Hello, I had the first pair of 2.7X delivered in the US. I got them in December. I have not compared directly to the 3.7i so I can't really comment on a comparison. The 3.7i were just too big for my room, I felt. I have a pair of VMPS subwoofers that I use with them, crossed over at 80 hz. The main differences between the two speakers is the size of the bass panel (3.7i is larger, more bass, which I don't need) and the 2.7X uses the 40 inch ribbon, rather than the 60 inch in the 3.7i. I was told the crossover point for the ribbon in the 2.7X was lower (more ribbon sound) than the crossover for the longer ribbon in the 3.7i. Both require a lot of current from your amp and large gauge speaker wire to handle that current. I invested in a pair of Odyssey Audio Kismet mono-blocks which fill the bill. I think the X upgrade is a significant upgrade, and would have major FOMO without it. Taken a little while to get get everything set up and sounding good, but am now a happy camper. If you have subs, or would use sub, I would suggest the 2.7X.
@jcadwell Thanks for the response. I am not interested in the hassle of trying to integrate subs, so I may even go in a different direction altogether. Also, I see that Magnepan is tinkering with some new designs, so I might even just wait to see how things play out there. In comparing the 3.7i to the 2.7X, the usual response is to get the largest Maggie one can afford and/or place in the room. I was hoping someone who had heard them both could give me a SQ comparison. Thanks again. |
Agreed, some people just like to criticize without knowing what they are talking about. "Using thin wire over too long a distance will result in a reduction of power to your speakers. Worse, if the wire is too thin for the amount of current it is trying to handle, it might melt, causing damage to the amplifier." |
The 2.7 was very dynamic and could play very loud without that compression type of sound that (I think) on panel speakers. The clarity of the 2.7 is really good, better than the other 2. I thought the bass kept up with the 3.7, maybe not quite as low but with better definition. sorry for the short response i'm on vacay with the family :) |
@secretguy You might think this is a joke but I burned out the brilliance control of my Sound Labs speakers and I mean smoke, stench the works. A very power amp like a JC 1+ could easily melt the insulation off cheap high gauge speaker wire. I am not sure if it could do it on a 4 ohm loudspeaker. The Sound Labs approach 1 ohm at 20 kHz resulting in extremely high current. |
"I might also add that the 3.7i is a superior speaker in every way. "
I did not care for the sound of the 3.7i in my room. The 2.7 uses a shorter ribbon that crosses over at a lower frequency than the full size ribbon in the 3.7i. More true ribbon is a good thing to me. the larger panel in the 3.7 will give more bass, but I would be using subwoofers with either speaker. It is the same height at the 3.7 which is the big difference from the 1.7i. |