Hello.....what about the D250 in any of its versions? If you are driving Maggie speakers, I do not think the M100s will be enough. As for the M300s or CL150s (which I own), neither of these will have that classic ARC tube sound that I believe you seek....but the M300s would be a great match for the speakers. I saw a D250 here not too long ago for $2k and that is a great deal....just be aware of this amp's reliability problems.
As for the preamps of the 80s, I had an SP-10 for 8 years and loved it. The SP-11 never did it for me even with its lower noise floor and added resolution. However, if you are not into the phono scene, the SP-10 makes little sense. Its line stage is very mediocre relative to today's products.....but what an awesome piece for LPs. I could not believe how improved CD playback became when I finally got a new line stage.
It took me so long to find a later product to give me all the SP-10's musicality and yet extend the frequency extremes as well as so much more resolution. This for me was the LS5/PH2 combination. None of the SP series products of the 80s could compare to this. The LS5 II has an exaggerated top end giving too much sibilance but I have sense gone to an LS5 MK III which corrects this problem and yet even adds another layer or resolution. And the upgraded MK III was done based on the Ref1 work....many people I know who have heard both have prefered the LS5.
As for Edle shipping the Ref1 off one day after getting it, obviously being very disappointed and much prefering the SP-11, it would be interesting to know if he was listening to LPs or CDs and with with phono stage with the Ref1. Would be nice to know what happened there.
So keep your eyes out for the D250.
As for the preamps of the 80s, I had an SP-10 for 8 years and loved it. The SP-11 never did it for me even with its lower noise floor and added resolution. However, if you are not into the phono scene, the SP-10 makes little sense. Its line stage is very mediocre relative to today's products.....but what an awesome piece for LPs. I could not believe how improved CD playback became when I finally got a new line stage.
It took me so long to find a later product to give me all the SP-10's musicality and yet extend the frequency extremes as well as so much more resolution. This for me was the LS5/PH2 combination. None of the SP series products of the 80s could compare to this. The LS5 II has an exaggerated top end giving too much sibilance but I have sense gone to an LS5 MK III which corrects this problem and yet even adds another layer or resolution. And the upgraded MK III was done based on the Ref1 work....many people I know who have heard both have prefered the LS5.
As for Edle shipping the Ref1 off one day after getting it, obviously being very disappointed and much prefering the SP-11, it would be interesting to know if he was listening to LPs or CDs and with with phono stage with the Ref1. Would be nice to know what happened there.
So keep your eyes out for the D250.