suitable amps for magnepan 1.7

lennykp -- Thu, 01/27/2011 - 23:46

Hi
Any suggestions on suitable amps for Magnepan 1.7? When I auditioned the speakers, they used Sander Sound ESL poweramp and QUAD QC-24 pre amp. They're a bit out of my budget. Being in Australia, even with our high exchange rate recently, everything is almost double the USD RRP plus a lot of the boutique HIFI brands are not sold here and we use 240V.
Would Krell S300i, HK 990 or Anthem integrated 225 drive them well? or Wyred4Sound SX550 & some $1K preamp? Tube or solid state preamp?
I currently have Perreaux E160i about 190W @ 4ohm, I did brought my amp to try it at the dealers, it's ok (that's why I bought the speakers) but not as great as these speakers can sound.
Any advice would be much appreciated.

SundayNiagara -- Fri, 01/28/2011 - 09:06

How big is your room, what kind of music do you listen to and are you willing to commit the room to the Maggies?

lennykp -- Sat, 01/29/2011 - 06:29

My room is about 5.5 meters X 4.5 meters. I listen mostly jazz, acoustic instrumentals (Windamhill, ECM, Narada cd), jazz & chinese vocals.
Would the wyred4sound power amp work with musical fidelity x-can v8p as pre amp? I listen exclusively on CD, got a cambridge audio Azure 640C and OPPO BDP-83SE. I can live with just one source on the preamp.

Tech HiFi -- Sat, 01/29/2011 - 16:56

Does the X-Can have a digital volume control???

Magnepan MG 1.7, Bryston 4B SST2, Wyred4Sound DAC-2, Kimber Kable 12TC and Hero, PS Audio Duets, Shunyata Venom 3, Toshiba laptop with J River 17 and Windows 7

lennykp -- Sat, 01/29/2011 - 22:36

I don't think X-Can v8p has a digital volume control, it's got a tube stage, but it has a basic dac built-in. Very favourably reviewed by MrPlus & Sam Tellig. Are you using Wyred4Sound DAC-2 as preamp as well?

Tech HiFi -- Sat, 02/05/2011 - 10:40

Yes, I'm using the DAC-2's digital volume control as my pre-amp.

Magnepan MG 1.7, Bryston 4B SST2, Wyred4Sound DAC-2, Kimber Kable 12TC and Hero, PS Audio Duets, Shunyata Venom 3, Toshiba laptop with J River 17 and Windows 7

a2010 -- Tue, 09/20/2011 - 06:31

Dear lennykp,
I'm also considering the 1.7's and am struggling to justify the Sanders power amp.
Have you made a decision on which power amp?
I'm in Sydney. Are you too? Would love to compare notes.
Email me : office at multimatch.biz

Tech HiFi -- Fri, 01/28/2011 - 17:34

I just ordered a pair of 1.7s and I'm going to use the Wired4Sound 1000w monos with the DAC-2. I'm also going to augment to bottom w/ a pair of PSB SubSeries 5is as recommended in TAS.

Magnepan MG 1.7, Bryston 4B SST2, Wyred4Sound DAC-2, Kimber Kable 12TC and Hero, PS Audio Duets, Shunyata Venom 3, Toshiba laptop with J River 17 and Windows 7

kenowine -- Tue, 12/13/2011 - 02:39

I would use the Vincent power amp - SP331 SE with the Jolida Fusion preamp.

don murdza

smiledon -- Fri, 01/06/2012 - 18:00

Hi Lennykp,
Just seen your post. I too got my 1.7s at Bill Mcleans. I am in Gosford. I have home audtioned the Sanders and could not justify it. Bill is now also the agent for Channel Island.
I have done the full razor mod and built stands. If you like contact me philgosford gmail.