What amplifier does the Magnepan 1.7x need?

Pick a speaker and tell us how loud you listen and how big the room is. We work out the power it actually needs, check which amplifiers can safely drive its impedance, and rank 196 amplifiers against it.

Your system

Four questions. Nothing is hidden on price.

Passive speakers only — a powered speaker already has its amplifier inside.
Changes the order only. Nothing is hidden for costing too little or too much.
Magnepan 1.7x
Magnepan 1.7x
Floor-standing
86 dB · 4 ohm
$5,000 a pair
Full specs →
Power needed
38–600 W
per channel, into 4 ohms

To hit 95 dB peaks at 3 m from a pair of Magnepan 1.7x, you need at least 38 W a channel. Anything from about 75 W to 600 W a channel is comfortable; past that, more watts stop buying you anything.

Show the working
  • 95 dB target at the seat
  • +4.8 dB for 3.0 m of distance
  • -3 dB for a stereo pair
  • -81.0 dB effective sensitivity
  • 3.0 dB taken off to convert the 4 ohm 2.83V rating to dB per watt
  • 2 dB allowed for optimistic published sensitivity
  • Published sensitivity 86 dB, used as 81.0 dB per watt.

Mark Levinson No.5802 with the Magnepan 1.7x

Excellent match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (125 W to 250 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Full Mark Levinson No.5802 specs · Clear this amp
 
$199 $10,500

145 integrated amplifiers suit the Magnepan 1.7x

Also show the 34 we do not recommend
1
Anthem STR
Anthem STR
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 200 W into 8 ohms · $5,000
Excellent match
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (200 W to 400 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
2
Cambridge Audio Evo 300
Cambridge Audio Evo 300
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 300 W into 8 ohms · $3,999
Excellent match
12 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (300 W to 550 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
3
NAD Masters Series M33
NAD Masters Series M33
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 200 W into 8 ohms · $5,999
Excellent match
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (200 W to 380 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
4
Rotel Diamond RA-6000
Rotel Diamond RA-6000
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 200 W into 8 ohms · $4,500
Good match
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (200 W to 350 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
5
Rotel RA-1592 MKII
Rotel RA-1592 MKII
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 200 W into 8 ohms · $3,200
Good match
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (200 W to 350 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
6
Michi Prestige X430
Michi Prestige X430
Integrated Amplifier · Class AB · 210 W into 8 ohms · $4,999
Good match
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (210 W to 340 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
7
Buchardt I150
Buchardt I150
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 150 W into 8 ohms · $2,500
Excellent match
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (150 W to 300 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
8
NAD Masters Series M33 V2
NAD Masters Series M33 V2
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 200 W into 8 ohms · $7,399
Excellent match
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (200 W to 380 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
9
Advance Paris A12 Classic
Advance Paris A12 Classic
Integrated Amplifier · Class AB-T · 190 W into 8 ohms · $4,499
Good match
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (190 W to 280 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
10
Arcam SA45
Arcam SA45
Integrated Amplifier · Class G · 180 W into 8 ohms · $5,500
Good match
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (180 W to 300 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
11
Advance Paris A12 APEX
Advance Paris A12 APEX
Integrated Amplifier · Class AB-T · 180 W into 8 ohms · $4,999
Good match
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (180 W to 270 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
12
Peachtree Carina
Peachtree Carina
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 300 W into 8 ohms · $1,999
Excellent match
12 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (300 W to 580 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
13
Marantz PM-10
Marantz PM-10
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 200 W into 8 ohms · $8,999
Excellent match
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (200 W to 400 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Costs more than the speakers - worth it only if you plan to upgrade them later.
14
Cambridge Audio Evo 150 SE
Cambridge Audio Evo 150 SE
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 150 W into 8 ohms · $3,299
Good match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (150 W to 250 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
15
Cambridge Audio Evo 150
Cambridge Audio Evo 150
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 150 W into 8 ohms · $3,249
Good match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (150 W to 250 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
16
Parasound Halo HINT 6
Parasound Halo HINT 6
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/AB · 160 W into 8 ohms · $3,199
Good match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (160 W to 240 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
17
Marantz Model 30
Marantz Model 30
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 100 W into 8 ohms · $2,999
Excellent match
7 dB of headroom - enough, but at the modest end for this speaker, which takes up to 600 W.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (100 W to 200 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
18
Mark Levinson No.5802
Mark Levinson No.5802
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 125 W into 8 ohms · $8,500
Excellent match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (125 W to 250 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Costs more than the speakers - worth it only if you plan to upgrade them later.
19
Rotel RAS-5000
Rotel RAS-5000
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 140 W into 8 ohms · $2,999
Good match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (140 W to 220 W).
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
20
Cambridge Audio Edge A
Cambridge Audio Edge A
Integrated Amplifier · Class XA · 100 W into 8 ohms · $6,499
Excellent match
7 dB of headroom - enough, but at the modest end for this speaker, which takes up to 600 W.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (100 W to 200 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.

Showing the best 20 of 145. Narrow it with the price range below, or a different budget split.

17 power amplifiers that would also drive them

Listed separately because they are not a complete system: a power amplifier has no volume control and no inputs to speak of, so you need a preamplifier or a streaming preamp as well. Worth it if you already own one, or if you want to buy the two halves separately.

1
Rotel RB-1590
Rotel RB-1590
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 350 W into 8 ohms · $4,599
Good match
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 4 ohm speaker that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
2
McIntosh MC830
McIntosh MC830
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 300 W into 8 ohms · $5,500
Good match
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 4 ohm speaker that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
3
Anthem STR Power Amplifier
Anthem STR Power Amplifier
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 400 W into 8 ohms · $6,500
Good match
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 4 ohm speaker that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
4
Advance Paris X-A220 EVO
Advance Paris X-A220 EVO
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 220 W into 8 ohms · $2,999
Good match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 4 ohm speaker that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
5
NAD Masters Series M23 V2
NAD Masters Series M23 V2
Power Amplifier · Class D · 200 W into 8 ohms · $4,999
Good match
7 dB of headroom - enough, but at the modest end for this speaker, which takes up to 600 W.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 4 ohm speaker that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
6
Anthem MCA 225 Gen 2
Anthem MCA 225 Gen 2
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 225 W into 8 ohms · $2,300
Good match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 4 ohm speaker that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
7
NAD C298
NAD C298
Power Amplifier · Class D · 185 W into 8 ohms · $3,099
Good match
7 dB of headroom - enough, but at the modest end for this speaker, which takes up to 600 W.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 4 ohm speaker that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
8
Rotel RB-1582 MkII
Rotel RB-1582 MkII
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 200 W into 8 ohms · $2,499
Good match
7 dB of headroom - enough, but at the modest end for this speaker, which takes up to 600 W.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 4 ohm speaker that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
Were these amplifier recommendations useful?
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Sensitivity and impedance figures are the manufacturer's own. We read sensitivity as dB at 2.83 V/1 m and take 2 dB off it, because published figures run high. Treat the result as a well-founded starting point, not a measurement. Full Magnepan 1.7x specs.