1. Home
  2. speakers
  3. 197018-74636

Amp-preamp, Integrated paring with Magico A3

I'm looking for people who have had excellent results with pairing an amp-preamp, integrated to Magico A3 or similar Magico's. I recently bought a pair of A3's (love them) and I’m now looking to upgrade my electronics driving them. Currently I have a loner from a friend (not ideal) so nothing really to speak of.

I’ve heard the Constellation gear at the dealer on them and was impressed, also some top Moon (North series) gear also impressed. But I’m a tube guy so I’m also considering a tube preamp-SS amp or hybrid integrated. I just sold my Mac gear so I’m looking to move away from that. Friend has an Audio reasurch tube preamp thats quite nice in his system, Ref 6se i believe, paired with the Moon SS amp (new north searies). But dragging that and or the speakers around to try is not something either of us is inclined to do. Speakers being 110lbs each. Amp about the same lol

What have you had good success with? 

glennewdick
steve59's avatar
steve59
1,989 posts
 

I read Magico uses a hegel int in their listening room.

fastfreight
1,305 posts
 

I agree @bubba12 .  I was just going by his plan to use tube pre with ss amps.  I think that combo is a great way to tame harshness if you have it.  But I agree with @zlone on using Audionet Pre G2 with Audinet Max amps.  NO harshness there with the Magicos!  They need to be 'lit up' in my opinion and the Audionet combo would make them sparkle.  I know I tried a current model McIntosh Pre with my system and I found it dull and veiled.  Maybe the AR is not like that, I do not know.

vuch's avatar
vuch
209 posts
 

I’ve had the A3’s for a number of years now. The best amp combination I’ve used is the NAT Audio Symmetrical Balanced Line Stage pre and NAT Audio Magma M monoblocks. 

Initially I had a Yamaha A-S3000 integrated, then put in a Dynaco PAS-3X pre, then replaced the A-S3000 with a Prima Luna EVO400 power amp. Then I put in the Symmetrical and NAT Audio 802 Generator monoblocks. Now the Generators are replaced by the Magma M monos. 

The tubes of the NAT gear really goes well with the A3’s, The Magma M’s have been a tremendous upgrade from the Generators. I’m done with power. Although those Magico S3’s look really great! To be continued...

ericrhodes1's avatar
ericrhodes1
258 posts
 

No, GaNFET's aren't any better than well implemented Hypex NCoreX or Purifi Eigentakt amps at half the price. Get your Constellation amp. It'll leave room to upgrade speakers down the road. 

macg19
1,437 posts
 

You mentioned T+A and an affinity for tubes. I own a PA 3100 HV paired with Harbeth 40.3XDs which on paper are slightly less efficient the the A3s.

I was drawn to the amp after owning 3 different tube integrateds because of the high-voltage design that claimed to be more tube-like, and I love it. 
 

It fills a really large space with amazing sound effortlessly. It rarely comes out of class A as the meters rarely exceed 10 watts playing loud and crystal clear 40 feet from the speakers. In the sweet spot 10ft away the sound stage and imaging is great. 
 

it is warm but detailed and far from clinical. 
 

They are not cheap but will power almost anything you may own in the future.

They occasionally appear on the used market (unsure what your budget is).

I also owned a BAT hybrid integrated that was good but nowhere close to the T+A, but to be fair it was less than half the cost new.

I get my tube fix from a tube DAC and tube phono.

FWIW…

Good luck in your search.

More to discover