Thread: My Take on Magnepan Speakers
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April 14, 2020, 07:44 PM #1
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My Take on Magnepan Speakers
Here is my take on Magnepan speakers.
I have been through the exercise of comparing several models: 3A, 3.6R, 20.1, and 20.7. I have owned all of them.
Never owned the 3.7/3.7i but I listened to the 3.7 before deciding that it was not worth the upgrade from my 3.6R at the time.
First of all, let me say that these models share the EXACT SAME ribbon tweeter. You can switch the ribbon tweeter from one model to another with no problem!
The 20.1 and the 20.7 are the SAME size. The 20.7 uses a different tech for the mid-range (same tech as the x.7 and that’s where it gets the .7) but they have the same SIZE for everything height, width, midrange AND bass panel areas.
The 3.6R and the 20.7 have the same size mid-range panel but use different tech. The bass panels for the 20.7 are wider (that is why the 20.7 is wider and why it puts out more bass)
I have played the 3.6R and the 20.7 side by side. I was totally amazed at how good the 3.6R sounded. Depending on the music material, they both sounded so good that it was hard to tell them apart. The main difference was when playing bass-heavy tracks and that is where the 20.7 really sounded better.
Then I compared each using a sub. With a sub, the bass advantage of the 20.7 went away and the 3.6R got even closer on all music material.
I considered the 30.7, but never listened to them. Based on what I had read, I concluded that 30.7 had the exact same ribbon tweeter AND midrange as the 20.7. The only difference from what I could tell was the bigger bass panels (in a separate enclosure). So to me that was no different than the 20.7+ Sub which I already owned.
If I were in the market for a Magnepan speaker today, based on my experience, the latest iteration of the MG 3.7 plus a subwoofer should equal or better a 20.7 w/o subwoofer.
Here are my 3.6R and the 20.7. Even though the 20.7 is about 6-8 inches taller, the tweeters and midrange are the same size!
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April 14, 2020, 09:08 PM #2
Re: My Take on Magnepan Speakers
THX for your report.
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April 14, 2020, 10:00 PM #3
Re: My Take on Magnepan Speakers
My brother upgraded to the 1.7i from the MMG. I absolutely love them.
Fleetwood Deville by Oswald Mills Audio, Vienna Acoustics Haydn Jubilee, Wharfedale Linton w/ stands, Klipsch RB-75, Klipsch RP-160M.
Job INTegrated. Luxman L-595aSE
NAD C 658 streamer.
First Watt SIT-3, Job 250 Monos, NuForce STA200, AkitikA GT-102 amp, ASL Wave monos, Dennis Had 45 monos. Absolute Audio Labs PCF 25 amp (improved First Watt F7 super clone)
Topping D90, RME Audio ADI-2 DAC FS, ModWright Ultimate Sony XA-5400ES.
Burmester 948, McIntosh MCLK12, Kimber Kable, Siltech, Cardas, Avanti Audio cables.
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April 14, 2020, 10:23 PM #4
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April 14, 2020, 11:51 PM #5
Re: My Take on Magnepan Speakers
Thanks for your post. The 20.7 is my favorite Magnepan. I prefer it over the 30.7. It just sounds more coherent to my ears.
Ken"No summit worth climbing is easily attained."
--------------------------------------------
Source: MSB Select II DAC with Two Mono Powerbases and Femto 33 Clock; Renderer V2 Digital Input Module and Roon Nucleus Plus; MSB UMT V Signature Transport
Amps: Vandersteen M7-HPA Mono Amps; MSB M204 Mono Amps
Speakers: Vandersteen Model 7 Mk2
Power: Two AudioQuest Niagara 5000’s with AudioQuest Dragon and Hurricane Power Cords
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April 15, 2020, 07:55 AM #6
Re: My Take on Magnepan Speakers
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April 15, 2020, 09:42 AM #7
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April 15, 2020, 09:47 AM #8
Re: My Take on Magnepan Speakers
Very nice! You must have a biig room
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April 15, 2020, 10:33 AM #9
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April 15, 2020, 10:34 AM #10
My Take on Magnepan Speakers
Thanks for the report. I have owned 5 pairs of Maggies. They are definitely a love/hate relationship kind of thing. They need a lot of power, but can’t play super loud. The sweet spot is the size of a pea. Move your head 2 inches and you lose the image. But that can be said about a lot of panel speakers.
