Maggie’s are in!

mcstatz5829

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Nov 3, 2025
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Just got in the 3.7X! Been tinkering with placement and treatments while, uh, “working from home.”

Amp: Sanders Magtech Stereo
Preamp: Sanders Analog
Source: Turntable/WiiM Pro Plus

My early impression, after having been years and years removed from the 1.7i I used to own:

The low end does not disappoint. I know stereotypically that is a planar weakness, but imo with a properly integrated sub (Velodyne Optimum 12, 40 hz, lower volume), the bass and mid bass are absolutely fantastic. Transients come alive, and the room feels flooded with clean, articulate energy. 10/10

High end: again, early impression , but I think I like the box speakers here better. I imagine the magnepans are more transparent and accurate, but the motions seem to give an aggression and bite to transients that the Maggie’s lack. It makes the music feel a little less alive to me.

“musicality” (whatever that means): the Maggie’s don’t sound like speakers. They sound like music. I felt that way about the motions but the 3.7x took it to a whole new level. I’m not even going to try to describe it because you’ve all been there where the speakers just disappear.

Transparency: I noticed for a given perceived volume, I get more surface noise on vinyl. That in and of itself doesn’t bother me, but I think it validates something I hear: quieter sounds are more transparent, which leads to a sensation of less dynamic range. It may be technically more accurate but I find it less enjoyable. I tend to enjoy well mastered albums that eschewed the loudness wars, and that dynamic range really makes a difference for me personally.


Overall I was expecting a little less refined, accurate, poised loudspeaker and more of a cock of the walk oomph. It’ll be interesting to see how my ears adapt over the coming weeks. Perhaps shortcomings will flip into strengths. It’s a little ironic that for me personally, the stereotypical weakness is a strength and the stereotypical strength (true ribbon tweeter transparency) is a weakness.
 
Congrats on the new Maggies ! Long time di-pole fan here, owned MG III's back in the eighties along with several pairs of Logan's the past two decades.

As you know, with all di-poles, careful / patient setup is critical. While the Motion series of Logan's are fine speakers once you're dialed in with your Maggies I suspect they will fade further into your rear view mirror !

Enjoy !
 
Just got in the 3.7X! Been tinkering with placement and treatments while, uh, “working from home.”

Amp: Sanders Magtech Stereo
Preamp: Sanders Analog
Source: Turntable/WiiM Pro Plus

My early impression, after having been years and years removed from the 1.7i I used to own:

The low end does not disappoint. I know stereotypically that is a planar weakness, but imo with a properly integrated sub (Velodyne Optimum 12, 40 hz, lower volume), the bass and mid bass are absolutely fantastic. Transients come alive, and the room feels flooded with clean, articulate energy. 10/10

High end: again, early impression , but I think I like the box speakers here better. I imagine the magnepans are more transparent and accurate, but the motions seem to give an aggression and bite to transients that the Maggie’s lack. It makes the music feel a little less alive to me.

“musicality” (whatever that means): the Maggie’s don’t sound like speakers. They sound like music. I felt that way about the motions but the 3.7x took it to a whole new level. I’m not even going to try to describe it because you’ve all been there where the speakers just disappear.

Transparency: I noticed for a given perceived volume, I get more surface noise on vinyl. That in and of itself doesn’t bother me, but I think it validates something I hear: quieter sounds are more transparent, which leads to a sensation of less dynamic range. It may be technically more accurate but I find it less enjoyable. I tend to enjoy well mastered albums that eschewed the loudness wars, and that dynamic range really makes a difference for me personally.


Overall I was expecting a little less refined, accurate, poised loudspeaker and more of a cock of the walk oomph. It’ll be interesting to see how my ears adapt over the coming weeks. Perhaps shortcomings will flip into strengths. It’s a little ironic that for me personally, the stereotypical weakness is a strength and the stereotypical strength (true ribbon tweeter transparency) is a weakness.


Woo Hoo!! Enjoy and please keep us updated.
 
If memory serves the Sanders are new as well. Break in is real give the system some time, may or may not smooth out some change should be noticed though.

Congrats
Obviously break in on mechanical components is real but I imagine psychology is a dominant effect. When I upgraded the amp a couple weeks ago it was the first time in many years I really enjoyed music. I likely had subconsciously assumed the Maggies would be like that only better, and it was a little discordant that no, they are quite different. I’m already enjoying them even more just having them in the background as I cook and clean.

I do have to say, the low end reminds me of the 1.7s a long time back. Just a little help from the subwoofer and it is sublime. I’ve had the pleasure recently of listening to setups that cost 15x mine in showrooms and while my experience is limited magnepans have the best low end around.

It must be some psychoacoustic quirk of the ear because I turn the subwoofer off and the low end is quite unimpressive. The sub helps a ton even though on paper the subwoofer isn’t doing a lot… xo is all the way down and the level is fairly moderate. My theory is the Maggies are miles better than they sound without the sub but there is something pyschoacoustically that allows the brain to hear the magic when that last octave is filled in.
 
I take it all back. Whatever combination of tweaks and psychology is at play, these speakers are simply fantastic. I finally cranked it a little getting my phone’s dba to about 80db (90 dbc). I have nothing bad to say at all!
 
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