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Audio Research Ref 150 or 250 with Maggie

hi,

Looking at buying either Audio Research Ref 150 stereo amp or 250 mono amp.

Currently I have Magnepan IIIa, but looking to upgrade to 3.7 or 20.7

Research indicates that Ref 150 is probably sufficient to drive the 3.7. I listen to all genre of music, but most often classical. Like everyone who care about their hearing, I do crank up volume occasionally but always within reasonable limit.

3.7 and 20.7 have same or very similar sensitivity, so is it fair to say that if Ref 150 can drive 3.7, then it can drive the 20.7?

Another big question I have is with regards to stereo amp vs. mono amp. with both amps being called 'great amps', will there still be significant sound quality improvement by going with mono amps instead of stereo amp (setting aside the potential affect of higher power of 250 vs. only 150 watts in the Ref 150)?
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bifwynne
2,206 posts
 
I seem to recall that someone reviewed the Ref 150 and said it was adequate to drive the 3.7s, but implied barely so. I realize that the Ref 250s cost substantially more than the Ref 150, but I would err on the side of more power than less. Call Kal at ARC. He is very familiar with the Maggies and should provide excellent advice.
raymonda
855 posts
 
If you don't mind looking beyond ARC, consider Rogue m180's. I use the M120's with my MGIIIa's, tweaked out of course, with stellar results. The sound even better....by a wide margin, over the Classe I was using and the Classe sounded very good.

Sorry that I don't have experience with ARC but I would think that if you can swing more power go for it.
gpgr4blu
1,094 posts
 
Bifwynne is right. Ask Kal at ARC. ARC has Maggies (as well as Wilsons and Sonus Fabers) in house. He will not lie to you.
lak's avatar
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lak
4,680 posts
 
If you can afford the Ref 250 mono blocks and have the space for them that's what I'd recommend. I think the mono blocks would most likely sound better (by a slim margin) then the 150 but it's a matter of dimensioning returns and only you know your financial situation. I believe the Ref 150 would work nicely. I'm not sure if the Ref 75 really has the power you are looking for to drive the Maggies? As was mentioned Kal at ARC would most likely know.
Please post your findings here, because it's a really good question that has come up before but no one seems to post their findings.
I drive my 3.7's with a Plinius Reference SS amp so I think I have 450 watts per channel.
jeff_ss
91 posts
 
Don't know if this will help in your decision, but I have both a Sanders Sound Systems Magtech amp, which is SS, and a pair of VTL MB-250 Signature monos. I use the VTLs in the cooler months only because my room is above the garage and gets too warm in the summer. Speakers are Maggie 1.7s and I prefer the sound with the VTLs slightly over the Magtech because it has more dimensionality. A somewhat more spacious sound. The difference in power output between these amps is substantial, 900 for the Magtech into 4 ohms vs. 250 tube watts for the VTLs. The room is not a perfect rectangle but the approximate size is 19 x 15 with an 8 foot ceiling. BTW I just had to spend $4400 for a new furnace so something has to go and I've decided it's the VTLs since I can't use them all year long. Let me know if you are interested.
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