Need Amp Advice from the Collective

OP

I was asked this same question a few months back and my typical answer was PASS. 

But the owner chose a different path. he got a AGD amp and was extremely happy. he even went as far as doing a dual mono setup.

His Pre is the LTA Microzotl and it works great with the AGD. I believed the model he got was audion. I personally heard the AGD audion in a show last year and I was impressed as it was driving some speakers with large 15 drivers and Ribbon tweeters. i was impressed and how clear the highs and the lower registers were controlled and deep. the AGD can have a good control over large speakers. 

Yet it just weights around 10lbs.  which is what you are searching for

TRY to audition one before dismissing this option

Good luck

I have a CODA #16, and I know the issue with the weight. I have to carry it up the stairs tomorrow and good thing I started lifting weights again.

There is another amp that I like almost as much as the #16 and that is the KRELL Duo 175XD. It is 100% class A and about 60 lbs. I sold it to go with the CODA #16. This is the exact unit I sold years ago after buying brand new (it looks a bit rough now). It is big and ugly, but not heavy or hot and it sounds wonderful. Do some searching on this KRELL Duo lineup.

Krell Duo 175 XD Stereo Power Amplifier Black EXCELLENT | eBay

BTW - I am selling my CODA #16 to raise cash. I bought the cheaper CODA #11 to replace it. It is 30 years old but still sounds great.

For me "magic" comes from good tubes.  Harmonic structure, vivid clarity, sound stage depth, and natural detail in spades.  Big power from tubes can get expensive, but it doesn’t have to get crazy.  There are reasonable options, and adding a good sub or two can help with the power hungry bottom end.  

@joeycastillo  (Alberto?) I have had several AGD amps. They are very good, but they don't have the grunt (that's a technical term) needed to drive the Maggies to satisfying levels. Perhaps a pair of bridged Tempo's might do it (I did have a pair a few years ago), but a single Tempo or a pair of Audion's are not enough. I have not tried AGD's more expensive mono's. But Maggies seem to give their best magic when driven by class A amps. I have resisted going there for years, but now it is time. 

@yyzsantabarbara I was waiting for you to speak up. That Krell might do it. But you keep buying Coda? 

@knotscott I have tubes in my preamp and in a buffer following my DAC. I have resisted tube power amps for a number of reasons. I know they can sound wonderful. And maybe I am just being stubborn.  

@marktheshark I keep buying CODA since I think they are great. Tony the Tiger great.

The issue with the KRELL is that it is huge. The fans are not noticeable, and I never heard it even when I used the amp as a headphone amp, and it was 1 foot away from me. I was drawing over 100 watts in the headphone scenario (long story).

Another amp you may want to consider for the LRS+ is what I was considering over the CODA #11. It is the Schiit Wotan amp. I owned this amp before and used it with the Magnepan Mini which can gobble up power. The Wotan has tremendous synergy with the Maggie. Schiit has demoed the Wotan with the LRS+. I owned the LRS+ but had to sell it once I moved my office to a smaller space, so I got the Mini.

I like the 100 watts of Class A on the CODA #11 more than the Wotan, but the Wotan is not far behind. Only issue with the Wotan is that it needs over a month of heavy play before the top end cleans up. The 15-day home trial period for the Wotan won’t allow you to hear the best of this amp.

I purchased the $995 Class D Audio GanFet 6.5 amp for the Magnepan Mini. It is not as good as the Wotan or the #11 or #16. However, it is not bad, and I like that fact it fits in the palm of my hand and was so cheap. Sounds like faint praise but I think it is the best Class D amp I have heard. Most GabFet amps I owned were weak in the bass. This one is not that bad though not the bass monsters as the Wotan, #11, and #16.