"I bought all these high end products but I didn't have money for a bed". A man of priorities, I love it, haha.

I'm a previous owner of Magnepan .7 and 1.7i, and I can tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed my time with them and absolutely miss them. My problem was that I unsuccessfully tried to shoehorn them into a room that wasn't large enough for them to perform their best, so I eventually had to go back to conventional speakers. One of the best systems I've ever heard in life was at my local audio store which included Maggie 3.7i speaker and two quality subs. As mush as I love my current conventional speakers, if I had the space, I would chuck them in a heartbeat and return to a pair of Maggie 3.7i, a couple high quality subs, and never look back!!!

@CarlVanDoren61

3 ай бұрын

20.7s w 2/Rel Carbon Specials 😊

@simplereef4854

3 ай бұрын

Maggie is very fussy about room and placement.

@davidbee8178

3 ай бұрын

@@CarlVanDoren61 wow that must be SOMETHING ! - when can I come over to listen? LOL Seriously though, congrats and enjoy!

Wonderful review. Love your college memories.

I had that same experience in Wichita Kansas in 1983. A young person trying to get a great system. I was that minority guy going into the high dollar store. They did treat me well.

Hi Adrian, just came across your channel and thoroughly enjoyed the review. I owned MG2B for about ten years, biamped by Hafler DH220 and DH500 amps. Absolutely loved the sound they produced. I listen to rock & roll, jazz and classical and felt like they handled each type of music wonderfully. The way you described the 2.7i mirrored my opinion of my MG2B with one exception, when you stated that if you like to listen to your music loud they may not be for you. I like to listen to music quite loud at times and always felt the speakers sounded fantastic. I sold them when I moved from the US to Scotland. Since most of the houses here don't have enough room for Maggies I now have B&W 702 S3. The dream is to get a house big enough to get 3.7i. Looking forward to more of your reviews.

Great stuff Adrian, enjoyed the chat

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed

Adrian is the best. A true music lover with deep , unique insights, Awesome review!

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

You're very kind

I believe I am the first commentor. Yes, I love watching Adrian’s videos.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

Thanks!

Hello Adrian, it was nice to meet you at the MTL show I think 2 years ago. I’m the guy that listens to your videos till the end! Remember…you answer was ‘ don’t you have a life’ !! Really funny. Anyway, I love Magnepan speakers and owned 1.6-1.7-1.7i with different amplification, mostly separates. I sold my latest gear witch was a Plinius amplification and Conrad Johnson pre. In the process of finding something else, I decided to try my Exposure 2510 from my other system. At only 70w per channel, I thought it would die!! I just couldn’t believe what happened, full impact and control of the Maggie’s, musicality to die for. It’s been there since and have no desire to try anything else. Sometimes Audio is an amazing thing!! Cheers, love your work!!

@ericeagleson8309

3 ай бұрын

Exposure is incredibly underrated

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

Thanks!! See you at the MTL show this year

Thanks Adrian for this great review.

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

My pleasure

I really enjoyed this review (as well as all of your reviews, in particular your "Good, the Bad and the Ugly" reviews).

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

Thank you

One of the fun parts of being fairly new to this hobby, is getting to the point where you hear thing you can’t put to words. These videos help to refine that sound into understandable terms. I’ve only had limited listening time of Magnapans and I will say if there was only one word the define them it would be definition. Great video

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

Thanks! and enjoy the journey!

your equipment reviews are really kicking it Adrian

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

Thanks!

Hello Adrian & All Audiophiles: Adrian, thank you for your review of 2.7 series along with your trip down memory lane. I had the opportunity to hear a set of Magnepan speakers over 35 years ago & I must say you were spot on target with your professional insights. Based on your analysis it appears that nothing has changed. I really thought the company went out of business cause there isn't any Buzz about them. If my memory serves me correctly I believe that the company itself is being restructured & some you get people have been rough on board to Kickstart this old girl & bring back greatness to us music lovers. I must say that you have spoiled me when you exposed me to the Italian Stallion SONUS FARBER !!! Thank you again sir for your professional narration, TMP from N.J

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

Thank you!

Adrian, really enjoy your honesty in your reviews. It’s nice to hear from someone such as yourself with experience listening to a lot of quality gear. (Over the years) lol

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

Thanks!!

really enjoy your personal stories Adrian. can relate.

