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The Magnificent Magnepan 30.7 speakers....wait, I don’t like planars!

Wendell Diller from Magnepan has been a very busy gentleman recently. Touring throughout the US, he has visited, or will visit, numerous locations to demo the new Magnepan 30.7 speakers. It takes a lot of determination and commitment to drive through the country and then to set up in the small towns and large metropolises, a speaker the size of the new 30.7.
Last night I had the very good fortune of hearing the 30.7’s for the first time...at a local high end store demo. Also, I had the pleasure of talking to Wendell and his wife about his voyage...and why he does it.
But first, the Magnepan 30.7’s are...IMHO, at the very top of a long list of planar speakers that have been brought to my attention. Having owned Maggie’s in the past along with Quads and Acoustat’s, my interest level in this type of speaker was not in any way high. Yet, here’s the thing, these new Maggie’s are not your father’s Maggie’s. Instead, we have a speaker that given the right size room ( and unfortunately this is the real determining factor...and crucial to make these work) is very near to the top of the chain in current SOTA speakers. Easily able to compete with competitors at the $100k level or above! Yet these guys are priced at $30k....which makes them by far the best $30k speakers on the planet, imho.
Anyone looking to replace a speaker with a max budget of $50k...and with the room to accommodate this speaker, needs to hear this speaker..
Unlike planars of the past, and most if not all others that are current, this model does one thing that Planars have never done before, at least that I have heard. That thing is Dynamics...and in spades. Bass control and power is on a par with some of the best large dynamic speakers on the market...along with NO discontinuity between the drivers. ( as was prevalent in the past with Maggie’s).
So, how many times have we gone into a demo with preconceived impressions based on past experience and been proven wrong....this time for me was one of those times...and for you, I suspect it will be the same thing.
If and when Wendell brings his van and his speakers to your neck of the woods, don’t miss out on a great opportunity to hear one of the worlds best speakers...at a price that will put most others to shame.

128x128daveyf
daveyf's avatar
daveyf OP
2,857 posts
 
I think the best way for anybody to truly know whether any speaker is a contender for their own home system, is to take a pair home for an audition. This isn’t that easy with a speaker the size of the 30.7’s. However, compared to a lot of other SOTA contenders out there, these guys are fairly easy to move around and transport.
I would certainly consider these speakers in my system, IF I had the room- and the amplifier power to drive them effectively. Having heard many of the SOTA contenders on the market, I certainly believe that the 30.7’s can compete with the very best...at any price. While I do think that there are a few speakers that offer some very minor pluses to these Maggies, I also think that the price difference will be considerable.

@stickman451

I agree with your post, Magnepan needs to start selling these guys and having them available for home audition. This ’raising the ante’ is not a negative for Magenpan, because while I don’t agree with today’s high end speaker pricing, $30K is actually entry level for numerous other brands!!

BTW, pleased that Wendell is watching this thread, it was a pleasure to meet with him and his wife at the demo...
Now we just have to convince the local dealer to carry the 30.7's in their inventory, LOL.
josh358
286 posts
 
Hi Pryso,

Yes, that paragraph is confusing, isn't it? But what Wendell meant is that the *customers'* rooms are too small for big panel speakers, not the dealer's.

Stickman, good point! I'm told they are coming off the assembly line now, so presumably we'll start to get some feedback. Considering that these are improved from the Tympani IVa's in just about every department and knowing what the IVa's sound like in my room, I imagine that they're pretty amazing.

I also know how much time it takes to set up a planar for best results, and Tympanis are even worse since there are so many panels!

Davey, how much room do you have? The reason I mention that is that Wendell is saying they'll work in rooms that are smaller than most people think. The original reviewer demo was in a room only 14-1/2' wide.

Of course, it helps if you have a dedicated room, or a wife who is very nearsighted. :-)


daveyf's avatar
daveyf OP
2,857 posts
 
@josh358

My dedicated room is 10’X11’.Saving grace is it has a vault ceiling that goes up to 13’. Big Maggies definitely are off the table...and most likely the larger models above the 0.7’s. I’m pretty happy with what I have right now.
josh358
286 posts
 
daveyf,

Heh, yes, that would be a bit small for 30.7's. I empathize, my room is small as well! Only a madman would put Tympanis in it (bows).
stereonut007
3 posts
 
Had the privilege of auditioning this amazing speaker at Absolute Sound in Austin...Across the country, the size of dealers varies quite a bit. This shop is one of the smaller facilities, hence their sound rooms are smaller as well.  Yet the sound from these 30.7’s was tremendous.  The deep bass is here, magical!  Subs are not required.  Everything you’ve ever hoped for in a Magnepan speaker has been achieved.  Great time with Wendell; he’s extremely cordial & has to be enjoying the interaction with both customers & dealers.
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