Q&A: ua-cam.com/video/1LlPPyfraC4/v-deo.html Part 1: Crazy ribbon speakers for $650 ! Magnepan LRS loudspeaker Sound Review ! ua-cam.com/video/DxZvzWEf-m8/v-deo.html Part 2: How to Place Magnepans: ua-cam.com/video/d3IiH-SjhBE/v-deo.html Part 3: How to amplify: ua-cam.com/video/fw_WSyI1LDI/v-deo.html
Maggies were my first "real" speaker - the MG-IIB that I bought new when I was a kid. Powered by a Conrad-Johnson tube amp. Both companies were new at the time. I've since had other models. Fabulous speakers, and the latest models are the best ones ever.
had magnepan mg 2.1 in the 80,s.I also build copys of apogee duetta in late 80,s.Today for the last 15 years i have developed i active speaker system with 30 inch high and 5 inch wide mid section planar magnetic push pull magnet motor very high senistivity 98db 2 meter 1 watt the mid section is 3 10 inch planar magnetic type drivers with a air motion tweeter between the 1 mid driver and the second.the 3 mid driver placed over the second like in a line source. upper mid have adjustable angle the second mid that is over the tweeter has a fixed angle of 1 degree pointing down slightly the 1 mid under the tweeter is mounted flat.the hole section can be adjusted up or down depending of how high listening position is.They as most planars have no roof or flor reflections.the bass driver i use now is a BMS 12 s330 the system is 3 amped.wher the mid and tweeter section have self build power amplifiers that are quiet(no hiss) they are very linear amps with no negative feedback local or global in them.That make then sound the same at any volum.And they dont osillate at all.have no problem to put them up against krell or mcnthosh amps any day.I read some models of high end amps also use no feedback circuits in their amps, those amps can be able to match the sound quality of the ones i build and use.they was developed from ealry 90.s up to the final and best design around 2002.the one i use for mids and high are a 4 channel quad mono design with 240 000uf capasitor bank in the power supply.The company Bruel Kjær from DK witch does measurement,s of driver etc used those type of power amps for some time.Maybe they still use them?.in a system with high sensitive drivers and active dsp controlled crossover it is critical that the power amps are silent(no hiss) rest of signal chain to of course.Draw back with planars before was low sensitivity.and very low impedance.Today that is not a problem.They are a perfect load for a amp like a resistor,the same ohm at any frekvens.These speakers sound great any place in the room but fantastic in the listening position
Nice description of Magnepans. I have mine for many years and they are absolute fantastic for classical music. Closest to the concert experience in my view for reasonable money. These are best for listening to live recordings. But they need real power-amplifiers and you will find that the type of amplifier makes a real difference. I like mine with NAD amps. And there is another problem: these speakers are making you realize quickly how good the recordings are you are listening to and some turn out to be not that great. Anything compressed like MP3s will sound simply “squeezed” on these and become quickly annoying.
That is a speaker I’ve always wanted to try. I remember the first time hearing some years and years ago ( higher up the model chain) and I was blown away at how clear ( open) these things were, stunningly so.
Excellent report of Magnepan sound in general and how they behave and respond to the air around the panels. I have listened to Maggies from the small ones, 3.X series all the way up to the new 30.7's, which IMO is the best representation of their sound. I currently own 20.7's for 5 years now. If I could fit the 30.7's in my space, I would. I also currently own horn speakers and standard dynamic speakers with ceramic drivers. The only thing I wish for is lowest end response on the panels, but the bass they have is extremely tuneful. I am enjoying your channel. Keep it up! Look forward to Part 2 and 3. Cheers!
@@GH-zs8eq I was using Sanders Magtech Monoblocks before, current amplifiers are the PS Audio BHK 300 monoblocks(tube hybrid). I have sold the Maggies as well. Old post and time/gear moves on. Good luck in your quest.
Hello sir , thank you for sharing your experience, I was former owner of older vintage magnepans many years ago and really enjoyed them. I've wanted to get another new fresh pair. Thank you for emphasizing the importance for GOOD Midrange in the overall sound! Enjoyed your review!👍🏾👍🏾💯. I ve considered utilizing either newer crown XLS series pro amps with magnepans or either a restored vintage Nikko alpha ii amplifier with them to get started!
I've had these for a few days. They're outstanding! I'm running them in a fairly small room using an Adcom GFA535II and a Schiit Lyr 3. The sound is very pure. I'm sure they'd sound even better with a better amp, but they sound great with the lowly Adcom.
New subscriber here. I last listened to Magnepan was about 30 years ago. I so wanted them at the time... They were so expensive!!! I loved the spaciousness of the sound !!!! At that time... they really needed a subwoofer, but... I was still blown away. I cannot imagine what they sound like today. Which would I choose? These Magnepans or a pair of Hooters girls. I'll take the speakers and leave it at that!!! I currently have several Kirksaeter speakers... I'm so sad they have gone out of business. My friends are shocked at how good they sound. I can only imagine what they would think about the Magnepans. Peace!
Definitely been enjoying your channel. I Have an opportunity to get a pair MartinLoganan ESL‘s for $1250 a pair. How do you think the magnepan LRS PLUS at $999.00 compare in sound? I was going to look at Hegel amplifier to power them.
THESE or Klipcsh RP600M? I just got the Klipcsh`, really nice speakers. Even with a cheaper A9110 amp (onkyo). I would reccomend you reviewing that amp. I paid 215 euros for that - hell of a deal in my opionion
Back in the day I was auditioning a pair of Magnepan SMG's and of course fell in love with the sound. But the thing that kept me from buying them was the (literal) line of Maggys sitting outside the repair section of the store with blown ribbon tweeters. I returned to the store several times over a period of months and there was always a line of Maggys there waiting for repair.
Thanks for the info. I am shopping for and putting together the best system I can (for my price point and ears) and was looking to purchase a pair of vintage Magnepan planar ribbon speakers ftom the late 70's-early 80's and was wondering what your opinion of these is and anything you might point out. I know all Magneplanar speakers are good and well above the norm. But do you consider vintage Magnepan ribbon speakers comparable, not as good as current, or better than the newer models? I had planned to integrate with a vintage Harmon-Kardon 795i receiver, a vintage Denon RL-60 turntable, and some kind of preamp. What preamp would you recommend that goes well with the magnepans? Any input would be most appreciated, seeing as you seem well versed and experienced withe Magnepans. Be well. Thomas
Magnepan and Quad owner here...people don't realize that Quad makes "regular" box speakers. They make speakers with regular woofers and ribbon tweeters. Honestly some of my favorite speakers. The price to performance ok them is absolutely crazy!