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

Thanks

I love my LRS+... Great video

Excellent video. I really like the way you articulate things and the good vibes that you are ‘broadcasting’ 👍 I went from the LRS, to 1.7i, to 1.7i with dual subwoofers, however, after a couple of years I ended up replacing Maggies with Dutch & Dutch 8c - active cardioid speakers. To my ears and in my room, D&D 8c separate the sounds to even greater extent than Magnepans, which I never thought was possible. Their imaging is also more precise, and tonally they appear to be more accurate. They also go down to 20Hz in room, and provide this visceral upper bass/midrange that I’ve missed with Maggies. Saying all that, I genuinely think that Magnepans are excellent speakers that represent fantastic value for money, and my experience with various models matches your descriptions of their sound 👍 All the best, Shem

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

Thanks. That's one speaker I hope to hear one day

Great reviews as always! I've heard a lot of high end speakers over the years, the very best bar none was the Magnapan 30.7s heard with Ayre monoblocks.

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

Yes the 30.7 is quite magical

It will be very interesting to hear your take on the 2.7x version and all X versions going forward. Great content.

Inherited a set of MG2As with an Adcom 555II for amplification. They are waiting on restoration at the moment, twins to the pic you showed. I listen to MMGs daily. Love them. I find bass can be more tiring than the highs and live in a town house. So they're ideal for me a sound I like without getting the neighbors attention. I've debated on picking up some used 1.7s as they're really about as big as I can go in my space. Hoping to see some 1.7 owners upgrade to 2.7s. I like the looks and you often get interesting reactions when people see and hear them. Thwy're not for everyone but those who like them really enjoy them.

Great review. I hope these are at Axpona.

Great review. I had original 2.7s, loved them. Then 1.6, 1.7 now 3.7i. All wonderful. Interesting that they reintroduced the 2.7s. I use McIntosh mc402 and Primaluna dialogue 2 for amps love both with mine. The great things about Maggie’s out way the bad. Great review!

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

Thanks

I love the review, my love for the Maggies started 30yrs ago when I received a pair of the baby ones ( luckily) due to the owner having spouse acceptance issues. I recently use the LRSs with a Macintosh MHT 300 ( as the HT is integrated into my room) and a pair of 2.7qr s being retired with upgraded caps and air core Inductors which willhave tobehoused in an externalbox. I have heard that the Pass labs amps are also a great fit for Maggies.

Starting with the laugh is great =)

I have the 1.7i which are actively crossed over with 2 JL Audio E110 subs. The integration is seamless and it really adds that impact that Maggies lack. I'm sure by doing the same to the 2.7i would make them amazing.

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

Absolutely!!

I had a pair of those old Magnepans too!

I have a lot of speakers, and Magnepan 1.7s is one of them. The Magi is so different; it is the most open and airy speaker and even beats my B&W Nautilus in some areas. I am driving it with either McIntosh C53 + MC611 or the Pass labs XP12 + XA100.5, both excellent with little difference at HF and LF, where Pass labs have more control of the low end with less colour and the McIntosh have more clarity of the high end with added warmness. BTW, Adrian's videos are fantastic, big fan😁👍

Great review! I have the .7s matched with 300w McIntosh monos with sub. love the openness and clarity. I have tweeters out but haven’t experimented with them in. Thoughts?

@barkingpumpkin5693

3 ай бұрын

I had a pair of .7s and i now have 1.7i and i have tried them both ways. I much prefer the tweeters on the inside, it makes for a more focused soundstage but only at the listening position. if you get up and move around its not as good. If you sit in the same place and listen most of the time, then I think the tweeters in is best.

@tothemax324

3 ай бұрын

My thoughts... Try it.

Thanks for the review! Will you be getting the x version for review?

Good review. Exactly what I found when listen to Maggie. The only speaker I will listen too. Own Apogee in the past and Maggie 1.7 at this moment.

I concur. I've been am audiophile for 55 years and have owned Magnepan speakers. They're fabulous speakers and produce instruments and piano realism like no other but they do require power and good sub woofers to sound their best. Good honest review as always.