The original Tympani’s are the best Magnepan speakers I’ve ever heard. Just glorious. The 30.7’s I heard were not impressive at all. Let’s just chalk it up to a terrible demo. The 20.7’s are superb. Really nice. I always liked REL subs with Magenpan.My Systems: http://www.audioshark.org/showthread...481#post158481
"We can hear everything we measure, but we can't measure everything we hear. Let your ears be your guide."
Dealer for: Aqua Hi-Fi, Aurender, AudioQuest Cables & Power Products, Berkeley Audio, Block Audio (distributor), Boulder Amplifiers, Bowers & Wilkins (B&W), Bryston, Clarisys Audio Loudspeakers (distributor), Classe’ Audio, Degritter Record Cleaning Machines, Esoteric, Finite Elemente, FirstWatt, Focal Loudspeakers and Headphones, GigaFoil, Harbeth Loudspeakers, Hegel, HiFi Man, Innuos, ISO Acoustics, Keces Power Supplies, Kharma Loudspeakers and Electronics, Kuzma Turntables, Lumin, Luxman, Magico Loudspeakers, MBL Speakers & Electronics, MSB Technologies, MySonicLabs Phono Cartridges, Nordost Cables, Ortofon, Pass Labs, Quadraspire, Rega Turntables and Electronics, Shunyata Research, STAX, Stein Music Products, Stillpoints, Soulution, VAC, Vicoustics, Viva Audio, VPI Industries, WireWorld Cables.
https://suncoastaudio.com/
Phone: 941-932-0282
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April 16, 2020, 08:00 AM #11
Re: My Take on Magnepan Speakers
In my family, we’ve owned 4 pairs of Maggies - 2.5R, 2.6, 3.7 and 20.7. My favorites have been the 20.7. Like Mike, I was not impressed at all with the 30.7 demo.
_______________
Mike
Amplification: MBL 6010D, MBL 9008A Monos
Analog: Kuzma R, Kuzma 4Point (11”), MSL Ultra Eminent EX
Phono Pre: Pass XP-27
Digital: Esoteric N01XD Esoteric K05
Speakers: MBL 101E MKII
Subwoofers: REL Carbon Specials
Conditioner: Shunyata Triton 3
Power Cables: Shunyata Sigma 1 & 2, Alpha 2, Delta and Venom
ICs and SCs: Wireworld Platinum 8
Rack: Artesania Exoteryc
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April 16, 2020, 08:06 AM #12
Re: My Take on Magnepan Speakers
I wonder how the newest version, 30.7 for condos?, sounds. Looks like a slimmer version with dsp subs I think. They look more room friendly, but probably not wallet friendly.
Fleetwood Deville by Oswald Mills Audio, Vienna Acoustics Haydn Jubilee, Wharfedale Linton w/ stands, Klipsch RB-75, Klipsch RP-160M.
Job INTegrated. Luxman L-595aSE
NAD C 658 streamer.
First Watt SIT-3, Job 250 Monos, NuForce STA200, AkitikA GT-102 amp, ASL Wave monos, Dennis Had 45 monos. Absolute Audio Labs PCF 25 amp (improved First Watt F7 super clone)
Topping D90, RME Audio ADI-2 DAC FS, ModWright Ultimate Sony XA-5400ES.
Burmester 948, McIntosh MCLK12, Kimber Kable, Siltech, Cardas, Avanti Audio cables.
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April 16, 2020, 08:18 AM #13
Re: My Take on Magnepan Speakers
I love the 20.7’s. They are amazing speakers. I went to 30.7 demonstrations at two different stores and was disappointed. They provided more bass than the 20.7’s due to larger bass panels but lacked the 20.7’s cohesiveness of treble, midrange and bass. The 20.7’s sound more refined than the 30.7’s to my ears. If I was buying Magnepan, I would purchase the 20.7’s and not look back. Put that extra money towards some powerful amps.
