classical music reproduction is exceptional (5+) Jazz sounds great: 5- (for lack of bass).

there are better speakers in the same price range for any other type of music. I would give them 3- out of 5 for rock music and 3 out of 5 for home theater

After reading numerous review of these speakers on audioreview and other sources, the impression was that they were the best thing since sliced bread and nothing came even close. So I ordered them from Magnepan (550 + $18 for shipping) expecting something out of this world... The first CD I tried on them was jazz (Nina Simone) and the sound was truly exceptional. Classical music sounded better than I had ever heard. The sound of the piano was unreally real and worthy of a $10K speaker. However, when hooked up to a tv, they sounded worse than my radio, kind of muddy, bookish, and lacking detail. Worse, the speakers lacked any character and depth. Horns sounded terrible. Had to return them... P.S. It's an exceptional value for piano lovers, but otherwise, you can do better with internet direct speaker companies.

High-end ambience, cost vs performance, rugged

none except the lowest register

Owned MMG over 3 years now. Perhaps the best sounding speakers under $1000. Had speakers from Definitive Technology, Klipsch, Paradigm, and others, but none have come close to the high sound quality of these. Creates high-end ambience like no other. Of course, you must have high quality equipment to maximize there musical potential... They are very revealing. Recently when I wasn't nearby, my 30 pound toddler dropped them flat on the floor, jumped on the back of both, but they kept on singing. The only damage was a slight pull of one of the easily fixable side wood panel. Later, I will try to get the MG3.6 or the top of the line MG20 as my final speakers.

Similar Products Used:

Klispch, paradigm

Clear! Almost 3D'ish in sound. Vocals stand out! Will give you goose bumps on some of your favorite tracks. Sounds strong even in the upper registers. Craftmanship of being custom hand built. Great quality parts which means these will last awhile (I put a flash light to the back and can see the crossover somewhat... noticed they are using Solen electronics... definitely audiophile level materials.

Needs power. Needs more power. Bass is weak but I don't think anyone in there right mind is going to buy this and be surprised that the bass is shallow. That's in the design! If you want more bass, get a subwoofer that's suited to your taste. You don't have to spend more than $300 for a good subwoofer to run with these.

I've been anxious to write a review about these speakers. I didn't want to write one until I logged at least 100 hours to ensure the speakers and new amplifier were broken in and that I had a chance to listen to majority of my favorite tunes including some on MP3s! Yep MP3s from my iPod. I'm running these speakers with a new HK 3480 2x150 @ 4ohms amplifier with a new Onkyo DX C390. The speakers are plugged using a braided set of 12ft Dayton Audio cables - sweet looking cables. As you can see I've bought all new equipment around these speakers. I tried running it on my older Adcom amp / Denon cd combo but the Maggies seemed lacking. This new setup is much better suited. More power and the Onkyo Cd player isn't too shabby. Ok onto the speakers. I returned my first set!!! How about that for starters? I spent 3 days listening to the first set and thought I was going deaf in my left ear. It was very slight but the left speaker was quieter... less bright. I switched them back and forth for hours and felt fatigued from the slight dis-balance. I called Magnepan and while hard to get a hold of, they had no problem sending me out new speakers (shipping paid by them both ways). Very nice but unsettling. 12 days later I recieved my new MMGs. Like the first time, I opened the boxes with amazement. These things are pretty heavy for being thin. I was going to hang them on my wall like a picture frame - I don't think so. They are staying on the floor. Before even plugging them up, I noticed that I had two different model plates on the speakers even though the serial numbers were different. One plate said MMG and the other said MGCC3. Wierd? Maybe but the sound definitely isn't! So I plugged them in and crossed my fingers that these were not like the others. Bam! Wow these sound great right off the bat. But compared to the first day and now... these speakers have opened up and truly are beautiful sounding. Not good sounding... beautiful sounding. They definitely are unique and definitely sound "airy". I've read the word "airy" about these speakers and only realized what it meant after listening to them. The first thing I noticed... not much bass. They state 50hz - 24khz. I'm sure they are 24khz but definitely don't hit 50hzs. Probably closer to 70hz. But I didn't buy these for bass. I bought these specifically for detail and for my curiosity of what living with Magenpans would be like. The highs and midrange are so clear and wonderful that it gave me goose bumps. My wife loves how they are so easy to listen to. She describes it as "being there." You'll notice with time that this speaker sounds good on some CDs or vinyls and on some they sound incredibly wonderful. Like you are listening to music all over again. The more complicated the music, the better this thing gets. I put in some of my "get the frustration out" CDs such as Dr. Dre, old school Guns and Roses, and Beastie Boys. Hey these things can play them but without the heavy hitting like my B&W 601s. These speakers are definitely for classical, jazz, and vocals. You can play hip hop and rock on these, but it's like having a glass of wine with a cheeseburger. Both good but don't go well together. Blue grass sounds really good on these too. My favorite has to be Diana Krall on these speakers. It simply works. I feel as if she's sitting right in front of me. Originally I tried running these using my older Adcom amp rated at 60 wpc. I know that's not much watts in these days but they never had problems running the multitudes of speakers I've tried them on except this one. These Magnepans will eat power and love it while doing it. Seriously, be prepared for a new amp. I suggest at least 100 wpc... real watts. Not Sony 100 wpc... but atleast Adcom, Nad, HK, higher level Onkyo with 100 wpc. Anything less would be worthless. I got my HK 3480 for $329 - pretty good deal. This amp drive this speaker very very very well. How do I know? Well because I brought these over to a friends who's running a Audio Research amp/preamp with a Regatta Planet CD player along with a Klipsch sub. $8.5K system (not including speaker) and these speakers sounded great but hey they weren't as good as the 803s ($5.5k) I unplugged to hook the Maggies to. My friend did say that the Maggies has a bright charm about them that's hard to describe. Very easy to listen to. I'd say that's about right. Easy to listen to.