Hi Adrian.. Another excellent and detailed review. My system consists of a McIntosh C53 pre-amp (purchased used from you), a McIntosh C462 amp (store demo) and a pair of Magnepan 3.7i's. I do not like my Maggies; I LOVE them. I traded up from the 1.7i's to the 3.7i's. Glorious sound, detailed, perfect tonality and scary real. You spke so much more eloquently than my description. I do not have subs so can't even imagine what that would bring to my ears. Even without subs, I am so pleased with the lows. Listening to a lot of jazz and folk, I am in music nirvana! I am using old MIT Terminator speaker cables and MIT 330 cables. I would like to upgrade to Nordost cabling; what Nordost cabling would you recommend that would bring even more to my system? Thank you, Herb S

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

Hi Herb, Nordost generally has very good detail and speed. Come by and we can demo them

@herbs2750

3 ай бұрын

Wished I lived close enough to come in; I would love that. I live in South Carolina but looking for your advice to get a better speaker cable in the Nordost line (unless the upgrade would break the bank, in which case, I would stay with my old MIT Terminator). I would be willing to have you ship, as you did with the C53 I brought from you. Regards, Herb

Funny that on the other side of the Atlantic I had a similar story to yours around 30 years ago. MF A1 was my first amp, Rega PL3 my first serious turntable. Then bitten by the bug, bought my first Maggies 2.6R and then first power... Counterpoint SA100/SA3000 and all this started in my small bedroom 3x3m in my parents house. Today, I still use the former 2.7QR, that due to a room "nice" mode, when they start to lose bass at 34Hz, the room gives them a hand and so, still able to measure useful output at 28Hz. Yet, completely agree with you regarding stomach punch as they main limitation, never the less prefer to listen some loud Evenescence on them then in many box speakers and off course, the QR is not a R on the highs. Now free a tip, did you try the 40% rule of placement with them? If you can, place them at 40% of the lengh of your room, them put the listening chair where you feel you have the best-balanced bass response (probably further back) and check the results, it could be mind blowing. Unfortunately, not pratical on 95% of the cases, but worth the experiment just for pure fun.

Another great review Adrian, much appreciated. I am possibly thinking about upgrading to the 2.7 possibly. I currently have a set of the original LRS. All the plus’s you mention I also enjoy with my LRS like large life like sound stage, speakers disappearing etc. although I’m sure not to same extent as with the 2.7. As far as the negatives, I believe the same goes for all Magnepan models in general not just the 2.7 so if you have the space and like the Magnepan sound it’s all good. I believe Maggie’s need a sub to sound best. I am able to cross mine over at 80 hz so nothing below 80 hz is sent to the LRS, just to the sub and it works quite well for me. Regardless of what some people say, even my LRS will play quite loud, not Metallica concert, ear bleeding loud but reasonably loud nonetheless. I have had people over at my place who are not familiar with Magnepan speakers and listening to my system in combination with the sub were absolutely blown away. Yes they are harder to drive but years ago I have owned a few pairs of Infinity speakers and I would almost say the Infinity’s were possibly harder to drive than the Magnepans. Bass is not a Magnepan strong suit BUT Magnepans have a certain magical quality that no other speaker can match, especially for the price.

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

Thanks!!

Great video. I own a pair of 3.7i’s. You’ve made me wonder now….. I drive them with PrimaLuna evo400 pre and 2 evo400 monoblocks. I’m always astounded at how they sound but…Sounds like your saying that if I had a kilowatt per side that they would sound better. I do use a rel s8/12 for subsonic. Anyways always enjoy your videos !!!

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

Thanks. You don't need a kilowatt, and tubes can sound wonderful with Maggies. Really depends on your preference

Living in a 5 floor luxury apt building and being restricted to courtesy to neighbours, makes me want these speakers more and more. I do the headphone thing sometimes but it’s not my jam. Someday, I will be in your store to listen to these speakers. The price point is good, except for the fact I’ll have to replace my beloved Cambridge Audio integrated. Like I said…someday. Great work on this channel, always a pleasure! P.S…If you haven’t heard the song “We still grow” by Gare Du Nord….you’re missing out. Spectacular, trust me.

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

Yes great track!

I have the Magnepan 3.7i used with 2 Rythmik F12 servo subs, which blend seamlessly with the dynamic speed of the Maggie's. I have heard reviewers say the Maggies don't go loud enough, but I have never found that to be a weakness.