The Next Best Thing Studio Crutchfield just started selling them. I think it would be cool if you did a review of them. It might help them gain some traction!
hi there @soulsik i believe i heard you say in another video that you thought the LRS worked well with Naim electronics - not sure if you've tried them with the naim uniti nova all-in-one. do you think the nova would be a good amp/source to use with the LRS? thanks!
Ok so, pick these up, and mate with a any of the Hegel H series amps correct, well at least no lower than the H90. SO that means the H30 would be like pure Audio bliss then correct?
How do the magnepan lrs compare to floorstanding speakers in the mid frequenties , are they full and sweet/warm sounding ? How do they perform at louder volume (90db) ? I can’t stand speakers that distort at higher volumes. Will the Marantz PM7005 be a good match to the magnepan lrs or do these speakers need more power/current ? The PM7005 has 60 Watt 8 ohm and 80 Watt 4 ohm. I have a stereo pair REL T5i’s so im not worried about bass.
I tried the Magnepan 1.7i few days ago, it was pairing with Moon CD player + Moon Integrated Amp. One of its sound signature is the vocal sounds sweeter, and I really like that. Not sure it was come from the Magnepan or the Moon combo. Do you have any insight might able to share on that?
They look like the smaller versions! I had the larger set you just mentioned which I happy returned due to the fact I wanted a large floor speaker after auditioning these. Bought jbl studio 590s which happen to on sale right now and they made the monitor audio speakers sound like toys! Built like a tank those monitor audio' s but size does matter! A lot! Also proved to me exotic materials and price have very little to do with sound in the end!🤗🤗😎
@@bigjay1970 Yeah, I recall trying a pair of Monitor Audio gold towers and came away underwhelmed. My Adam and Eve powered monitors performed as well for a fraction of the price.
Moved for a better aesthetic, a neater single wall arrangement. 😅 Funny things can & do happen with panel speakers. Years ago, when i got & installed a new s/h Quad system complete with Quad's original Bronze grilled & slightly curved ELS'57 e/stat speakers, 4 or 5 visiting friends who hadn't seen or heard of my new s/h system buy & who arrived in colder weather ...would enter my room & go strait to stand close to the nearest speaker with their back to it, to warm their bum up after coming in from the cold while we went through the "hello, how you been" banter, & i'd quickly learnt (for entertainment's sake) ...to say nothing about what they stood with their backs to until they would (but not always) like "Oh, this heater isn't turned on" & i'd so 'isn't it? is the other?" & they'd often go check the other 'heater' 6 to 7'ft away. Only after i'd squeezed all i could from their "quick warm-up attempt" would i then turn some music on & they'd often laugh after realising they were a speaker but like 1 they'd never seen before. & 9/10 new visitors who hadn't seen them before & didn't need a quick warm-up also thought they were large electric heaters but that wasn't funny like the 'on-entry' bum-warmers!
Excellent job! I really appreciate this review.. I have been thinking about getting these for a while now.. . . guess I am lucky because I have a dealer within 25 miles. will 100% be going tomorrow to pick em up :) ... thanks NBTS
@@Audiojunkabus I had to buy mine from Magnapan, if you are buying them at a store they are ordering just the same as you would. The back order is real, mine took right at 8 weeks.
GO to Stereophile review of these speakers, under measurements, there is a DEEP notch(-6dB) in the freq. resp. curve at around 3kHz.and an artificially elevated bass resp of +10dB at around 90Hz. This type of response will give you an artificial sense of weight to the sound that is non-balance sound reproduction. This explanation is for those who are technically inclined, pls ignore this for those who don't. Thks for your my indulgence.
The 3khz range is where you’ll typically see dips put in because that’s where our hearing is the most sensitive to perceived brightness. For whatever reason, people think brightness is the very high treble (incorrectly). Bass response is typically aided by the room under 200 hz (especially under 100). That could incorrectly make the speaker seem more dynamic as a trick. Personally, I’d EQ that out and then blend in multiple subwoofers. If you use multiples, the drivers will barely have to move and can seamlessly integrate as high as you’d want (within reason).
@@Cujobob I have seen MANY resp. curves generated by J Atkinson, I am sure he is consistent with his measurements, none of them with the bass response as high as those generated by LRS. LRS is designed for users so that they can feel MORE bass response from these cheap speakers, in real live electrostatic/planar speakers has not much bass. Electr. owners should really get a woofer/subwoofer to complement these speakers instead of elevated bass response, subwoofers are cheap nowadays.
tean tan do you think his measurements could be inaccurate due to the type of speaker technology? I’m not sure if a pure ribbon speaker would be harder to measure (particularly at low frequencies). I’ve heard really good things about these so far and I’m curious. I have plenty of good amplifiers to pair with it.
@@yttean98 yup I have a Tympani I , it bumped my kappa 9, and rsIb ,rsII, renaissance 80 to the basement with ease. .. Measurements means nothing , especially not considered we have audiophiles. That spend 4k on speaker wires, that proven measure worse than a generic cheap copper cable. Owell .... Does it sound great? Nobody really cares about the measuring part. I do agree, subs GREATLY benefits them goes for any model . Mine are cut off at 60hz also you talk about peaks , was this measured in a anechoic chamber I bet not .
Would you want to listen to 80's Pop (Phil Collins, Depeche Mode, Iron Maiden) or 90's Alternative (Pearl Jam, Metallica, Smashing Pumpkins) on these speakers or would they sound too dull and lifeless? Thanks and nice video!
They sound great with rock. I use subwoofers and, in my experience, it's a myth that they don't sound good with rock and pop. They can't make you literally feel it, but they SOUND great with just about anything. The qualities inherent to the songs come thru.
The only person that can answer this question is you. Nobody can tell what speaker is better. Everyone hears differently and has different tastes, so you need to get out and listen for yourself and determine what sounds good to your ears and not on someones opinion. I own a Delcoid satellite/passive subwoofer setup myself, but if I had to replace them, I'd get Magnepans. Magnepans like high current amps, so don't drive them with a POS Crown or other cheap amp. I'd start with maybe a Schiit Vidar, Rotel, or an Outlaw amp. Good luck !
