Magnepan 1.7 too bright, HELP

Agreed, my CJ MF 2300A with a Mapletree 2A SE preamp sounds very natural and musical, never bright or fatiguing. System matching is very important as is fitting a system to one's own listening preferences.

A good class D power amp of same or higher power would probably fix the problem.

A cheaper thing to try beforehand might be to swap in a pair of inexpensive MIT Terminator ICs for the Monsters and see if that helps. If not, probably still a good investment down the road.

Has anyone tried Sound Anchor stands on the 1.7's or similar? Any difference in overall sound?

solution: sell me your speakers for a great price!
check the date of build on your speakers. i was told by a dealer that there were problems with his original 2011 1.7 demos, but no problems with subsequent sales w/newer panels. i imagine he sold the demos off slightly cheaper & replaced them with ones of 6/2011 vintage. he didn't know if others were lemons but he wasn't happy with his demo-obviously, his customers still ordered 1.7's. hmmm-maybe our ears aren't really that well trained as we think when hearing such well-reviewed/well thought of speakers??? most surprising to me was deciding not to return the demos to magnepan with his complaints?

by the way after hearing the 1.7's twice i longed for my just sold IIIa's. also, i too find the 1.7's bright. owners can cap the highs down w/provided resistors, tho it seems like you're defeating the exquisite highs maggies are known to reproduce. personally, i've decided i'm buying 3.7's.