I am an audiophile that has never owned a system. Life, family, work, decades pass, retirememt and now I stumble upon your videos about the Magnepans and your passion for my dream speaker ( heard them at a showroom in New Jersey decades ago) has rekindled my latent longing for my system. Now that i am retired with limited funds ...whats new, and based upon your other video content, the present may be the best time to get an entry level audiophile system which would include the Maggie ... without taking out a second mortgage. Again, thanks Steve for your videos which I enjoy very much and your gift for this systemless audiophile!
I've had them for 23 years, and I hang them from the ceiling rather than put them on the floor which has the same effect but doesn't take up room space and doesn't let my cats touch them. It's also more like being at a concert. I can still adjust their angle and tilt. You might consider it, it really frees up your room and couples the speakers with the ceiling instead of the floor, which has rattly things on it. Mine are smaller so I do have a subwoofer with an adjustable crossover on the floor but it's cat proof.
I’ve owned Magnepan speakers for almost 40 years starting with the MG-1’s, and later the MG-IIIa’s. I recently purchased the .7’s upon Steve’s recommendation. Really great speakers for the price (especially after adding a pair of REL Acoustics T/5i subwoofers last week)!
Have owned them for over 20 yrs , l put new tweeters from the factory in them about 8 yrs ago and wow , l also added a Polk 10 inch sub woofer along with a kick ass tube amp and nothing beats it . Quite honestly nothing beats them .
Purchased my Maggie 1.5QRs new back in '91 and I haven't once thought about replacing them. They sound great and are drop dead gorgeous IMO. Most of my friends have never seen panel speakers before and are always blown away by their sound.
I’m running 3.5r’s with adcom gfa 555’s. They sound AMAZING. People are blown away by the sound. How are you bi-amping? I use them in bridged mode and they sound great.
@@brandonenn7052 Back then the speakers used their onboard passive crossovers. Each speaker was then vertically bi-amped with one channel of each amp powering the woofer panel and the other channel powering the QR tweeter. Each woofer panel gets 325W @ 4Ω and each tweeter gets 325W @ 4Ω. I've since modified the speakers with serial crossovers like the current line of Maggies have and have them actively bi-amped with a pair of DIY "Ripole" dipole subwoofers I built. Over the years I've built sealed, vented, TL and isobaric style subs and was never completely happy with the results. Not so with the Ripole dipolar subs. They blend seamlessly with my Maggies.
Thanks for the reply and information. Very cool. How are your amps? Have you had them recapped? Serviced? Every time I think of updating/upgrading, I demo some other amp and then realize I’d need to spend serious money to get such clean, clear detail with such a wide and deep soundstage and with those airy and crystal clear highs. They really are great amps.
The right Maggie's in the right room equals sonic magic. Heard and bought a pair of SMG's back around 1970, and today own 3.7i's. There is no box speaker that can come close to the realism of the Maggie sound stage. Steve's enthusiasm, and the energy he exhibits after listening to his .7's (do not forget how many different speaker systems Steve has heard) is a testament to how great Maggie's really are. I could go on here for a long time, having owned several different Maggie's and having tested many different amps with them. So I will sum it up by just saying, if you have never owned Maggie's you need to get a pair...
Ditto! I bought a pair of SMGa's not expecting much from either the speakers or the SONY rack system, from Dillard's... - What I got blew my mind--solo violins so stunningly realistic that they brought tears to my eyes. I owned those SMGa's until someone came along, liked them even more than i did and stole them. *
There are many box speakers that can meet and even exceed Maggies in soundstage. The reason most have never heard them is because they don't put enough distance between the speakers and the walls. It's considered critical with Maggies but optional with box speakers. It's critical with both. For example, Spendor 1/2es are as boxy as they come but they far exceed any Maggie I've heard in soundstage and imaging. Same applies to a number of other British monitors.
My ultimate system in 1973 was a pair of Tympani 1d’s powered by a Phase Linear 400, SAE Mk 9 pre amp. sole source was a Thorens TD 125 with SME tonearm and Stanton 681 ee cartridge. The Maggie’s set my standard of perfection, then and now.
Update to my .7 ownership experience. Love these speakers, love them even more with custom stands from MagnaRiser I just installed. An outstanding ecperience.
@@patwoj8621 I used to run them with a SuperNait 1. The Nova should drive them properly. They're not as power hungry as some say. For a while I drove them (barely) with a 25wpc NAD 312.
Hi Steve, Had Maggie 2b’s since they were first released. Almost always have been powered with a little Sumo 9 class A amp; a Jim Bongiorno design. I’ve loved Magnepan speakers since hearing my first high-end system; Tymani III’s driven by the amazing Electro Research A75 from John Iverson. Now that I’m living smaller, I have the Mini-Maggie’s , still powered by that same Sumo 9. Still going strong since 1983! My 2b’s have been rebuilt by Magnepan and are in storage until I get a bigger place. Love your channel and short reviews!
Had the II b’s. Wonderful, rich, gorgeous sound. Was fortunate enough to have. 24x35’ room at the time. When you get in their sweet spot - wow. Unreal. I have the 3.5’s now and they’re amazing.
I still go ga-ga over my Magnepan MG12/QR's (main speakers) and my MMG's (used in smaller office room). They sound so involving, detailed, and timbrally accurate, it's uncanny! My wife thinks i'm nuts because I often sit and listen in the 'sweet spot' while shaking my head, saying things like 'holy shit' or 'my god', etc. etc.!
I really like my .7s though my 14.5' long room isnt ideal. I should probably be farther from the speakers. Glorious sound. Musical and balanced across the frequencies reproduced. Great value. And easy to move!
i had the 2.7s for years. i played rock thru mine and LOVED it. i like hearing bass more than feeling it. i like bookshelf speakers because they are fast and have quicker bass, like maggies
All the current Magnepans have new crossovers and quasi-ribbon drivers at both high and low frequencies. They are a quantum leap forward as far as Maggie tech goes. I have two pair myself, and they are amazing.
Hi Tom...the problem with the 2's is my budget....if I go 2's I need a used pair...and RV and a few others have said the newer tweeter and technology of the 1ci's will better an older pair of 2's so the trick is finding a not so old pair for 2Ce's for around 1500.00 And I am now switching gears...to the VLR's been reading a ton on them...and since I have a sub and xcross and will Hi-pass,,,,the VLR's are even better sounding the the 1ci's....
Hey Steve! Love your work. I was a former audiophile in the good old days with Mac separates and Klipsch Cornwalls and LaScalas ... Gonna get back in it by retiring Ham Radio gear and looking at 0.7s and Schiit Vidar. Keep going, Steve! You will rust out faster than you wear out!
Steve i agree with u 120%! I have magnepan 1.7 and i cannot listen to box speaker anymore, they conquered me completely ( hoping to get the 20.7 someday)
Below my listening room's Schroeder frequency, I switch my mylar panels to a swarm of dynamic sub-woofers with DSP active crossover and digital delay (but not EQ or room correction) which lets the subs catch up to the super fast mains. Best of everything!
Steve, I purchased a pair of 1.7i and a DWM bass panel a couple of years ago; I have a "WOW" experience (depending on who I'm listening to) on a regular bases. I truly think that Maggies tweeter ribbons are part of my "WOW" factor. When I play Miles Davis' Kinda Blue " I get " goose bumps" on the track titled "So What" when Miles chimes in at the beginning of the track. Also, Kamasi Washington's new Cd, "Harmony of Difference." is a "goose bumper" from start to finish.
I bought a pair back in 1981. They’re 24x48 inches with oak sides and brown sponge cloth covers. I have’t used them since 1984 or so. My wife says sell them bu5 I just can’t. Should I keep them?
