MG 20.1 or Wisdom audio m-75

Don't even think of the 20.1's if you don't want to modify them you'll be getting 15% at best of there potential performance.

The Wisdoms are a strange animal.They require a large amp to drive the ribbons and,by using a different amp for the subs-they won't blend.These also tend to produce moreinstrument,then hall acoustics.I would lean toward the MG 20.1s.Had you considered a pair of Yankee Audio planars or hybrids? Replaced a set of CLS with them and didn't look back.Or possibly the Gallo References/Ultimates?

The Wisdom Speakers are great speakers. They are very neutral. The sound from the speakers is what the amp(s) driving them sound like. They work well with the Rowland and Edge amps. They work VERY good with the Parasound JC-1 amps. It is best to have the same amp on the Woofers and the Planers.

Hello Shaman,

Cool moniker.

I agree wholeheartedly with Tpsonic and Jbm on the importance of using the same amp for top and bottom when biamping the Wisdoms. The same thing goes for the big Maggies - don't try to mix 'n' match amplifiers.

I've only heard the Wisdoms under show conditions, but have heard them a good half-dozen times. In my experience, they tend to sound kinda lifeless on top unless paired with an excellent amplifier (like the discontinued Gamut 300S). I presume the Parasound JC-1's mentioned by Jbm would also work well; haven't heard the combination, but the JC-1's work well with many difficult speakers (disclaimer - I'm a JC-1 owner and dealer).

Now, my prejudice is in favor of dipole planars instead of monopole ones. I've owned and built both types, often using the same drivers. A monopole is smaller and easier to position in a room, but that utter freedom from boxiness of a good dipole is (to me) worthwhile.

The Wisdoms are more dynamic than the Maggies (given suitable amplification), and will play louder. The Maggies will be more detailed and airy on top; that planar magnetic driver on the Wisdoms that goes down to 200 Hz ballpark has to be very rugged, and unfortunately there seems to be a tradeoff between ruggedness and top-end articulation.

My personal preferances would incline me towards the big Maggies, but for high to very high volume levels in a large room the Wisdoms would outperform the Maggies.

Now pardon me if I slip on my dealer hat for a moment and unfurl the fin on my back, but depending on your listening style a pair of Sound Labs M-1's might be worth including on your short-list. Sound Lab full-range electrostats do some things better than either the big Maggies or the Wisdoms, and vice versa.

Whichever way you go, best of luck to you!

Duke

Duke that last paragraph cracked me up! It really is a shame more dealers aren't like you- and I mean that.