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I have the following:Foreplay linestage
Magenpan MMG
Rega Planet 2000 CDI have a strict budget of $900 for the amp. I am considering a used Bryston amp. Should I get a newer 3B-ST or should I go for an older 4B for the additional power? I would consider an alternative amp if there are any you can recommend within my price range. This is for a music-only (no HT) set up. I mainly listen to Jazz and Lounge with some rock and occasionally like to turn it up a bit.
Follow Ups:
I would also toss in a recommendation for Classe amps. I use a CA-100 with my MG-12's, and the sound is great. These amps offer a slight touch of warmth and a bit of a soft top-end (good for Maggies in my opinion).They have dual inputs which means you can actually have two systems utilized by your speakers (without removing the speaker cables) and switch between them by flipping a toggle switch on the back of the amp. I use this configuration as I have a receiver for home theater applications in my listening room as well as a separate "audiophile" system.
My amp is rated 100 watts into 8 ohms, but I actually get something closer to 200 watts given the MG-12's load. Classe amps can also be bridged by flipping another toggle switch. One of the CA-100's will put out close to 600 watts when bridged mono into a 4 ohm load - plenty of power!
And best of all, you can pick up a CA-100 used for $550 - $700.
I think you will be impressed (as I am) with this match.
Happy hunting!
Thanks in large part to these suggestions, I am now considering a Stratos and Muse 160 along with the Bryston (and I thought I had it figured out). I found some forum discussion about all of these amps with no real clear cut favorite. If I go Bryston, I will pick up a lightly used 3B-ST over an older model.My listening room is about 14 x 18 and is dedicated for this purpose. The MMG's are really a testing period for me and I may upgrade to 1.6's in a year or so. If and when that upgrade happens, I could mono-block or bi-amp with another amp if I think it's needed.
read this:http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/viewpoint/1199/donibbles.htm
For the last time...you don't need THAT much friggin' power with the MMG'! You got a Foreplay? Find a 50 watt or so tube amp to match it. Plenty. If you do go SS, Class A amps are highly recommended. The 3BST would be plenty good with your MMG's, if you decide on Class A/B.
Well, it depends how loud you want to listen and how large your room is... but you are right in my situation, a my small, acoustically treated room, 50w SS per channel in 8ohms (nearly 100 in 4ohms) is plenty.
You can find them used under $1000 now, they have plenty of power to drive the MMG's to satisfying levels. Pure class A Aleph hamps can deliver the clarity that the MMG's deserve that most other amps in this price range can only dream of.
I have heard that Rotel works pretty well with Maggies... I think that a 1070 power amp (2x130watts in 8ohms) can be had for less than $700 new. Rotel is what they have at Magnepan (among others probably). I have seen Rotel/1.6 combination at dealers.
I love how the Muse amps work with my Maggies. You can often find a Muse 160 MKII for around $700 on Audiogon.A lot of Maggie owners here like the Odyssey Audio amps ... a Stratos costs $1100 new, but you could probably find one used for less (again at Audiogon). Have not heard these amps myself.
For a time I was using an old Adcom GFA535II with my MG10.1s with very good results.
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