Warm, detailed, coherent, soundstage, musicality.

Stands that come with the speakers do not bring out the best in the speaker. Get after-market stands from Mye or Sound Anchors to make them sing!

Recently received the MMG and it is still "breaking-in". Nevertheless, this little Maggie is something special. In order to get this speaker to really sing, it should be standing straight up and lifted 5-8" off of the floor. In the elevated and upright position the MMG has all the Maggie "magic" you could want. In its usual set-up where the speaker is leaning back on the floor-the sound is mediocre in my room-enough is there to show potential but it doesn't sing in my room until it is upright and off the floor. With the ideal positioning, the sound is detailed, warm, very smooth and nicely palpable with a large soundstage. Doesn't have as much depth as some speakers but the overall size of the stage is very large and nicely focused without being analytical. Poeple who assume that the MMG sounds like an "entry-level" speaker have not heard what these little Mags can do when properly set-up. Don't assume that you need to spend more money to get truly wonderful sound.

Similar Products Used:

Magnepan - LR1, .6, 1.5, 10.1, SMGa

Outstanding clarity, neutrality, transient response, and immense sound stage. Ultra clean and detailed mid bass response. No coloration at all in the upper end. Very nice looking.

Devoid of any dynamic extension limiting the catalog of mucis that sounds good on them. Needs a big amp. Compromising and ill designed speaker stands don't do the speaker any justice and actually hurt their performance.

While I would like to be in the concensus with most of the reviews here on the MMG, I sadly have to admit I'm not. I'm in the process of returning my MMG's simply because I don't feel their strengths outweight their weaknesses. I first heard Magnepans in the flesh at an audio shop showcasing a pair of 1.6's, which to my ears sounded great at the time. So, the deal with the MMG's for $550 seemed like 'win/win' situation. First, I've auditioned at one point about every speaker type on the planet including competing planar based speakers like Martin Logon, and virtually every mainstream cone based speaker from Legacy, to Wilson, to B&W. My listening tastes are also highly varied since I listen to everything from 70's funk to Classical to New Age. While at first I was blown away by the transient detail, soundstage and clarity of the Maggies, I was gradually brought to revalation that they lack any form of dynamic extension which renders too many of my favorite music passages as lifeless and dry. If you listen to a lot of Sting, or solo instrumental/vocals, or chamber music, the Maggies shine. Throw in a Grammy winners CD, or an orchestra soundtrack from a major movie, or modern R&B, and the Maggies sound flat out dry and devoid of any character. My B&K 3030 is capable of 350wpc at 4ohm, and had little issue powering the Maggies, and in all honesty I find their mid-bass extension to be just fine. Better perhaps than many large satellite speakers I've used, and certainly more defined. One big design gripe I do have about the MMG's is the rather idiotic stands that come with them. Due to lack of vertical dispersion of their soundstage, it seems Magnepan tried to 'hack' around the problem by using stands that tile the speakers back a bit. This helps broaden the otherwise tiny vertical sweet spot of the Maggies, but it's not the most optimum configuration for the speaker. A previous reviewer suggested keeping the MMGs perfectly vertical and elevated off the floor by 8" - I completely and totally agree 150%. Over all, the transient response, detail, and magnificient soundstage of the Maggies is flat out incredible. While some cone speakers claim you can "tell what color shirt the vocalist is weraing", the MMG's tell can tell you what brand of detergent was used to wash that same shirt. The speakers are extrodinary in that dept. However, dynamic extension is also an important characteristic of sound reproduction, and the MMG's complete lack of this severely lowered my enjoyment of a good deal of my music. I'm sure many will claim the MMG's (and Megnepan technology in general) outstanding clarity and neutrality reproduces music as it should be heard, but I will counter with the fact recording studios don't use Magnepans as monitors.