I had a love/hate relationship with a pair of SMS's that I bought in the early 80's. They leaned back, making the small tweeter area point up. They were so directional, only one person could truley be in their sweetspot and if that person leaned back or stood up, it sounded terrible. But, when you were in the sweetspot, they sounded AWESOME. Moved to a smaller place 10 years ago and got a pair of Def Tech BP-10's. Those bipolar speakers provided the large soundstage that I was used to, weren't painfully directional like my smg's and they sounded great. I was happy with them. A month ago I saw an ad for a pair of mmg's on Craigslist. They had aftermarket stands that provided verticle positioning. They also have the QR or quasi-ribbon tweeters extending from top to bottom of their 4 foot frames. OMG, they have the incredible Magnepan sound without the frustrating limitations of the old smg's. I heard 1-2 minutes of music on them and bought them. Still on the honeymoon with them, listening to all my old favorite, challenging content and hearing details for the first time. A Rotel RX-1052 powers them effectively with 100 wpm @ 8ohms (not sure of wattage at the Maggie's 4 ohm resistance), and a Def Tech ProSub 1000 takes care of the bass roll-off at the very low frequencies.
Dear, I’m thinking about a pair of Magnepan, decide between 1.7i and .7 and there is something in my head that tell me that .7 are maybe the best choice for 28 meters room. Can you tell me main difference between 1.7 and .7 from your point of view?
Magneplanar MG-1s impressed me as no other speaker back in the '70's. I haven't listened to them since then. I can only imagine how good they are now. I really don't have the space to accommodate them, but think they're among the best for audio purity.
I completely get what Steve is saying. Back in 2015-16, I bought a pair of Magnepan MMGs for $350 from a local private seller and paired them with a factory-refurbished Peachtree nova220SE that I bought from Peachtree for $900ish (I had originally planned to buy the Peachtree nova65SE -- or maybe a nova125SE -- which Steve had originally raved about in his first review of the Magnepans, as did John Darko, but at the time, Peachtree was offering the refurbished nova220SE for quite a bit less than I had planned to spend on one of the smaller amps new. I knew that the Maggies loved power, so it was a no brainer.) Then, based on reviews online recommending subwoofer pairings to fill in the Maggie's bottom end, I went on the hunt for some older, inexpensive (often ignored) Miller & Kreisel push-pull speakers, especially the 8" MX70B-II which had a reputation for being fast and way more powerful than its diminutive size. Coming from JBL Century L-100s hooked up to a Luxman R-1120 setup that I had owned for 30+ years, since the 1980s, I was instantly BLOWN AWAY by how much clearer, agile, transparent & revealing those MMGs sounded compared to my JBLs, and how much more the M&K 8" push-pull subwoofer added to the experience compared to the L-100's 12" woofers. It was an easy decision to sell my beloved Luxman and JBLs and I've never looked back. I totally get what Steve is saying re the Maggie's "out-of-the-box" sound. About two years later, I had a chance to pick up a mint-condition pair of Magnepan .7s on eBay for $1000, and a few months later found a great deal on the MX-70B's bigger brother -- the M&K MX-125 MkII (and relocated the MX70B to our home theater system). This is the setup I've listened to ever since (Peachtree 220se + Magnepan .7 + M&K MX-125 . . . total cost $2100, minus what I got for my Luxman receiver and the JBL L-100s) and I have absolutely no temptation to upgrade to anything else. This is the audio setup I'll listen to for the rest of my life.
@@morespinach9832 I use a single MX-125 with the Magnepan .7s. Some folks feel that the bass is even sweeter with a pair of subwoofers (and M&K's owners manual hints that hooking up a pair of M&K subwoofers makes a good thing sound even better), but I've found in our large living room, the MX-125 provides more than enough -- I mean more than enough -- oomph, and I felt the same way even when I was using the smaller MX-70B. Would I feel differently if our listening space was 2-3x larger? Maybe, but I don't want to overpower the Maggies. I do want to hear the lower registers, but I'm not a basshead and, besides, I bought the Magnepans because they're so articulate . . . why would I want to drown out that clarity & detail? There are lots of really good subwoofers out there, but I was first drawn to the M&K's because their push-pull design similarly had a reputation for being articulate and very fast / responsive, not just powerful. That's one reason they were/are the standard in movie studio editing rooms and the first selected for THX certification. Their clarity has been a beautiful match with the Magnepans. And, when I was buying them a few years ago, M&K push-pull subwoofers were commonly available on eBay for $100-200. BTW: The successor company to Miller & Kreisel (M&K Sound) continues to make very highly regarded push-pull subwoofers (e.g., mksound.com/products/x-series/x10/), that audio critics say are even better than the originals, but they cost upwards of $3000 each. You can still find original MX-70s, MX-100s, MX-125s and MX-150s on eBay or Audiogon for 1/10th that price or less. I don't abuse my system with excessive volume, so I've never had to repair/replace a speaker cone, but I did have the plate amp fail on a MX-70B. I discovered that Dayton Audio makes an inexpensive plate amp that is popular with M&K push-pull enthusiasts (www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-spa250-250-watt-subwoofer-plate-amplifier--300-803) and I found info on how to properly hook up the two drivers to the plate amp so they'd be properly wired "out-of-phase" (www.hometheatershack.com/threads/mk-mx150-thx-sub-potential-conversion.26883/). That repaired MX-70B now lives out in my workshop, but I'm super happy with how it turned out. Knowing what I know now, if I wanted to buy an M&K push-pull, but not spend a fortune, I might look for a bargain on eBay with two good drivers but a blown a plate amp, then slap a Dayton Audio SPA-250 in there . . . and then be happy for a very, very long time.
I've had the same Magnepan MG11's since they were new in the 70's (600.00 brand new), still sound wonderful running on a GAS Son of Ampzilla. I just can't find another speaker that sounds as good. Today I am running out of listening space and thinking of downsizing to the .7 or LRS, keeping the GAS amp and upgrading everything else, hoping the experience is equally as good.
Hey Carl, i'm very curious about magnepans. What is the difference as far as sound goes between maggies and "box" speakers to your ears? Do they lack mid-range and low-end? Is a sub-woofer a must with these?
I had the 1.6 and I loved them, I remember going to a dealer to listen to the 1.7 and remember a guy who got heavy handed with the volume control on a underpowered amp and drove the amp into clipping and the amp shut down and didn't come back on right away. If you could have seen the look on that guys face. Maggies have a sound like no other speaker and I sometimes miss my time with them, but they require a good sub like a Rel to sound their best, which I had at the time. I have since moved on to Vandersteen 2ce signature II's and have no complaints. It's something about a Vandersteen and a Maggie that is just different than other speakers. The Vandersteen Quattros and the mighty Vandersteen Model 7's are just magical.
Question for Steve about your love of the Magnepan 0.7 speakers with the Pass XA 25. I already own and love the somewhat similar PrimaLuna Prologue Premium integrated (35 watts@8 ohms). In a relatively small space and moderate listening levels, could I live happily with this combination? I have heard this combo on a showroom floor and what I loved outweighed what I did not. Thanks!
I'm using a pair of the much older MG10 with a Nuprime STA 9 amp. Because the MG10s are nearing the end of their serviceable life (over 20 years now), I'm planning to replace them with the 0.7s and either get another to monoblock or just get a new pair of STM 10s. Anyway, with Magnepans they are not fuzzy with class, they are current hungry. If your room is not too big and you only listen at moderate levels you might just be comfortable with 35 watts, but it'll take you much longer to break them in and get deeper bass. Enjoy!
The STA-9 is rated 120 watts per channel. I suspect the only way I will know whether this is a satisfactory pairing is to try it in my listening space. Thanks!
