best amp for a Maggy 1.7i

I think you will get the detail you want with a high-current tube amp that you will have to buy used at your price range.

Unfortunately, most of those are about twice your budget.  Maybe save up for a while and get what you NEED.  You have the best speakers money can buy.  Don't short-change yourself with a less-than-ideal amplifier, please.

Cheers!

A PS Audio Stellar S300 at 140 watts @ 8 Ohms and 300 watts @ 4 Ohms, should drive those Maggies.  It sells new for $1650 and can be found used for $800 to $900.  PS used to offer discounts with a trade in, although I'm not sure if they still do that.

I agree with DWMAGGIE.  Magnarisers are the best upgrade you can do for the price.  I have the 3.7's, they ran out of power with 150 watts.  250 watts drives them well.  [Hegel].

As you continue your Maggie journey, after finding the right amp (I went thru a number before finding the right ones for my 3.6s), get Mye stands.  Long time Maggie owners swear by them as the biggest bang for the buck mprovement.  I have had my current configuration over 10 years and smile every day when I hear them.

Currently running my 1.7i with a pair of restored Adcom GFA-365 mono blocks.  Finding a restored pair isn't impossible, but $1500 may be tight.

I have run them with as little as a 25 wpc Cary SEP and a 50 wpc Jolida JD-302b.

My ATI 1502 (150 wpc @ 8 ohms, 225 wpc @ 4 ohms) drove theme very well and can be easily found for under $1000.