Question for Ex-Maggie Owners

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.

Maggie Magic never wears off!

I gave them up only because I changed abode and the room inherited was just not big enough to accomodate them. Moving and buying equipment at the same time is not easy so I had to settle for something reasonable and I think the current choice is good enough for me. Chartwell LS3/5a and Paradigm Reference Studio 40 v.2

If I have an option later I would sure go back to the Maggie Magic, why not! However, never giving up the LS3/5a they also have that "Magic".

Some 20 or so years ago I scrapped my set of three MG II, because I had burnt up the tweeter wires, and the line array of tweeters that I attached to the Magies (before Magnepan did the same thing with their ribbon) just didn't hack it. I salvaged the heavy oak moldings, which still adorn various shelves around my house.
After wandering in the wilderness for 20 years, I am back in the fold with a set of three MG 1.6. Augmented by a heavy duty set of three subwoofers, I have no complaints. And the tweeters have fuses, which will prevent the problem I had before. The MG 1.6 are greatly improved over the older model, which in their day, were darned good.

Mainly because they were not right for my musical taste. They sound wonderful for certain types of music. I grew up with and still listen to 70's rock. Maggies just don't do justice the way cones do.