I owned a pair of magnaplaner 1.7i's. The sound stage could be measured at 4feet 6 inches. If you were sitting down and then stood up you could easily hear the difference. On the one hand I loved there openness. But I considered these speakers more for classical music. Even with a sub woofer rock music Lacked punch. They were only 86 db. So they we not the most efficient speaker. I eventually got rid of them because it was a constant hassle moving them around in order for them sound "right". Plus they were infamous for dropping down to 2 ohms. So if you don't have the proper power amp these speakers will blow up gear.
I had a pair of MG1.4 speakers many years ago and while they sounded great, they were power hungry and didn't really play well at low levels. You really had to turn up the wick to get them to sound "right". My fave Maggie was the SMGa, a great little speaker and quite efficient for a planar speaker.
I have a pair of timpani 1-D's with a Bryston powering them. I remember playing Take 5 recently and you could feel the snare drum in your chest with every hit. Maggies can have punch.
My 2cents. Got my SMGa's I. 1989 in Japan where they cost double the price. So much for free trade. Didn't know they make .7's. I'll have to go to their website and see. I still have my Maggies, but not in Japan any longer.
i would love love love for magnepan to release a .7-sized speaker with a true ribbon tweeter like the new 2.7i. That speaker would be almost perfect for me were it not for the 6' tall height of it. i don't need the extra bass response, i'm actually completely happy with the bass output from my 1st gen LRS which, while dipping around the 50-55hz area, actually gets down to 40hz in my seating spot.
Food for thought Steve. Yes the .7 is a wonderful speaker. I just was about to order a set, but because of a poor dealer experience I no longer am interested in having or speaking the praise of this product. You used to sell,so I expect you understand my feelings. Yes, you now simply review and voice an opinion. But there is an x factor! Let us not forget " a sweet sound in the ear, will not change a bad taste in the mouth".
Maggie Moment - "I giorni di festa" by Musica Nuda. 30 year old SMG's carefully positioned. REL Q100E sub adjusted for "depth". Denon AV 3801 supplying 140+ wpc @ 5 ohms. Goosebumps.
I took almost a year to decide on speakers and once I heard these it was a done deal. In this price point there is nothing I've heard than touches it. I too liked the .7 more than the bigger ones.
The Music Room in Colorado just got a used pair of 0.7is. The place is a cut above most used audio retailers. They have a robust work procedure and structure that's lacking at most places
Hi Steve... all set to pull the trigger on the Elac Uni-fi UF5's ... but you have me thinking I should check these out... I believe there is a trial period offered no less..I replied earlier to a reply you made to a post...in that.. you feel the Outpost RR2160 would be a good match for the Maggie .7's... did you try them together.. i know you like that Outlaw receiver a lot ... I plan on purchasing it for sure... That Led Zeppelin CD is one of my favs. When listening to the Zeplin Cd or for that matter, in general, are you using a sub woofer ?...I have a feeling I won't feel the need to have one, but I won't know till I try the speakers with different tracks... Thanks for the video
Two way Magnepans do sound better in some ways than their more complex three way systems. As my ears age and lose their ability to hear the tip top high frequency notes and extreme shimmer effects I may be much better off giving up on the promises of better fidelity via more expensive three way systems. The coherence of simpler systems may now trump the former advantages of greater high frequency extension. It also has the added advantage of costing much less. This reminds me of the Cat Stevens "Moonshadow" song. In the lyrics he was gratefully looking at the potential advantages of disadvantages.
I’m using a para sound preamp, and an old Emotiva 250/8 ohm power amp I ve tried to talk my self into Buchart, Arendel, but always I always end up with th 0.7
Hi Steve!, nice review as always, (written or filmed). I have a question. I've seen a lot of this in audio forums... what do you think about driving maggies with class D pro amps (like crowns XLS, for example)? Those amps bring a lot of horse power in 8, 4 and even 2 ohms, for let's say 300 bucks?. I really love maggies and want to upgrade my Dali Zensor 7, but right now i cant afford a $1000+ amp to drive them in full load. Also will they work decente with a normal dinamic sub when the subbass is required?
I've had those moments with a desktop flat panel speaker from Monsoon many years ago that hurried me into a hi-fi shop to find a floor standing electrostatic speaker.
Steve. I have a question for you. You often compare or discuss expensive versus affordable gear, and that gets me thinking about the law of diminishing returns. What price range or stereo setup would you consider as the sweet spot where beyond that the returns (such as with audio quality, better soundstage, etc) is not equivalent or as reciprocal to every extra dollar you invest?
Good question, but there can't be a single point of diminishing returns that applies to everyone. Room size, how loud and how much bass you crave, turntable or digital or both, and music genres must be considered. That said, $1,500 -$3,000 would be a good starting point.
I have the MG III-a and the tympani IV-a and they are really good. But somehow my first maggies, the MG I, have something magical about them. I still have them and they need refurbishing, but even with all their flaws they are magical.
I loved my Maggie Mac's until the bass panel on one started sagging/ buzzing. They will be returned for repair/upgrade when I finally order a box for the return trip. The sound was so open,alive and there. Just have to overcome my fear of them breaking down again. I like that the .7s have gone to flat wire on the bass panel too. Wire separation was also an issue on older models. Thanks for the reminder. Any opinions on REL subs with Maggie's, Steve?
I wound up buying a good used pair of Vandersteen VLRs... Should look these up... I'm very happy... Very accurate monitor... I have a good sub and crossover. I may do the 60 day Maggie trial on 1.7s...although I'll need a much better amp to run them
Dear Steve which amp from the following will suit for Maggie’s 0.7 a used Parasound 1500 a or a used NAD 375 BEE or a used musical fidelity A 3.5 integrated amp or new Emotiva bas x a 2, new Schiit vidar, new Parasound classic 2125 or a used mark Levinson proceed 2 , unfortunately in india I can’t audition them with my speakers before buying need ur help here..
Steve, question what about your neighbors. I know you live in Brooklyn which is where I used to live as well in Carroll Gardens. But where I live now in mid Georgia, my nearest neighbor is not that close and I can play my music as loud as I want. I'm just curious if you have any such issues with Neighbors
I heard the .7's today they are just kind of magical. I think they got some new tech in them the older bigger ones don't have. I heard the 1.7 and 3.7 and they are not as flat and neutral.
I have a pair of maggie's 1.6 -i love the sound and no subwoofer-There's something about Maggies that immerses you in the music and to my ears (and Other listeners ) there is a perfect match of highs and lows without harsh base - but one needs the proper power for your amp(s )
Steve, I'm really interested in these but I don't have a loads of money at the moment.. what is a good preamp and amplifier that is a good "budget" buy I should get?
I just have the MMGs with two subwoofers and when I listen to vocals, I'm always blown away. Don't think I'll ever have the .7s, unfortunately, not in my budget or square feet. This weekend I'm purchasing the MGCC5 for my center. That should round out my system nicely.
I have the Magnepan mg 1.7s paired with a Parasound halo integrated amp(240 watts at 4 ohms). I love them! Try listening to a song called ‘Jelly’ by a group called ‘Opiuo’ and crank it up!
speaking of magic with particuar songs...try downloading from youtube a song by french artist, Stromae - called Sommeil. even with my $100 cheap chinese amp it sounds amazing...my real amp died...RIP.....now i will save for some maggies..so i can listen to jelly
Steve you mention they need space...well that can be said of 95% of all speakers produced. It's pretty easy getting a wide sound stage...but depth, height, and layered complexity those require being way out into the room, out from the wall behind.
Have you tried using a 1 ohm resistor to attenuate the tweeters in the jumper terminals? Mills MRA12 are great non inductive onee to try. Works well. Excellent vid thanks.