Ken"No summit worth climbing is easily attained."
--------------------------------------------
Source: MSB Select II DAC with Two Mono Powerbases and Femto 33 Clock; Renderer V2 Digital Input Module and Roon Nucleus Plus; MSB UMT V Signature Transport
Amps: Vandersteen M7-HPA Mono Amps; MSB M204 Mono Amps
Speakers: Vandersteen Model 7 Mk2
Power: Two AudioQuest Niagara 5000’s with AudioQuest Dragon and Hurricane Power Cords
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April 16, 2020, 08:55 AM #14
Re: My Take on Magnepan Speakers
Joe, as shown in post #9, the big Maggies need a big room. I thought they sounded fine but with a dozen people 'milling about' it wasn't an ideal demo. Regardless, given the moderate size room that I have (14'6" x 24' 4") they would be too big thus my preference for the 3's with sub(s)
Cheers ! …. Dave
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April 16, 2020, 09:51 AM #15
Re: My Take on Magnepan Speakers
I would still take an ESL over a planer-magnetic myself. Must be a full ESL, not a hybrid. The KLH Model 9 (new version) looks interesting. I’ve been eyeing the 60th anniversary Quad’s (when they come out). I saw them in Munich. Have no idea where I would put them, but gotta have them (or a steal on a pair of 2912’s).
https://youtu.be/t3DeXRjFRSAMy Systems: http://www.audioshark.org/showthread...481#post158481
"We can hear everything we measure, but we can't measure everything we hear. Let your ears be your guide."
Dealer for: Aqua Hi-Fi, Aurender, AudioQuest Cables & Power Products, Berkeley Audio, Block Audio (distributor), Boulder Amplifiers, Bowers & Wilkins (B&W), Bryston, Clarisys Audio Loudspeakers (distributor), Classe’ Audio, Degritter Record Cleaning Machines, Esoteric, Finite Elemente, FirstWatt, Focal Loudspeakers and Headphones, GigaFoil, Harbeth Loudspeakers, Hegel, HiFi Man, Innuos, ISO Acoustics, Keces Power Supplies, Kharma Loudspeakers and Electronics, Kuzma Turntables, Lumin, Luxman, Magico Loudspeakers, MBL Speakers & Electronics, MSB Technologies, MySonicLabs Phono Cartridges, Nordost Cables, Ortofon, Pass Labs, Quadraspire, Rega Turntables and Electronics, Shunyata Research, STAX, Stein Music Products, Stillpoints, Soulution, VAC, Vicoustics, Viva Audio, VPI Industries, WireWorld Cables.
https://suncoastaudio.com/
Phone: 941-932-0282
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Suncoast-Au...1105178279194/
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April 16, 2020, 11:10 AM #16
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Re: My Take on Magnepan Speakers
Exactly. They can’t play as loud as I would have liked to for certain kind of music without blowing a fuse or a ribbon! The next day after having a party, I had to check for blown fuses or ribbons. Unlike the other Maggies, the 20.7 usually blew a ribbon while the fuse remained unbroken! My previous Maggies would break the fuse only or both (fuse and ribbon), but never the ribbon alone. I could never figure out the purpose of the fuse in the 20.7; it seemed that the ribbon was the fuse!
That said, in the very narrow sweet spot and with the right music/volume they were truly awesome.
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April 18, 2020, 05:41 PM #17
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Re: My Take on Magnepan Speakers
I would love to hear a Magnepan with a crossover mod like the one skiing Ninja did several years ago. Unfortunately, at Magnepan, they do not use high end parts in their crossovers. They build to a price point.
If I had the know how I would mod the XO's in my 1.6's.My Gear- Mains System-Pass X250 amp, BAT VK-51se preamp, Luxman DA-06 DAC, Magnepan 1.6's, Thorens TD-145 TT, Dual Martin Logan Subs, Vintage Luxman T-110 Tuner, Cables-WW Platinum 7 USB, Cardas Parsec XLR, AQ Columbia DBS 72v XLR, Belden 8402 XLR.
