Magnepan 3.7's versus 20.1's?

Brownsfan,

Thank you for your comments. As I think about it, certain albums do provide better soundstage and depth of field than other albums.

So...it appears you are suggesting that the 3.7's would not necessarily be too big for my space?

Dsper, I don't think you should rule out the 3.7's based on concerns about room size. The ideal is always to have an in home audition, but that isn't always possible. You ought to be able to get an in store audition with a room that is at least a similar width, and that should give you some idea. Personally, I find I like speakers closer together than most people do. My 1.6's are 49" inside edge to inside edge. I like the strong center fill I get with them close together. Maggies tend not to have much trouble with side wall interactions, so your 15 wide room may be fine. The open area you have behind your seat will help if anything. I haven't heard the 3.7's yet, but I have heard the 3.6's at less than 13 ft. They were poorly set up, but I can say I did not feel I was too close to the speaker. I'd say, do your auditioning carefully. If you fall in love with the 3.7's, go for it.

I am 9 feet from my 3.7s and it is fine. Definitely front row seats.

I just had an opportunity to hear the 1.7, 3.7, and 20.1 in a store here in Evanston IL. I thought that the 1.7 was more coherent sounding than the 3.7 driven by the same electronics. The 20.1 was on a different level entirely. The rooms were sized about the same (15 x 20 or so). The 20.1s sounded real with proper extension and scale. The 3.7 seemed pinched and tight. Of course, i don't know how long any of these speakers had been played. I assume the 20.1 was well broken in and the 3.7 quite new so that may have been a factor.

I expected the 20.1 to sound better than the other two but the 1.7 was a real treat.

The 20.1 gets my vote for best panel .