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? 
william53b
I own a pair of MG-1.5/QRs that I bought from the original owner 6 years ago that were in immaculate condition. I regularly am amazed at sounds I hear coming from albums I’ve heard numerous times before but suddenly there’s a previously unheard before guitar here, or a keyboard there - in other words they expose information other speakers don’t.

That said, imagine you run a speaker company and for whatever reason, the demand for your product(s) exceeds your ability to manufacture them as quickly as your customers would like. Unless you’re unprofitable, it’s doubtful you would consider any changes other than ones that might speed up the building process without effecting your quality standards.

While I understand and certainly support those offering advice and tweaks to make a good speaker even better, from a business standpoint, you have to consider how would incorporating additional steps, parts etc make more $$ without creating more stress on the existing manufacturing process?

As consumers, we can reach for higher levels of quality, remaining within our own levels of cost vs results. A successful business often runs by the "if it isn’t broken, don’t try to fix it" policy unless something cataclysmic occurs that forces change. I suspect that’s what’s at play here with the occasional let's try a new product and see how it sells campaign.
@lastperfectdaymusic

FYI

Magnepan Europe: https://magnepan-europe.com/pages/shipping-and-delivery

For other international locations contact the manufacturer: Sweden: 0046 8 362240

US for International calls: 1-651-426-1645
I spoke with someone inside Magnepan a couple of years ago when I had a suggestion to resolve a mkting issue they had. that. He confided in me that Wendell would not let any new ideas be implemented & that the co. was barely profitable & he was intent on doing things exactly the way they'd always done it. It's not going to go under any time soon perhaps but definitely treading water with no growth indicated on any horizon.
Seriously?  The 1.7i's I got IMHO might just be the best value in speakers anywhere near it's price range.  Could it be better, maybe but at the time I ordered them, it was at the top of my budget, so it didn't really matter.

They made a great replacement for my dead Apogee Duetta IIs and have given me hundreds of hours of listening pleasure.

If you don't like the company, don't buy the speakers.  I had to wait almost 4 months to get mine, so there's no shortage of customers who want them.

ymmv.