Thinking of Magnepan ... finally!
Until recently, most of my amps have been tube-based with the exception of a few great SS integrateds thrown into the mix for fun. That's probably the main reason I have stayed away from Magnepans (or other speakers of its ilk) thus far. Now that I have an Aavik U-280 integrated amp that can do 300 watts @ 8 ohms and doubles to 600 @ 4, I would love to scratch that itch finally. Keep in mind that I do not intend to get rid of my other speakers (Joseph Audio Perspective2 Graphene, Harbeth SHL5+, Fritz Carrera BE) since I love them all for different reasons. The Magnepans will be rotated in the main listening room with Joseph Audio Perspectives. One thing I like about Maggies is that they are relatively lightweight so I can move them to the closet without breaking my back when not in rotation.
Since I've never owned Magnepans before, I have a ton of questions and doubts. So here we go ...
Bass (or the lack thereof) -- I've been told that the Magnepans are very light on bass and definitely require at least on subwoofer. Is this true in all cases? Anyone using them without subs and happy with the performance? TBH, I really would prefer that I don't use subs but not set in stone for sure.
Breathing Room -- my room is 20' x 15' with 12 foot ceilings. The speakers will be placed along the short wall (15'). I can pull them out by about 4.5 feet from the front wall and 3 feet from the side walls. Seating distance will be approximately 8 - 9 feet. Is this good enough or do you think more distance, especially from the front wall, is required to truly enjoy the speakers?
Mods -- I've also heard that the stock components (crossovers, fuses, etc.) and stands are suboptimal. Is this true? If so, what are the minimum requirements to bring the speaker to a higher standard and at what cost?
Value -- For someone who is just starting out with Maggies, which model is a good entry point? I know that LRS+ is a good value, but my other speakers are very very good, so I want to do justice to the Maggies as well. But at the same time I don't want to spend more than I need to. Where do you think the sweet spot lies, i.e. which model(s)? I will be looking for used only since I've already spent way too much on other speakers.
Imaging -- I've also been told that imaging on Maggies is not that great. I have never heard Maggies before so I have no idea if this assertion is true or not. Your thoughts?
And finally, I want to hear from folks who love their Maggies. What is that you love most about the speakers? What qualities do they bring to the table that no other speaker does? Are there magnetic planar speakers from other brands that I should also be considering? Keep in mind they have to be readily available in the used market. So please don't suggest something that doesn't meet this requirement.
However, to bring some balance to the feedback, I would also love to hear from those who tried Magnepans and moved on to something else. Why? What was it that you didn't like about them? What did you move on to?
Thanks in advance and a sincere request: Please keep it civil ... no need for haters of Magnepan to use this as an opportunity to diss the brand.
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I setup the LRS+ this morning in my office, 12 x 11 x 9 with 4 additional feet in the closet where my desk is stuffed. The room is treated, and I think it is sonically in very good shape. I learned over the weekend that my Benchmark LA4 preamp has an issue with the RCA outs and maybe the mono summed XLR outputs for a sub. I was blaming the KEF KC62 sub all this time for my sub issues, it was the RCA and mono summed on the LA4. The LA4 was sent back to Benchmark this morning for repairs. I only have my modded PeachTree GAN1 available now with 'preamp' capability and I cannot use my KC62 sub with it (at least the way I want to do it). I have connected the LRS+ to the GAN1 and put them 3 feet out and 60 inches between the speakers. I am 84 inches away, so 70% space between the speakers and my distance from them. I sit with my back to the speakers and have 4 feet extra space in front of me. My initial reaction. This thing kicks arse. Have 200-300 hours more to hear the full deal. I decided to use the GAN1 as my RAAL CA-1a headphone amp. I got a 25-foot headphone adapter cable from RAAL on Sunday and that is amazing, so I now have headphones in 2 rooms with 1 system. That also means I need to buy a second preamp, a Benchmark LA4 or a Rotel Mitchi P5 for my office and Livingroom. Thus, the KC62 sub will soon be setup with the LRS+ and the 2nd preamp. A CODA #16 will be the amp for the LRS+. BTW - If you only want to stream, the modded GAN1 at $1500 is a screaming deal for the LRS+. I have tuners and DACs to add into my office system so the GAN1 will not work there.