Great review . I think you would love the Diptyque speaker when it comes to low frequency. They have a lot more energy than Maggie’s.

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

Yes I heard them briefly. Definitely amazing bass

I really enjoyed your review and I have not heard these yet. Would a Class A or D power amp be better? What max. wattage would you suggest for a solid state stereo power amp.? I've read that for the subwoofers, you should match the speed by using class D amp? Thanks for sharing.

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

I've had good results with Class AB, not a lot of experience with Class D though I will try at some point

as a recent new owner of the lrs plus all i can say is there is NOTHING like planar magnetic panels. if you have not heard maggies, you need to

Great story Adrian. Crazy audiophiles that we are, to spend money on a high-end audio system before purchasing a bed 😄. It is truly a life-long passion (or shall I say, at times, a curse?)

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

lol, my young and crazy days

Agree with your observations on the Maggies. Regarding the bass I use a very small but very tight and quick sub with my little LRSs which integrates pretty well. When I want more dynamic punch I use that sub. When listening to string quartets etc I simple turn the sub off returning full range to the little Maggies. I had a better setup years ago with a dual high pass / low pass crossover and a 2nd power amp. This took a bit of bass out of the Maggies allowing them to play a bit louder. In this setup I could bypass the crossover returning full range to the Maggies. Yes, the full ribbon tweeter does do some magical things on the 2.7s. At times... though it seems so different, in speed and tonality it is, to me, a bit less coherent. You need the right preamp and power amp to work with that tweeter in the system. Agree with the ugly comments too.

Wanted to add my experience with Maggies. I own the LRS+ with Maggie stands + Gaia isolators. After adding the Gaia's, bass improved with flat output to 50 Hz and decent output at 40. My room is certainly influencing the response, but i feel no need for a sub. Also, I listen to lots of rock and they sound great and play loud. My amp is a vintage Conrad Johnson MF 2300...240W at 8 ohms, 480 at 4 ohms, so plenty of power!

Like you, my first exposure to Maggies was a transcendental experience. It was a pair of MGIIIs with electronics from conrad-johnson. I purchased a pair of 1.7s and then switched them for a pair of 3a's. I used a set of modified VTL 6550 monoblocks but could not get rid of the silvery sheen and discontinuity between the ribbon and the midrange. I determined that my room was too small and the magic of that first experience could not be duplicated. I ended up with Martin-Logan CLSIIz speakers and got what I wanted in my smallish listening room. I've heard the larger and newer Maggies and I have yet to hear a pair that doesn't have that silvery sheen that grates on me. I'd like to try the LRS as my room is now even smaller. Ah, such is life ... full of compromises.

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

CLS are not a bad compromise !! I have a pair in my collection. Love them

The LS3/a was my gateway drug as well. The rig I heard was powered by a modded Dyna PAT3 & modded Dyna ST70. (tone control taken out of circuit, higher quality caps and input/output connections) This was in the 80's when the market was dominated by Japanese receivers and speakers like the JBL L-100 and the large Advent, etc. I'd never experienced imaging and soundstage before.....it was a life changing experience.

@countdebleauchamp

3 ай бұрын

Me too on the LS3/5a's. Got them my senior yr in HS I believe. Sounded very good, added a sub mainly for power handling as well as more low end, but they really didn't start singing until I hooked them up to a PS Audio amp I purchased when I was 20. Then holy moly.

Love my 1.7i just need to find a pair of subs to integrate with them into my room.considering REL or Rythmik or perhaps gr research open baffle subs.

Adrian- have you heard and if so reviewed the PS Audio Aspen series?? They seem like they are superb high value products. I haven't heard them but the FR30s supposedly have flawless low frequency coverage and the ribbon midrange and tweeters are not unlike the Magnapans. I was thinking the rear firing tweeter probably gives the sound some of the ultra wide sound stage character of a Magnapan. What do you think?

