Magnepans or...Martin Logan

richopp159 posts08-09-2019 8:54am

NO SPEAKER is better than Magnepan speakers BECAUSE boxes, by definition, change the sound that was recorded  ... Period, end of discussion.

Of course Magnepan is not even remotely the only "boxless" speaker system.

I still have Martin Logan’s CLS 2s. They’re incredible. I also have box speakers- Wilson Watt/Puppies. They are beyond incredible. 

Don’t believe everything you read about box speakers being inferior. There are excellent ones out there if you’re willing to spend the money.

@cleeds, richopp is obviously unaware that were both tall and/or boxless speakers long before Magnepan introduced it’s original model the Tympani T-I in the early-70’s (which I bought in ’73. I currently have a pair of T-IVa), including the 6’ tall KLH 9 (an ESL, reviewed by JGH in the October ’68 Stereophile), available for years before the Tympani was introduced. And he doesn’t even seem to know that there are today MANY planar speakers other than Magnepans, including the bargain-priced ($2499/pr) Eminent Technology LFT-8b, a real MG1.7i killer.

Having owned several to get to what my current speakers(ML), Magnepans are great for jazz and folk, but no bass, you will need a sub. A used pair will ship cheaper than Thiel(great) and Martin Logan( awesome).  Used will also get you a great speaker at a better price.

As a current owner of the Maggie 1.7 and having owned many other speakers, both box and other ribbons and stats and most costing considerably more than the 1.7s, I can say, I am quite impressed and satisfied with the little Maggies. They do require a bit of power to drive but, unless you are trying to fill a large room with 90+ db, a decent 100 W high current amp (capable of delivering more power into a 4 ohm load such as the Maggies) would do a nice job. In my slightly large (14’w x 24’d x 10’h) room, I have no problem driving them to moderate levels (listening mostly to light pop, jazz, folk and acoustic) with a 100W per side Rogue, integrated tube amp and it does a beautiful job.
Regarding set up and placement with the Maggies, I agree, but with a bit of patience and work, the rewards are astounding. In my set up, wether in the sweet spot or not, the image and stage stays right where it belongs - no head in a vice demands, what so ever, in my audio room.
My point is, for the type of music you are interested in, there are few speakers, at your price point, that can make as nice of music with as large and detailed stage as the little Maggies.
If power is a problem - I agree the next best option, to get a comparable sound, would be a very efficient open baffle speaker such as the Spatial Audio’s Hologram M3 or M4 or Emerald Physics.......Jim