Magnpan's FAQ says regarding amps: "The short answer is direct-coupled, class A/B designs with high current capability." They go onto say to look for amps that double their power into 4 Ohms as a guide to knowing if the amp is high quality. It's all right here: www.magnepan.com/faq#receivers. I'm not saying every amp that meets these req's is great, but without them, you can probably forget it with Maggies.
I do not understand why any speaker would play faster or slower than any other speaker. I must be misunderstanding you. I thought the speed was in the signal, not the component. Thanks for the video.
I am thinking of actually making a series on the subwoofer to go with the magnepan LRS because Ive tried few that worked great. Just trying to find one that doesnt cost more than the speaker
If these speakers are more favoured over "normal" speakers, how could you go back to "normal" speakers? My speakers are point source FR drivers mounted just above the speaker hole and the sound from the rear of the cone escapes through the gap (1cm gap for 3" drivers 1.5 cm for up to 5" drivers). Use longer speaker screws and soft sprinkler hose for spacers and tweak the gap for the best sound! Gap different from top to bottom screws to angle driver up a bit. And the speaker hole is acoustically treated like a bass vent with a very short hole size tube (2"deep). And make box 4 times larger than "normal" size. It's semi dipole and you get a sound seemingly similar to how you described the with the Magnipans. And I WON'T listen to "normal" speakers again. And I also get a "live" exp and sometimes I get startled (with some recordings) and think there is someone in my room. It gets so bad that sometimes I have to turn it down to know if a sound is in my system or in the room or outside. Once I heard a fighter jet scramble over our house at low altitude but when I looked out the window, nothing. Then I put my ear near the speaker and it was the speakers. I demonstrated the speakers at my friend's place (outside) under a roof only. And there was a voice out in the distance...and the dog suddenly barked and my friend said "someone's yelling out". And it was someone yelling in the crowd (in my speakers) on a live recording (before the first song started). And another time when I demonstrated them, there was an IMMEDIATE response that was positive (after like a couple of seconds). That blew me out! How could you listen to "normal" speakers again? Try it.. you already know how to make them. Run with a sub set very low level and hear it. A single 5" driver in floor standers.
so where do you get them? I called my local magnepan dealer and they said they don't carry them. only the .7 and up. I can't find them anywhere on line. whats an awesome cheap speaker worth if it's unavailable. kinda sick of the 1950's business model where you sell your products through dealers only.
bookie60 you can order them directly from Magnipan in White Bear Lake Minnesota. It’s always been this way you cannot get the MMGi or LRS from anyone besides them. ;)
It’s mostly overstated, but the specs on a sub will say how high it can be used (200 hz, 100 hz, etc) and that’s a good indicator. I would mostly recommend using multiple subs as Earl Geddes has suggested for his multi sub method.
On the other hand, although the vocal sounds sweeter and the overall tonality sounds neutral,; perhaps because of the 1.7i dispersion, I feel the singer has a very "big mouth", it sounds pretty good overally, however feeling a bit unreal sometimes. I don't believe anyone can really sing like that... Also the make of the Magnepan isn't feeling so premium, I wish they can come out with some medium to smaller size panel that looks luxury. I can see they will get rule out when they compares with some speakers have nice and premium cabinet. Just my thoughts.
This is not a RIBBON speaker. It’s a PLANAR MAGNETIC speaker. The only true ribbon driver Magnepan uses is their tweeter in the upper end 3.7, 20.7, and 30.7 speakers. The midrange and bass drivers have always been planar magnetic despite their claim of quasi ribbon claim.
you did show the proper pix. 1 women playing music. that is what the speakers do well . Open baffle to me get bass , transparency easy set up also The only thing i would want is the 4,s that you talked about. Duder, when you hit 27 y.o. time to fly the coop
excellent review - i recent auditioned the 20.7 without a sub and then with a sub. Without its missing punch in the lower bass. great speaker but not for me.
MISLEADING TITLE. They are NOT ribbon speakers. The maker says they are planar magnetic, quasi ribbon design. Only their high end models have true ribbons.
Guys... I don't have wrong amps. I've had naim. Parasound. Bryston. Schiit. hegel. Mcintosh...Etc etc with magnepans... I never said I prefer the buchardts all the time. But sure... 7/10 I would. This is like apples to oranges. Buchardt is just below 3 times the price of the magnepan lrs... Buchardts would have not gotten rave reviews if it lost out to a $650 speaker... Even accounting for how magnepan punches above its weight class due to its simple design.
Yesss, Maggie’s are definitely amazing. Using the 1.7i’s atm & find em way too bright (not like Klipsh tho 😂 ) so instead of installing just the fixed resistor to attenuate that “high end Maggie glare”... been using a potentiometer instead & can adjust it accordingly, which helps a lot imho. Amp is a Lyngdorf TDAI 3400 (& the MP60 soon with even more LRS😜) It pairs up nicely tho IMHO Think their ‘Room Perfect’ is a major key tho with sound & placement issues. Just my 2¢ but ... #Enjoy Enjoy tho bcuz really 👉🏽#MusicIsTheBest🎶🔝💯
Whole damn time im waiting to at least see the speakers.. but now know way more than i wanted about a speaker i still have questions about what the fuck they look like.. should have at least sat in front em or somethin..
@@mr2981 but its not suppose to make a sound at the back. Why shouldnt planars be in a box or at least be in a hole in a wall that goes to a small room full of egg boxes
LOL there's no such thing as a fast subwoofer. Low pass filters inherently remove fast transients from a bass driver. Most audiophiles don't have a fundamental, scientific or engineering knowledge of sound transmission or electronics. They get their education from reading magazines.
Hey Carter. There certainly is something called a "fast subwoofer" - it's called filters that exists in every subwoofer. Also, lower mass moves faster than higher mass. - it is basic science. cheers
MDude, they are talking about the physical properties of drivers. Less mass drivers are easier to stop, higher mass (heavier materials and cone size) drivers require bigger motors (magnets) to start and stop.