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@yyzsantabarbara How are the LRS+ doing after you've probably put few more hours on them? How would you compare them to more traditional/box speakers? |
@arafiq Unfortunately, I have not been able to hear the LRS+ at its best. I think I need a sub and I cannot use a sub easily without my Benchmark LA4 preamp. I sent the preamp in for repairs, and it was found to be working fine. So, when the unit returns today, I will be interested to see if the sub will work. I have been using the LRS+ with my modded Peachtree GAN1 and it sounds great. The sound is clear, large, and COHERENT. I think this coherence thing is the most important to me. I say this because my RAAL SR1a and CA1a phones are incredibly coherent and the best things I have ever heard, until today. I got delivery of my Yamaha NS5000 speakers yesterday. The 3 drivers are made out of the same material, and I believe that aids in the coherency of the sound. Listening to the not even broken in NS5000 with my Peachtree GAN1 was mind-blowing. That was goosebump level sound. The LRS+ has a similar quality above the low bass region to the NS5000. In my small room the speaker is the best I have had in this space. The others include, LS50, LS50 Meta, Audience 1+1, and Thiel CS3.7. The LRS+ is better than all of these. The LS50 Meta + KC62 sub is maybe equivalent. I preface this by saying in my small room. In an hour or so, when my preamp returns, I will hook up the LRS+ with my CODA #16 and the KC62 sub. If you are not familiar with the #16, it is in my opinion one of the best amps at any price. The LRS+ is my long-term keeper now, even before I hear it with the sub. It is that good. It lacks a bit of the dynamics of the LS50 Meta and the KC62 sub, but I have the LS50 Meta available to switch it around if needed. However, now that I got the NS5000 I have a feeling the LS50 Meta will not go back into rotation. The NS5000 is substantially better than the LRS+ and maybe anything else I have heard except the KEF Blade. Though the driver on the LRS+ and the NS5000 are likely better than the Blades. BTW - over 125 hours on the LRS+. I was going to buy this one but got an incredible trade in offer for my Lumin X1 DAC. Bonus points for the NS5000 being the most attractive speaker I have seen. The photos do not do it justice. The LRS+ not so much. Yamaha NS-5000 3-Way Bookshelf Speakers with Stands Customer Return (P — Safe and Sound HQ
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I lucked out and managed to grab my Benchmark LA4 preamp before the CVS drugstore where it was dropped off closed. A total mess-up on UPS delivery. I now have the CODA #16 | LRS+ | KC62 sub setup and the bottom-end is now present. It is a nice combo, and I am glad I bought back the KC62 after I just sold it. I got it just for the LRS+ thinking I would like the LRS+. A good move. I need to setup the sub better, but I have a winning combo now (a little too much bass at present).
BTW - my wife came into the office and said I have new speakers. The LRS+ has been there for 2 weeks. She said that it looks great though I am not that impressed by the looks. She also said it is a much better-looking speaker than the 2 penises I had before, the Thiel CS3.7. |
arafiq OP1,468 posts @yyzsantabarbara How are the LRS+ doing after you’ve probably put few more hours on them? How would you compare them to more traditional/box speakers?
Incredibly well. I’ve put a few hundred hours on them. My Forte 1’s and Heresy II’s have a thicker sound which is typically the case with box speakers but the LRS Plus produce a wall of intricate, 3 dimensional detail. I just got the new REL T Zero MkIII two days ago and it’s a stunning match! I’m working on a part 2 LRS Plus review which will have sound demos with and without the T zero. I also have DAC shootout coming out. |
@arafiq I am now somewhere around 300-400 hours on the LRS+. I listen to it from 9AM to about 9PM, later headphones, I am busy with work so a lot of music these days. I have noticed that the speakers have really opened up and sound very clean. It has more bass than expected. However, I finally got my KEF KC62 sub positioned properly with longer Benchmark RCA interconnects. I crossed over at 50Hz on the sub. Wow, that made the system go up several notches. The KEF sub is very fast as is the LRS+. I was using the PeachTree GAN400 amp with the LRS+ and Holo Serene preamp. It was OK for the longest time, and I was considering returning the GAN400 because I wanted great. However, adding the sub and maybe more hours on the LRS+ just blew those plans out of the water. The GAN400 is staying. It is a fast-sounding amp and I think mates well with the fast LRS+ and KC62 sub. A lot of toe-tapping listening. I have a better speaker in the Yamaha NS5000 downstairs but listening to the LRS+ does not make me feel I am losing out. It is a different presentation from the NS5000. The LRS+ has a more wall-of-sound presentation in my small room and I like that. The NS5000 has a more traditional cone speaker presentation but those drivers are incredible. The LRS+ sounds a lot like the RAAL SR1a phones with my VM-1a tube amp. The RAAL sounds a bit better but maybe moving up the Magenpan lineup evens things out. I like the NS5000 setup a bit more than the RAAL setup.