Hey Steve, I'm having trouble finding the LRS used so I'm thinking of saving up a bit more for a used pair of .7s. I'm thinking of finding a Bryston 3B-ST to use with them, but I'm not sure if I should wait longer to save for a 4B-ST. Do you think the extra week's pay would be worth the 4B-ST instead of the 3B-ST? Thanks!
Just ordered mine yesterday. Should be enjoyable to hear as I have high current VAC amp with KT88'S and also ARC LS15 tube pre amp to drive them. Also I have a SS amp that will put out 350 watts into 4 ohms and It will be interesting to hear the difference in sound quality. I hope I won't have too many issues integrating my SVS Ultra 13 Subwoofer with the .7's and If I get it all correct, it should sound amazing. Wish me luck : )
@@gregorystevens5173 Hello Gregory well let's see, my VAC was set in triode mode so it was 35 watts per side and not nearly enough to dive my Maggies So I sent my VAC amp to VAC to set it to ultra linear with 100 watts per side I just got it back last week. My SS amp is a Anthem MCA 5 channel so not really the best for dedicated two channel. I found a used Spectron musical MK ll class D amp. This thing weights 54lbs output is 500watts@8ohm 650@4ohms & 1,200@2 ohms plus 65 amps for 500 milliseconds! I'm having a hard time deciding between the two. The Spectron really makes the Maggies come alive with energy, inner details and soundstage. The VAC isn't as dynamic but seems to add more weight to the music and deeper bass. The VAC is pretty special, but I'm also very impressed the Spectron, especially being a class D amp Bottom line it's always a trade off. I like fast cars and powerful amps and the Maggie's sure like powerful amps. You just have to find a good one.
Hi Steve, I'm a little late to the party here, but knowing you (a little) as I do now, I have to ask: Maggies, or Zu Druids? Also, I was wondering if Maggies are good at disappearing? Thanks!
Hey Steve.. I really enjoy your commentary/perspective re All Things audio.. kind of like The Woody Allen of The High End.. I know how much you love the .7's so what about the MMG's for $650.00 ... worth it? Compare to Elac or Klipsch RP600's if you can..
I suspect the lesser length of the .7's contribute to the better transients you describe. I don't know about all the physics involved, but I do believe a shorter ribbon can be placed into motion faster than a longer ribbon.
Steve, how do you feel about the newly remastered Zeppelin albums? I love the additional clarity and how they push the instruments out in space...but of course it's not faithful to what was laid down on the original recordings. Curious as to an audiophile's take.
Hi Steve, I just found this on youtube (big fan of yours) anyway, you welcomed a comment and I'd like to ask a question. I've been a Maggie owner for over 20 years...1.6 to 1.7i and I've never been unhappy. I don't want a box sound, don't need a punch in the ear as I'm a classical musician and that's where and why this dipole speaker design resonates with me. The sound must be open and large, as you stated in a previous video, "They have a way of energizing the room". I listen to jazz too and they are fantastic as the speaker brings out the ensemble, again, in an open way. Anyway, my question would be that I want to downsize to the MMGi as I want a smaller footprint. The I.7i's are fantastic, I will not part with them but I want to visually minimize things. I don't give too much emphasis on Bass...I want that midrange in a big time way. I'm sure you get my drift. Thanks for listening and feeling passionate about what you do. Terrific and keep it coming. Francis
I have both the Maggie .7 (about 6 months) and the Acoustat Model 1 with passive subwoofer (about 35 years). I still love the Acoustat. Not quite as bright and detailed but the soundstage on the Acoustat is bigger and it is even more holographic than the Maggie’s, which are also excellent. Using vintage Kenwood L07 monoblocks for the Acoustat and Parasound A23 for the Maggie’s. Loving both systems.
The new .7 replaced the MG12's. I've listened to the MG12's vs the 1.6's and also prefer the smaller 12's. It just seems faster. Perhaps less full overall, but I prefer the sound of the smaller panels.
I own 3.7's and found them lacking so I decided to augment them with drivers that are not only complimentary but, addresses their weak spots. A pair of REL S/510 subs and JBL compression super tweeters mounted on the ceiling. Crossed over at 10K they have no sparkle, no sizzle, they just sound like air. The whole system sounds like air and now the system even has slam-- the Achilles heel of Maggies. Maggies on their own? I'll pass.
Hi Steve, love your daily videos. Your easygoing videos approach is really refreshing. It's fun to watch and remindes me that this passion can be fun too :) I might get my hands on these 0.7 very soon. I never heard a Magnepan but based on these videos think this might be for me. Do you think the .7 is still exiting and worth the money in this golden age of "budget" speakers or even compared to other Maggies in the lineup? I'm asking because I have very few opportunities in my country to hear speakers and suspect that the .7 is getting a bit out of date. Thank U
I love it when Steve gets excited. Ive thought about Maggies, but am afraid they would favor acoustic jazz and folk while leaving me dissatisfied with rock.
I own 2ce's and I think they are really flat and sometimes the sound can get a bit boring. The tweeter is not the smoothest compared to like a Vienna acoustic speakers but your ears are probably different so your choice.
Maggies or panels are the way to go. My issue with Maggies is that they aren't cheap - you need good amplification and I'm a valve freak = $$$. You'll also need two good subs = $$$ Then there's the question of space... All mentioned by you. I've been messing around with DIY panels that don't need lot's of watts..
I am an audiophile that has never owned a system. Life, family, work, decades pass, retirememt and now I stumble upon your videos about the Magnepans and your passion for my dream speaker ( heard them at a showroom in New Jersey decades ago) has rekindled my latent longing for my system. Now that i am retired with limited funds ...whats new, and based upon
your other video content, the present may be the best time to get an entry level audiophile system which would include the Maggie ... without taking out a second mortgage. Again, thanks Steve for your videos which I enjoy very much and your gift for this systemless audiophile!
I've had them for 23 years, and I hang them from the ceiling rather than put them on the floor which has the same effect but doesn't take up room space and doesn't let my cats touch them. It's also more like being at a concert. I can still adjust their angle and tilt. You might consider it, it really frees up your room and couples the speakers with the ceiling instead of the floor, which has rattly things on it. Mine are smaller so I do have a subwoofer with an adjustable crossover on the floor but it's cat proof.
I’ve owned Magnepan speakers for almost 40 years starting with the MG-1’s, and later the MG-IIIa’s. I recently purchased the .7’s upon Steve’s recommendation. Really great speakers for the price (especially after adding a pair of REL Acoustics T/5i subwoofers last week)!
Have owned them for over 20 yrs , l put new tweeters from the factory in them about 8 yrs ago and wow , l also added a Polk 10 inch sub woofer along with a kick ass tube amp and nothing beats it . Quite honestly nothing beats them .
So true in your description for Maggie’s .7, just bought them a year ago and I drive them with a Rotel RA 1570. Very happy with them
Best audio systems I ever heard included Maggies! The "unboxed" sound is just special. Headed back to Maggies this year!
Purchased my Maggie 1.5QRs new back in '91 and I haven't once thought about replacing them. They sound great and are drop dead gorgeous IMO. Most of my friends have never seen panel speakers before and are always blown away by their sound.
The speakers are bi-amped with a pair of ADCOM GFA-555II amplifiers.
Didn't say they needed a lot of power.The speakers have bi-amp connections so I bi-amped them.
I’m running 3.5r’s with adcom gfa 555’s. They sound AMAZING. People are blown away by the sound. How are you bi-amping? I use them in bridged mode and they sound great.
