Tube amps for Maggie 3.5 or 3.6

I looked at the SF Power 3 and Wolcott mono's to power my Inner Sound Eros. The Eros are a ESL hybrid with a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. The Wolcott's won hands down exhibiting better bass control than my Classe CA-300. Bottom end in spades! These amps are also just superb in the midrange and top end as well. Far better sound and control on the ESL's than the Rowland gear I've used. I think the Power 3 amps represent a good value but the Wolcott mono's just sound so much better than anything else I have heard. If you audition them, I think you'll be reluctant to return them. Regards; -Jerie

Thanks everyone for your great suggestions! Steve

A friend that bought my 3.5R's is using a CJ tube amp and pre. They sound very nice with the CJ gear. In my opinion though the sound was a little better with my Levinson amp and pre. I would not attempt to steer anyone away from using one or the other though. Using good, quality tube or SS electronics will work well with them. Let you own ears be the judge. Good Luck, Doug

I've got an Audio Research Classic 60 driving my Magnepan IIIa's and it is truly an awesome combo with plenty of enough power with its measley 60 watt rating. It plays just as loud as it when I had an 200 watt Aragon push my 'Pans and it just sounds so much better.

A lot of cats will tell you that you need big ss watts to make the 'pans shine. This urban myth is one that must be put to an end. Tubes will do you right. You don't need a 600 watt Carver unit.

Don forget that the 'pans have very flat impedance curve and are 4 ohms throughout. As long as you have a 4 ohm tap and 50+ watts, you're in business. It's not like your trying to drive some Thiels with an impedance curve that resembles Dick Cheney's EKG. Some tube amps will have a problem with speakers that have jiggy impedances, that is what God created solid state for.

I've auditioned the 3.5's with an ARC VT100 and it was indeed a glorious experience.

Of course solid state will work too. If you do go that route, a good tube preamp from ARC with a Bryston amp mihgt just be what the doctor ordered.

Ciao,
Daniel

I have used ARC amps with maggies with great success over the past 25 years: ARC D76A with MG2 and MGIIIA; ARC D115 MKII with MG 3.3/R and VT100 MKII with MG 3.5. Try using the 8 ohm tap with the maggies.