@@Jayiyagi Filters inside a subwoofer exist to remove undesired frequencies for a subwoofer. Typically in a subwoofer a bandpass filter is applied (combination of high-pass to prevent very low, potentially damaging frequencies and a variable low pass filter to match high-pass filter set for satellites and to remove frequencies that can be localized the human ear..low mass membrane on a driver has a higher resonant frequency, that's why they are used for midrange and tweeter drivers. To have a low mass driver with a high resonance is counter productive to a subwoofer driver. The perception of speed in a subwoofer is a result of it playing higher frequencies than a subwoofer that resonates lower. In a full range speaker what you may perceive as fast transients in the bass are more likely to be produced by midrange and treble drivers that are well timed with each other. You don't really want a subwoofer alone to be fast unless you want to hear high frequencies out of it for whatever reason. Other multitude of things could be happening to skew your perception or "speed" in a bass driver. There's a real science behind speaker design and it's important to properly understand what really happening rather than blurting out buzzwords picked up from magazine reviews.
Instead of blablabla for half an hour, why wouldn’t you just play a song for us to see how they sound? Preferably comparing to your favourite box speakers?
Yes. A few seconds of actual sound, despite the losses in the microphones and compressions, etc. would demonstrate the open quality and transient responses of Magnepan.
How do the magnepan lrs compare to floorstanding speakers in the mid frequenties , are they full and sweet/warm sounding ? How do they perform at louder volume (90db) ? I can’t stand speakers that distort at higher volumes. Will the Marantz PM7005 be a good match to the magnepan lrs or do these speakers need more power/current ? The PM7005 has 60 Watt 8 ohm and 80 Watt 4 ohm. I have a stereo pair REL T5i’s so im not worried about bass.
Maggies reproduce audio presence closest to being there. It does not bode well for studiorized sound (radio pop). With the right amplifier, Its very well suited for home theatre cinematic experience but not for mtv or rave. It will show up every nuances and issues with recording equipment. What is fed into it, it will reproduce its recorded engineering qualities and capabilities. It needs a current amplifier not a big wattage only amplifier. Meaning if the amplifier has 2ohm specs shown, its ok. At the very least, a spec'd 4ohm output. Bigger wattage gives you more audio presence. Similar to listening to a bowing bass violin at 1m compared to 10m away. Simple analogy, cone speakers are like comparing to, poking a pool of water and seeing how high the waves are. Maggies are smacking the same pool of water. Both poking and smacking at the same power of course.
Q&A: ua-cam.com/video/1LlPPyfraC4/v-deo.html
Part 1: Crazy ribbon speakers for $650 ! Magnepan LRS loudspeaker Sound Review ! ua-cam.com/video/DxZvzWEf-m8/v-deo.html
Part 2: How to Place Magnepans: ua-cam.com/video/d3IiH-SjhBE/v-deo.html
Part 3: How to amplify: ua-cam.com/video/fw_WSyI1LDI/v-deo.html
You are the most honest and thoughtful reviewer! Great job!
Maggies were my first "real" speaker - the MG-IIB that I bought new when I was a kid. Powered by a Conrad-Johnson tube amp. Both companies were new at the time. I've since had other models. Fabulous speakers, and the latest models are the best ones ever.
You explained the Magnepan speakers very well. Thankyou!
had magnepan mg 2.1 in the 80,s.I also build copys of apogee duetta in late 80,s.Today for the last 15 years i have developed i active speaker system with 30 inch high and 5 inch wide mid section planar magnetic push pull magnet motor very high senistivity 98db 2 meter 1 watt the mid section is 3 10 inch planar magnetic type drivers with a air motion tweeter between the 1 mid driver and the second.the 3 mid driver placed over the second like in a line source. upper mid have adjustable angle the second mid that is over the tweeter has a fixed angle of 1 degree pointing down slightly the 1 mid under the tweeter is mounted flat.the hole section can be adjusted up or down depending of how high listening position is.They as most planars have no roof or flor reflections.the bass driver i use now is a BMS 12 s330 the system is 3 amped.wher the mid and tweeter section have self build power amplifiers that are quiet(no hiss) they are very linear amps with no negative feedback local or global in them.That make then sound the same at any volum.And they dont osillate at all.have no problem to put them up against krell or mcnthosh amps any day.I read some models of high end amps also use no feedback circuits in their amps, those amps can be able to match the sound quality of the ones i build and use.they was developed from ealry 90.s up to the final and best design around 2002.the one i use for mids and high are a 4 channel quad mono design with 240 000uf capasitor bank in the power supply.The company Bruel Kjær from DK witch does measurement,s of driver etc used those type of power amps for some time.Maybe they still use them?.in a system with high sensitive drivers and active dsp controlled crossover it is critical that the power amps are silent(no hiss) rest of signal chain to of course.Draw back with planars before was low sensitivity.and very low impedance.Today that is not a problem.They are a perfect load for a amp like a resistor,the same ohm at any frekvens.These speakers sound great any place in the room but fantastic in the listening position
Thanks for the fair and rational appraisal of where these speakers fit into the 'panel universe' out there!
Nice description of Magnepans. I have mine for many years and they are absolute fantastic for classical music. Closest to the concert experience in my view for reasonable money. These are best for listening to live recordings. But they need real power-amplifiers and you will find that the type of amplifier makes a real difference. I like mine with NAD amps. And there is another problem: these speakers are making you realize quickly how good the recordings are you are listening to and some turn out to be not that great. Anything compressed like MP3s will sound simply “squeezed” on these and become quickly annoying.
Found your channel last week - loving it! Very informative and well done!
That is a speaker I’ve always wanted to try. I remember the first time hearing some years and years ago ( higher up the model chain) and I was blown away at how clear ( open) these things were, stunningly so.
MAGGIES ARE FANTASTIC!
I remember listening to a tube preamp & solid state power amp with ribbon speakers.
Sounded really nice.
Good review! You helped me to understand these speakers, and made me want to hear them!
Arrived via FedEx today, Sunday morning. Crazy.
Replaced my broken MMGs.
Should be a fun afternoon....
What do you think of the LRSs?
Excellent report of Magnepan sound in general and how they behave and respond to the air around the panels. I have listened to Maggies from the small ones, 3.X series all the way up to the new 30.7's, which IMO is the best representation of their sound. I currently own 20.7's for 5 years now. If I could fit the 30.7's in my space, I would. I also currently own horn speakers and standard dynamic speakers with ceramic drivers. The only thing I wish for is lowest end response on the panels, but the bass they have is extremely tuneful.