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I've gone to my local dealer in SoCal a couple times now to listen to the Magnepan 1.7i speakers. I've heard them with both the Hegel integrated amplifier as well as the Rogue Pharoah. While the sound is nice, I'm not sure I see what the hype is about. Even in a controlled setting with optimally placed speakers and listener, they didn't draw me in. Maybe I need an even more powerful amplifier to draw out their magic? I don't know. For now I'm sticking with my box speakers. |
@yyzsantabarbara Thanks for sharing your impressions of LRS+. Looks like you're really enjoying the speakers. I almost bought 1.7s from a local seller but we're building an outdoor kitchen so all my audio funds were diverted towards it :( I heard so much about the LRS+ punching way above their price bracket, provided you supply ample power to them, and perhaps a pair of subs. Your impressions are in line with what I've been reading. How do you compare the NS5000 to your Thiels btw?
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I am back to listening to the LRS+ with the modded PeachTree GAN1, which is a heck of an amp. It would be perfect if I did not listen to FM over the airwaves. FM is a big part of my day, so I need to use an amp | preamp | tuner and so cannot just use the GAN1. I returned the PeachTree GAN400 which is pretty good but not as amazing as the modded GAN1. The GAN1 has shown me that 200 watts is good enough for the LRS+ in my small room. I am thinking of getting a Benchmark AHB2 again to rotate the CODA #16 and the AHB2 with both speakers. The 100 watts on the AHB2 and almost 200 watts at 4 Ohm could be good enough. The NS5000 is sounding great. I moved things around in the Livingroom/son’s playroom and I have a good placement now. Essentially nothing of consequence in-between the speakers. The sound of the NS5000 takes me away into the music, it is even better than the RAAL SR1a phones and VM-1a tube amp. I never thought would say that. I think the Zylon drivers on the NS5000 are more advanced than the almost 15-year-old Thiel CS3.7 drivers. The soundstage on the Thiel CS3.7 may have been a bit bigger. Though the NS5000 is good at that too. Looking at the old fashioned NS5000 you would not think it sounds as good as it does, but Yamaha seems to know what they are doing. It is a very beautiful speaker. My wife was happy that I sold the 2 pen_s’s, which she called the CS3.7. A shame I am not really able to listen too much. That will happen on Jan 1, 2024.
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aamiransari11 posts I've gone to my local dealer in SoCal a couple times now to listen to the Magnepan 1.7i speakers. I've heard them with both the Hegel integrated amplifier as well as the Rogue Pharoah. While the sound is nice, I'm not sure I see what the hype is about. Even in a controlled setting with optimally placed speakers and listener, they didn't draw me in. Maybe I need an even more powerful amplifier to draw out their magic? I don't know. For now I'm sticking with my box speakers.
Yea I got that impression with the 1.7i as well. They seemed sort of dull on the top end. Had 20k worth of amps running them too. |
when a product/brand has sooo much market presence and success, such legions of owners across generations who love the performance, there are bound to be some that don’t get it nature of the beast --- unanimity of opinion and preference is simply unachievable in this field we all hear differently, we value different sonic traits, expectations can affect what we perceive as well (i have been to so many highly touted gourmet restaurants with expectations so heightened it become impossible to be ’pleasantly surprised’ ... or maybe the demo(s) are/were simply faulty in some significant respect |
I listened to 3.7i’s at a dealer in Woodland Hills and was unimpressed. They actually sounded harsh and edgy. Maybe it was the electronics, I don’t know . I had previously purchased 1.7i’s from them. The 3.7i’s did not audition well in store, in purchased a used pair online with mye stands as I got the bug to hear their ribbon tweeter. They are phenomenal in my home. I thought it odd that they did not have them set up well. |
I have a pair of original LRS and I must say, never heard Magnepan before, but all the rave reviews and the low cost, I was curious and ordered a set from the factory. I was truly blown away for the price, never hearing Magnepans before was a real ear opener for me. I drive them with a Peachtree Gan 400 without any problems. I also high pass them at 80 hz and run a sub. Some people claim they don’t image well but I disagree. They throw such a large soundstage that the speakers just disappear. The depth to the sound stage is amazing and on recordings with multiple voices for example I can pinpoint different voices within inches of each other. I find I get the best imaging with the tweeters on the inside and the speakers toed in to cross just in front of my seating position. After my experience with Magnepans I would have a hard time justifying spending 10s of thousands of dollars on box speakers when you can have such amazing sound at a very modest price range in the Magnepan lineup. |
