[artur9]

I used to have SMG IIIa and would like to get back  into the Magnepan family.

I  only have one room I could convert into a listening den.  It's 21' long by 9'5" wide and 8-9' drop ceiling.  The walls are cinderblock and stone, the floor concrete.  I can put in DIY acoustic treatments.

The listening position would be at the 12' position because there's an open doorway there and behind it encroaches on utility space and storage.

What's the largest Magnepan I can realistically enjoy in such a room?  1.7? 3.7? .7?

thanks for reading!

[jaylevine]

Go for the 3.7i if you can afford it (always used on the market too).

 I've owned all three speakers and the .7 is just not ment for such a large space (I have the  .7 now but in a room measuring barely 10x10).

I had 1.7s when they first came out in a room that was larger, around 12 by 30 (open floor plan all concrete loft) and while they did good service they paled in comparison with respect to sound stage and richness of sound (bass, true ribbon tweeter vs QR) when I replaced them with 3.7s (both were before the i versions came out).

Hope that helps.

[SteveFord]

3.7s should be fine.

[artur9]

The 3.7i would still work along the 9' wall?  I imagine I'd have to place them right next to the wall?

[simplythere]

3.7 i should be fine

[desafinado]

In my experience any of those three Maggie models will work great in your room. I have
both MG .7 and Tympani IVa in my 17 X 24 room.  The last third of the long wall opens
up to another large area so in effect the speakers must energize a larger area.

The MG .7 has no problem playing in this space but the amp(s) must be up to the task.

The question I would ask is how much do you want the true ribbon tweeter?  Once
heard it is not easily forgotten and that is why I would never be completely happy
with the QR.  Some owners though don't care for the ribbon.  Listen to both, if possible,
before deciding.

[johnto]

I think it depends on musucal taste. I have a 12x15 room and loved the sound on Maggie 1.7 speakers and a sub with my primary music which was 60's & 70's r&r. I moved on to the 3.7i which is a lot more revealing. It does sound great on audiophile recordings but tends to be a lot more revealing of flaws in lots of music such has grainy sound on many of my rock favs.  Thinking of going back to the 1.7 myself.

[artur9]

My go-to music is classical, particular strings, and guitar.  Tchaikovsky (of course) but Spanish composers like Rodrigo seem to be the best of both worlds.  And tone poems, I can never hear something like Sibelius's Pohjola's Daughter enough.  Sharon Isbin is fantastic.  Joshua Bell, Anne-Sophie Mutter.

But I listen to a lot of New Wave, 80s rock (before the loudness wars), some jazz.  Knopfler, The Cars, Police, Motels, Go Gos.   I wish there were better recordings of Big Band.

So, would the 3.7i be too ruthless with those?

[johnto]

Most of the jazz I listen to sounds great probably done in one take without overdubs.. Classical also sounds very good. Direct disc sound fantastic if you do vinyl.
I'll pull out the Police and give it a spin.

[johnto]

Played Synchroniconity lp some of it sounds great while other cuts have a grainy haze in the vocals which I never experienced with the 1.7i. I guess it all depends on the recodring quality. Curently have playing Best of Travis Tritt cd and it sounds wonderful.

[johnto]

Just read a comparison review on Audionirvana and the writer too thought the 1.7i was more forgiving of bright recordings than the 3.7i but ultimately you have to audition both for yourself.

[zuluwarrior0760]

my room is 26x16x10 and I've used 3.7s to great success.

I'll be selling them soon.  I just got a pair of 1 year old 20.7s
that I'm setting up in the next few days......

If the 20.7s don't couple with the room as well as the 3.7s did,
then I'll be selling the 20.7s

[rollo]

   With a width of only 9.5 ft Leaving 1'-6" from side wall to speaker edge leaves you with 7'-6". A 3.6 may just fit talk to Magnepan.


charles

[Elizabeth]

My listening room is 11' 8" wide. I used to have my Magnepan 3.6 across the width. Now I have my 20.7 there. No problems. 

[SteveFord]

zuluwarrior,
Did those 20.7s work for you?