The staff at Magnepan have their hands full trying to keep up with our back orders, research and development, and all the demands associated with trying to stay at the forefront of our business. We understand the design issues of a good amplifier design, etc., but we simply can't do our jobs and keep up with ever-changing products. It may come as a surprise, but many of our customers have auditioned more amplifiers than we have.
Unfortunately, there is no definitive source to answer these questions. We know many of the reviewers personally and they all have their own preferences. The Internet is full of free advice, but very little consensus.
That's the bad news. The good news -- while you could make it your career to find the ultimate amplifier for your money you want to spend, the top choice from any one of our dealers will be a winner. There are so many products available to the dealers that they can pick and choose what they want to sell. We don't know of any Magnepan dealers selling substandard amplifiers with Magneplanars. Part of the dealer's motivation to go into the business is the enjoyment of the art. If you believe they are strongly promoting a specific brand just for the money, we strongly disagree. They enjoy what they are doing; and if there is any criticism, it could be that in their exuberance, they may recommend better products than you are willing to buy.
There are a few general design recommendations we can offer:
A receiver is very efficient and cost-effective. Unfortunately, consumers want all the "bells and whistles" without understanding the importance of power supply. Everyone understands they need plenty of power, but the role of power supply is not understood. There is one important concept you need to remember when shopping for an amplifier or receiver: the power should double (or nearly double) at 4 ohms. This concept applies even if you are buying an 8 ohm speaker. If the amplifier is rated at 80 watts at 8 ohms, it should produce 160 watts at 4 ohms (or close to it). None of the receivers will do that. However, this is the benchmark of a good amplifier design.
A good receiver might produce 30-40% more power at 4 ohms. Most receiver manufacturers don't want to talk about 4 ohm rating, because they have cut the "guts" out of the products to keep the cost down. Some receivers produce the same power at 4 ohms as the 8 ohm ratings. Or they use a switch on the back for 4 ohms to prevent the receiver from self destructing. Others warn against 4 ohm speakers. Regardless of what speaker you buy, we don't recommend these receivers. There are a few manufacturers making receivers with good 4 ohm capability. We can't keep up on who's doing what. All you have to do is ask "What is the 4 ohm power rating?" If the 4 ohm rating isn't readily available, be cautious.
For more detailed information, read the following NEC Electronics article.
Individual tastes vary so greatly that a definitive answer is impossible. The most reliable way to answer this question for your needs is by visiting a dealer. If you listen to your music at a normal volume, in a room that is approximately the same size as your room, with an amplifier similar to what you plan to use, an accurate power requirement can be determined for your listening habits. The amplifier used in this test should have a similar 4 ohm rating as the amplifier you plan to use at home, but it is not necessary for it to be identical.
To answer that question requires some background information. You may have noticed similar specifications for the least-to-most expensive Magneplanars are very similar. There is nothing in the specifications to justify the cost difference. More than any other performance parameter, what you are buying as you move up in the Magneplanar line is RESOLUTION (or definition). Unlike video, there are no specifications in loudspeakers for resolution. You can hear it, but it is not easily defined.
If Magnepan sold only the portion of the speaker that operated from about 200 Hz and up, the question of speaker size/room size would never come up. That type of ribbon driver would be very narrow. Most of the area of a Magneplanar is needed for bass reproduction. A large Magneplanar in small room is an aesthetic issue and and a question of bass reproduction. For mids and highs, any Magneplanar will work in a small room. If a speaker produces too much bass in a room, there are technical solutions. It is easier to solve than insufficient bass.
Buy as much Magneplanar resolution as your budget will allow. The larger Magneplanars in a small room can be smoothed out in the bass. The objection of a larger Magneplanar in a small room is usually a cosmetic issue for a family member. On that one, we can't help.
Each room has a sonic "sweet spot" for speakers. The sweet spot is different for each room. Unfortunately, there is no shortcut for simple trial and error.
If you have the luxury of placing your current speakers in the best spot of your listening room, then most likely the Magneplanars will sound best within a foot or so of that spot. In the "real world", consumers often have to place their speakers in a less than ideal position. They may spend thousands of dollars on a speaker and lose a significant portion of the performance on a less than ideal setup. But, real life compromises.
Often the question boils down to "How much of the Magneplanar performance will I lose by placing them in a less than ideal position?". That question is best answered by experimenting with less than ideal positioning in the dealer's showroom.
See our home theater section for a complete answer. In short, high resolution sound in home theater is not appreciated in a 5-10 minute demonstration. The typical home theater demonstration is short and full of crashes, explosions and other dramatic scenes. What Magneplanars can do for home theater will take at least 20 minutes or more into a movie. The process is subtle. High resolution sound does not call attention to itself. You become more immersed in the movie and don't realize until later that Magneplanars have a seductive quality on home theater that will increase over time.