@@brandonenn7052 Back then the speakers used their onboard passive crossovers. Each speaker was then vertically bi-amped with one channel of each amp powering the woofer panel and the other channel powering the QR tweeter. Each woofer panel gets 325W @ 4Ω and each tweeter gets 325W @ 4Ω. I've since modified the speakers with serial crossovers like the current line of Maggies have and have them actively bi-amped with a pair of DIY "Ripole" dipole subwoofers I built. Over the years I've built sealed, vented, TL and isobaric style subs and was never completely happy with the results. Not so with the Ripole dipolar subs. They blend seamlessly with my Maggies.
Thanks for the reply and information. Very cool. How are your amps? Have you had them recapped? Serviced? Every time I think of updating/upgrading, I demo some other amp and then realize I’d need to spend serious money to get such clean, clear detail with such a wide and deep soundstage and with those airy and crystal clear highs. They really are great amps.
The right Maggie's in the right room equals sonic magic. Heard and bought a pair of SMG's back around 1970, and today own 3.7i's. There is no box speaker that can come close to the realism of the Maggie sound stage. Steve's enthusiasm, and the energy he exhibits after listening to his .7's (do not forget how many different speaker systems Steve has heard) is a testament to how great Maggie's really are.
I could go on here for a long time, having owned several different Maggie's and having tested many different amps with them. So I will sum it up by just saying, if you have never owned Maggie's you need to get a pair...
Ditto!
I bought a pair of SMGa's not expecting much from either the speakers or the SONY rack system, from Dillard's... - What I got blew my mind--solo violins so stunningly realistic that they brought tears to my eyes. I owned those SMGa's until someone came along, liked them even more than i did and stole them.
*
There are many box speakers that can meet and even exceed Maggies in soundstage. The reason most have never heard them is because they don't put enough distance between the speakers and the walls. It's considered critical with Maggies but optional with box speakers. It's critical with both. For example, Spendor 1/2es are as boxy as they come but they far exceed any Maggie I've heard in soundstage and imaging. Same applies to a number of other British monitors.
@@rotorfix of course, the Splendors are $8000 for a pair and these Mags .7 sell for $1800. Not exactly a great comparison.
My ultimate system in 1973 was a pair of Tympani 1d’s powered by a Phase Linear 400, SAE Mk 9 pre amp. sole source was a Thorens TD 125 with SME tonearm and Stanton 681 ee cartridge. The Maggie’s set my standard of perfection, then and now.
Update to my .7 ownership experience. Love these speakers, love them even more with custom stands from MagnaRiser I just installed. An outstanding ecperience.
I enjoy the 1.7 and pretty much all you're saying is true.
I however use Naim amplification and I love it.
Which naim are you using? I have the Nova and wondering if it will drive either .7 or 1.7. Thanks
@@patwoj8621 I used to run them with a SuperNait 1. The Nova should drive them properly. They're not as power hungry as some say. For a while I drove them (barely) with a 25wpc NAD 312.
@@kacperuminski1547 thanks!
Hi Steve,
Had Maggie 2b’s since they were first released. Almost always have been powered with a little Sumo 9 class A amp; a Jim Bongiorno design. I’ve loved Magnepan speakers since hearing my first high-end system; Tymani III’s driven by the amazing Electro Research A75 from John Iverson. Now that I’m living smaller, I have the Mini-Maggie’s , still powered by that same Sumo 9. Still going strong since 1983! My 2b’s have been rebuilt by Magnepan and are in storage until I get a bigger place.
Love your channel and short reviews!
Had the II b’s. Wonderful, rich, gorgeous sound. Was fortunate enough to have. 24x35’ room at the time. When you get in their sweet spot - wow. Unreal. I have the 3.5’s now and they’re amazing.
I'll get a new pair of .7's tomorrow, yeah! Hopefully my McIntosh 275 will rock them well! Thanks for your motivating video!!
I still go ga-ga over my Magnepan MG12/QR's (main speakers) and my MMG's (used in smaller office room). They sound so involving, detailed, and timbrally accurate, it's uncanny! My wife thinks i'm nuts because I often sit and listen in the 'sweet spot' while shaking my head, saying things like 'holy shit' or 'my god', etc. etc.!
how do you drive them? which amp do you use?
@@Bendix71 Onkyo M-510 Grand Integra
This is great. So true. Happened the other night listening to my 3.5’s. Was just saying wow.
I really like my .7s though my 14.5' long room isnt ideal. I should probably be farther from the speakers. Glorious sound. Musical and balanced across the frequencies reproduced. Great value. And easy to move!
i had the 2.7s for years. i played rock thru mine and LOVED it. i like hearing bass more than feeling it. i like bookshelf speakers because they are fast and have quicker bass, like maggies
All the current Magnepans have new crossovers and quasi-ribbon drivers at both high and low frequencies. They are a quantum leap forward as far as Maggie tech goes. I have two pair myself, and they are amazing.
Hi Tom...the problem with the 2's is my budget....if I go 2's I need a used pair...and RV and a few others have said the newer tweeter and technology of the 1ci's will better an older pair of 2's so the trick is finding a not so old pair for 2Ce's for around 1500.00 And I am now switching gears...to the VLR's been reading a ton on them...and since I have a sub and xcross and will Hi-pass,,,,the VLR's are even better sounding the the 1ci's....
Look into 1.7i's. They are around your price range.
Folks should check their facts. The 3.7s have a full-ribbon tweeter. The MMGs have a planar magnetic bass and quasi-ribbon tweeter.
Hey Steve!
Love your work. I was a former audiophile in the good old days with Mac separates and Klipsch Cornwalls and LaScalas ... Gonna get back in it by retiring Ham Radio gear and looking at 0.7s and Schiit Vidar. Keep going, Steve! You will rust out faster than you wear out!
Steve i agree with u 120%! I have magnepan 1.7 and i cannot listen to box speaker anymore, they conquered me completely ( hoping to get the 20.7 someday)
Mikael Zenskog 20.7 gives a too big sound!!! Try to get the 1.7i. Thats much better!
Below my listening room's Schroeder frequency, I switch my mylar panels to a swarm of dynamic sub-woofers with DSP active crossover and digital delay (but not EQ or room correction) which lets the subs catch up to the super fast mains. Best of everything!
Steve, I purchased a pair of 1.7i and a DWM bass panel a couple of years ago; I have a "WOW" experience (depending on who I'm listening to) on a regular bases. I truly think that Maggies tweeter ribbons are part of my "WOW" factor. When I play Miles Davis' Kinda Blue " I get " goose bumps" on the track titled "So What" when Miles chimes in at the beginning of the track. Also, Kamasi Washington's new Cd, "Harmony of Difference." is a "goose bumper" from start to finish.
I bought a pair back in 1981. They’re 24x48 inches with oak sides and brown sponge cloth covers. I have’t used them since 1984 or so. My wife says sell them bu5 I just can’t. Should I keep them?
I had a love/hate relationship with a pair of SMS's that I bought in the early 80's. They leaned back, making the small tweeter area point up. They were so directional, only one person could truley be in their sweetspot and if that person leaned back or stood up, it sounded terrible. But, when you were in the sweetspot, they sounded AWESOME.
Moved to a smaller place 10 years ago and got a pair of Def Tech BP-10's. Those bipolar speakers provided the large soundstage that I was used to, weren't painfully directional like my smg's and they sounded great. I was happy with them.
A month ago I saw an ad for a pair of mmg's on Craigslist. They had aftermarket stands that provided verticle positioning. They also have the QR or quasi-ribbon tweeters extending from top to bottom of their 4 foot frames.
OMG, they have the incredible Magnepan sound without the frustrating limitations of the old smg's. I heard 1-2 minutes of music on them and bought them.
Still on the honeymoon with them, listening to all my old favorite, challenging content and hearing details for the first time.
A Rotel RX-1052 powers them effectively with 100 wpm @ 8ohms (not sure of wattage at the Maggie's 4 ohm resistance), and a Def Tech ProSub 1000 takes care of the bass roll-off at the very low frequencies.
