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What is the best amp setup for Magnepan 3.6 ?

I am the proud owner of Maggie 3.6's currenty getting juice from a Rotel amp and preamp. I am considering some offerings from Odyssey, Monarchy and McCormack. Since the first two offer both stereo and mono versions, which would be a better setup? Would bi-amping give better results than running them mono? If bi-amping is the better choice, can you use two stereo amps or do you always have to use four amps? Did I mention a suitable preamp as well? 5k budget. Thanks.
ebonyvette
tacs
220 posts
 
Used Krell FPB 300 if you really want to see what the Maggies can do. $5k will cover it!
On the other hand you could keep your Rotel and give the rest to the poor. Probably a better choice.
djcxxx
105 posts
 
I am using an ARC VT100MkII with my 2.5Rs and I am very satsified. I'd be interested to know if the VT100 had enough juice for the 3.6s. All the Magenplanar speakers benefit from as much power as you can given them. Personally I think the ARC tube amps work well with Magneplanars, but I understand that Bryston is now the amp of choice.
ljgj
955 posts
 
A friend of mine runs his Maggie 3.6 with the Innersound 2 channel (300wpc) with great success. I do prefer the sound when we put my Mcintosh 352 on them however. Either way great sound from those speakers.
john_l
782 posts
 
Wolcott p220 monoblocks. I used 6-7 different amps with my 1.6's. Including pass labs aleph and vt100m2.
The wolcotts were far superior to other amps. VERY VERY powerful.
macdonj's avatar
macdonj
118 posts
 
Ebonyvette,

To answer your other question, you do not need monoblocs to bi-amp. Bi-amping requires a total of 4 amplifier channels, so you could use 2 stereo amps, 1 stereo and 2 mono amps, or 4 mono amps.
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