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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
russ69's avatar
russ69
3,500 posts
 

and an ok tweeter

The Magnepan true ribbon tweeter is my favorite tweeter and not many can keep up with it.

william53b's avatar
william53b OP
211 posts
 

Funny, that tweeter isn’t available in the 1.7i, the bottom of the top of the line.

Is that because no one would buy the 3.7i for the price difference if it was?

Feel free to screw with me on a business I have dissected with some degree of malice, and found lacking.

I buy Stereophile grade A products, if it doesn’t get an A, for the most part, it doesn’t get in.

I still have my 1.7i's, stripped down. Would you like me to make my point? I've already rounded off the corners to the degree that I have been able to remove the buttons…

secretguy
1,694 posts
 

Again...LOL

helomech
1,673 posts
 

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.

Maybe in your room. Certainly wasn’t the case in mine. 

pat_from_indy
4 posts
 

I know the OP started this thread about issues with Wendell Diller.   Well, those issues go beyond Wendell Diller.   I am looking for a CCR center speaker, and filled out the Magnepan customer "Contact Us" online form.  Got a very quick email response from Eric Norgaarden, apparently in their marketing dept. 

Eric let me know that the lead time for a CCR was "approx 20 weeks".  I asked on why so long, and he stated they needed production personnel.  I responded that maybe Magnepan should re-locate to another state where there are many people who would be thrilled to go to work tomorrow for an American manufacturing company.

Well, Eric did not like that suggestion.   He bad mouthed his own dealer in the city where I live, stated that I was a right-wing f**king moron, and that I should take my business elsewhere.

And so I shall.  Anyone got a suggestion on replacing a Magnepan MMG C with an upgrade?  

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