How do the Maggies compare to the old Apogees ? Apart from the high’s frequencies which I subliment with Infinity EMIT Super tweeters ? Thanks

I bought my pair of 1.6QR in 2000 and sold my focal Utopias, I kept that pair until 2016 when I traded them for a pair of 3.7i. I knew the magic was gone in the first week. I held on to the 3.7i for 6 years but I also started buying box speakers during the period until I admitted to myself that it was time for something else ( an older pair of Sonus Faber and a pair of falcon LS3) I’ve been considering a new pair of 1.7 but I’m on the fence since I’ve fallen in love with the Wilson Sabrinas

Since you carry both, you might be willing to give an opinion - for mostly acoustic music (of all genres but very little electronic), which would you pick? Those Maggie’s and a pair of REL S/510 or the Martin Logan ESL 11A - both being roughly the same price (and omitting the fact that my amp wouldn’t work for the Maggies with just 25 watts although they are gorgeous pure class A watts). Prior to hearing you I was sold on the ML 11a but it seemed to me that the Maggie’s hit a soft spot 🙂

@AT-wl9yq

3 ай бұрын

I've owned both brands and I thought the ML's were much better.

Only space restrictions preclude my having a pair Magnepan speakers at the moment. I've had 3 pairs of Maggies in my "audio past" and the "audio value is through the roof! My only caveat is covered really well by Adrian with regard to bass and electronics BUT I'll just add that the RATIO of one's investment in the Magnepan's is a little skewed because to enjoy them to their full potential, you will need to spend more on the amp and the subs (if you want the bass) than the Maggies themselves. In the case of these great 2.7's you will need the speed and sophistication of REL's S serie subs as a minimum ( 2 highly recommended) PLUS a really good amp that will on its own, likely be more expensive than the Maggies. Really enjoyed this really "spot on" review, Adrian!

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

Thank you

@kurtrue5784

3 ай бұрын

Rhythmik F12 SE servo subwoofer integrates very nicely with my 1.7s.

Adrian, when you listening to the double bass, was the lower frequency range able to still produce sound as thou the instrument was in the room with you?

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

yes but in a different way compared to dynamic speakers. The image is larger and more life like, but not as focused or sharp. More like the live event, but lacking the slam.

I wonder how the Maggies compare to Martin Logan 13A/15A in the mids and highs. Any chance we might see a shootout at some point? It would also be interesting to see a comparison between, say, the 13A vs the 2.7i w/sub in a full range shootout. I know that may require a trip to your store; most Magnepan dealerships don't carry M-L, and vice versa. It's nice you carry both brands!

@mjot2360

3 ай бұрын

They don't compare. ML's blow Magnepans away.

@AT-wl9yq

3 ай бұрын

@@mjot2360I was just about to say the same thing.

A guy I knew back in the 80sx had a pair SMG's. He had a Yamaha 45/side integrated amp. It wasn't loud but it sure sounded glorious. He later added a 90/side Yamaha sound reinforcement amp which didn't sound as good as the Yamaha int. These painted a large, 3d-like image that was amazing. I don't think I'd want a pair unless I had at least 600 watts/side.

Always loved Maggie's hearing the 2.5 or something like that back in the day. That was my first introduction to the Maggie sound, and I have been enamored ever since. If I am ever permitted, I would love to own a pair of 3.7i or 20.7. Never will happen though, due to the width and size of their products, no way I would be able to get my bride to accept them.

1.6 qrs, plus two t/5x Rels. I'm very happy ❤ Rotel amp 375 watts a channel into 4 ohm. It's like a giant. 🧱 wall of sound.

As someone else noted, a small correction is needed: Magnepan made a 2 series with a true ribbon speaker, back around 1989-1990. I know, I had one. It made a big splash in the audiophile press too (go look up the reviews of the time.) The ribbon is magical, the thin aluminum tweeter then was not as covered by cloth in the rear. Fortunately I never blew out a ribbon, though people who played music too loud could do so. The weaknesses then were the same as Adrian highlighted with these newer versions: 1) the speakers need space to sound right, 2) no slam in the lower register. Also, back then the speakers also were very sensitive to the amp choice. This newer version sounds like Magnepan has been able to integrate the true ribbon and the panel better, perhaps due to improvements in the panel mylar construction (a la LRS ?)

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

Yes somehow I forgot the later 2 series with the ribbons

Adrian Your reviews were much better when you had two other listeners with you. They encouraged you to compare with similar speakers they liked. When my vintage quads die I will probably buy maggies. How do these compare to other models? Are they better than the small maggies but less desirable than the more expensive models?

