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Magnepan 20.7

I took the plunge and bought a pair of Magnepan 20.7's.
After having owned the AudioLab Electrostatics I wasn't sure that they could be as good.
Actually, they are a truly amazing pair of Loudspeakers. I can't say that they're better, but it is very close.
Moreover, the Magnepans are terrifically neutral and open sounding. My room is large, 24' high and very deep. I listen in near field--which is not to say that everyone should, it's just my preference. Doing that, I"m happy as a clam with these. Every reviewer who looks at these rather large speakers says, 'They don't have the bass slam that conventional speakers have'. While that may be true, it's not something I miss. I love the bass of these speakers, as it's tonally, very accurate, easily playing, lower notes of a bowed double bass. Voices, clear and solidly placed in three dimensional space.
Over all this is a Grade A loudspeaker. I'm using a 150 hybrid amplifier (integrated), and it handles the volumes I want just fine.
Highly reccommended to anyone in this price range.
Good listening, 
Larry
lrsky
lrsky OP
1,118 posts
 
Bret thanks for the comments. The amp I'm using is the LSA Statement, a company I founded a few years back. It pretty much doubles into 4 and 2 ohm resistance, which is to say, it has a great power supply. I wouldn't deign to compare it to the Magtech, which I haven't heard. Knowing Mr. Sanders' work, I'm sure its AMAZING. 
The bass that this LSA produces in my room, is tuneful and very well balanced for me. I am, as I pointed out, a near field listener so, big powerful bass is not as important to me, as sound staging and realism of tonality. BTW I just got new tubes from Brent Jessee Recording, the NOS 7308's I believe and it was transformative. Our Maggies, Brett  are so revealing, that any change is immediately obvious. I love them probably as much as you do. 
Good Listening,
Larry

azbrd
102 posts
 
One other option that is not expensive is to use Mye stands with your 20.7s, have you heard of them?  www.myesound.com  These really do work by making the frame more rigid, I did them for my 3.7s and now the 20.7s.

I agree with you about how revealing the Maggies are, tube rolling can be a lot of fun and allow for nice tuning, I have a MC C1100 that I have added NOS tubs for the preamp side (not the MM/MC tubes) and a tube based DAC (modwright elyse) and both efforts payed off.  I prefer tubes in the front end and solid state on the amp side, its hard to get enough power for the Maggies out of a tube amp while the tubes on the front side really sweeten the sound.
Brett
limniscate
241 posts
 
+1 on the Sanders Magtech driving Maggies well.  Supposedly, the Merrill Veritas monoblocks are even better.
audio_hub's avatar
audio_hub
82 posts
 
hi guys.
how much costs these now - used or ex-demo?
offered a ex-demo pair
gawdbless's avatar
gawdbless
1,235 posts
 
You listen to your 20.7's at 5' distance? that's not nearfield listening, that's being Intimate!. lol
Glad you like and enjoy your speakers.
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