Citation II.  I know of many people who used this amp to drive Maggies (and other current absorbing speakers) and were happy with the combination.   This amp sounds better than a Mac 275 or Marantz 9.

A rebuilt II can be found for under $3k, and then resold for the same price if you want to move on.

In newer amps, I would investigate amps that can use KT90-120-150 output tubes.   Rogue, Prima Luna, Icon, Line Magnetic all come to mind and should sound very good to excellent with your Maggies.

I love EL34 tube amps and always have.  From my first Marantz 8 back in 1975.  I had always enjoyed Maggies when I listened to them at dealers, but had never considered owning them because 2xEL34 amps are around 40 wpc. 

Around 5 years ago, I purchased a Primaluna amp, the HP version.  I paid around 4K for it, lightly used.  It has 4xEL34 per channel for around 80wpc.  You can roll the tubes, and I have tried others (6550) which increase it to about 120wpc, but don’t sound as good (in my opinion/taste/system) as the EL34s.

when Magnepan came out with the LRS two years ago, I thought I could try Maggies at home for almost no risk.  They are so inexpensive, I could just sell them off if I did not like them, or if I did not have enough power to make them sound good.  I did feel funny having such a low cost speaker in my $25k system, with my interconnects costing more than the Speakers.

I had several talks with the guys at Magnepan before placing the order. Bottom line was that they said the Primaluna HP was plenty to drive the LRS.  Apparently, the size of the power supply is important to be sure the amp has enough “balls” to drive the Maggies, and the Primaluna does.

So two years later, I still absolutely love the Maggies, and the Primaluna HP are more than enough to drive them.  I get them louder than I can stand, so volume and dynamics are not limited by the amp.  But I am not a bass freak. And don’t listen to bass heavy music.  Perhaps that might influence my thoughts.

While I only discussed the LRS, I have trouble believing the 1.7i are dramatically different, but don’t know for sure. Might be worth it for you to all the guys in Minnesota and ask them.  I thought they were frank and knowledgeable.  

I have thought about upgrading my LRS for the bigger of the small Maggies, but I am so happy with my Primaluna HP / LRS combo that I don’t have any incentive to change.

hope my experience was helpful to you.