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Can Magnepan survive Wendell Diller?

I bought my first set of Magnepans in 1976, and I currently have a pair of 1.7i's.

It is difficult for me to upgrade to the 3.7i's because their are so many things that the company can do to improve their product that they simply won't offer; upgraded crossover components, a solid wood/rigid frames and better stands are examples.

Other companies are now doing this, but Magnepan always says Wendell doesn't think that is a good idea.

Can a man who suggests using lamp cord for his speaker line really have that much control over an otherwise unique technological approach to speaker design? I must be missing something obvious when a product is hand assembled in MN and any of these upgrades would, in my mind, warrant factory upgrades. Who wouldn't spend an extra $1k for a 1.7i with a hardwood frame and an upgraded x-over? Adding a ribbon tweeter to the 1.7i would warrant an additional $1k, still bringing them in $2k under the 3.7i.

Is it common for one person to hold an entire company back in high end audio? 
128x128william53b
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,788 posts
 
Lots of points made here, all valid and of interest imo. After all, we're all planar lovers first-and-foremost, right? If you're not, get lost ;-) .

I would just like to remind everyone that Magnepan is far from the only loudspeaker company using crappy x/o parts. If you watch Danny Richies' GR Research YouTube videos---in which he shows you what is inside the mass-produced speakers people send him for upgrades---you know the x/o parts in almost all speakers are junk. Magnepan chooses to make their speakers that way to be able to sell them at a given price point, as do all the other company's (well, not Wilson, etc.). Hi-fi fanatics have always looked for ways to make better sound, and it's easier now than ever.

As for you guys who like your 1.7's, but would love to own 3.7's were it not for their size: why, why, why, do you all continue to ignore the Eminent Technology LFT-8b? 13" wide, 5' tall, 1' deep, and at $2499/pr an absolute giant killer! The UK reviewers soiled themselves while describing the sound of this marvel, as did Robert E. Greene in TAS, and VPI's Harry Weisfeld, who described the LFT-8b as having the best midrange he has EVER heard, including that of the QUAD ESL.  
hardtobme's avatar
hardtobme
4 posts
 
We are an audio dealer but not a dealer for Magnepan
At the CEOs shows we found Wendell to be quite short it's not very receptive 
william53b's avatar
william53b OP
211 posts
 
@hardtobeme


Teritorial?
william53b's avatar
william53b OP
211 posts
 
@bdp24

One of my major shortcomings on this forum is that I have never attended a stereo show. There are so many speakers made that I will never hear because of availability, and I am not in a large market and what is available locally is limited. One of the dealers happened to carry Magnepan’s and I was drawn directly into that location and did not look farther.

The Eminent Technology LFT-8b look like an excellent choice in this price range.


bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,788 posts
 
No offence intended, @william53b. Eminent Technology is an even smaller company than Magnepan, has far fewer dealers, and doesn't advertise or attend CES regularly to sell their wares. But like Magnepan, they have survived in this tough business. They're both doing something right!
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