I am enjoying your channel. Keep it up! Look forward to Part 2 and 3.
Cheers!
Hi what are you driving your 20.7s with? Any good amplifier (or hopefully even tube amp) recommendations? :) thanks!
@@GH-zs8eq I was using Sanders Magtech Monoblocks before, current amplifiers are the PS Audio BHK 300 monoblocks(tube hybrid). I have sold the Maggies as well. Old post and time/gear moves on. Good luck in your quest.
@@Roo-n9j haha thanks for sharing! Did you pair the BHK monoblocks with the 20.7s? How did they fare?
@@GH-zs8eq superb. Better than Talk monoblocks, Magtech and Bryston that I had tried
@@Roo-n9j ooh naise! Will consider the bhk in future! Thanks for your recommendation! Haha i suppose the BHKs are the best you tried w the 20.7s?
I have always wanted a pair of Magnepans.Maybe I'll try a pair of LRS's in the near future.Oh and i like the fact that they are 4ohm 👍👌
Why do you like 4ohm? It makes it a pain to power them.
What's your view on Magnepan 1.7i or .7 compared to tekton double impact?
Hello sir , thank you for sharing your experience, I was former owner of older vintage magnepans many years ago and really enjoyed them. I've wanted to get another new fresh pair. Thank you for emphasizing the importance for GOOD Midrange in the overall sound! Enjoyed your review!👍🏾👍🏾💯. I ve considered utilizing either newer crown XLS series pro amps with magnepans or either a restored vintage Nikko alpha ii amplifier with them to get started!
Any chance you try the Outlaw RR 2160 integrated amp with your LRS?
I've had these for a few days. They're outstanding! I'm running them in a fairly small room using an Adcom GFA535II and a Schiit Lyr 3. The sound is very pure. I'm sure they'd sound even better with a better amp, but they sound great with the lowly Adcom.
Thanks man, Great description... Some open baffle servo subs would probably be pair nicely... Thanks for your time. Catch ya on the next one. 👍✌️
You and your peace signs. Lol. Cya ✌
@@Jayiyagi got it from Sean. ZF. He says it ,I post it.. lol. That way everyone knows it's me.. later ✌️
New subscriber here. I last listened to Magnepan was about 30 years ago. I so wanted them at the time... They were so expensive!!!
I loved the spaciousness of the sound !!!! At that time... they really needed a subwoofer, but... I was still blown away. I cannot imagine what they sound like today. Which would I choose? These Magnepans or a pair of Hooters girls. I'll take the speakers and leave it
at that!!! I currently have several Kirksaeter speakers... I'm so sad they have gone out of business. My friends are shocked at how good they sound. I can only imagine what they would think about the Magnepans. Peace!
Definitely been enjoying your channel.
I Have an opportunity to get a pair MartinLoganan ESL‘s for $1250 a pair. How do you think the magnepan LRS PLUS at $999.00 compare in sound? I was going to look at Hegel amplifier to power them.
THESE or Klipcsh RP600M? I just got the Klipcsh`, really nice speakers. Even with a cheaper A9110 amp (onkyo). I would reccomend you reviewing that amp. I paid 215 euros for that - hell of a deal in my opionion
did you watch the video? he talks about it in comparison to the RP600M. LOL
@@sdads7531 i need bit more than 10 seconds at the very end of the video :D
Back in the day I was auditioning a pair of Magnepan SMG's and of course fell in love with the sound. But the thing that kept me from buying them was the (literal) line of Maggys sitting outside the repair section of the store with blown ribbon tweeters. I returned to the store several times over a period of months and there was always a line of Maggys there waiting for repair.
Speakers breaking? How?
Thanks for the info. I am shopping for and putting together the best system I can (for my price point and ears) and was looking to purchase a pair of vintage Magnepan planar ribbon speakers ftom the late 70's-early 80's and was wondering what your opinion of these is and anything you might point out. I know all Magneplanar speakers are good and well above the norm. But do you consider vintage Magnepan ribbon speakers comparable, not as good as current, or better than the newer models? I had planned to integrate with a vintage Harmon-Kardon 795i receiver, a vintage Denon RL-60 turntable, and some kind of preamp. What preamp would you recommend that goes well with the magnepans? Any input would be most appreciated, seeing as you seem well versed and experienced withe Magnepans. Be well. Thomas
I have a Marantz vintage 50 watt per. I also have a 25watt per TUBE AMP>>>>Will they work?
Magnepan and Quad owner here...people don't realize that Quad makes "regular" box speakers. They make speakers with regular woofers and ribbon tweeters. Honestly some of my favorite speakers. The price to performance ok them is absolutely crazy!
Quad box speakers are outstanding. I agree !
The Next Best Thing Studio Crutchfield just started selling them. I think it would be cool if you did a review of them. It might help them gain some traction!
New to me!
Nice review! Wondering how this compares to my Dynaudio Contour 1.3MKII's :)
hi there @soulsik i believe i heard you say in another video that you thought the LRS worked well with Naim electronics - not sure if you've tried them with the naim uniti nova all-in-one. do you think the nova would be a good amp/source to use with the LRS? thanks!
Yes 👍
Where can you demo these in Toronto? How about the specs and frequency response? The MagnePan website is very 1990s.
Ok so, pick these up, and mate with a any of the Hegel H series amps correct, well at least no lower than the H90. SO that means the H30 would be like pure Audio bliss then correct?
Would love to know if these do well with the emotiva pa1 monoblocks.
P A , means public address
system use the amp for crowd control or ice cream trucks use them to play music blowing in the streets
, Yes
Very helpful! I actually acquiring the LRS using a Billie Amp.
Any experience with the new NAD d-class amplifiers with these speakers?
hi, hows the schiit vidar combo and LRS in stereo mode? Doesn't the LRS trigger the thermal switch of the amp? Thank You for the vid
How do the magnepan lrs compare to floorstanding speakers in the mid frequenties , are they full and sweet/warm sounding ? How do they perform at louder volume (90db) ? I can’t stand speakers that distort at higher volumes.
Will the Marantz PM7005 be a good match to the magnepan lrs or do these speakers need more power/current ? The PM7005 has 60 Watt 8 ohm and 80 Watt 4 ohm.
I have a stereo pair REL T5i’s so im not worried about bass.
