Magnepan 3.6, 3.7 or Tannoy Westminister SE

(Previous post was because I couldn't log in earlier.)

Based on what I've read, I have a feeling it's going to be the TW's for you.

I've had the Maggie 3.6's for over 10 yrs. I love them and have another system with SET amps mated with the "proper" speakers so I know that sound and I love it also. I don't think one is better than the other. They both have their strengths. The Maggies have that "wall of sound/dipole" experience and my SET/hi-eff system has a dynamic contrast sort of thing. I know what you mean by "kind of unforgetable". I'd say, get the TW's and live with them for awhile.

Are the big Tannoys really SET friendly, or do they like a little power?

Does this means that Tannoy in the Prestige series lower than the Westminister SE can't compete with the Maggies?

At the price of the Tannoys, I think the competition isn't with the 3.6 or 3.7, but the new 20.7.

Hi Robertwolfee, as you may have also already noticed, they are not competing as having different approaches to sound reproduction (flavors). I would categorize them as 'musical' transducers, ie.not the utmost take in neutrality--measurements and all, but are Imo, both musically engaging speakers albeit with rather different set of strengths. Maggie is more about life-like scale and sound staging, whereas, Tannoy's virtue is more that of tonal beauty and timbre hues.

I did went back-forth between them earlier.. MGIIIa in mid '80s (driven by Krell KSA80, VTL300), Tannoy Westminster then the Royal in mid '90s (Many tube variants, ranging from Cary 211, 805, VTL90 to Ichiban, Ongaku etc.), then in mid '00s the MG20.1 (Jadis JA200, ARC REF600). Listening to Ella, Nina, Louis the likes, and smaller acoustic ensembles via 300Bs driven Tannoy will always remain the magical highlights of my audio journey.

Hence, if given a 'must' choice to go back to either one at this point in time, I would probably choose to live with the Tannoy with some fine tube amps and be done with it. Having said that, as always, room, taste, and musical preference, will play an important role in deciding between these two fine speakers.