@Ihasaguy try the relatively inexpensive but effective Mike Powell Ag upgrade. It made a difference in my 1.7i Maggies.
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?
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?
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ps582 posts07-28-2021 7:45pmOP writes regarding the discussion on his thread: "some reply’s (sic) on this post that entirely miss the point of that and have have (sic) taken it off track and through the mud." The only mud in this dreadful thread is that which has been flung at Mr. Diller. ---------------------------------- Indeed. |
Well, I'm not sure what Wendell has to do with it. Magnepan is a legend in audio. They certainly didn't get where they are without a good business strategy and it's worked. I'm amazed at how great the speakers sound considering the basic parts and construction they use, and I have a good point of comparison for how much it takes to do better as you can see from my radically "tweaked" system. If you want to spend more, their product line has always allowed people to trade up for better sound with their higher model, more expensive speakers. All of their speakers are contenders for top honors at their price points and higher. We all see a lot of valid complaints about how the cost of audio is no longer affordable for most people. Certainly, no one can fault Magnepan for that! |
I just got up from listening to John Adams "Harmonielehre" with San Fran Symph/MTT, full of wonder, awe and reverence at the power of that music - thanks to a 5.1 sys of all Maggies (20.7, 3.3, CC, REL- Emotiva). I came upon this thread, curious about the price of the 30s. Their designs are doing something right - it’s all about the sound - and that’s all there is to say about it. Like every manufactured product, there are improvements that can be made. But, just like your sweetheart - If you’re thinking of going through with getting married, believing you can improve her over time, don’t do it! |
Oh for Christ's sake, have they not taken this thread down yet? Yes, you can improve Magnepan's all day long. Risers, better stands, removing the fuse from the tweeter circuit, hardwood or hardwood plywood frames, better crossovers, a second layer of foil tape over the existing one to raise them to 8 ohms, beveling the opening in the MDF frame and adding hardwood on the outside of the frame so you don't have to use white gloves to move them, removing the bottom and adding an open baffle sub underneath…. And on and on and on. The 1.7i's going down to 40hz, as per their specs, is a joke. They have a large bump at 70hz, then fall off to almost nothing. After a million years, they still have square corners in their panels, which cause an inordinate amount of unneeded harmonic distortions in the film requiring them to pin the film to the backplane in several spots, that holds the magnets, with plastic buttons and screws. And those buttons placement are not uniform, even in pairs. Their primary goal is to be cheap. That definition of quality components and audiophile are seldom used in the same city, let alone sentence. You want Maggie’s? Buy the LRS and use a good open baffle sub as a base and you’re golden. Otherwise anything else in their line gives you the finest mid bass midrange and an ok tweeter. |
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