Similar Products Used:

B/W, Legacy, Definitive Tech, Klipsch, Mirage, Thiel, Martin Logan, PSB, JMLabs, NHT,etc.

Yes, they sound great, realistic, have good bass and sparkling highs. Yes they are cheap and yes you can get them from the manufacturer directly, this avoiding a trip to the high end shop to be made fun of by a salsesman who only likes classical music.

see above. Also, you need a powerful amp.

HEED THIS ADVICE: WITH THESE SPEAKERS YOU MUST BE WILLING TO CHANGE YOUR LISTENING STYLE TO SIT EXACTLY BETWEEN THE SPEAKERS WITHOUT MOVING YOUR HEAD from a 4 or 6 inch zone. If you stand up or move, you will not hear the airy treble, the highs will disappear. These speakers must be aimed into a very tiny sweet spot, as the quasi ribbon tweeter does not radiate at an angle, and off axis listening as they call it is not very good. Its ok, for background actually. But you can't roam the stage with your air guitar like with most speakers. You really, really, REALLY need to be still in the sweet spot. If you are willing to sit in a chair and be immobile you will love these and other planar speakers, such as Martin Logan and Acoustat (though those use a different principle of operation...I have found the results to be the same.. but I digress). I thought that I could do it, I had these dialed in to my couch, I was dedicated and willing to sit for a some listening sessions. I loved the sound. But I found that I'd get up to get a drink, get a book, answer the phone, etc... and miss the good part of a song. I'd change sitting positions and get out of the tiny 4 inch zone. You can't even recline or change your profile a little without affecting the sound. Anyway, I tried hard but failed, so I upgraded to something at about triple the price and went on from there. These speakers are just awesome, if you can accept the drawback that I discussed. Also, a subwoofer really helps; I didn't use one and still got good bass response, but I can see how it would have been a benefit to have a sub.

Similar Products Used:

Martin Logan Sequel II Acoustat Spectra 11 Bose 301 Boston Acoustics- various Klipsch - various Red Rose- Rosebud Proac- various

-Speed and agility, tone -Appearance, 'wow' factor when friends see them -Modest price -Just about everything else in the book

-Vertical dispersion -Restricted LF

I have been enjoying my MMGs for over 2 years now, and they still never fail to please me just as much as the day I first set them up. First off, I should say that I listen to ALL types of music, and I like to listen LOUD. From Acid Bath to Bach, these speakers really rock. To reinstate what other reviewers have said, and in my opinion, these MUST be mated with a good fast subwoofer and a plenty powerful amplifier. Unless you only listen to chamber music, or at very low levels, etc. I have used them stand- alone and they do sound really great, very natural, but they just don't have the authority that makes you wanna get up and dance. One thing I have found that makes a WORLD of difference when using these speakers with a sub are the Maggie-Mate high pass crossover modules, they can be found on Ebay, just type in Magnepan. They cross over at just the right slope at 90 hz. or so, and let the MMGs integrate with the sub seamlessly. They also prevent the bass panels from slapping at high volumes. If I only had a couple of words to describe how these speakers sound, they would be speed, tone, and involvement. You pretty much just forget that they are there and the music embraces you. Drums and percussion are particullarly amazing, they just jump out and hit you, they don't linger. Just like a live event. No box, minimal resonance. Bass guitar, vocals, and pretty much everything else comes out right. Not "world class," but much, much better than anything else NEAR this price range. Setup and associated components play a key role in getting the MMGs to sound their best. I am running a tube preamp and a big high current solid-state power amplifier with great results. I would highly recommend the Magneplanar MMGs to any music lover with Champagne taste on a beer budget.

