SET Amps and Maggies

What is your price range for a SET amp?

I don't think you are going to find many SET amps that do well with 4 ohm/86dB speakers at any price range except the $5k and up. Even then, that's not a SET strong point.

Unless you listen to a lot of folk, a cappella, chamber music, etc. Still, it would probably take one of the high power SETs to make things work.

If you want tubes that will work well, look at push-pull designs.

Can't beat Velo62's first hand experience for advice.

Might be worth looking into some of the new tube/mosfet hybrid amps which could deliver the the power and grip of solid state with with the spatial and tonal goodness of tubes.

Moscode 401HR would be at the top of my list. 200wpc@8 ohms, 300+wpc@4 ohms. It's getting great reviews in the press and several locals here and on Audiocircle have dropped their monster solid state amps(Bryston 4B-SST, McCormack DNA 500, BAT VK-600SE, Dodd 120, etc) for it. Tvad here on Audiogon has them.

Also, the check out the Butler 2250's or Van Alstine 550.

Tz7, not to be a party pooper, but you are simply trying to use the wrong tool for the wrong job.

SET amps are primarily designed to drive high(er) efficiency, high(er) impedence, relatively stable speaker loads. I don't think Magnepans meet any of these three criterion. And Zero's will only address one of these issues. But, it might be worth asking the Zero's maker, Paul Speltz, he says that over half his customers are Maggie owners. Perhaps he knows of some amps that work.

One thing for sure, there are very, very, few SET amps intentionally designed to deliver high current. And they are damned expensive. But even then, I'd guess the current intended for most 90-100dB speakers is entirely different from what your speakers want. Not even in the ballpark.

I own one of the few brands of SET specifically designed to deliver high current(for SET), Art Audio. They make a 50wpc "high power option" Art Audio Jota BX (using the KR 52BX tube) that has both 4 & 8 ohm outputs. It "employs larger transformers and adjusted internal parts values to support the increased demands and current delivery". But, it's going to cost you $10k+

If you are really serious, AA makes Jota monoblocks that can be made in the high power option. It'll cost you north of $15k, but if you are really serious about Maggies and SET, are probably the best option.

But, all this is seriously unrealistic considering your speakers only cost $1,100 brand spanking new. Nor is SET the the way to get the best sound from your Maggies.

Although.... I think Single-End Pentode (SEP) amps actually work better the lower the impedance they work into. And there are some great, affordable, SEP amps being made right now. Don't know of any above 9wpc off hand and have no idea if they will drive Maggies.

"I own AES six pacs...are there any tubes that would get me closer to the SET sound? which assume is more palpable, lush, organic etc."

Don't worry about the SET sound, properly driven planars have their own "magic" that is just as engrossing and enveloping.

I heard the ESP Concert Grand ($40k) driven by Kinetics 300wpc Wavestream Kinetics V-8 amps($35k) at the LA HE Show this year and it was absolutely glorious. I would sell off my SET/horn system in a heartbeat for fraction of that glory. Granted, it was $100k system.

But, the biggest problem, Tz7, for anyone trying to lend suggestions is that you have never defined what's your price range.

The Cary Six Packs are ~$2.4k new and ~$1,5k used. Is it accurate for us to assume that you'd like to spend a similar amount? Less? 2x as much? 3x?

The Six Packs are rated at 55wpc, but also 110wpc PEP. Do these drive your Maggies well?

Also, what are you using as a preamp?