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Best Amp with Magnepan 3.6's

Greetings - I currently own a pair of Magnepan 3.6's and am looking for any suggestions on an amp that would help me get the volume/sound I am missing.
My current systems is as follows:
Magnepan 3.6's
Rotel 1057 preamp
Rotel 1080 (200x2) amp
NAD 525BEE CD player
JL audio F110 sub
Transparent interconnects, and cables
As you can imagine I am not getting near the volume I would expect out of these 3.6's because of the limited power of my Rotel amp. I have researched different amplifiers and have it narrowed down to 2 (although I'm still open to suggestions). I've been looking into a Bryston 4B SST or a McIntosh MC402.
I would greatly appreciate any input or suggestions you may have. Thanks in advance.
gbowman11
markwatkiss
508 posts
 
Yes the Bryston 4BSST/14BSST series are a natural match with Magnepan.Throw in a tube pre amp and you're there.
drdennis
165 posts
 
I have added Musical Fidelity 550K superchargers (monoblocks), to a Mapleshade modded Scott 222c. The best of both worlds. A sweet tube sound with excellent transient response, real bass and slam . Piano is magical.They make Maggies come alive.
chadeffect
586 posts
 
Bel canto Ref1000s will sound great on them. They will batter those maggie panels into life and give you that bit extra in dynamics, separation, deep bass, and volume while remaining ICE cool...! Add a nice preamp maybe a nice tube one to flesh out the mids.

The Bryston will not give you the same level of clarity if you want speed and transparency. While a very good amp it is a bit tired now compared to the BC.
magnumpi205
504 posts
 
Have Wyred and Bel Canto. Both are great, with the Wyred sounding better an being a much better value.
travis's avatar
travis
239 posts
 
When I owned 3.6s, I used the Innersound ESL-300, good sounding and plenty of power (600WPC @ 4 ohms). Still got the amp. Can be had used for 1500-2000. Roger Sanders, the designer, supports the amp at Sanders Sound Systems.
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