One of the best albums I have heard through my 1.6 Maggies is Eva Cassidy Live At Blues Ally. It is a stunning performance.

Maggies have a reputation of sounding one way in a certain seat and different just a few inches to the left/right. I recall seeing them at an audio show and the seating was arranged single file, one seat behind the next. Isn’t that something that should be mentioned, or is that not really true anymore? BTW, loved the review.

Seems to me that the Magnepan 2.7i should be compared to one of the MartinLogan panels, but with a pair subwoofers added to the 2.7i, since the ML's come with a built-in subwoofer. Considering that AE sells both brands, I think that would be a very interesting comparison.

I'm a die hard Maggie fan. Bought my first pair of III's in the early '70's. Using 1.7i right now and am very interested in the 2.7i. Driven by an old school ADCOM GFA555. My problem is the room is way too big! Overall 32' x 40' w/17' ceilings. With their low efficiency I can not buy enough power! Going to build a listening room in the basement.

Those Quicksilver 8417 monoblocs were one of a kind !

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

yes they were

@frankgeeraerts6243

3 ай бұрын

If it may be helpfull and informative for some of your customers .........because 8417 tubes are now mainly obsololete there's a conversion published for the use of 6550 tubes..........BUT , I tried all of it and discoverd the amps also blooms exceptionaly well with the following tubes ....and with no further midification or different values of components ... If one can find those tubes or have them ..USE the nos 6CA7 GE ( fat boy )....same bias ..ECC83 TFK and 12BH7GE......Great tone , dynamics and huge soundstage ! @@adrianlow2114

I first heard Maggies in the late 70s while in college. Bought my first set (MG-1C) in 1987 and enjoyed them for 20 years. Those early models used aluminum wire glued to the mylar. The midrange was great, but the high frequencies were sorely lacking. I own 1.7i Maggies now, driven by a Purifi-based VTV amp in a dedicated listening room, and they sound awesome. I suggest another "bad" item for your list: the foil (and, for vintage models, the wire) is known to detach from the mylar, causing buzzing noise and general distortion at certain frequencies. It may have been related to the 3M glue that was used back in the day. Even my newer Maggies have at times exhibited this problem, but I've so far been successful in pressing the foil conductors back in place. Your good, bad, ugly series is a welcome break of truth in the KZread audio reviewer world. Thank you!

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

Thanks, yes re the glue! Though thankfully we've had very few issues

How does these sound compared to the 3.7i?

Adrian, you have the 57 quads blows Maggie away. Excuse me you know it down deep and I know it I live with them now live with them for 35 years. Great speakers nothing better in mid range. Take that to The Bank you have a pair or two sitting somewhere should get them back out and enjoy music again the way it was meant to be sound. Have a good one Adrian.

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

Quad 57 can certainly be magical, but mostly in the mids, and I am always fearful of damaging them when I play larger scale music, thus my love/hate relationship with them

I currently own 2 pair of the successor to these, the 2.5/R, that I use in a home theater setup with the Magnepan CC3 center and dual subs. I agree with everything you said except you can get away with having the mains 2 feet from the wall. I can't stand the boxy coloration of traditional speakers. Nothing compares to Maggies!

Pentatonix is typically an a capella group. On rare occasion one instrument may be used.

Some of the 2 series did have a ribbon tweeter, specifically, the 2.5r and 2.6r, others in the series did not

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

yes you're right.

I’m a rock and roller and I think it is a mistake to think that you can’t listen to loud rock music on these. I’ve owed various Maggies over the years and they are the best for any kind of music.

my first thought about the bass would be to use something very fast like an Infinite Baffle or Open Baffle design ...I have two 24 inch Infinite Baffle subs in my system ... its extremely tight and resonance free all the way down to 10hz with almost no EQ ... believe me when I say I will NEVER go back to a box subwoofer design

Adrian, I have to correct you. The 2.5R and the 2.6R had a ribbon tweeter. They din´t had a quasi ribbon for the mids. It was a 2 way system. I was owner of a pair 2.6R in the early 90´s. And I loved those speakers. After the 2.6R they came with the 2.7QR. These speakers had a quasi ribbon but not the true ribbon. They sounded less impresive. They came out in the late 90´s if I´m correct. These were the last models of the 2 series. Greatings from the Netherlands. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

@henkbakker4430

3 ай бұрын

P.s. Electronics were Mark levinson 27 and 28, power and preamp + krell (don't remember the model nr.) cd player. It takes some time to position the speakers correctly but it's verry rewarding if you do it correct (especially in the bas). Gr. Henk

@TheDanEdwards

3 ай бұрын

"They came out in the late 90´s if I´m correct." - the first 2 series, that had a true ribbon tweeter, was a two way as you noted. I had one. But it was around 1990. The panel was the traditional Magnepan panel.