Great video mate. By the way - is that Monitor Audio Gold speakers in the background? I like them. Cheers
Hey thanks for doing an in-depth multi part video on the Magnepans. I’m currently looking at used 20.1’s. Keep up the great work.
How's does it compare to buchard S400 speakers
Should i get the Martin Logan Theos or LRS?
I tried the Magnepan 1.7i few days ago, it was pairing with Moon CD player + Moon Integrated Amp. One of its sound signature is the vocal sounds sweeter, and I really like that. Not sure it was come from the Magnepan or the Moon combo. Do you have any insight might able to share on that?
Are those Monitor Audio Gold 100s behind you?
They look like the smaller versions! I had the larger set you just mentioned which I happy returned due to the fact I wanted a large floor speaker after auditioning these. Bought jbl studio 590s which happen to on sale right now and they made the monitor audio speakers sound like toys! Built like a tank those monitor audio' s but size does matter! A lot! Also proved to me exotic materials and price have very little to do with sound in the end!🤗🤗😎
@@bigjay1970 Yeah, I recall trying a pair of Monitor Audio gold towers and came away underwhelmed. My Adam and Eve powered monitors performed as well for a fraction of the price.
Do you prefer listening to acoustic & vocal music with the LRS or buchardt s400?
Buchardt s400 if im feeling like a man and the magnepan lrs if i feel sentimental.
Would the REL Ti series subwoofer pair well with these Magnepan speakers?
Yes ..
Moved for a better aesthetic, a neater single wall arrangement.
😅 Funny things can & do happen with panel speakers. Years ago, when i got & installed a new s/h Quad system complete with Quad's original Bronze grilled & slightly curved ELS'57 e/stat speakers, 4 or 5 visiting friends who hadn't seen or heard of my new s/h system buy & who arrived in colder weather ...would enter my room & go strait to stand close to the nearest speaker with their back to it, to warm their bum up after coming in from the cold while we went through the "hello, how you been" banter, & i'd quickly learnt (for entertainment's sake) ...to say nothing about what they stood with their backs to until they would (but not always) like "Oh, this heater isn't turned on" & i'd so 'isn't it? is the other?" & they'd often go check the other 'heater' 6 to 7'ft away. Only after i'd squeezed all i could from their "quick warm-up attempt" would i then turn some music on & they'd often laugh after realising they were a speaker but like 1 they'd never seen before. & 9/10 new visitors who hadn't seen them before & didn't need a quick warm-up also thought they were large electric heaters but that wasn't funny like the 'on-entry' bum-warmers!
Excellent job! I really appreciate this review.. I have been thinking about getting these for a while now.. . . guess I am lucky because I have a dealer within 25 miles. will 100% be going tomorrow to pick em up :) ... thanks NBTS
They supposedly don't sell the LRS in stores!🤔😎
actually they are available ONLY in-store with a 10-12 week back order :(
@@Audiojunkabus I had to buy mine from Magnapan, if you are buying them at a store they are ordering just the same as you would. The back order is real, mine took right at 8 weeks.
@@scottyo64 I think that is a over the phone order and not online, correct?
GO to Stereophile review of these speakers, under measurements, there is a DEEP notch(-6dB) in the freq. resp. curve at around 3kHz.and an artificially elevated bass resp of +10dB at around 90Hz. This type of response will give you an artificial sense of weight to the sound that is non-balance sound reproduction. This explanation is for those who are technically inclined, pls ignore this for those who don't. Thks for your my indulgence.
The 3khz range is where you’ll typically see dips put in because that’s where our hearing is the most sensitive to perceived brightness. For whatever reason, people think brightness is the very high treble (incorrectly).
Bass response is typically aided by the room under 200 hz (especially under 100). That could incorrectly make the speaker seem more dynamic as a trick. Personally, I’d EQ that out and then blend in multiple subwoofers. If you use multiples, the drivers will barely have to move and can seamlessly integrate as high as you’d want (within reason).
@@Cujobob I have seen MANY resp. curves generated by J Atkinson, I am sure he is consistent with his measurements, none of them with the bass response as high as those generated by LRS.
LRS is designed for users so that they can feel MORE bass response from these cheap speakers, in real live electrostatic/planar speakers has not much bass. Electr. owners should really get a woofer/subwoofer to complement these speakers instead of elevated bass response, subwoofers are cheap nowadays.
tean tan do you think his measurements could be inaccurate due to the type of speaker technology? I’m not sure if a pure ribbon speaker would be harder to measure (particularly at low frequencies).
I’ve heard really good things about these so far and I’m curious. I have plenty of good amplifiers to pair with it.
@@yttean98 yup I have a Tympani I , it bumped my kappa 9, and rsIb ,rsII, renaissance 80 to the basement with ease. ..
Measurements means nothing , especially not considered we have audiophiles. That spend 4k on speaker wires, that proven measure worse than a generic cheap copper cable.
Owell .... Does it sound great? Nobody really cares about the measuring part. I do agree, subs GREATLY benefits them goes for any model . Mine are cut off at 60hz also you talk about peaks , was this measured in a anechoic chamber I bet not .
GR Research (Rythmic) servo sub is super fast starting just over $500.
Where’s the sound review.?!
You should say a review on the speaker!
Would you want to listen to 80's Pop (Phil Collins, Depeche Mode, Iron Maiden) or 90's Alternative (Pearl Jam, Metallica, Smashing Pumpkins) on these speakers or would they sound too dull and lifeless? Thanks and nice video!
Ive seen people do that and swear by it. My thought? - I would go for a boxed design for these songs but thats just me
@@ThujanK 😂😂😂😂 its all about fun anyways
Definitely!
They sound great with rock. I use subwoofers and, in my experience, it's a myth that they don't sound good with rock and pop. They can't make you literally feel it, but they SOUND great with just about anything. The qualities inherent to the songs come thru.
Wich one are more punchy or dinamic ? I mean better speakers all arround ,magnepan or buchard S 400 ?
Very different. S400 would be categorized as a better speaker overall. It also costs more
@@Jayiyagi thank you so much for your reply , I'm looking for my end game or reference speaker but I don't want to spend crazy amount of money
@@TexasCorgiGun whats crazy is relative but either speaker will serve you well.
