Magnepan 1.7i Amp recommendations


Hey everyone, I have been googling and most of the recommendation threads I found on various sites (including this site) are for the LRS.

What about the 1.7i?

Schiit Vidar, various Chifi tube amps, Parasound Halo A23+, etc. I want Class AB ideally, tried Class D (Hypex NC252 from Audiophonics) and the power switch was defective on it. Want to stick to a brand in the US or one that can be repaired easily.

Tube amps caught my eye, but I want to keep the price under $2000 new. The lower the better as with this whole pandemic I am trying to keep my spending lower, but I got no amp whatsoever at the moment.

Thank you,
Tom.
128x128archerious
@returntomusic

i am a big hegel fan, their amps simply sound great

i am also quite trusting of the gang at audio excellence in toronto, vilip, young j etc... they are able to extensively test what they are talking about in their shop, do proper a-b comparisons -- i have found their read on equipment VERY much on target

that been said, one should note that older hegels have quite obsolete onboard dac implementation at this point - if one buys a rost, h90, h160 much less even prior gen h100/300 amps, they will need to get a modern outboard dac to have top notch sound

the point of the latest line of hegel units - h95, 120, 190, 390 and so on is specifically to upgrade their dac sections

leaving aside the dacs, the preamp/amp sections of the older hegels ARE totally competitive and are truly excellent
Jjss49- Point taken, the DACs in the prior series were getting long in the tooth, and DAC refinement is a significant part of this last series improvements, (particularly in the H-190, 390 & 590). That is the disadvantage of a built in DAC, as digital technologies rapidly evolve.
Dealer feedback specific to lower powered Hegel compatibility with the 1.7i can be found at https://www.audioemporium.com/good-reputation-poor-sound/ , also on Audio Emporium’s general site in the Magnepan and Hegel sections, as well as the owners’ recommendations- “Dave’s Faves”
Audio Excellence has several entertaining YouTube Videos on the subject. Most of the “lower” powered Hegels spec at 75 watts into 8 ohms, 125 watts into 4 ohms. The H-160, 190 & 195 are about double that.

Dealer feedback specific to lower powered Hegel compatibility with the 1.7i can be found at https://www.audioemporium.com/good-reputation-poor-sound/ , also on Audio Emporium’s general site in the Magnepan and Hegel sections, as well as the owners’ recommendations- “Dave’s Faves”
Audio Excellence has several entertaining YouTube Videos on the subject. Most of the “lower” powered Hegels spec at 75 watts into 8 ohms, 125 watts into 4 ohms. The H-160, 190 & 195 are about double that, and 

What are recommendations, if any, for Class D amps driving 1.7i’s? I am currently using Proceed HPAs (used to have them in mono, now using one in stereo) for amplification. the 1.7i’s replaced a set of 802d1’s (the little ones kept pushing in the cones).

Someone mentioned Bel Canto amps.  any opinions?