Still have my Magnepan Tympanis for 25 years and counting now - love my LS50's but the maggies steal your heart
Dear, I’m thinking about a pair of Magnepan, decide between 1.7i and .7 and there is something in my head that tell me that .7 are maybe the best choice for 28 meters room. Can you tell me main difference between 1.7 and .7 from your point of view?
Magneplanar MG-1s impressed me as no other speaker back in the '70's. I haven't listened to them since then. I can only imagine how good they are now. I really don't have the space to accommodate them, but think they're among the best for audio purity.
I completely get what Steve is saying. Back in 2015-16, I bought a pair of Magnepan MMGs for $350 from a local private seller and paired them with a factory-refurbished Peachtree nova220SE that I bought from Peachtree for $900ish (I had originally planned to buy the Peachtree nova65SE -- or maybe a nova125SE -- which Steve had originally raved about in his first review of the Magnepans, as did John Darko, but at the time, Peachtree was offering the refurbished nova220SE for quite a bit less than I had planned to spend on one of the smaller amps new. I knew that the Maggies loved power, so it was a no brainer.)
Then, based on reviews online recommending subwoofer pairings to fill in the Maggie's bottom end, I went on the hunt for some older, inexpensive (often ignored) Miller & Kreisel push-pull speakers, especially the 8" MX70B-II which had a reputation for being fast and way more powerful than its diminutive size. Coming from JBL Century L-100s hooked up to a Luxman R-1120 setup that I had owned for 30+ years, since the 1980s, I was instantly BLOWN AWAY by how much clearer, agile, transparent & revealing those MMGs sounded compared to my JBLs, and how much more the M&K 8" push-pull subwoofer added to the experience compared to the L-100's 12" woofers. It was an easy decision to sell my beloved Luxman and JBLs and I've never looked back. I totally get what Steve is saying re the Maggie's "out-of-the-box" sound.
About two years later, I had a chance to pick up a mint-condition pair of Magnepan .7s on eBay for $1000, and a few months later found a great deal on the MX-70B's bigger brother -- the M&K MX-125 MkII (and relocated the MX70B to our home theater system). This is the setup I've listened to ever since (Peachtree 220se + Magnepan .7 + M&K MX-125 . . . total cost $2100, minus what I got for my Luxman receiver and the JBL L-100s) and I have absolutely no temptation to upgrade to anything else. This is the audio setup I'll listen to for the rest of my life.
Great info. Do you have two of those M&K woofers or just one?
@@morespinach9832 I use a single MX-125 with the Magnepan .7s. Some folks feel that the bass is even sweeter with a pair of subwoofers (and M&K's owners manual hints that hooking up a pair of M&K subwoofers makes a good thing sound even better), but I've found in our large living room, the MX-125 provides more than enough -- I mean more than enough -- oomph, and I felt the same way even when I was using the smaller MX-70B. Would I feel differently if our listening space was 2-3x larger? Maybe, but I don't want to overpower the Maggies. I do want to hear the lower registers, but I'm not a basshead and, besides, I bought the Magnepans because they're so articulate . . . why would I want to drown out that clarity & detail? There are lots of really good subwoofers out there, but I was first drawn to the M&K's because their push-pull design similarly had a reputation for being articulate and very fast / responsive, not just powerful. That's one reason they were/are the standard in movie studio editing rooms and the first selected for THX certification. Their clarity has been a beautiful match with the Magnepans. And, when I was buying them a few years ago, M&K push-pull subwoofers were commonly available on eBay for $100-200. BTW: The successor company to Miller & Kreisel (M&K Sound) continues to make very highly regarded push-pull subwoofers (e.g., mksound.com/products/x-series/x10/), that audio critics say are even better than the originals, but they cost upwards of $3000 each. You can still find original MX-70s, MX-100s, MX-125s and MX-150s on eBay or Audiogon for 1/10th that price or less. I don't abuse my system with excessive volume, so I've never had to repair/replace a speaker cone, but I did have the plate amp fail on a MX-70B. I discovered that Dayton Audio makes an inexpensive plate amp that is popular with M&K push-pull enthusiasts (www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-spa250-250-watt-subwoofer-plate-amplifier--300-803) and I found info on how to properly hook up the two drivers to the plate amp so they'd be properly wired "out-of-phase" (www.hometheatershack.com/threads/mk-mx150-thx-sub-potential-conversion.26883/). That repaired MX-70B now lives out in my workshop, but I'm super happy with how it turned out. Knowing what I know now, if I wanted to buy an M&K push-pull, but not spend a fortune, I might look for a bargain on eBay with two good drivers but a blown a plate amp, then slap a Dayton Audio SPA-250 in there . . . and then be happy for a very, very long time.
I've had the same Magnepan MG11's since they were new in the 70's (600.00 brand new), still sound wonderful running on a GAS Son of Ampzilla. I just can't find another speaker that sounds as good. Today I am running out of listening space and thinking of downsizing to the .7 or LRS, keeping the GAS amp and upgrading everything else, hoping the experience is equally as good.
It's hard to go back to anything else after Maggies.
Hey Carl, i'm very curious about magnepans. What is the difference as far as sound goes between maggies and "box" speakers to your ears? Do they lack mid-range and low-end? Is a sub-woofer a must with these?
I had the 1.6 and I loved them, I remember going to a dealer to listen to the 1.7 and remember a guy who got heavy handed with the volume control on a underpowered amp and drove the amp into clipping and the amp shut down and didn't come back on right away. If you could have seen the look on that guys face. Maggies have a sound like no other speaker and I sometimes miss my time with them, but they require a good sub like a Rel to sound their best, which I had at the time. I have since moved on to Vandersteen 2ce signature II's and have no complaints. It's something about a Vandersteen and a Maggie that is just different than other speakers. The Vandersteen Quattros and the mighty Vandersteen Model 7's are just magical.
Thanks for this, you've persuaded me to go 'open baffle mid' with a design I'm building. And Mr Bonham is the nuts.
You like the .7’s more than the 3.7s? Is it a room preference?
Question for Steve about your love of the Magnepan 0.7 speakers with the Pass XA 25. I already own and love the somewhat similar PrimaLuna Prologue Premium integrated (35 watts@8 ohms). In a relatively small space and moderate listening levels, could I live happily with this combination? I have heard this combo on a showroom floor and what I loved outweighed what I did not. Thanks!
I'm using a pair of the much older MG10 with a Nuprime STA 9 amp. Because the MG10s are nearing the end of their serviceable life (over 20 years now), I'm planning to replace them with the 0.7s and either get another to monoblock or just get a new pair of STM 10s. Anyway, with Magnepans they are not fuzzy with class, they are current hungry. If your room is not too big and you only listen at moderate levels you might just be comfortable with 35 watts, but it'll take you much longer to break them in and get deeper bass. Enjoy!
The STA-9 is rated 120 watts per channel. I suspect the only way I will know whether this is a satisfactory pairing is to try it in my listening space. Thanks!
Yes, the only thing the 0.7 has going for your amp is its stable 4 ohm load. Please let us know how things turn out!
I owned a pair of magnaplaner 1.7i's. The sound stage could be measured at 4feet 6 inches. If you were sitting down and then stood up you could easily hear the difference. On the one hand I loved there openness. But I considered these speakers more for classical music. Even with a sub woofer rock music Lacked punch. They were only 86 db. So they we not the most efficient speaker. I eventually got rid of them because it was a constant hassle moving them around in order for them sound "right". Plus they were infamous for dropping down to 2 ohms. So if you don't have the proper power amp these speakers will blow up gear.
Just added 2 SVS 3000 micros. The sound on some are great, on the Maggie’s.
