[geowak]

I will be updating my speakers at the end of this year. My budget will be between $4500 and $6000
I have always been curious about Magnean speakers. Now the 3.7 comes out and with a better low end. People are talking about them.....

So here's the question. Give me at least five (5) reasons why I should listen and get a pair of any pair of Magnepan. I figured you guys/gals are the ones who own them, love them and can describe the sound.

I will be using quality McCormack gear. Benchmark DAC. Rega CD. Squeezbox modded Transporter

[pelliott321]

If you have a room that allows 3 plus feet behind and a couple of feet on the sides, then purchase any mag that has the ribbon tweeter.  Then you would be into hearing the most life like sound you ever have. 

[giantsteps]

 I've had various incarnations. They sound great. If you are single......no WAF problems ....go for them. They take up a lot of space. Any chance you can hear them?



Frank

[Elizabeth]

1) folks either love Magnepans or hate them. If you do not HATE them, then you are a future lover!
2) nothing else gives so much for the price. Magnepans are a great bargain. and hold resale value way beyond normal for a speaker.
3) The open, expansive beauty of the Magnepan playing music is wonderful. With good electronics $5,000 speakers can be right up there with the best.
4) you will be the envy of thousands with new 3.7s. Gloat freely!
5) Audition Magnepans for a few hours. Then listen to a box speaker. It is just a box! You can HEAR it is just a box. Magnepans are way more than a box playing music.
Hope this helps.
I own Magnepan 3.6s bought new this last Spring

[giantsteps]

If you have a room that allows 3 plus feet behind and a couple of feet on the sides, then purchase any mag that has the ribbon tweeter.  Then you would be into hearing the most life like sound you ever have.

 



  Frank

[Gopher]

I haven't heard them in years, but my first good speakers were Maggies, MMGs followed by an upgrade to 1.6QRs.

They were very special, fun sounding speakers.  I changed speakers from the 1.6s due to leaving my gigantic college apartment (was nice going to school somewhere dirt cheap) and explored various bookshelves, and single driver solutions.  Some good, some not.

I've only recently returned to a speaker (Zu) that I get as much pure musical enjoyment out of as the Maggies gave me. 

I'm not saying buy them blind, but they are certainly deserving of an audition.

[David C]

I have owned Dalquist DQ10s, B&W (several), Klipsch La Scalas and Maggie MG3As. Once you hear the maggies, as Elizabeth said ,you will either love them or not. The WAF has them in my basement in a box but I love them. Open, no box sound and very transparent. Give them a listen

[Minn Mark]

I've had  3.6R's for a few years now.

You will hear the 'truth' in any format, so a great recording will sound great, a poor one you  may likely throw away. I've listened to lots of speakers but owned only few. The Maggies are my largest loudspeaker expense to date. I dont ever see selling them unless I'm forced to downsize. It's also about as much as I can afford to spend for speakers, so in their price category I think they rank very highly. I can play anything through them from opera to AC/DC, etc. Vinyl, CD's, tape, TV and DVD are my sources.I have not had such a 'you are there' experience listening to  Wilsons, ML, Harbeth, Revel, Dahlquist, ESS (my old favorite boxes) ,Ohm (although Ohms are pretty sweet), etc.

Mark

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Pro's-

Music will sound live.  You will think that they are playing in front of you.  I have not heard a speaker under $6K sound so live.

Huge sound stage

Great Transparency and detail

Vocals and acoustical instruments are simply amazing.

Cons-

Big

Big

Very revealing. Poor recordings sound like poor recordings.

Big

[SteveFord]

The previous posters said it quite nicely.
Once you get a pair of Maggies broken in, nothing else sounds quite right.
Do you need more of a reason than that?
One thing that you should bear in mind is that they will show up any weak links in your system - they're kind of like giant magnifying glasses that way.
They like a LOT of power, need some room to breathe and a sub crossed over at around 40 hertz completes the package.
I'd like to add that Magnepan provides tremendous service, too.  They're one of the good companies to deal with.

[bbchem]

I went to hear the 1.7s for a new closed in room I built thats 680 SqFt. I had some reservations, as I had the 1.6s and felt that the sound was to closed in, and directional for my taste. This is even with the marvelous sound stage and imaging.

Well I heard them in a store that carried umpteen high brands and had them all playing at the same time. My response was jaw dropping unbelievability!

The picture they painted was as realistic as anything I have heard at any price at any store or audio show. They were wide open, instruments placed in perfect space and smooth uncolored sound to the NTH degree. I purchased them immediately and will never look back. Scratching my head as to how they do that for a price although not cheap, are world class compared to anything out there

[Wind Chaser]

If you have a room that allows 3 plus feet behind and a couple of feet on the sides, then purchase any mag that has the ribbon tweeter.  Then you would be into hearing the most life like sound you ever have.

I found 3' is way too close to the wall.  5' minimum, preferably more. 

[Wind Chaser]

I went to hear the 1.7s for a new closed in room I built thats 680 SqFt. I had some reservations, as I had the 1.6s and felt that the sound was to closed in, and directional for my taste.

That's a huge room!  What are the dimensions and how did you have them set up?

[thunderbrick]

Over the years I have owned or borrowed DQ10s, Thiel, Vanderteen, Martin-Logan and Soundlab.  After reading so much about the 1.6s, and having a jaw-dropping Maggie experience at a friends's home 25 years ago, I decided to give the 1.6s a listen.  I hauled my amp to a dealer 4 hours away but was not impressed.

Puzzled, I ended up buying a used pair while waiting a year to finish my nearly 600 sq ft sound room renovation.

Hooked 'em up, and was astounded, even with a middle-line preamp.  Detail, depth, subtlety, slam, you name it.  Soundstage, especially on vinyl, incredible.  Will clearly show the different recording techniques.  Intimate, live performances are incredible.

Have 'em crossed over at 40HZ with old Dahlquist sub, not the best, but it does give more depth. 

I'd LOVE to be able to afford 1.7s or 3.7s.  Maybe in a few years.

[bbchem]

The room is 30 feet wide by 24 feet long. The speakers are 6 feet apart and facing the 24 feet length.  I am listening to them from about 18 -20 feet away.

The electronics are an Aragon 200 WPC amp and a passive preamp. The source is either a Oppo Blue Ray or a Dac and transport

[ajzepp]

5) Audition Magnepans for a few hours. Then listen to a box speaker. It is just a box! You can HEAR it is just a box. Magnepans are way more than a box playing music.

Yep, Maggies WILL ruin you for just about all other box speakers...so be prepared

[thunderbrick]

That's a huge room!  What are the dimensions and how did you have them set up?

Sorry, 580 square feet, a former two-car garage, 22 x 26 ft with 10' high ceiling.  Speakers on 22' wall, 6' from front wall and 6' from side walls.   Listening chair 6'  from rear wall.   Aside from a few palms, no room treatments.  Yet.

Moscode 300 for mains and Parasound amp for subs.  Plays WAY loud.

EDIT:  Sorry, I quoted the wrong post.   

[timind]

Demo them in your room before making the purchase. Wait.
DEMO THEM IN YOUR ROOM BEFORE MAKING THE PURCHASE!

[Wind Chaser]

The room is 30 feet wide by 24 feet long. The speakers are 6 feet apart and facing the 24 feet length.  I am listening to them from about 18 -20 feet away.

Try spreading them further apart.

[Wind Chaser]

Demo them in your room before making the purchase. Wait.
DEMO THEM IN YOUR ROOM BEFORE MAKING THE PURCHASE!

That's great advice, not just for maggies, but any audio purchase.