Magnepan Speakers - Ribbon Replacement

I've been using a pair of 3.5R's for almost 11 years (purchased new in Aug. 2004). I don't push them hard (driven by tube amps). They sound as good today as when I first purchased them. I used a pair of MG-IIIa's before that - same thing (had them for eight years - also tubes). I suppose if you really drive them hard, for long periods of time, you might need to replace the ribbons. Based on my experience, I'm quite satisified with how they sound as is.

The number one killer of maggie ribbons is a clipping under-powered amp. My 3.5's are over 10 years old, and I've never had a problem...and by the way I listen to them loud.

Cjlundgren,you are quite correct,the maggie ribbon tweeters do not have to be replaced over time because they somehow wear out and the sound changes for the worst. I have had MG-20rs for over ten years and have had two ribbons go out on me. So,unless they rip or blowout theirs no reason to replace them.You're MG-3.6s are great speakers and I'm sure you enjoy them alot.Hope this helps.

Maggie ribbons do have a reputation for blowing out, and this reputation would not exist if there were no truth to it. On the other hand some people don't have a problem, so it probably depends on the amplifier used and how the user treats the speakers.

Good news is that the ribbons are easy to replace, and not that expensive.

This issue, emanates from the orignal factory information, which placed the 'life' of the ribbon at the same time frame as that of a Moving Coil Cartridge, was, I believe their phraseology.
The reason is thermal stress. As the energy passes through the aluminum tweeter, it heats, then cools. So the unknown at the time of their inception, was, how many times could this be done, before failure? So they put a two to three year life span estimate on them.
Yet over the years, this has proven to be incorrect, with the tweeters lasting, or in many cases outlasting original ownership.
You can verify this with Windell Diller at the factory, and he can give you some better info.
I have seen them fail, when people used them at extraordinary volumes; and when they did, the tweeters looked bent, and misshapen, almost like a coil effect.
Personally, I would not let it be an issue in purchase.
Hope this helps clarify, as I was there as a dealer when this began.
Best,