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April 18, 2020, 07:56 PM #18
Re: My Take on Magnepan Speakers
Hmmm, has seen some "KLH" cone n dome boxes recently, didn't realize KLH was that much back. https://klhaudio.com/model-nine-electrostatic/
Amplifier power requirement: 50Wpc minimum, 75Wpc maximum.
Nice to see such a classic resurrected.
cheers,
AJ
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April 18, 2020, 08:22 PM #19
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April 18, 2020, 09:49 PM #20
Re: My Take on Magnepan Speakers
Never been impressed with any of the 20 series Maggies , The 3 series is the sweet spot of the line and best with Subs , much better than going up to any of the 20 series panels ...
3.6/3.7 hard to beat at their price points ...
Regards
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April 28, 2020, 06:16 PM #21
Re: My Take on Magnepan Speakers
I own/have owned the T-1Ds, the 3.5 and 3.6s. The 3.6's transparency, bass, and imaging are it's limiting factors primarily due to its parts quality. The stands, wiring, crossover, and fuses are not top of the line. The speakers are still an amazing value.
All of that is fixable, but for a price and you end up with a couple of extra crossovers, amplifiers and other stuff. Everything here is one-of-a-kind - I did it the hard way. The 20s or 30s would likely be a step back for me.
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June 26, 2020, 08:20 PM #22
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Re: My Take on Magnepan Speakers
Love my Magnepan 20.7s driven by an Audio Reserach GS150 power amp and an Aesthetix Janus front end.
IMG_3516.JPGAesthetix Janus (also Aesthetix Calypso), Aesthetix Atlas, Red Dragon M500, Bel Canto Ref600 (presently on loan), Bel Canto S300, Bel Canto M300, Woo Audio WA2 headphone amp, Beyerdynamic T1 Tesla headphones, Thiel 2.4s, vpi table & arm, dynavector diamond, Bryston BDA-1 DAC, Bryston BIT-20 isolation transformer/AC line conditioner.
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June 27, 2020, 04:31 AM #23
Re: My Take on Magnepan Speakers
"No summit worth climbing is easily attained."
--------------------------------------------
Source: MSB Select II DAC with Two Mono Powerbases and Femto 33 Clock; Renderer V2 Digital Input Module and Roon Nucleus Plus; MSB UMT V Signature Transport
Amps: Vandersteen M7-HPA Mono Amps; MSB M204 Mono Amps
Speakers: Vandersteen Model 7 Mk2
Power: Two AudioQuest Niagara 5000’s with AudioQuest Dragon and Hurricane Power Cords
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June 27, 2020, 07:49 AM #24
Re: My Take on Magnepan Speakers
Is the 20.7 significantly better than the 20.1’s ....?
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June 27, 2020, 09:46 AM #25
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Re: My Take on Magnepan Speakers
I liked the 20.7 better compared to an un-modified 20.1.
However the 20.1 could be bi-amped using an active crossover and the bass in particular improved significantly. But that required extra amps and equipment. OTOH The 20.7 cannot be bi-amped.
The 20.1 that I had ended up having the “delamination” issue (when the wires separate from the Mylar). I understand that this was an issue with the glue that Magnepan was using at the time. The 20.7 do not have that problem.
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June 28, 2020, 06:00 AM #26
Re: My Take on Magnepan Speakers
The 20.7’s are one of the greatest deals in high-end audio in my opinion. The fact that you can purchase a pair of six foot eight inch tall speakers that produce a huge wall of sound with amazing speed and transparency for under $15,000 is quite remarkable.
Ken"No summit worth climbing is easily attained."
--------------------------------------------
Source: MSB Select II DAC with Two Mono Powerbases and Femto 33 Clock; Renderer V2 Digital Input Module and Roon Nucleus Plus; MSB UMT V Signature Transport
Amps: Vandersteen M7-HPA Mono Amps; MSB M204 Mono Amps
Speakers: Vandersteen Model 7 Mk2
Power: Two AudioQuest Niagara 5000’s with AudioQuest Dragon and Hurricane Power Cords
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