The only person that can answer this question is you. Nobody can tell what speaker is better. Everyone hears differently and has different tastes, so you need to get out and listen for yourself and determine what sounds good to your ears and not on someones opinion. I own a Delcoid satellite/passive subwoofer setup myself, but if I had to replace them, I'd get Magnepans. Magnepans like high current amps, so don't drive them with a POS Crown or other cheap amp. I'd start with maybe a Schiit Vidar, Rotel, or an Outlaw amp. Good luck !
Michael Silva end game will probably be Klipsch RP-8000F Will do what most ppl will need.
Magnpan's FAQ says regarding amps: "The short answer is direct-coupled, class A/B designs with high current capability." They go onto say to look for amps that double their power into 4 Ohms as a guide to knowing if the amp is high quality. It's all right here: www.magnepan.com/faq#receivers. I'm not saying every amp that meets these req's is great, but without them, you can probably forget it with Maggies.
Single tube hybrid headphone amp from eBay it is then! ;)
I do not understand why any speaker would play faster or slower than any other speaker. I must be misunderstanding you. I thought the speed was in the signal, not the component. Thanks for the video.
Magnepans are great
Dude, is that a Parasound classic I see behind you? Mr. Burns says "excellent...." Any review upcoming?
Any review upcoming? Yes... Indeed...
Would be interesting to see how it compares to RP600m and Elac Debut Reference or even LS50.
I mentioned the ls50 in the q&a and rp600m in this video.
The crazy Starke class D power amp would probably have enough power for the Magnipans.
Is it good with instrumental jazz?
Probably best choice for that.
Great review also the 5 speaker review. I don’t see Wharfedale much in review like 11.2 speaker have you review at all. Ps keep up the good work
Why kind of fast subwoofers would you recommend for the LRS? In the same price range.
I am thinking of actually making a series on the subwoofer to go with the magnepan LRS because Ive tried few that worked great. Just trying to find one that doesnt cost more than the speaker
@@Jayiyagi i have the SVS SB 3000 s .duals. ive had them for about 9 months. Very fast for music. Call SVS , check the website and specs.
You would want a sealed sub. Check SVS sealed subs.
If these speakers are more favoured over "normal" speakers, how could you go back to "normal" speakers?
My speakers are point source FR drivers mounted just above the speaker hole and the sound from the rear of the cone escapes through the gap (1cm gap for 3" drivers 1.5 cm for up to 5" drivers). Use longer speaker screws and soft sprinkler hose for spacers and tweak the gap for the best sound! Gap different from top to bottom screws to angle driver up a bit. And the speaker hole is acoustically treated like a bass vent with a very short hole size tube (2"deep). And make box 4 times larger than "normal" size. It's semi dipole and you get a sound seemingly similar to how you described the with the Magnipans. And I WON'T listen to "normal" speakers again. And I also get a "live" exp and sometimes I get startled (with some recordings) and think there is someone in my room. It gets so bad that sometimes I have to turn it down to know if a sound is in my system or in the room or outside. Once I heard a fighter jet scramble over our house at low altitude but when I looked out the window, nothing. Then I put my ear near the speaker and it was the speakers. I demonstrated the speakers at my friend's place (outside) under a roof only. And there was a voice out in the distance...and the dog suddenly barked and my friend said "someone's yelling out". And it was someone yelling in the crowd (in my speakers) on a live recording (before the first song started). And another time when I demonstrated them, there was an IMMEDIATE response that was positive (after like a couple of seconds). That blew me out! How could you listen to "normal" speakers again? Try it.. you already know how to make them. Run with a sub set very low level and hear it. A single 5" driver in floor standers.
I don't understand. Can you explain. Are you saying you built your own speaker?
so where do you get them? I called my local magnepan dealer and they said they don't carry them. only the .7 and up. I can't find them anywhere on line. whats an awesome cheap speaker worth if it's unavailable. kinda sick of the 1950's business model where you sell your products through dealers only.
bookie60 they have them either the MMG or LRS the LRS is the new one
@@dilbyjones who has them?
bookie60 you can order them directly from Magnipan in White Bear Lake Minnesota. It’s always been this way you cannot get the MMGi or LRS from anyone besides them. ;)
I love all these people asking questions that was literally addressed in the video XD. People want to know but they don't have the attention span. LOL
sdads there’s a video?
@@cigarobsession LOL. no we are all here because he looks like Joseph Gordon-Levitt XD
@@sdads7531 he reminds me more of the korean actor lee byung hun
Where do you order LRS from Canada ?
Google magnepan LRS Canada !
So to be clear you have owned the MMG AND LRS?
Mmgi is the only one i didnt own for the reasons listed
You just said LRS has better sound than MMGi? Just wondering if you actually heard them or are just repeating what you’ve read.
@@dilbyjones everything I say is based on what I heard.
The Next Best Thing Studio I have MMGi and am. Just a bit grumpy because they are same price...lol keep up the good work.
How does one determine how "fast" is a subwoofer ?
It’s mostly overstated, but the specs on a sub will say how high it can be used (200 hz, 100 hz, etc) and that’s a good indicator.
I would mostly recommend using multiple subs as Earl Geddes has suggested for his multi sub method.
"who dare touch my speakers!" :D
My wife was walking by my speakers when she tripped and almost fell. My immediate response was "watch the speakers! are they O.K.?" I'm now divorced.
On the other hand, although the vocal sounds sweeter and the overall tonality sounds neutral,; perhaps because of the 1.7i dispersion, I feel the singer has a very "big mouth", it sounds pretty good overally, however feeling a bit unreal sometimes. I don't believe anyone can really sing like that... Also the make of the Magnepan isn't feeling so premium, I wish they can come out with some medium to smaller size panel that looks luxury. I can see they will get rule out when they compares with some speakers have nice and premium cabinet. Just my thoughts.
Move them 3 to 6 inches closer together should fix the big mouth image.
This is not a RIBBON speaker. It’s a PLANAR MAGNETIC speaker. The only true ribbon driver Magnepan uses is their tweeter in the upper end 3.7, 20.7, and 30.7 speakers. The midrange and bass drivers have always been planar magnetic despite their claim of quasi ribbon claim.
you did show the proper pix.
1 women playing music. that is what the speakers do well . Open baffle to me get bass , transparency easy set up also The only thing i would want is the 4,s
that you talked about.
Duder, when you hit 27 y.o. time to fly the coop
Wow you lit them up. I think I may do the same.
