Good inexpensive temporary speakers

If you can go with Maggie MMGs, why not MG 12s? Their external dimensions aren't that much more imposing while adding a significant amount of radiating area. They're still under budget, so maybe you could add a compact powered subwoofer to add some low end punch and bass extension below 45 Hz.

I have 1.7s plus a pair of very vast and compact sealed subs, and it's a golden combination. Fast powered subs are handy for condo living because you can dial in the amount of bass that will work for the circumstances.

Magnepan detractors are always complaining about power requirements, in-room size, imaging in some cases, and rolled off bass. Most of these things are pretty easy to fix with more amplifier power (or quality), thoughtful room placement, and small, fast subs or Mag's own DWM panels. What Magnepan gets right, however, otherwise only comes from very expensive speakers such as WIlson, YG, Focal Utopia and Magico, and that is a total absence of boxy colorations. Furthermore, the x.7 series are more coherent and more dynamic without needing mega-sized amplifiers. I run my 1.7s in an open architecture living room with an amp making 100/200 watts into 8/4 ohms, Since Maggies are 4 ohms, I'm getting 200 wpc and that's plenty. When Absolute Sound reviewed the 1.s, they powered them with a Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum making around 90 wpc and it was a rave review, so I guess the amp power was fine.

Magnepan speakers exude a very natural presentation, where the sound floats out in space without any sense of coming from boxes, with a natural soundstage and dispersion pattern. Tonal balance is excellent and presentation is effortless with large, low-excursion diaphragms devoid of overshoot and ringing so typical of pistonic drivers (especially tweeters). This goes a long way in making the music sound more natural and less reproduced.

I had the impression the MG 12 was basically the MMG plus their bass module. A Mag dealer told me the MG 12 usually still needs a subwoofer, so it's a better deal to get the MMG with a REL sub and have more versatility and bass response. Not true?

Pioneer 22s

I've never heard Magnepans sound as good in the store as they do when you get them home. I'd go with the MMGs and use their upgrade offer if you move within a year.

07-16-14: Larrybou
I had the impression the MG 12 was basically the MMG plus their bass module. A Mag dealer told me the MG 12 usually still needs a subwoofer, so it's a better deal to get the MMG with a REL sub and have more versatility and bass response. Not true?

The MMG plus the DWM bass module is called the Super MMG. The MG 12 is a different speaker altogether. It's bigger, with a larger radiating surface. The MG 12 is 17.5"w x 51"h x 1.5"d and has 329 sq. inches of radiating diaphragm. The MMG is 48"h x 14.5"w x 1.25"d, so its radiating diaphragm is probably around 220 sq. inches.

A REL is certainly not the only option for fleshing out the bass. Maggie's DWM panel offers some advantages, such as transient response as fast as the MMGs, reasonable price, versatile placement, etc. For a conventional sub, REL is certainly not the only kid on the block. My little Mirage MM8 subs are perfect for my 1.7s, but unfortunately most Mirage is now out of production. Still, there are other offerings from Velodyne, Paradigm, Def Tech, PSB, etc. that may make for an easier blend than the REL.

I say this because the other subs I mentioned have a more extended, flatter frequency response. The REL T-5, for example, contributes a sharp, resonance-driven spike, and relies on corner or wall placement to excite room modes to broaden the frequency curve. I like subs that don't rely so much on that because it makes it easier to blend the sub's timing iwth the panels. I have my little subs sitting right next to their panels, and don't have to fuss with the phase knobs. The integration is seamless.