2. amps-preamps
  3. 183902-181825

Warmer class D amps for magnepan?

I am planning on buying a pair of lrs+, and i need a poweramp. I am well aware that class D is despised in the magnepan community, but its unwarranted. Nuforce and the new purifi amps are designed to handle 2 ohm loads, and have been used to power Maggies without falt. My only concern is they will kinda rip my head off if i play any less than perfect recording on them. I’m aware that all modern magnepans are unforgiving, but can be tamed with a smoother amplifier. So why not class A or AB? Unfortunately, i simply dont have the space for the ones that are actually rated at 2 ohms (the lrs is around 3.5ohm, but dips to 2.8, it MUST be able designed to handle a 2 ohm load). Also, any one of them that does go up on sale, the owners almost always refuse to ship them, and want you to pick it up in person (for which i dont have the resources to do so). So I ask if there are any smoother, more forgiving class D poweramps (not intergrated models) that you are sure will power magnepans correctly. They can be discontinued, as i will be buying it used regardless, so anything from 2008 to 2018 would be preferable and my budget is around €2000, so say $2500. Thank you.

hamark
woodsworld
22 posts
 

I’m using a Wyred4Sound STI-500 integrated amp to drive my Magnepan LRS speakers, and they sound awesome! I used to have a pair of Martin-Logan Requests driven by a Krell FPB 200 and a Pass Aleph P preamp which were both Stereophile Class A grade pieces, and were awesome, and I was recommended to try a Peachtree NOVA 200, which is a Class D integrated amp. 
I tried it and it sounded awesome……I learned that it all depends on the design of the electronics more than anything else.

atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,834 posts
 

D is for subs and people who don’t know better, and think they are amazing,….nope,..you may think it sounds great, compare with A or AB, HUGE DIFFERENCE

I've heard a number of class D amps that sound better than A and AB amps.

in your price range, you’re not going to get proprietary parts are going to get junk buffers, industrial grade cheap caps and just off the shelf class D modules with inexpensive wiring.

This statement is false. Cost has nothing to do with getting the input buffer to perform (and sound) really good. You certainly want industrial grade capacitors- that way they hold up. Nor would you be limited to off the shelf modules...

jjss49's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jjss49
6,612 posts
 

for those with interest in this subject here is a video worth watching

peachtree ganfet amp rated @ 400 wpc ... driving maggies, compared to hegel h390 class ab stalwart with 250 wpc rating

https://youtu.be/kNQHjNdnHgE

musicaddict
370 posts
 

@woodsworld, I would guess that the W4S STI-500 would drive the LRS quite well and I use an STI-1000 on similar toned speakers.

But, I would highly suggest to our O.P. that he consider the Odyssey Audio Khartago (or Stratos) stereo amp at a mere $995 that IS stable into 2 ohms and will sound great. You can spend more and upgrade these amps if you want as well.

Look at other sites and you'll find a huge happy pairing of Magnepan owners that power those speakers with Odyssey amps. I do encourage you to check into these under-priced amps. Good luck!

mattw73
63 posts
 

Elac Alchemy DPA-2 is a Class D amp I have held onto. You should see the size of this thing lol. Balanced and single ended, has 2 gain settings switchable by a button. Class A input stage, based on the UcD Hypex modules...no change in frequency response with any fluctuating speaker load. I believe it's stable to 2ohms but the speakers I have it on only dip into the 3's. You can get 2 of them and try them as mono-blocks. These even have digital UV type meters for gimmick appeal. 

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