@henkbakker4430

3 ай бұрын

@@TheDanEdwards Yes you're right, but I meant the last model (2.7QR). That came out in the late 90's.

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

yes, senior moment, forgot about them

I owned a pair of MGIIIa in the '80s. They cost about $2100. I think the driver architecture is similar to the current 2.7i including the true ribbon. I drove them with Bryston and used a B&W 1000ASW sub to supplement the bass. I do miss all the characteristics you describe here. They were phenomenal for acoustic music...piano, guitar, horns, but too your point, not best for rock or heavy electronic music. Since my taste also includes that, I moved back to B&W box speakers. Now, years later, I may go back to Magnepan.

Have you reviewed Sonus Faber Olympica Nova 5's ?

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

can't remember, perhaps a search

sold

How is the Accuphase and Maria 350 with the Magnepan?

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

Will try in the future

If the 2.7s are nearly as good as the 3.7is at 3/4ths the price I think Magnepan has a winner. I drive my 3.7is with PS Audio M1200 monoblocks with no trouble at all. Obviously plenty of power and they sound wonderful. At US$7k a pair, they are at a competitive price point with the the high end integrated amplifiers you recently compared. Class D but with a tube input stage, they were very well reviewed when they came out a couple years ago. I wonder how you would compare the M1200s with those integrated? With my PS Audio DS DAC Mk2 I have no need of a preamp. With the new "Massive" firmware, the Mk2 is absolutely awesome.

I am an owner of 3.7, I am thinking about the new 2.7i because 3.7 is a bit large for me, sonically I still don't know how well they compare with each other and would there be any significant downgrade if I change to 2.7i or not...

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

I hope to compare them in detail in future

@shawnwu9529

3 ай бұрын

@@adrianlow2114 please do, I think that would really help for some of us

How do they compare with Martin Logan's

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

Quite different. Logans today are hybrids and will have more powerful bass with slam. And they are quite well integrated, however they cost more than the 2.7, substantially more (I believe close to 2X, though if you add subs to the 2.7i, the price will be closer. Let's see when Magenepan finally releases their new subs!)

Adrian, youu have lluminated the sound of the components quite well but what I find to be distracting are the WHIP ANC CLICKER sound effect punctuations. it would be be ever so much better without them. ...hifitommy

Ran enimic 20.7s couple years JLA cr-1 active crossover 2/Rel Carbon Specials Coda Ts v3 800w@4ohm

Still waiting for the new subwoofers from Magnepan

@zcsny

3 ай бұрын

Been waiting for years. Seeing it demo’d in public last year was encouraging that we might see it hit the market this year

Great review, the only thing I probably don't entirely agree is the bass of Magnepan. My 1.6QR can go down to probably 40hz in my 200 sq ft room, and the bass is fast and clean and satisfactory to me in terms of quantity. Of course, I don't listen to rock music, but I think Adrian doesn't listen to much pure rock music either. It is a common misconception that Maggies don't have much bass. I can tell you if my 1.6QR has bass, then certainly 2.7i should have. It is just the bass of Magnepan is hard to get, because Magnepans treat your room as part of the equipment as your room is basically the speaker box. Try much more different positions different from traditional speakers, and match the size of Magnepan used with size of your room, believe me, there is bass from Magnepan.

@AT-wl9yq

3 ай бұрын

A few years ago I bought a pair of Magnepans out of curiosity because I couldn't get a good demo anywhere. I didn't like them enough to keep them, but I thought the bass was the best part of the speaker.

