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Magneplanar .7 speakers. Have you heard or own them??

I have owned a pair of Golden Ear Technology for about 8 months. I generally like them because of their high level of accuracy and general transparency   However, despite those virtues, I find them to sound cool, and not very involving, or engaging.  Everything being equal, they don't seem to convey the emotional content of the music. I also been finding it difficult to get them to sound right. They can sound a bit bright on some CD's and also provide an overtone on vocals 

I would like to get  feedback from owners of the Magneplanar's .7 speaker, or even if you have only auditioned the speaker a few times in anticipation of buying. Some of the reviews I have read claim that with a fairly powerful amp or integrated, they can cleanly down to 45Hz, but their major strength is a superb midrange and smooth high end. Of course, being familiar with "Maggies" they can give a buyer ulcers trying to get them to sound right especially in medium size room because of their design.  My room is 12.5 X 15 and is separated by a couch to a dining and kitchen area.of almost the same size 

Therefore, I am curious if the .7 can convey that  emotion of music with the same clarity of a  dynamic speaker.  My system is a Rogue Sphinx integrated  amp (100 RMS @ 8ohms, and 200 RMS at 4ohms.  CD player is a Ayre CX-7e mp.

Speaker cables are Harmonic Technology PRO 11+ and  HT Truthlink IC.  I  plug the system into the less expensive Blue Circle's  conditioner which is outstanding,  Thanks to all!!

BTW , I heard the .7 once but not for long, and in a audio shop that carries both Maggies and Golden Ear Technology speakers  However , the owner never seems to have .7 and the GET model 7 on display for audition at the same time.  .   

 

 

sunnyjim
sunnyjim OP
927 posts
 

To Johnnyb53,   Thank you for your extensive comments on both the GET model speakers, and Magneplanar 1.7 and .7.  Was there not an "R"  version of the   1.7?? 

Nevertheless, very helpful information.  The Golden Ear Tech model 7 is a very good speaker.  Though it can sound a bit peaky with certain CD's Also,. I am not sure its bass is as tight or dynamic as it should be.  I probably need to switch back to the Grover Hoffman speaker cable which I thought had outstanding bass, but lacked the balance and coherence of the Harmonic Technology PRO 11 + that I replaced them with. 

As far as the Maggie 1.7 (or 1.7R),  the speaker is bigger in size than the new .7. Though, I love deep tight bass, I am a little reluctant to add a  Maggie subwoofer, or for that matter any other brand.SW  The key at this point is whether I will continue using Rogue Sphinx integrated, or find another integrated with more power like the Parasound Halo. The NAD 376BEE I am sure packs a wallop of power, but is also pug ugly.

The issue is whether the Maggie .7 or even 1.7 can deliver the punch and fullness of classic rock music which I play a lot,  some classical, and occasionally rock/jazz fusion like Jeff Beck,  Chick Corea.  Though, as I get older, I find myself moving away from traditional 60's 70's rock, and more toward lighter jazz and world music.  I will have to see how this shakes out

BTW, Today,  I played   one of the Allman Brothers classic albums, "Eat a Peach" which has not been played for over a year.  In particular, the track "Mountain Jam" is as good as it gets marked by the interplay between Richard Betts and the great Dwayne Allman. His musicianship is extraordinary. The Golden Ear Technology model 7 . held its own across the board on this piece played loud.  However, bass, though deep had an almost flappy cardboard sound.  Also, the midrange was not as full on this selection as other speaker,. I have heard in shops which cost a lot more.  The Maggies .7 or 1.7 will have to provide a much fuller midrange with clear detail than  GET model 7 on this Allman Brother's track for me to move toward  a planar speaker.

 Though,. it might be too much to ask of the planar design without going to the bigger Maggies which I cannot accommodate or afford.  Many thanks to all  Cheers!!  

seattle_mike's avatar
seattle_mike
43 posts
 
I've owned maggies off and on for 30 years.  I would say I'm a fan.   I had the .7's for awhile. 

Here's the thing I can't get over with maggies... the lack of microdynamics.  Sure, they play loud and sound good on some kinds of music.   But I listen to a lot of classical music, piano, violin, harpsichord, etc.   And the maggies just don't do quiet like a good dynamic speaker. 

Love the big image.   But can't live with them.   If I was a rock n roll only guy they'd be fine for me.    But I'm not. 

nolasooner's avatar
nolasooner
10 posts
 
I am currently listening to the Goldenear Triton 7's powered by a Rogue Cronus Magnum II.  The sound is good, but I keep asking myself if I could be getting more out of the amp with different speakers.  I love the .7s and the guy at my local audio dealer said there was more than enough power in that amp to run the maggies.   So we shall see.  
oblgny's avatar
oblgny
848 posts
 
Sunnyjim...

I only just last week compared the 1.7i and the .7's at my local audio dealer while I was waiting for the return of my preamp.  At home I sit around 10-12 feet from my speakers (currently Thiel CS3.5) while in the store the distance was maybe 4-6 feet. 

We we hooked the .7's up first.  I have to relate that I found the 1.7i's disappointing by comparison, particularly in the midrange.  It was almost as if someone had tossed a blanket over the 1.7's, they seemed to be holding something back.  

I happen to be very fond of Magnepan and Thiel both, and normally given my perverse sense of buying audio equipment I would have purchased the One-Sevens sound unheard. Now that I have I will probably buy the Point-Sevens based upon that audition. 

To to my ears they presented everything better.  
douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
Interesting comment, Seattle_Mike, I don't find it to be the case that Maggies don't do quiet like dynamic speakers. I presume you mean thereby that they don't do quiet as well. I find otherwise; typically the Maggies are more quiet in dark/silent passages than dynamic speakers, especially ones with higher efficiency. Typically such easier to drive dynamic speakers have more noise, that is, they reveal more low level noise associated with the recording space. If that is what you mean as a measure of how "live" the recording is, then I concur. But if you mean simply being quiet when there is no signal, I disagree. 

I find that one can adjust to either type of technology, and how the system is set up, i.e. what the other components are, makes all the difference. 
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