Magnepan .7 speakers rock my world
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- Опубліковано 19 сер 2024
- The Audiophiliac goes ga-ga over these $1,400 per pair, made in the US, full range ribbon flat panel speakers. A few other things, Maggies are fussy about amps, they tend to like high-current solid state, but I've had 25 watt per EL84 amps click with the .7s.
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 .
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.
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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.
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.
Best audio systems I ever heard included Maggies! The "unboxed" sound is just special. Headed back to Maggies this year!
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
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.
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.!
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'll get a new pair of .7's tomorrow, yeah! Hopefully my McIntosh 275 will rock them well! Thanks for your motivating video!!
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 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.
Update to my .7 ownership experience. Love these speakers, love them even more with custom stands from MagnaRiser I just installed. An outstanding ecperience.
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.
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!
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 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!
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!
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!
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.
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
Still have my Magnepan Tympanis for 25 years and counting now - love my LS50's but the maggies steal your heart
"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
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.
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!
Love to hear you evaluate and compare the whole Maggie lineup.
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'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.
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.
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.
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 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'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.
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".
Thanks for this, you've persuaded me to go 'open baffle mid' with a design I'm building. And Mr Bonham is the nuts.
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.
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
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.
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.
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?
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.
Aren't these amongst the best cat climbing walls?
Shoot the cats!
David Smithson Cats. That why I can’t have speakers like these. Nor can I place them 5 feet from any wall as my rooms are about 11 feet across.
My cats never bothered several pair I have had. It's been a long time but my wife brought home something cats were offended by when I was building oak "legs" for them. Sprayed them once and the area around them.
Mine are in a room 13 ft wide. About 6 ft apart. Tweeters inside.
Some models of Maggies hang on the walls and have adjustable hinges just for unique situations.
Now what does your wife say?
@dino macioci my cat loves to listen to music with me.
Tip: Lightly spray your Maggies with something like Liz Claiborne's 'Curve' for Men cologne. - Cat may not enter the room ever again.
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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, you are a beautiful person, but I really wanted a good look at the speakers.
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 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 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 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.
My new Maggie .7s will arrive tomorrow! I'll switch my old MMGs to the living room for music and movie duty.
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.
thanks for your nice little "news", daily....
You like the .7’s more than the 3.7s? Is it a room preference?
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
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 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, can you listen to these with the new NAD c388 integrated amp and let us know what you think.
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 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.
Thank you Steve Guttenberg
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.
The separation of each instrument with Mags is ace.
Listening to the Grateful Dead's Truckin' was a satifying experience to me. Not even a fan.
Maggies are the every music speaker.....they rock they do chamber music Sinatra and goils.....their bottom end may not be deep but it isn't fake ....it's real and in any well recorded music they sing, BUT again they need lots of power................
I'm running the .7's with a primaluna evo 400 tube amp ...... very nice....
Sadly, I have never heard Maggie's, even at dealers, with actual bass.
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.
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.
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!
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 bet Robbie Robertson’s album Sinematic would sound amazing on a pair of Maggie’s ... try it out and let me know !
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!
Check out Michael Kelsey, Submerged and later albums. Guitar strings are fantastic on Maggie's.
I love my 1.7 so much.
wow! You have two? I could only afford one.
Steve isn't it about time to visit the magnapans again?
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....
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
Could you please show how they are built?
BRING IT ON HOME and 1950s MILES?.
Can't go wrong with GREAT taste in music, said the guitar & trumpet player. Davis' playing is transcendental. He recreated the trumpet as a new human vocal box. I think of him as the Pink Floyd of jazz. Or is Pink Floyd the Miles Davis of R&R?. The choice is up to you?.
What is the minimum power requirement for these Magnapans?. 4 feet from a wall is a lot of room....hhhmm.
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?
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?
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.
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 Guttenberg Listen to the track "STORIES TO TELL" from the Stanley Clarke album "IF THIS BASS COULD ONLY TALK" this music will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up WOW!
I've been planning to look for a restored pair of Apogee Duetta Signatures, but after watching your video I must have a rethink! Comments welcome...
It's been a long time since I heard Apogees, but I really doubt they could complete with new Magnepans.
Thank you Steve for your comments. After posting my comments above, I did some searching and found that overwhelmingly, those that had experience with both Maggies and Apogee speakers prefered the Apogees. Mind you, it would be very much easier for me to go out and buy a brand new pair of Magnapan .7' or 1.7i's and save some money! At the end of the day, I must try and listen to both types. Thanks, R.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac The latest Apogees I can assure you will be more than a match for the Magnapans;they are enhanced versions of the original Apogees employing neo magnets,cnc cut ribbons and corion,stainless steel and aluminium for the panel frames.The drawback is cost;they vary in price from about $13,000 to over $100,000 for the 7ft tall versions!
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
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
John Bonham played drums with human SKULLS! so powerful
I really love your enthousiasm!
Great speakers and great LZ album. But how can these foils deliver decent bottom end? No subwoofer?
$1400 is so cheap! Why must American audio gear be so expensive in Europe ( I live in Holland) ??
The baas is deep, remember the surface area of the Maggie woofer is much larger than a 12 or 15 inch woofer!
Thanks Steve. I'm going to listen to these Maggies soon !
In Holland they cost € 2650,- a pair. Thats nearly 3000 dollars! It's a shame......
Too bad, but they're worth $3,000, what's better at what .7s do so well? Or buy a pair frorm a US dealer and have them shipped to you. That would have to be a lot less than $3,000.
That might be a solution. Did that before with some cables.
Well, I'm not really in for new speakers. I have a pair of Sonus Faber Cremona Auditors, completed with a REL subwoofer. Very delicate sound and they can rock too !
But I'm always curious about new experiences.
Thank you so far!
Paul P. also japanese and chinese:
oppo, ath for ex.
here in france
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..
What's wrong with the audio on the desktop (not mobile)???
I love magnepan speakers
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.
Interesting Steve I have the MG 12 QR with modded crossovers and am still being regularly blown away although I have a variety of other speakers but like you have found you need different speakers for different types of music,I run mine with Devialet Expert or Pioneer M90a which works well,but watching one of your videos earlier has gave me the notion of a a set of Klipsch horn speakers.
Because you chose Zeppelin. You win.
Would I be happy replacing my CLSllZs with these speakers?
Miles Davis And Milt Jackson - Quintet / Sextet ???