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Magnepan LRS- what amp should i consider? (sub $2,000)

Howdy!   Help !
I'm not very current on high end equipment these days- I bought my Vandersteen 2CE's about 20 years ago, and haven't been tracking the market since.   

But, since I'm going to "test drive" a pair Magnepan's LRS soon - I need to lasso a more powerful and detailed amp (my Adcom 50 wpc thang is not gonna cut it).  I could go new or used. I listen to a lot of Jazz and G  Dead, and often play things loud.  The room is 11 x 21, and has some useful sound absorbing panels behind the listening "station".

I'd really appreciate any thoughts on a suitable power amp or integrated amp - at a somewhat reasonable price. And- given the rest of my qwipment (noted below) should I invest in some cables & interconnects too?

My (fairly humble, but exciting) system:
Harmon Kardon T60 TT w/a Audio Technica VM 540 ML stylus-  running thru a Nakamichi 610 preamp.  I'm streaming my >8,000 song iTunes library from an Apple TV box into a Cambridge Audio DAC 100. Also have a HSU sub hooked in too. I don't own any fancy cables or interconnects.

Thanks!
philvk16
daj
87 posts
 
The amps he talks about are out of your range, but this might make you think twice about going with the lowest option:

My experience with the Magnepan LRS speaker. Did it live up to my expectations? - YouTube
hleeid
219 posts
 
I have been using a Hegel H190 with my LRSs in a 15' x 19' living room.
Great sound and just enough to fill the room at moderate to high volume.

Subs make a difference.  After hooking up 4 subs, everything improved.  Bigger soundstage, much clearer and tighter bass response.
dwmaggie
222 posts
 
I have 2 crown XLS amps, the fans are obnoxious at low levels. I would recommend either a Digital Amplifier Co. King version of any, I have 3 different ones and they are quiet and very capable of running Maggies, also use a Peachtree Audio amp. I run DMW and MGM Maggies on either an STM or Mega Cherry DAC amplifier. The Crowns are gathering dust, the DACs bring it home for me, whether soft or loud. Just another opinion. I use the Peachtree 500 for a sub swarm, 4 10s and a 12. I use a DAC King DTM for my center channel a Magnepan MGC I.
sheridanmartinj
50 posts
 
I agree with Steve Hardy1 Crown amp PLEASE!! worst than McIntosh.
train9990's avatar
train9990
7 posts
 
I use a Crown XLS 2502 on my 1.7i and the sound is absolutely fine. I have other amps, A/B Rotel RB 1090 that works great also but get super hot if you play them long enough. Also have a Denon optical class A amp that works just wonderful with my Maggie's but despite what others say about the Crown XLS amps they work perfectly fine, I have never heard the fan run ever and quiet enough background but if you wish you can drive the hell out of your Maggie's all day and the Crown never breaks a sweat! Uncolored sound, honest sound it just amplifies what is there and sounds perfectly pleasing at a fraction of the high dollar amplifiers new or old. Just saying...the 2502 is about $649. Plenty of amp on the cheap that plays Magnepans just fine.
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