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Anything better than Magnepan 1.6?


So, its been out for something like 9 years, but it still seems to be absolute top of the line. I also see the Dali Ikon 6 which seems to have amazing pinpoint staging accuracy. The same recording of a female Jazz singer has a mouht the size of a woman on the Ikon 6 and maybe 5 feet wide, maybe 4, on the Magnepan. Which is a positive thing for much music, that 'wall of sound' thing they do. And it has a much, much better sense of 'air' with the combo ribbon tweeter and dome than most box speakers.

Anything else I should consider? Even up to 3k? In that range, after having Maggies since 1988, speakers like the appropriate B&W and similar don't seem to compare in my opinion at all - I guess its a planar thing. The sound is so obviously coming from a little box! Just can't do it. I love Thiel in general, but in this price range I don't get enough volume.

What about Innersound Isis? I might be able to get a used pair? Tight sweetspot annoying to me, I often have people over to listen to music with me.

Oh - and I don't care about Bass below 80 Hz and possibly a bit higher, but 120, absolute top of 160 might be okay if everything else is outstanding. I already have a VTF-3 HO Hsu subwoofer with turbo.

I listen to almost everything, so that is of no help. If I had to chosoe one to focus on, I'd choose classical, but I listen to a lot of Shostakovitch for example, which is basically heavy metal in classical, so an accurate speaker that doesn't punch you a little won't work.
lightminer
restock
831 posts
 
If you keep your Maggies and want to just try soemthing different for fun, try a single driver speaker with SET amp. It might give you a taste of what is missing with the Maggies if at all.

SInce you are used to 6ft tall speaker, take a look at a pair of Cain Abbys. You get a similar imaging and soundstage, but very different texture and realism. (Disclaimer: I have a pair of Abbys and have been considering the Maggies as a second pair/new amp to try something different...)
cwlondon
1,210 posts
 
One pair of Maggies I have never had is the 1.6 and all feedback suggests they are something special.

If you have the room, the space, the patience, and sufficient amplification, my understanding is that Tympanis have bass like no other Magneplanars, even the biggest models.

I have a pair of T-IVas which continue to amaze me.
glenfihi
525 posts
 
Have loved the Maggies 1.6 for years, I think they are the best value in their line up as well. I was all set to buy a pair until I happened to hear VSA JR4's. All a matter of taste of course but they gave me the air and speed of the Maggies with the added botton end. They cost more than the maggies, but in my case worth the extra money. Would still like to own a pair of maggies one day. But for the here and now very happy with the JR4's.
panny
99 posts
 
I use to be a Maggie owner,but found I could get the same transparency through Box speakers wihout them be as problematic and they are more of the euphoric signature instead of being true to reproduced sound.

I use modified NEAR's which are somewhat the poormans Wilsons.

You need to audition several speakers which are not of the Dipole nature and that fit your taste. There are a few manufactures I would love to try like JMR ,Green Mt. amongst others which I know would satisfy my taste.

The things that drove me nuts about Maggies were room interaction,amp synergy amongst other things.

I would still own Maggies .I have nothing against them as they are fine speakers,but I wanted easier speakers to deal with that gave me some of the same thing like soundstaging.

Bass is a big part of the music btw and deep bass is hard to come by. Not having to rely on an outboard Sub helps.

When adding a sub you are going to have the occurance of the sounstage being effected weather you know it or not.

When hearing true bass performed by great bassist you will know how much it counts. John Entwhistle was the finest bassist and system reproduction I ever got to experience.After that I knew how important Bass can be.

Then there are the percussions and if you really fgo deep then chamber music like church organs will be the thing to test as you know owning anHSU sub. Not many systems or people need that deep of reproduction.

Good hunting!
photon46
1,088 posts
 
"Better" is certainly subjective, but in many parameters the 1.6's can be bettered for $3k. Whether those parameters outweigh the many strengths and well rounded performance of the Maggies only you can decide. Like you, I had Maggie SMG's for years. Then I upgraded to the 1.6's and thought they were a fabulous upgrade. I was very happy with them for many years but the urge for something different led me to listen to a variety of dynamic speakers and eventually buy speakers of that design. I assure you that there are dynamic speakers in your price range that do not sound like a box! Each of the earlier posts make good observations and suggestions. Personally, I think there are so many well designed modern dynamic speakers I'd have a hard time justifying putting up with the limitations of Maggies again. All that said, they are a very musically satisfying speaker that's a tremendously good value. You'll just have to listen to as many speakers as you can, don't give up on the category of dynamic speakers on the basis of your reaction to B&W's.
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