What amp/amps to drive magnepan 20.1's

I would take a look at the new startup company H2o Audio's amps. There are some reviews out from Maggie owners that are incredibly satisfied.

Why not hear them with the Bryston amps first and see what you like and dislike about the sound you're getting and then decide where to go? The Brystons are great amps that don't necessarily do anything wrong. So it'll let you figure out what improvements you want.

I agree with the "Take it Slowly" approach that "Howie" espouses. I own a pair of Magnepan 20.1's and I know first hand that "Pure Power" is infinitely more important than "Lots of Power".

You do not need 450 watts with Magnepan 20.1 speakers.

What you do need is pure amplification that will bring out the best in the speakers.

I'm currently using SPECTRAL electronics. - DMA 250 and DMC 30-SL - and the Maggies are perfection. Huge Soundstage, Prodigious bass, Sound levels that equal a live concert. (For anyone who thinks that they need for their speakers to sound that loud). The purest, sweetest, most realistic tonality I have ever experienced. Incredible performance. At 200 watts, the DMA 250 offers an abundance of power and I DO NOT NEED MORE!

Before the Spectral, I used (and loved) Mark Levinson 336 & 33H, Krell FPB 300c, More power than the Spectral but not as clean and pure - and not nearly as fast.

The Spectral transformed the speakers.

You need to try what you have first and then beg, borrow or steal others to try on your system until you reach the level or performance that the Magnepan 20.1's are capable of.

I don't know how good your Brystons are but they have a good reputation. I would suggest that you compare them head on with other amps - on your speakers - in your system - and make your own conclusions.

I will say that a change of Preamps (formerly Levinson No. 32 and Krell KCT) to the Spectral DMC 30-SL, made more difference than did the change of Amps, although when I finally got the Spectral amp and requisite MIT cabling, everything did come together. I am totally satisfied with my system and have never heard Maggies sound as good.

A pair of Spectron Musicians and the model pre would be a great choice. Digital clean power............

Man, if I only had the room for those Maggies. Used to own the Tymanni 1Ds way back when I had the space. I find it hard to believe that the 20.1s can get by with less than 450 watts. There are times you want to crank up those babies. Some transients can take Maggies to the 1k zone. These are very expensive speakers to run. Oodles of high quality watts. I'd start with a pair of bridged pair of used Bryston 4Bs and see if that does it for you, sonically. (I owned the Bryston 4Bs. Loved them 'til I fell for another.) That will be enough juice. Hard to do inexpensively...peace, warren