Esoteric MG 10 vs Magnepan 1.7

It is fascinating that the Merlin speakers elicit such good responses, as I have never heard anything bad about them. I have a pair of Celestion SL6si speakers but sadly one of the woofers have separated from the surrounds and the repair never brought them back to original. They are very good sounding but not as good as the Esoterics as far as monitors go. This may give you a clue as to the sound I am looking for but can't afford. My favorite speakers I heard at the Rocky Mountain Audio Show was a set of beautiful Acapellas. It is the accuracy and spatial fullness with those speakers that I am not getting with the Audes. That is why I am saying I want what I can't afford.You are right in that I consider myself and am a novice at this hobby but before I am looking down rather than up I would like to try some new speakers.

As with all Maggie's, you will need room behind them and an amp with plenty of current to do them justice. Also, controlling reflections (room treatment) makes an enormous difference.

If you can set up them up properly, your room allows for some treatment and you have a good amp, then they can sound absolutely magical.

The Esoteric's are very different speakers... and much more flexible with placement.

If you like the Merlins, you will probably not like the Vandersteens. Polar opposites sonically.

Shakey

Along the lines of Shakey's post ... Having not owned either the Merlins or Vandys, but hearing several models of both, I must say that I've enjoyed each of the Merlins (two floor stander models and one standmount); and disliked each of the Vandys (2CE, Trio, Quattro wood). Polar opposites in presentation.

The Magnepan 1.7s are flawed in some ways, however, whenever I go out to look for replacements I end up listening to $3k, $4K, $5K and up speakers without being wowed to the point of wanting to make the change. I suspect I will need to go $5K and up to seek out a suitable replacement and in that case, I would very likely purchase the Magnepan 3.7s.

Churchill was quoted as saying "Indeed it has been said that democ­racy is the worst form of Gov­ern­ment except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.…" In a weird way, that's the way I feel about the Magnepan 1.7s. They are the worst speakers in many ways. They are flawed speakers - they need to be 4-5 feet from the wall, they have very little bass, and they can sound "thin" and without body unless you have the right electronics to match with them.

Except .... every time I get frustrated in their performance in one way or another, I head out to look for replacement speakers. This usually happens every 5-7 years but end up frustrated that nothing near its price range provides the "realness" you can get with the Magnepans.

I just keep hearing the boxes in most of the speakers I audition and come back to the Magnepans. What they do well is addicting and not easily replaceable in the price range they reside.