Summary: The first time I listened to the Magnepan line I was talked into the 3.6's as the dealer offered me a great deal on them and at that time I thought the more you spent the better. I liked the sound of the 1.6 over the 3.6's the very first time I heard them. Dumb me got talked into the 3.6's and ended up selling them 4 months later.This was the beginning of a VERY EXSPENSIVE LESSON! In the end I ended up spending up to $20,000 for speakers (Revel Salons alot of money)and over $70,000 in my system. I spent so much money on my system all I did was worry about was that EVERYTHING had to be PERFECT! Ended up worried about the system than enjoying the music. Lost my job and sold it all. Then I decided when I got a new system I would build it the way I liked it and tried to build it in ind of "Best Bang for the Buck" system I could come up with. So I bought the 1.6's some what wondering how they would handle ALL types of music. WOW, was I surprised! They are the tallest speakers I have owned and reminded me of the HUGE Soundstage that the Wilson Grandslams presented ( not as nice as the Slams, but not $80,000 either). Jazz and the Blues just knocked my socks off and they sound very good on all music. Seperation and Soundstage is great and the upper bass is excellent. I will probably add a sub to finish them off Im not sure which way to go as i have always had full range speakers and have never used a sub.They seem to love power but theres nothing wrong with that. Folks talk alot about placement of these and I am lucky enough to have a large room so that has not been a problem. i have heard them 12 in. from the wall and did not find the unbearable. i could set here and throw all the fancy terms around but thats a waste so I would recommend that you listen to them. I would put them in the top 10 in speakers under $2,000.
Summary: I'LL MAKE THIS SHORT AND SIMPLE, IF YOU HAVE ENUOGH POWER ( 200 WATTS RMS AT 8 OMHS) ANY KIND OF EAR FOR MUSIC, AND $1800.00 YOU CAN HARDLY GO WRONG WITH THIS SPEAKER. I ALSO HAVE THE MMG'S AND THE DIFFERENCE IS STRIKING!! IF SOMEONE SAYS THIS IS THE WORST SPEAKER THEY HAVE EVER HEARD, THEY PROBABLY LISTEN TO A BOOM BOX!!!!!!!!
Strengths: IMAGING, HIGH END, MID BAND, MID BASS, AS LIFELIKE AS ANY $5000.00 SPEAKER I HAVE EVER HEARD.
Weaknesses: IF YOU HAVE TO PLACE THEM CLOSER THAN 3 FEET FROM THE BACK WALL YOU WILL NEED RWA'S ( REAR WAVE ATTENUATORS) THEY COVER THE BACK OF THE TWEETER TO REDUCE THE HARSHNESS OF THE SOUND BUT STILL LET THE BACK PLATE RADIATE FOR THE OPENNESS OF THE MUSIC. YOU CAN GET RWA'S ON EBAY.
Summary: This product is not as good as reviews says. It is not worth the money, I would say it is not even worth the trouble getting them for free. Can´t listen to them, gives me a headache. Why? They are coloured. Sounds shouty and not real-like. Peaky midrange, glassy character, bass is really bad, worse than the original Quad ESLs. Auditioned them with Krell Evolution and Audio reseach CD, Nordost cables.
Sorry.
Strengths: looks quite stylish
Weaknesses: the sound
Similar Products Used: Quad ESL 57, 63, Beveridge 2, 2SW
Summary: Purchased new two weeks ago..these speakers are a screaming bargain. I sold my Odyssey Martin Logans thinking I would buy ML Vantages Summits or Quads,
Although not broken in yet, I think these already sound far superior to the various Magnepan speakers I have owned in the past with the exception of the bass of my Typani IDs. The staging and imaging are much better than the Odysseys or the Vantage but with less but very sufficient midrange transparency. Their coherence top to bottom does remind me of my USA 63 Monitors but I am able to listen to them at concert sound levels if I so choose without a Quad protection circuit clamping down when things really get dynamic.
After hearing them, I am happy that I have found a speaker I can live with at one half or one third the price of the other speakers I was considering.
Strengths: Coherence top to bottom
Staging
imaging
detail
musicality
Weaknesses: Should bi wire
Should have an amp capable of doubling its wattage at 4Ohms
Requires careful setup
Reveals the beauty and flaws of source components
a bit large for some
probably need a good subwoofer
Similar Products Used: Quad
Martin Logan
Accoustat
Typani
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Summary: Just got these speakers set up tonight. Bought the demo pair that the dealer had.
So fortunately they've had at least 300 hours on them. So I will not comment on how they sound right out of the box. But let me tell you, if they sound even half as good as they do right now, your in for the biggest treat in your life. Those that say they don't have bass are worng (Roger Waters - Radio KAOS). Those that say they can't do percussion are wrong (Rush - The Spirit of the Radio "Greatest Hits"). Those that say they don't have a very wide or deep soundstage are wrong (Paul Simon - Graceland "Homeless"). Those that say they get muddy in heavy transient passages are wrong (Holsts - The Planets - "Uranus The Magican").
I am writing this review on the very same night I bought these speakers, if that says anything (After 4 hours of non-stop listening mind you).
If you have any question about whether or not to buy these speakers, first ask yourself. "Have I really heard all the details of the music that I listen to?" If the answer is no, then these are a must.
Now this, mind you, is coming from a person that has grown up on woofered speakers. This was not an easy decision for me. Sure I demoed them in the store, but always wondered would they really be like that when I got them home.
Took me two years to make this descision. And boy am I sure glad I did.
Couple of things:
1) Use these reviews on this sight to help in determining your power(amp) and source (cd player, record player, etc.) I myself am using the McIntosh MCD 201 as a source and the MC 352 (350 watts per channel) as my amp. Thanks to the many other reviews I came to these conclusions, the maggies love good clean power and if you don't have a solid source component, they'll let you know it.
2) If you are using them straight out of the box, be patient and allow them to break in. Whatever that time may be, it'll be definitely worth it.
3) If you are used to the woofer sound and are demoing a pair or are on the fence, realize that what you will get from these speakers is an accurate picture of
music (whether it was recorded live or in the studio). Unlike, most woofered speakers that give you there take on whats really happening.
4) Bi-wire them if you can.
5) And finally, buy these from a dealer who is knowledgable about these speakers. Mine even took the time to bring them to my house and help me set them up. When he was finished and left, I sat right down in the sweet spot and only moved to pop a new cd in.
TO ANYONE BUYING THESE SPEAKERS, ENJOY.
Strengths: Incredibly detailed and smooth.
Great transition with the crossovers. Never once thought I missed a step up and down the register.
Has the potential to make one an audio couch potato.
Weaknesses: Can't think of any right now. Granted I've only had them for a few hours.
OOOOOOHHH but what an enjoyable few hours.
Similar Products Used: Any Definitive Technology speaker you can think of. I've probably had it.
Great speaker by the way. Have demoed Wilsons, Thiels, B&W's, Vandersteens,
Focal JM Labs, McIntosh (great electronics), Paradigm and Aerial Acoustics.
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