Question for Ex-Maggie Owners

Thanks to all of you for your replies.
I have heard it before and now again about Maggie owners leaving only to return later. I gotta get a pair myself now.
The only thing thats worries me is shipping these things. ( I hope to purchase a 2nd hand pair). Many sellers are reluctant to ship I guess due to size but possible shipping
damage. Is this really a concern? Magnepan must ship hundreds of boxes from the factory UPS.

Just to reiterate what has been said...Maggies are very room dependent and visually non-obtrusive...they are anything but "space-savers"...I also think they get a bum rap when it comes to the bass dept...they do have very musical and accurate bass (1.6)...but not deep, boom-box bass...I also believe their power requirements have been overstated...although they are a 4 ohm load...it is a very stable, linear one...a quality 60w amp such as a Bryston intergrated are just fine...ofcourse you can always add more later...I also feel conventional, dynamic box speakers have greatly improved over they years as well...especially in the transparency department...and for this reason...I currently have reference monitors that are very dynamic, detailed, and transparent...they have a much more "live" sound than Maggies...Maggies do create a very large vertical image...but they are very dependent on musical taste as well...rock,electronica,etc. are not their bag...I feel dynamic speakers have improved greatly...and really have no blaring weaknesses...however...Maggies are very intoxicating in the right enviroment...since I recently moved and have the space...I may return...

I did not even think about the sweetspot problem with them.I often lost the sense of getting all the music when listening with another person besides me.

The room dependency and power to run them are another matter to be taken into context,but there are low cost amps that drive them with ease.B&K's modified is what I used and Rotel do nicely with them.

They do fairly well integrating with Subs.Better than other panels.Innersounds are probably the best for having Panels with good dynamics of what I had just read.So thats my opinion.

Review:
Bass Dynamics
Sweetspot
Amps to drive them
Room dependency
Are all negatives
Brightness-with some amps

Positives are they are some of the best for transparency I have ever encounted.They melt into the soundstage.

Good luck!

Emil:

If possible and if you have the room, I would recommend you hold out and purchase used 3.5s or 3.6's locally. Reasons:

1) You're right, they're beasts in terms of size and weight. I'd want to physically inspect (torn or dirty socks, evidence of smoker's environment, etc.), and pick up rather than trust UPS or similar.

2) I ultimately decided against new 1.6's in favor of used 3.5's. Price was there and I couldn't get over the reduced bass output the smaller panels had.

3) I held out and missed out on several good Audiogon deals, but finally was rewarded with a listing from a local seller parting with his immaculate 3.5's. I had to promise him that I would call him first if I ever decided to sell. A few months later he told me he missed the Maggies too much, ended buying 3.6's to replace them. I think he still has his Aerial Acoustics 10T's as well.

4) I just spent the afternoon at the Analog Room in San Jose, listening to Sonus Faber Amati Homage & Avalon Eidolon speakers. Sorry, I wasn't convinced or tempted by either and cannot see myself ever going back to box speakers as my primary transducer.

I moved my Von Schweikert monitors to my office. I can still enjoy pinpoint imaging (I grew up in recording studios mixing in the near-field), they're great on heavy drum bass rock-oriented material at the SPL I can do at the office...and I can go home to the Maggie's incredible speed, soundstage and transparency.

As a musician, there are just too many things the Maggies do right to my ears to make me consider their shortcomings reasons for going backwards.

I had three problems with them.
1. To harsh on the highs.
2. To small of a sweet spot.
(I like to listen with friends sometimes.)
3. Needed to much power.
(I am a tube man and beleive it is easier to make a great sounding low watt amp than it is to make a high power amp.)
Though I must say that there are still somethings that they did better than any other speaker I have heard.
It took me a major jump in cash to better them with a dynamic speaker.