I had a pair of MG1.4 speakers many years ago and while they sounded great, they were power hungry and didn't really play well at low levels. You really had to turn up the wick to get them to sound "right". My fave Maggie was the SMGa, a great little speaker and quite efficient for a planar speaker.
"I have another one, right over there!" LMAO, Steve. Thank you...
yeah who knew stereo left & right ID BE HAPPY WITH ONE OF THEM MONO WOULD DO ME
Love to hear you evaluate and compare the whole Maggie lineup.
I have a pair of timpani 1-D's with a Bryston powering them. I remember playing Take 5 recently and you could feel the snare drum in your chest with every hit. Maggies can have punch.
My 2cents. Got my SMGa's I. 1989 in Japan where they cost double the price. So much for free trade. Didn't know they make .7's. I'll have to go to their website and see. I still have my Maggies, but not in Japan any longer.
i would love love love for magnepan to release a .7-sized speaker with a true ribbon tweeter like the new 2.7i. That speaker would be almost perfect for me were it not for the 6' tall height of it. i don't need the extra bass response, i'm actually completely happy with the bass output from my 1st gen LRS which, while dipping around the 50-55hz area, actually gets down to 40hz in my seating spot.
Food for thought Steve. Yes the .7 is a wonderful speaker. I just was about to order a set, but because of a poor dealer experience I no longer am interested in having or speaking the praise of this product. You used to sell,so I expect you understand my feelings. Yes, you now simply review and voice an opinion. But there is an x factor! Let us not forget " a sweet sound in the ear, will not change a bad taste in the mouth".
Maggie Moment - "I giorni di festa" by Musica Nuda.
30 year old SMG's carefully positioned.
REL Q100E sub adjusted for "depth".
Denon AV 3801 supplying 140+ wpc @ 5 ohms.
Goosebumps.
Steve, can you listen to these with the new NAD c388 integrated amp and let us know what you think.
I took almost a year to decide on speakers and once I heard these it was a done deal. In this price point there is nothing I've heard than touches it. I too liked the .7 more than the bigger ones.
The Music Room in Colorado just got a used pair of 0.7is. The place is a cut above most used audio retailers. They have a robust work procedure and structure that's lacking at most places
Hi Steve... all set to pull the trigger on the Elac Uni-fi UF5's ... but you have me thinking I should check these out... I believe there is a trial period offered no less..I replied earlier to a reply you made to a post...in that.. you feel the Outpost RR2160 would be a good match for the Maggie .7's... did you try them together.. i know you like that Outlaw receiver a lot ... I plan on purchasing it for sure... That Led Zeppelin CD is one of my favs. When listening to the Zeplin Cd or for that matter, in general, are you using a sub woofer ?...I have a feeling I won't feel the need to have one, but I won't know till I try the speakers with different tracks... Thanks for the video
OMG, the Maggies blow away the Elacs bigtime! No comparison!
Two way Magnepans do sound better in some ways than their more complex three way systems. As my ears age and lose their ability to hear the tip top high frequency notes and extreme shimmer effects I may be much better off giving up on the promises of better fidelity via more expensive three way systems. The coherence of simpler systems may now trump the former advantages of greater high frequency extension. It also has the added advantage of costing much less.
This reminds me of the Cat Stevens "Moonshadow" song. In the lyrics he was gratefully looking at the potential advantages of disadvantages.
I’m using a para sound preamp, and an old Emotiva 250/8 ohm power amp I ve tried to talk my self into Buchart, Arendel, but always I always end up with th 0.7
What's wrong with the audio on the desktop (not mobile)???
Hi Steve!, nice review as always, (written or filmed). I have a question. I've seen a lot of this in audio forums... what do you think about driving maggies with class D pro amps (like crowns XLS, for example)? Those amps bring a lot of horse power in 8, 4 and even 2 ohms, for let's say 300 bucks?. I really love maggies and want to upgrade my Dali Zensor 7, but right now i cant afford a $1000+ amp to drive them in full load. Also will they work decente with a normal dinamic sub when the subbass is required?
Alvaro Antonio Ocampo Grey no answer too bad
I've had those moments with a desktop flat panel speaker from Monsoon many years ago that hurried me into a hi-fi shop to find a floor standing electrostatic speaker.
Steve. I have a question for you. You often compare or discuss expensive versus affordable gear, and that gets me thinking about the law of diminishing returns. What price range or stereo setup would you consider as the sweet spot where beyond that the returns (such as with audio quality, better soundstage, etc) is not equivalent or as reciprocal to every extra dollar you invest?
Good question, but there can't be a single point of diminishing returns that applies to everyone. Room size, how loud and how much bass you crave, turntable or digital or both, and music genres must be considered. That said, $1,500 -$3,000 would be a good starting point.
bose accoustimass cost me 1500 in Australia....
talk about diminishing returns...
Bose showed me what music shouldnt sound like....
I have the MG III-a and the tympani IV-a and they are really good. But somehow my first maggies, the MG I, have something magical about them. I still have them and they need refurbishing, but even with all their flaws they are magical.
Have a pair of 0.7i’s and drive them from a Nelson Pass Aleph 3/L combo. 60W Class A. Just blows me away.
I loved my Maggie Mac's until the bass panel on one started sagging/ buzzing. They will be returned for repair/upgrade when I finally order a box for the return trip. The sound was so open,alive and there. Just have to overcome my fear of them breaking down again. I like that the .7s have gone to flat wire on the bass panel too. Wire separation was also an issue on older models. Thanks for the reminder.
Any opinions on REL subs with Maggie's, Steve?
I wound up buying a good used pair of Vandersteen VLRs... Should look these up... I'm very happy... Very accurate monitor... I have a good sub and crossover. I may do the 60 day Maggie trial on 1.7s...although I'll need a much better amp to run them
Dear Steve which amp from the following will suit for Maggie’s 0.7 a used Parasound 1500 a or a used NAD 375 BEE or a used musical fidelity A 3.5 integrated amp or new Emotiva bas x a 2, new Schiit vidar, new Parasound classic 2125 or a used mark Levinson proceed 2 , unfortunately in india I can’t audition them with my speakers before buying need ur help here..
Steve, question what about your neighbors. I know you live in Brooklyn which is where I used to live as well in Carroll Gardens. But where I live now in mid Georgia, my nearest neighbor is not that close and I can play my music as loud as I want. I'm just curious if you have any such issues with Neighbors
I heard the .7's today they are just kind of magical. I think they got some new tech in them the older bigger ones don't have. I heard the 1.7 and 3.7 and they are not as flat and neutral.
I have a pair of maggie's 1.6 -i love the sound and no subwoofer-There's something about Maggies that immerses you in the music and to my ears (and Other listeners ) there is a perfect match of highs and lows without harsh base - but one needs the proper power for your amp(s )
Steve, I'm really interested in these but I don't have a loads of money at the moment.. what is a good preamp and amplifier that is a good "budget" buy I should get?
I just have the MMGs with two subwoofers and when I listen to vocals, I'm always blown away. Don't think I'll ever have the .7s, unfortunately, not in my budget or square feet.
This weekend I'm purchasing the MGCC5 for my center. That should round out my system nicely.
Hi Steve
Can these be driven by a Dynaco St70 ? Or by Carver MT400 ?
I'm running the .7's with a primaluna evo 400 tube amp ...... very nice....
My new Maggie .7s will arrive tomorrow! I'll switch my old MMGs to the living room for music and movie duty.
Hey Steve! Do you think the Rega Brio has enough power to run these speakers? I'm told by the manufacturer that they don't.
Dear Steve, what Amplifier u are using
I have the Magnepan mg 1.7s paired with a Parasound halo integrated amp(240 watts at 4 ohms). I love them! Try listening to a song called ‘Jelly’ by a group called ‘Opiuo’ and crank it up!
