Thanks for the comments guys. The last two weeks of waiting were long weeks. Nirvana at last! Rich, it must have been hell waiting as long as you did for your outstanding speakers.
Thanks for the comments guys. The last two weeks of waiting were long weeks. Nirvana at last! Rich, it must have been hell waiting as long as you did for your outstanding speakers.
I completely agree
That's why we are all waiting for the 20.7's
The 20.1 uses larger panels than the 3.x... I believe Wendell is on record saying a 20.2 is not in development but who knows... They may be working quietly on scaling up the QR panel manufacturing as we speak!
Alas, low sensitivity is a trade for panels, I am not sure it is possible to significantly improve. Maybe once room-temp superconductors are practical they can implement SC magnets and wiring, that should help!
Fred, enjoy!
It's been a stark contrast around here since yesterday. Coming from 97db Klipsch speakers to 86db Magneplanars. The difference clearly shows up on the volume knob. But I can't kid myself in light of the stark reality. The Maggies beat any Klipsch I have ever heard by a wide margin. So if it's just question of watts, I can address that and have quite a good time doing it.
Hi Fred,
Congratulations again, for finally experiencing the Maggies. I can feel what you feel at the moment, as I had the same feeling when I first heard the Maggies in my own place - I was smiling and there was joy in my heart. I had some 'fear' or reservations that the 2.7QR would not measure up to the B&W 800s (which Lewis Lipnick proclaimed as perfect in a Stereophile review). The B&Ws were highly efficient too at 90 or 91db if I'm not mistaken but when I played a CD of the OST of The Mambo Kings with lots of horns and percussion, I thought to myself then that the Maggie did not only hold its own against the big 800s but was actually giving them a run for its money. At this point (14 years and running), I would still say that the transparency, openness, balanced projection of soundstage width, depth and height, and the palpable midband (Maureen McGovern never sounded more lush) are traits that makes me 'not' miss my 800s. Nothing much had interested me that was not 4 or 5x the amount I paid for my Maggies. That only thing ultimately that I miss is the tremendous bass volume and impact the B&W woofers produce but I have accepted that as a worthy trade off, specially when the price I paid for is considered - if I'm not mistaken, $1995 vs. $12,000 SRP. The direct effect is that I don't play my Telarc LPs like '1812' and 'Straussfest' that much.
Excellent post Phil. I can only imagine the shock and awe factor of those 800's during the cannon fire on the 1812. Surely must have been a jolting experience. I think though, that mating the Maggies with the right woofer/sub would accomplish the exact experience and still bring all of those special Maggie qualities that you mentioned. And, BTW, I notice them too. I'm going to break out my original vinyl pressing of Ricky Lee Jones first LP in a bit. Talk about the shear quality of the female voice. Now, that's an album.
I had a heckuva a time finding a sub I liked back in the 80's. I ended up building my own servo design back when such designs were extremely rare and "new". I used a LDI control circuit and dual voice coil driver from an Infinity QLS, with the lo-Z coil providing feedback. It was 3 dB down to 16 Hz and sounded great to me (and all who listened though they could have just been being nice to me) after I finally got it all dialed in. I must brag that we stuck it in several DBT's around the region and it fared very well, winning or at the top compared to some very pricey competition. Still have the system, but I am now using a pair of Rythmik F12's. I do prefer dual subs rather than a single LFE-type system, partly because of localization and such.
Took delivery of the 1.7's last night. Setup was suprisingly easy. Didn't spend too much time positioning as I wanted to just get into them. I have them about 3 feet off the rear wall and 14 inches off the side walls. Initial impression is I can't believe I waited so long! Second initial impression, I need more power. The Jolida sounds very good, but it runs out of gas too soon. That fact really shows up on vinyl with the lower signal.
But! What a great sound. Nice detail, transparency and resolution. I'm getting a glimpse of the slam that these speakers possess but really need more horsepower to really bring that out. The best sound is actually coming from my old Dokorder open reel player. A few tapes that I made at 7.5ips have some detail in them that I hadn't heard before.
These are great speakers guys. Easily worth every penny and then some. Build quality is first rate. They appear to be sturdy and fit n finish is spot on.
It's raining outside right now so I get a break from yard work and get to spend the entire day doing the tango with my new Maggies. Maybe by Sunday night I'll have found the perfect setup for them.
Almost forgot, sound stage is huge! Wide, deep and tall, but of course you already knew that didn't you.
Hi
I would invite my fellow Magnepan-philes to look into subwoofers more seriously. There is lot of misinformation and myths floating in the audiophile world about subwoofers. These need to be debunked and dispeled.
At the outset let me hasten to tell you that I am no "flat-earther" objectivist by that those who think that everything sound the same. I don't share that extreme view. I do believe that electronics and speakers do sound different. I believe in room treatment and I believe in the physics of sound reproduction. A scientific endeavor.
On this the proper reproduction of bass is the foundation of music.. Any music..from chamber music to hip-hop or New Age, Any Music... Even the human voice reproduction, benefits from the proper reproduction of the lows in one's listening room. In most instances, one needs subwoofers, notice the plural. One of the most pervasive myths in the high end audio sphere, is that of the "slow" subwoofers not able to keep up with the "fast" panels. This simply is not true. It doesn't mean that there aren't out there bad subwoofers. There are and several, sometimes expensive ones. No it means that good , competent subwoofers can integrate with ANY speakers... And Magnepan is no exception. One can integrate the Maggies with subwoofers and the results when they are properly dialed in, are heavenly. It takes work, lot of work. It takes an open mind to experiment. For example one of the best product for bass mangement I know of is the behringer DCX-2496, I am sure it is heresy for many audiophiles, yet this unit is superior to anything one is likely to find in subwoofers at ANY price.
The thread is not about subwoofers but about Magneoan. Supplementing Magnepan with subwoofers will take what are already very good to excellent speakers to SOTA levels, at a (small) fraction of the price. I prefer DIY subs but understand that it is not for everybody (including myself ). A system comprised of the Magnepan 3.7 with a pair (would have preferred a trio) of Paradigm SUB-1 subwoofers will only be surpassed by speakers costing well over 7 times the price... Such a super-Maggie system will set you back $15,500 MSRP... This could be my next speaker system, the more I think of it
*** For example one of the best product for bass mangement I know of is the behringer DCX-2496, I am sure it is heresy for many audiophiles, yet this unit is superior to anything one is likely to find in subwoofers at ANY price.
That is true. An even cheaper approach that takes up less space and is also IMO easier to do because one isn't dealing with unbalanced-balanced adapters and consumer vs. pro level issues, is the miniDSP
My wife has given me the go-ahead on the 1.7s. Will be adding these at the end of the month. Probably have the new KT120s in the amp by then as well.
My wife has given me the go-ahead on the 1.7s. Will be adding these at the end of the month. Probably have the new KT120s in the amp by then as well.
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