Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Cables, Power, Tweaks, Speakers, Accessories (DBT-Free Forum) › Need help finding an amp for my Magenpan MMG's.....
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Need help finding an amp for my Magenpan MMG's.....

post #1 of 7
11/25/11 at 2:47pm
Thread Starter 

I have a BK ST-140 amp/preamp. It sound very good, but I'm hearing that I need alot of power to really make these babies shine. They also highly recommend a 4 ohm amp with lots of power.

 

I want the best bang for the buck. I would also prefer (not a must), for the amp to have a toslink input and a sub connection. 

 

To recap. 

 

Losts of power

toslink

audiophile quality 

tube or integrated 

4ohm and 8 ohm

No more than 1500.00 (approx)

New or used 

 

Thanks

 

 

Reply
post #2 of 7
11/25/11 at 3:10pm

This thread has some good recommendations:

 

http://www.head-fi.org/t/115625/what-amp-for-magnepan-mmg-speakers

 

Magnepans are definitely on my  wish list smily_headphones1.gif

 

Edit: Magnepan's website has some recommendations for receivers: http://www.magnepan.com/faq#receivers


Edited by calipilot227 - 11/25/11 at 3:25pm
Reply
post #3 of 7
11/25/11 at 3:47pm

You listed Toslink.

 

An amp, in the strict sense, does not have optical input, which implies a DAC.

 

You might want to think about using that money to buy a separate DAC, preamp and amp.  Your budget can handle that.

Reply
post #4 of 7
11/25/11 at 4:44pm
look for some vintage Yamaha MX-1000 and CX-1000 combo if you don't mind going used. those monsters are able to drive anything since it can push up to 1000w@1ohm load. cheaper route can go for other MX series power amps since yamaha's older gear were capable of delivering large amounts of current for 2ohm nominal speakers on avg. their flagship R-9 was based on the famous MX-XX series power amps and CX-XX pre-amps in one chassis. you can get R-9 for around 100 bucks in mint and it will have no issues running your speakers in Class A. only yamaha receiver as well to support ''true'' Class A operation in the power amp section. it gets hot in class A but should run cold as ice if your pushing under 3ohm loads cause that's the benefits of using class A is pushing lot of current.

if going modern i would look into Krell cause they still make some killer amps and should be about your price range. .
Reply
post #5 of 7
11/26/11 at 2:56am

Hmm perhaps what u want is an AVR? If you want surround down the road entry level AVRs have 2 in/1 out HDMI (think by now 4 in/1 out) so those would play nicely with your LCD TV, PS3, etc

Reply
post #6 of 7
11/26/11 at 9:35am

These guys have:  http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/amp/messages/17/170007.html

 

 

Reply
post #7 of 7
11/30/11 at 9:57pm
Thread Starter 

I have been using my BK St-120 (70wpc) for the past 2 weeks with my Magnepan MMG's. It was okay, but I really felt like I needed more power. That's why I started this thread. I got some great advise from many MMG owners and various articles on the subject on the web. 

 

I didn't want to spend $20,000 on a pair of monoblocks. I was actually thinking of spending only about $1000.00 max. It wasn't looking to good. There are many amps out there with lots of power, but they aren't winning any sound awards, especially in my budget. 

 

I really like the sound of my BK, I have lived with that sound for over 20 years and I was going to be sad giving it up. Then something AWSOME happened. Today I thought I would check out a couple of local hock shops. They had the usual stuff, tons of Pioneer, Maranz, Sony etc. Then I notice a BK amp and preamp that I had seen at this same shop months ago. (I thought it was the st-120), But upon closer inspection, everything looked exactly the same except the model number. This was the BK ST-202. ( I knew nothing about this amp). I pulled out my iPhone and read a few reviews. WOW 200 wpc into 4ohm, with the same sound signature that I had grown to love over the years (solid state with a tube like sound). They wanted $300.00 for the amp and preamp (I didn't need the preamp with the missing knob, because I already have the same one for my st-120). I offer the woman 200 for the pair with a 7 day warranty and she runs back and forth to speak with her boss ( I felt like I was buying a car). She comes back after a bit and says 225 cash with the warrant. SOLD!!!

 

I am know sitting listening to my Magnepan's with some real power and all I can say is WOW........

I can't say anymore, I'm having a moment. 

 

 

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Cables, Power, Tweaks, Speakers, Accessories (DBT-Free Forum) › Need help finding an amp for my Magenpan MMG's.....