@9876rayray

3 ай бұрын

@@AT-wl9yq what do you not like about Magnepan? to me, the most difficult part is to get the texture of the sound right. All Magnepans are good at being airy and tall and big soundstage. Vocal texture is the part I struggled at first, because singers are like hanging in the air without the actual texture like box speakers. I spent a whole lot of time to fix that and am glad I fixed it at the end ....

Has anyone had experience pairing with amps like Krell K-300i or Hegel H-390? Wich one the prefer?

@iankuah8606

2 ай бұрын

The best amp I have found for Magnepan speakers is the GamuT D200 integrated or D250 monoblocks. These are a single MOSFET per channel design that deliver very transparent tube-like mids and highs with transistor grip and punch in the bass. They also have high current capability so are a match made in heaven for Maggies. Pair them with a good valve pre-amp for best results.

what would be the minimum watts for amp on these?ss better.

@AT-wl9yq

3 ай бұрын

You can't do it that way. There's no standard that manufacturers have to adhere to when measuring an amps power. They do it however they see fit. If you take 10 amps from different from different manufacturers and measured them all the same way, every one would be different. I would get opinions from people that own the same speaker. See what they're using, and if they're happy. If you live in the US, give The Cable Company a call. They should be able to send you a few amps to demo in your system.

Was the owner of that High End store Arthur Salvatore?

@longshanks8255

3 ай бұрын

That's what I was wondering myself. Especially because of the idler turntable?

@adrianlow2114

3 ай бұрын

yes

Pls, turn off BG music

I have owned 3 sets of Magnepan speakers over the last 40 years. In my experience Maggies have 2 problems. A lack of bass and they are too big. They did not need another too big speaker they already have 1.7 and 3.7s. What they need is a smaller speaker with a true ribbon tweeter, a true audiophile speaker with better imaging and a resolving tweeter. Maggies always need subwoofers anyway so why not make a system with smaller speakers using true ribbons and a cone woofer? On a sad note my 1.7i's are in the garage gathering dust. I just got tired of trying to make them sound great!

I think the review could be better by leaving out the sound effects. Less work for you, and less distracting for us.

So many Audioheads have similar stories.

I love maggies, don't get me wrong. I've owned 1.6s to TIVa's. I just posted a video comparison vs dynaudio, however ... magnepan is out of their mind. They are taking a 1.7 and adding a smaller ribbon and charging $6k? No thanks.

The only Magnepan I've ever heard that had truly good bass were the Tympani; every other, including the 30.7s, sound like the signal first went through the high pass filter for a subwoofer. The problem with subwoofers is I have never heard one that seamlessly blended with any type of planar speaker; you can ALWAYS tell when the sound is coming from the sub rather than the main speaker. Apogee couldn't do it when they tried, Martin-Logan can't do it today even with their Neolith and I've never heard a Magnepan setup when the switch wasn't obvious.

@iankuah8606

2 ай бұрын

The latest REL subs are fast enough to blend seamlessly with Maggies. I have been using an REL S3 with my 1990s 2.7s for five years and am very happy.

Hi Adrian, The one thing that I don't like about Maggie's is that they are dipoles, the rear energy radiation is 180 degrees out of phase with the front panel radiation . This rear out of phase radiation at the listening position is 100 percent distortion giving you this phasey unrealistic presentation. Like a singer having vocal cords in the front and back of their head, easy to understand this was done with Bose 901 and it was awful That said, some people like this phasey sound thats why people own Maggie's or Linkwitz or Bose dipoles. Another thing Maggie's have problems with is the waterfall plots they are not very good. The problem being that thin membrane Maggies use still shimmers when the full range signal has ceased giving you a not very good waterfall plot and this also contrbutes the that phasey Maggie sound. Adrian this is something you should know and metion to your viewers in the Good Bad and Ugly... Cheers,, The truth is in the listening..

My hearing is not good enough.

I heard the 2.7 at CAF 2023 and found the setup completely unlistenable, absolutely terrible sound.

@CarlVanDoren61

3 ай бұрын

Don't get much w small panels 😮 20.7s w 2/Rel Carbon Specials 😊

I have Maggie's. I enjoy your videos. But, the vroom noises are off putting.

''Only'' 5995 $ . Im not a millionair. My 500$ Yamaha 5.1 is enough for me.

Highend speakers NEVER play anything challenging.

All the audio world would be better with Shakti Stone enhancement…