Help with a first tube amp Please

your budget calls for you to look at the C&J MV52 or 55 tube amps. There easy to bias unlike the Audioresearch models. There built well and the company seems to be very profitable so should be around for a long time ....

I a 40 watt tube amp going to be enough to drive a pair of Maggies? They have the reputation of being current hungry buggers.

second on the rogue cronus - amazingly good for the $, esp. if you can find one used

OP's price reange was $1000.00, you can't get a VTL IT-85 for that price. I have to admit it will smoke the just about any Jolida. I have the IT-85 (with upgrades caps) in my bedroom set-up. The Will Vincent Dynacos are also very nice but not intergrated amps. I owned Will's MKIII mono blocks for a while as well.

Exercise care in your choice of tubes the amp uses. Power tubes can have very different sonic characteristics.

I love tubes but am not a fan of EL-34's. For all the lush midrange I find flabby bass and rolled off highs. My preference in push-pull amps is KT88/6550/KT 90 because of the better dynamic range and better handling of the music I prefer despite giving up some midrange sweetness. For mid-range the 300B tube is my favorite, for low power with better dynamics EL84- but regardless of what I like it is in the ear of the listener. So try before you buy.

Do some online research in tube sonics to get an idea of power tube differences. Ask yourself what you listen to - hard rock, jazz, orchestral, choral, vocal harmony etc. and seek amps that use tubes suited to that music.

I finally found the Atma-sphere M60.III monoblocks using a 6AS7 power tube after trying all the above noted tubes. I have never missed the other amps.