Tossed between the horns Maggie 3A/PSB Gold I


I have been a long time Maggie fanboy, having bought my first pair back in 1982. For the past 12 years I have been using a pair of MG 3A's with a pair of M&K subs. I have continued to keep these in great operational shape and over the past winter I upgrade the caps in the cross-overs, replaced the tired ribbons, rewired the speakers with silver/cooper/teflon wire and remoloxied the diaphragms. I also put new socks on them. Needless to say they sound and look great. I also have Sound Anchor stands; so for all intents and purposes, these speakers have been taken almost as far as they can go.

Recently, I have taken in a pair of PSB Gold I. Generally, I get a second pair of speakers to listen to and play with from time to time. After a short period of time I usually sell off the second pair because they do not provide me with the same sonic enjoyment as the Maggies. However, the PSB are proving to be a bit of a different story.

They are a bit more upfront sounding and have great dynamics at low/medium to low volumes. They throw a good sound stage and when bi-amped and used with subs they have a well defined and deep low end.

My Maggies, on the other hand, have a better high end. The ribbon tweeter can't be bested, in this regard. They also have a more organic sound and throw a larger sound stage. However, you do have to be sitting in the sweet spot to enjoy it. Off axis and everything collapses. The mids are more laid back, which is great for some recordings.

So, that is the good and the not so good about each speaker. I can keep both but would eventually need to sell off one due to limited room and it makes a mess of my listening space.

After another week or so I'm going to throw the Maggies back into use and make my choice, however, I know it is not going to be an easy one.

Ultimately, I am going to use my ears, as I always do, to decide but my question to you, the reader is, "which would you choose?" Please no responses that include it is up to me and let my ears decide. Of course, this is what I am going to do. I want to entertain your thoughts specific to these two choices.

Thanks!!!!
raymonda
I had the PSB units in piano black mind you. I was hoping that they would be the end all be all as they looked unreal. They were very good but a bit warm and veiled compared to other things I had here Really good but just not my thing.
"but a bit warm and veiled"

That is exactly how I would describe them. Frequency response is definitely tilted downward....

Shakey
("but a bit warm and veiled"

That is exactly how I would describe them. Frequency response is definitely tilted downward...)

I have found that their signature is dependent on the amp and pre-amp used, but would agree that when used full range their bottom is full. However, when crossed over at 80HZ and used with subs it much improves their bass performance. They no longer become a bit bottom heavy and slightly ill defined but, rather, they transform into a well articulate and deep speaker. Relieving the woofer of 80hz and below does wonders. It also allows the woofer to focus on 80-250hz region, which it does nicely.

At first I was a bit bothered by the metal tweeter, as I usually am. Although, with a bit of tweaking up stream, positioning, and trying different amps has brought me much better high frequency response.

So, here I am.......I like both speakers. The PSB's perform better with solid state and my Maggies sound great with tubes. I could live with both, and just might do so, at least for a while, but ultimately I'm leaning on selling both and upgrading to 3.6's. Until then, I'm enjoying the ride.

BTW, I have experimented with a hybrid system, e.g., running the 3A's on the outside and the Golds on the inside and roughly 7-9db's down. This does strike a excellent split between the two, provides great headroom and a nice balance with more accurate timbre. However, it takes away depth in the sound stage when played at louder volumes. I know, I can hear the crowds shouting heresy but it works to a large degree!!!!
A pair of 3.7s just popped up on Agon for 2800.00. That is a great deal, and if you are considering 3.6s, those are a no brainer.

Shakey