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Recommendations for an Amp/Preamp combo excellent musically and very reliable

Hello, having often encountered major reliability problems with components that may be too sophisticated in their design and which have taken too many months to be repaired, I thank you for giving me your recommendations for an Amp/Preamp combo that is excellent musically and also solid as a rock. My speakers are Magnepan 3.7i with 2 Vandersteen subwoofers.. My room is 550ft2.  I am looking for a holographic placement of voices and instruments, a 3D soundstage. I want a sound that gives me goosebumps. I do not want the bass to be sloppy. I am looking for a sound that is not tiring after a few hours of listening. My musical styles are very varied from classical music to jazz, pop, world music, rock, blues, rap, hip-hop...Budget is up to $15k and I could consider used equipment. Thank you.

mllc
yyzsantabarbara
5,557 posts
 

I have a CODA #16 amp with a Benchmark HPA4 preamp. You can get those 2 for under $15k combined in the used market. Unfortunately, the CODA #16 is hard to get used. This combo is great with Maggies. I owned the LRS+ and the Mini.

If you want a lot cheaper the Schitt Wotan at $2k amp is as good as the CODA #8 (at $7k). The HPA4 preamp is nice with this combo too. I currently use the Wotan with the Mini and this is a great combo. I owned the CODA #8 v1 in the past.

I have no intention of changing the #16 or Wotan but I want to add either an Allnic DAC or preamp because each of those were the most detailed gear I ever heard. However, these are tube gear so there is a great musical sound to it. I am hoping they come out with lower cost versions of what I heard, otherwise it will be many years before I get that great sound in my system.

The Allinc preamp or DAC with a Schitt Wotan amp would be very nice too. I heard this combo in my house on the Magnepan Mini. The #16 is a better amp than the Wotan, but the Wotan cost $2k.

I used to have the Sanders Magtech amp with the Magnepans. The Sanders was not as powerful as the Wotan and the #16. I would rank it the 3rd best amp for the Maggies that I owned.

 

elliottbnewcombjr
7,749 posts
 

Another vote for McIntosh, you can plan on MANY trouble free years, and if service is needed, it's readily available at realistic costs.

 

charles7
121 posts
 

"Coda Continuum No 8 V1 solid state amplifier....My preamp is a Linear Tube Audio MicroZOTL preamp level 2.  The technology used in it equates to long tube life. The pairing of the two sound great together, imo."

I have the same preamp. My room is much smaller, and a FirstWatt F8 does just fine. Musical and clear. Therefore, can second the recommendations for a Pass Labs amp with sufficient power for your speakers in your fairly large room.

georgemunn
21 posts
 

+1 LTA Microzotal Pre and Pass Labs XA series Amp. I have a level 2 MZ Pre and a Pass Labs XA25 amp. My ZU Omen Def Supremes are more efficient, I’m sure you would need to move up the power chain. This is surely my last system and I couldn’t be happier with the sound. 

avanti1960
1,744 posts
 

@mllc 

I only recommend gear that I have heard and year after year the Maggies sound spectacular at the AXPONA Audio Show.  The 3.7i in particular sounded clear, dynamic and with a fantastic sound stage running the Rogue Audio DragoN mono blocks and RP-7 tube preamp.  

Rogue Audio and Magnepan are they typical match every year at AXPONA and never fail to blow away the listening audience. 

https://www.enjoythemusic.com/AXPONA_2023/Becker/Part10/page3.htm

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