I have a chance to buy Maggie IIIA speakers, but am also considering the 1.6QR. Any comments on the pros and cons of this choice would be appreciated. Thanks.
How much are they asking for them? Because of their age, they usually sell for about 750.00 - 900.00/pr. If you can land somewhere in there, based on what you posted, they should give you years of listening enjoyment.
The deal on the MGIII sounds good. I wonder how the speakers sound.
About the tweeters,,, replaced three years ago is ok, but they can be damaged in a few seconds. some people (like me) actually prefer the QR tweeter, the technology of which matches the woofer panel. Have you auditioned both?
In summary...you "can't go wrong" with new 1.6QR, but you might make a mistake with the used Maggies. If you don't mind risk, take the MGIII. Otherwise, the MG1.6.
Thanks for the suggestions and comments. I have heard the IIIAs but not the 1.6QRs. What do you mean when you say that the the technology of the 1.6 tweeter matches that of the woofer? Are you referring to the difference in age of the new ribbon in the refurbished IIIAs? Thanks
Dewhi...The "Tweeter" in the MG1.6 is just more Mylar diaphram with lighter conductors on it. Same as the Woofer except that the conductors are metal foil rather than wires and (I think) the Mylar is thinner.
In the "R" models, the tweeter is a completely different device, a ribbon transducer. Ribbons are very good, but some think that their sonic characteristics differ too much from the Maggie woofer panels.
If you don't hear a big improvement from the ribbons, save your money and stay with the MG1.6QR. The ribbons also have some reliability weaknesses that don't exist with the QR tweeters.
If you do prefer the ribbons, by all means get them. Just be sure it is because of what you hear, and not that people told you that the ribbons are better.
I've owned MG-IIIa's and now use 1.6QR's. I like the 1.6's better. They are more coherent and seamless in their presentation. Maybe the last little bit of airiness is lacking, but there is no shrillness or harshness to the 1.6's which affect many other speakers (occasionally the ribbon tweeter Magnepans). YMMV
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