Driving Magnepan 1.7

Using Wyred4sound on my 3.6s and MC1s.
Great matches!

Using Yamaha P5000S on Magnepan 1.7s:

http://www.yamahaproaudio.com/global/en/products/poweramps/ps_series/specifications.jsp

700wpc into 4 ohms. I think the room is about 12'Wx18'Lx8'H

I had an ARC VS-110 powering my 3.6R's back in the day. I'm thinking an ARC-55 should do just fine.

I drove Maggie 1.7's with a Krell 300Si at 300 wpc into 4Ohms.

Not enough omphh to really get them going.

Upgraded to W4S at 1000 wpc into 4 ohms. It was like listening to a whole different - better - set of speakers.

Have since sold the 1.7's and using the W4S with Maggie 3.6's and no complaints.

The OP said tubes but how about a tubed preamp or tubed CD player?

The W4S will let you hear it.

"zd542

funny, when I bought my Maggie 1.6 I compared them to Vandy 2e Sig and easily preferred the Maggies. Way more open sounding."

Its unfortunate, but I can definitely see that happening. I have no idea why, but most audio stores don't take the time to properly setup the gear they sell. This is almost always the case with Vandersteen. There's certain things you need to do if you want to get the best out of them. I've been to many Vandersteen dealers over the years and the only one that sets them up properly is Audio Connection in NJ. You can make a similar case for Magnepan. Even though they wouldn't be my first pick, with a little time, I got my 1.7's to sound way better than I've ever heard them in any store. I've never seen the logic in that. You would think that audio dealers would want to do everything in their power to get the best sound out of their own equipment.