Similar Products Used:

There isn't much that is similar to these unless it is another panel or electrostat, etc.

Timbre Accuracy, Imaging, Price, pairs well with any highend equipment.

A tad light on the bottom end.

The MMG is truly one of the best values in the audio industry; A real high-end speaker at budget prices. I bought my MMGs second had from another audiophile in the neighborhood. Simply put, these speakers sound amazing. As with any gear, there are weaknesses. If you are into rock or heavy metal, these speakers probably aren't going to suit you due to lack of bottom end drive. These speakers aren't going to be as efficient as speakers with conventional cone drivers limiting there ability to shake walls. What you do get in trade is timbre accuracy and pin-point imaging. I don't think there is another speaker in or anywhere near this speaker's price point that can produce piano's as convincingly. My wife likes the way look so its a win win in my household. My system... Amp: Bryston 3B-ST, Anthem Integrated 2 Preamp: Bryston .5B Source: Rega Planet and Heart CD6000 Cables: Cardas Golden Cross, Alpha Sterling, Solo Crystal Oval, AQ Type6 Other Speakers: NHT2.5i, Energy Connisseur C4, B&W 601S2, PSB Stratus Gold

Similar Products Used:

B&Ws, NHT, Martin Logan, Energy

Soundstage, imaging, clarity, and they look really cool.

None to speak of, a sub may be necessary depending on the kind of music you listen to.

These speakers are addictive. They are not even close to being broken in but provide sound a few orders of magnitude over anything I have heard before. You find yourself listening to whole albums attentively so you can catch all the things you've missed before with lesser speakers. I haven't messed around too much with placement yet because it doesn't seem necessary but can't wait to do so once they're broken in. A quantum leap over conventional speakers. For the money an astounding value.

Similar Products Used:

Wharfedale Pi20, Diamond 8.4, 70 anniversary all of which I really liked but they don't compare to the sound you get with the MMGs

Soundstage. Well performed, well recorded live albums sound fantastic. Accoustic stuff seems to really sound better. I only have one rap type cd. It sounded good, but didn't rattle the windows or anything.

My wife had a fit. "Why do you need new speakers, your old ones sound just fine." My wife, again "Those things are huge." First, one seldom ever needs new speakers, one wants or desires or lusts after new speakers. Second my old speakers (Paradigm minis) sounded ok, but I wanted better, and I got better. The MMGs are not huge, but certainly more noticable than very small bookshelf speakers. Back on my comments about the poorly recorded stuff. I have recently played two cds (one was Bob Dylan, but I do not remember which one), anyway the music sounded really good, but one one cut the harmonica is too close to the microphone, or the amp is up too high and the result is painfull (to my tastes anyway)for a few seconds (at anything other than a very low volume).

Love the sound. Recommend for anyone that (1) doesn't "need" more expensive speakers. (2) has an amp that will drive a 4 ohm load. (3) does not expect to use these speakers for a dance party for 10 - 20 of his best friends. (4) mostly plays decently recorded music. The speakers sound pretty good in my 32 x 25 room. One position is better than the others, but all are good. In my opinion the bass is good. It will not knock your socks off, however. I have a preference for accoustical and soft rock. Well recorded stuff sounds great (Alison Kraus / Union Station "Live", Paul McCartney "Unplugged", David Lanz, piano cd, for example). Poorly recorded stuff sounds bad after you have been listening to good sounding Cds (most of the early Rolling Stones, for example. Also the first Kingsmen (of Lowie, Lowie fame) live album sounds really poor). I'm not so sure I would upgrade these speakers even if I were to win the lottery. I'm sure there are better speakers somewhere, but the soundstage with these bad boys is great. I would think these speakers could be used as a reference. If another set of speakers sounds $1,000 better, go spend the extra $1,000. If, as I expect the more expensive speakers only sound slightly better under certain circumstances, save the money.

Similar Products Used:

I had AR 5 speakers hooked up to a quadraphonic setup (I guess my age is showing) many years ago.