I do not advise. That was all photoshop lol
The Next Best Thing Studio Ah man!!! I actually think I could light it up though.
@@epi2045 at your own risk lol
That would inject noise
Where is exactly the review here?
excellent review - i recent auditioned the 20.7 without a sub and then with a sub. Without its missing punch in the lower bass. great speaker but not for me.
I thought Magnepan sold a separate ribbon bass panel to go with this?
Yes and I mentioned it in the video
@@Jayiyagi must have missed that. :0)
@@alext2933 thats ok. Its a long video lol
I’m planning to get two Magnepan sub panels powered by cheap amps (Crown).
Doan Trinh they have crown amp with built in crossover
Is there a particular sub woofer you'd recommend? Rel?
Charles Clifton REL. I've also used Sunfire and SVS with my Maggie's and they were good
They sell a bass panel
@@dilbyjones The bass panel isn't a sub.
Greg Hawkins it’s marketed as a sub
And it reproduces the frequencies a sub-woofer does
R these fatiguing?
MISLEADING TITLE. They are NOT ribbon speakers. The maker says they are planar magnetic, quasi ribbon design. Only their high end models have true ribbons.
now you need to tell us how they sound stacked.. hard to believe that you prefer s400
I think he has wrong amp. Possibly
Guys... I don't have wrong amps. I've had naim. Parasound. Bryston. Schiit. hegel. Mcintosh...Etc etc with magnepans...
I never said I prefer the buchardts all the time. But sure... 7/10 I would.
This is like apples to oranges.
Buchardt is just below 3 times the price of the magnepan lrs... Buchardts would have not gotten rave reviews if it lost out to a $650 speaker... Even accounting for how magnepan punches above its weight class due to its simple design.
The Next Best Thing Studio exactly! I think it’s hard to compare speakers because folks don’t have them ( as a reference)
@@Jayiyagi yeah but 2 pair of LRS stacked is still less costly than s400
Yesss, Maggie’s are definitely amazing. Using the 1.7i’s atm & find em way too bright (not like Klipsh tho 😂 ) so instead of installing just the fixed resistor to attenuate that “high end Maggie glare”... been using a potentiometer instead & can adjust it accordingly, which helps a lot imho. Amp is a Lyngdorf TDAI 3400 (& the MP60 soon with even more LRS😜) It pairs up nicely tho IMHO Think their ‘Room Perfect’ is a major key tho with sound & placement issues.
Just my 2¢ but ... #Enjoy Enjoy tho bcuz really 👉🏽#MusicIsTheBest🎶🔝💯
Whole damn time im waiting to at least see the speakers.. but now know way more than i wanted about a speaker i still have questions about what the fuck they look like.. should have at least sat in front em or somethin..
I bet it would sound better in a box
You would lose that bet.
@@mr2981 but its not suppose to make a sound at the back. Why shouldnt planars be in a box or at least be in a hole in a wall that goes to a small room full of egg boxes
Acoustic rock ...dealing with heavy rock
LOL there's no such thing as a fast subwoofer. Low pass filters inherently remove fast transients from a bass driver. Most audiophiles don't have a fundamental, scientific or engineering knowledge of sound transmission or electronics. They get their education from reading magazines.
Hey Carter. There certainly is something called a "fast subwoofer" - it's called filters that exists in every subwoofer. Also, lower mass moves faster than higher mass. - it is basic science. cheers
MDude, they are talking about the physical properties of drivers. Less mass drivers are easier to stop, higher mass (heavier materials and cone size) drivers require bigger motors (magnets) to start and stop.
@@Jayiyagi Filters inside a subwoofer exist to remove undesired frequencies for a subwoofer. Typically in a subwoofer a bandpass filter is applied (combination of high-pass to prevent very low, potentially damaging frequencies and a variable low pass filter to match high-pass filter set for satellites and to remove frequencies that can be localized the human ear..low mass membrane on a driver has a higher resonant frequency, that's why they are used for midrange and tweeter drivers. To have a low mass driver with a high resonance is counter productive to a subwoofer driver. The perception of speed in a subwoofer is a result of it playing higher frequencies than a subwoofer that resonates lower. In a full range speaker what you may perceive as fast transients in the bass are more likely to be produced by midrange and treble drivers that are well timed with each other. You don't really want a subwoofer alone to be fast unless you want to hear high frequencies out of it for whatever reason. Other multitude of things could be happening to skew your perception or "speed" in a bass driver. There's a real science behind speaker design and it's important to properly understand what really happening rather than blurting out buzzwords picked up from magazine reviews.
guy on greglist as a pair for 100 bucks never used
Where's the sound?
"high wife approval factor"
still living with your mom
No she lives with me. Ever think of it like that?
Instead of blablabla for half an hour, why wouldn’t you just play a song for us to see how they sound? Preferably comparing to your favourite box speakers?
Yes. A few seconds of actual sound, despite the losses in the microphones and compressions, etc. would demonstrate the open quality and transient responses of Magnepan.
ITS NOT A FUCKING RIBBON !!! try to do some research.
by the way you might want to mention they where sponsored.
Overrated and overpriced will never purchase theses again so disappointed 😥😥
What happened
How do the magnepan lrs compare to floorstanding speakers in the mid frequenties , are they full and sweet/warm sounding ? How do they perform at louder volume (90db) ? I can’t stand speakers that distort at higher volumes.
Will the Marantz PM7005 be a good match to the magnepan lrs or do these speakers need more power/current ? The PM7005 has 60 Watt 8 ohm and 80 Watt 4 ohm.
I have a stereo pair REL T5i’s so im not worried about bass.
Maggies reproduce audio presence closest to being there. It does not bode well for studiorized sound (radio pop). With the right amplifier, Its very well suited for home theatre cinematic experience but not for mtv or rave. It will show up every nuances and issues with recording equipment. What is fed into it, it will reproduce its recorded engineering qualities and capabilities.
It needs a current amplifier not a big wattage only amplifier. Meaning if the amplifier has 2ohm specs shown, its ok. At the very least, a spec'd 4ohm output. Bigger wattage gives you more audio presence. Similar to listening to a bowing bass violin at 1m compared to 10m away.
Simple analogy, cone speakers are like comparing to, poking a pool of water and seeing how high the waves are. Maggies are smacking the same pool of water. Both poking and smacking at the same power of course.