Speaker Technology over the last 10 years

hi chashas1:

i happen to like most panel speakers, but consider the magnepans a good value.

i was not trying to single out the magnepans, although their latest prototype might be something special. i have not heard them, my impression is based upon reading and talking to someone who was at the SHOW this past january.

the virtues of magnepans are well known. i like the boxlessness, depth, frequency response and radiating pattern. i think they are "easier" on the ear using a tube preamp and tube amp.

why not listen to one ?

04-26-09: Mrtennis
i was not trying to single out the magnepans, although their latest prototype might be something special.

It is. I heard 'em in February.

i have not heard them, my impression is based upon reading and talking to someone who was at the SHOW this past january.

I sure hope Magnepan commits to the development and production of these. You're in for a treat. The smaller panels seem to overcome my one problem with larger Maggies--they're a little slow and not as transparent as some kinds of panels. These little panels are very fast, however, producing some of the best transients I've ever heard from any kind of speaker at any price. At the open house I was at (described here), the Wilson Maxx 3's made the 20.1s sound slow and a little thick; the mini-panels did not suffer compared to the Wilsons on that score.

My Apogee Scintillas, made more than twenty years ago, have not been in danger of replacing, with any speaker, or any other speaker configuration. Leo Spiegel was quite the speaker genius before his time. With the gear I have to power them by, the Scintilla has finally shown it's full range capabilities.

Thanks, mrtennis. I have no local dealer any longer, so we'll see. However, if you're all about the planar, then why would you be mentioning a hybrid? Wouldn't that be a no-no for you? From my recollections, granted, years ago, they were never successful. So what gives? and, speaking of newer speakers, I hear the new King Princes were garnering lots of praise at the recent shows, and no hybrid. Have you heard em yet?

what hybrid are you referring to ? the new magnepan uses a panel woofer. i believe it is similar to the bass panel of the 20.1. by the way, i agree that integrating treble/midrange panels with cone bass drivers can be difficult/