1.7i
speaking of magic with particuar songs...try downloading from youtube a song by french artist, Stromae - called Sommeil. even with my $100 cheap chinese amp it sounds amazing...my real amp died...RIP.....now i will save for some maggies..so i can listen to jelly
Steve you mention they need space...well that can be said of 95% of all speakers produced. It's pretty easy getting a wide sound stage...but depth, height, and layered complexity those require being way out into the room, out from the wall behind.
Have you tried using a 1 ohm resistor to attenuate the tweeters in the jumper terminals? Mills MRA12 are great non inductive onee to try. Works well.
Excellent vid thanks.
Hey Steve, I'm having trouble finding the LRS used so I'm thinking of saving up a bit more for a used pair of .7s. I'm thinking of finding a Bryston 3B-ST to use with them, but I'm not sure if I should wait longer to save for a 4B-ST. Do you think the extra week's pay would be worth the 4B-ST instead of the 3B-ST?
Thanks!
Just ordered mine yesterday. Should be enjoyable to hear as I have high current VAC amp with KT88'S and also ARC LS15 tube pre amp to drive them. Also I have a SS amp that will put out 350 watts into 4 ohms and It will be interesting to hear the difference in sound quality. I hope I won't have too many issues integrating my SVS Ultra 13 Subwoofer with the .7's and If I get it all correct, it should sound amazing.
Wish me luck : )
Jack, what was your verdict -- solid state vs tube?
@@gregorystevens5173
Hello Gregory well let's see, my VAC was set in triode mode so it was 35 watts per side and not nearly enough to dive my Maggies
So I sent my VAC amp to VAC to set it to ultra linear with 100 watts per side I just got it back last week. My SS amp is a Anthem MCA 5 channel so not really the best for dedicated two channel. I found a used Spectron musical MK ll class D amp. This thing weights 54lbs output is 500watts@8ohm 650@4ohms & 1,200@2 ohms plus 65 amps
for 500 milliseconds! I'm having a hard time deciding between the two. The Spectron really makes the Maggies come alive with energy, inner details and soundstage. The VAC isn't as dynamic but seems to add more weight to the music and deeper bass. The VAC is pretty special, but I'm also very impressed the Spectron, especially being a class D amp Bottom line it's always a trade off. I like fast cars and powerful amps and the Maggie's sure like powerful amps. You just have to find a good one.
thanks for your nice little "news", daily....
Hi Steve,
I'm a little late to the party here, but knowing you (a little) as I do now, I have to ask: Maggies, or Zu Druids?
Also, I was wondering if Maggies are good at disappearing? Thanks!
you said the outlaw rr2160 is good with the maggies ? because i bought that receiver after watching your video
Ron Bernard and it is, did you get Maggie’s. ?
Could you please show how they are built?
Hey Steve.. I really enjoy your commentary/perspective re All Things audio.. kind of like The Woody Allen of The High End.. I know how much you love the .7's so what about the MMG's for $650.00 ... worth it? Compare to Elac or Klipsch RP600's if you can..
I suspect the lesser length of the .7's contribute to the better transients you describe. I don't know about all the physics involved, but I do believe a shorter ribbon can be placed into motion faster than a longer ribbon.
Steve, if you listen to mostly rock on vinyl in a bedroom would you get the .7s or the LS50? space is no concern. Thanks.
Steve, how do you feel about the newly remastered Zeppelin albums? I love the additional clarity and how they push the instruments out in space...but of course it's not faithful to what was laid down on the original recordings. Curious as to an audiophile's take.
Have you reviewed Boston Acoustics E Series Reference Speakers esp E100s or E70s?
Hi Steve, I just found this on youtube (big fan of yours) anyway, you welcomed a comment and I'd like to ask a question. I've been a Maggie owner for over 20 years...1.6 to 1.7i and I've never been unhappy. I don't want a box sound, don't need a punch in the ear as I'm a classical musician and that's where and why this dipole speaker design resonates with me. The sound must be open and large, as you stated in a previous video, "They have a way of energizing the room". I listen to jazz too and they are fantastic as the speaker brings out the ensemble, again, in an open way. Anyway, my question would be that I want to downsize to the MMGi as I want a smaller footprint. The I.7i's are fantastic, I will not part with them but I want to visually minimize things. I don't give too much emphasis on Bass...I want that midrange in a big time way. I'm sure you get my drift. Thanks for listening and feeling passionate about what you do. Terrific and keep it coming. Francis
I have never listen to a Magnepan speaker, I used to owned the Acoustat 1 + 1 Electrostatic speaker back in the 80s. Do the Magnepan .7 sound better?
I have both the Maggie .7 (about 6 months) and the Acoustat Model 1 with passive subwoofer (about 35 years). I still love the Acoustat. Not quite as bright and detailed but the soundstage on the Acoustat is bigger and it is even more holographic than the Maggie’s, which are also excellent. Using vintage Kenwood L07 monoblocks for the Acoustat and Parasound A23 for the Maggie’s. Loving both systems.
The new .7 replaced the MG12's. I've listened to the MG12's vs the 1.6's and also prefer the smaller 12's. It just seems faster. Perhaps less full overall, but I prefer the sound of the smaller panels.
Thank you Steve Guttenberg
I own 3.7's and found them lacking so I decided to augment them with drivers that are not only complimentary but, addresses their weak spots.
A pair of REL S/510 subs and JBL compression super tweeters mounted on the ceiling. Crossed over at 10K they have no sparkle, no sizzle, they just sound like air. The whole system sounds like air and now the system even has slam-- the Achilles heel of Maggies. Maggies on their own? I'll pass.
Hi Steve, love your daily videos. Your easygoing videos approach is really refreshing. It's fun to watch and remindes me that this passion can be fun too :) I might get my hands on these 0.7 very soon. I never heard a Magnepan but based on these videos think this might be for me. Do you think the .7 is still exiting and worth the money in this golden age of "budget" speakers or even compared to other Maggies in the lineup? I'm asking because I have very few opportunities in my country to hear speakers and suspect that the .7 is getting a bit out of date.
Thank U
Steve, on your .7s, do you use the resistors? Do people run them with/without them mostly?
I love my 1.7 so much.
I love it when Steve gets excited. Ive thought about Maggies, but am afraid they would favor acoustic jazz and folk while leaving me dissatisfied with rock.
Any chance a mid-range AVR could run MMGi Maggies?
Can you buy a pair online?
Could you recommend an integrated receiver that works with the magnepan
Steve... This hits at a great time... I'm considering the. 7's and Vandersteen 1Ci's. Going to a dealer that sells both...
Otto Alcon look into a pair of Vandersteen II's instead of the 1c, you will not regret it!!!
I own 2ce's and I think they are really flat and sometimes the sound can get a bit boring. The tweeter is not the smoothest compared to like a Vienna acoustic speakers but your ears are probably different so your choice.
Check out Michael Kelsey, Submerged and later albums. Guitar strings are fantastic on Maggie's.
Maggies or panels are the way to go. My issue with Maggies is that they aren't cheap - you need good amplification and I'm a valve freak = $$$. You'll also need two good subs = $$$ Then there's the question of space... All mentioned by you. I've been messing around with DIY panels that don't need lot's of watts..
Steve isn't it about time to visit the magnapans again?
What's the bottom level amplifier required for these?
Do these speakers need a lot of wattage in order to drive them properly?
I currently drive my Magnepan MMG's with a vintage Pioneer SX-780 receiver (45 wpc), no problem at all!
How loud do you like? Yes they are power hungry and hard on amps. But it is a challenge I willingly take! Nothing else compares!
Would I be happy replacing my CLSllZs with these speakers?