The most revealing speakers you will hear for $500. Light, airy, delicate and detailed.

Finicky. Limited sweet spot for the soundstage. Require patience with placement, and a LOT of power. No bass below 60Hz. Sound congested and overworked in complex musical passages.

Maggie Diary:

2/25/00: Carefully I unpacked them. There’s really nothing to putting them together, just screw on the bottom brackets, plug them in and go. (I’m comparing them to Sound Dynamics RTS-P100s, (Hall of Fame speakers on this site, see the reviews) that list for $1200, but I got for $600.

First configuration: Cambridge Audio D500 CD player, Creek OBH-12 passive preamp, with power from Harman Kardon PA 5800, rated 115 watts into 4 ohms. Connectors were DH Labs Silver Sonic BL1s.

The first thing you notice is the detail and transparency. These speakers are very light and airy. But...something was missing. I connected the Maggies to a Denon AVR-1800 receiver as the A channel and the Sound Dynamics RTS-P100s as the B channel. I switched back and forth. The Maggies, while not having the low frequency depth of the RTS-P100s (which have built-in 100 watt subwoofers) were more musical, detailed, and natural sounding on the low end.

MMGs: Airy, neutral, delicate, detailed, slightly thin

RTS-P100s: Sizzle, dynamics, bottom end

While listening to Dvorak’s New World Symphony, I noticed that the dynamic range seemed slightly compressed compared to the Sound Dynamics (not necessarily a bad thing in my book). On GRP’s ‘Digital Duke’ there wasn’t as much ‘punch’ as with the Sound Dynamics. One thing I can say about the Maggies is that they don’t create listener fatigue. You can listen to them comfortably for long periods of time.

Listened to Simon and Garfunkle’s “The Only Living Boy In New York”. The SDs were fat and sumptuous, with a loss of detail.

The big variable here was the speaker cables. The Maggies were using plain-jane Radio Shack gold banana plug cables, while the Sound Dynamics were wired with Silver Sonic T-14s. (The Maggies couldn’t take the Silver Sonics , which are bi-wired with spade connectors) The cable difference could explain some of the deficiencies I was hearing.

2/26/00: Got my tax refund. In a big hurry to get into debt again. Order a pair of banana-plugged 10 foot Silver Sonics, and (just to make life interesting) an Outlaw 750 amplifier. The Maggies didn’t seem as hungry for power as I had heard, but I wanted to see what more and better power would provide. (I was ready to upgrade my amp anyway.)

2/28/00: Listened to Julia Migenes Johnson singing “L’amour est un oiseau rebelle” from Carmen, and Steely Dan’s “Hey Nineteen”. I’m beginning to realize the soundstage is shallower with planars, you have to sit a closer. But the move forward is worth it. When you move too far forward with box speakers, you become aware that separate components are creating different elements of the sound. With Magneplanars, it’s like wearing God’s own headphones. At one point I let out an involuntary ”WOW!” I heard details I had never heard before tonight. I’m beginning to understand that I’m hearing the least expensive offering a superior design philosophy. I AM longing for a deeper soundstage, a little more bass and less congestion in complex music passages. I’m beginning to think about selling my Sound Dynamics and trading up for the Maggie 12s or 1.6s.

3/1/00: Received the Outlaw 750 today. Rated at 250 watts per channel at 4 ohms, a lack of power is no longer an excuse. The transformer weighs as much as a small motorcycle. Also received a pair of 10-foot, banana-plugged, DH Silver Sonics. Hooked up the Maggies to the Silver Sonics, into the Outlaw. The first thing I noticed was that the soundstage increased by 3 to 4 feet. I guess these Maggies do like power after all. I want to burn in the amp and cables before I say too much more about the sound.

Had another one of those “Maggie Experiences”. Listened to the Beach Boys’ “In My Room”, a song I’ve heard hundreds of times in the last 35 years, and my jaw dropped, not figuratively but literally. The Maggies revealed details that had been hidden from my ears for a third of a century.

3/4/00: The Outlaw and new cables have had a chance to burn in, (sounds great by the way) and I spent a lot of the day listening to the MMGs. They are like the little girl with the curl, when they’re good, they are very, very good, but when they’re bad…

If you put a gun to my head and forced me to choose, I’d have to take the Sound Dynamics. They just sound better over a wider range of musical choices. The Maggies shine on well-recorded acoustical instruments, when you are doing critical listening, but the Sound Dynamics just make more music sound better, and I don’t have to be sitting in the exact center of the sweet spot to enjoy them. But we’re comparing speakers that list for $1200 against speakers that list for $500. I’d love to compare the Sound Dynamics against the 1.6s, but they are selling so fast our local dealer won’t have them in stock until April! So will I gamble and order the 1.6s and a good sub, or hang on to the Sound Dynamics? I honestly don’t yet.

In summary: If you haven’t heard dipole speakers, you are really missing another way to hear music. The MMGs are a great and affordable place to start. Saying they are a great value is obvious. I can’t say that they are THE best speaker for $500/pair, (after all, speakers are the most subjective part of the listening experience) but they are EASILY the most revealing speaker I’ve heard at this price. But in this price range, you are not going to find speakers that are all things to all listeners. There are choices to be made between box speakers and planar speakers. If you’re looking for front channel speakers for hearing asteroids explode on DTS DVDs, look elsewhere. They don’t have the sizzle and bottom end of box speakers. They don’t add sugar. Maggie Proponents would say that they their neutrality in refuses to mask inadequacies in the recordings. Box speaker advocates would say that Maggies are not forgiving. Anemic recordings will sound anemic. Maggies want good power with plenty of dynamic headroom, have a shallower soundstage and are more finicky about placement than box speakers. But when you have them positioned properly, and you’re seated in the right place, listening to well-recorded music, you will forgive those shortcomings as your ears experience a little piece of audio heaven.

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These are my first ribbon speakers. Comparing them against Sound Dynamics RTS P100s.

Revealing nature, soundstage, thin shape aesthetically beautiful and is a conversation piece to boot

Placement, long waiting list presently

These are easily the best sounding $500 set of speakers in the universe! These maggies just seem to dissapear, and provide an accurate window in which to see your music with no discernable colorations. When placed properly a bit away from the wall and toed in if desired, the sound is truly majestic! Even the instrument and vocal timbres and 'attack and decay time' sounds so real, you will swear the performers are right in front of you as you listen. If you are the kind of listener where the music evokes an emotional response, be really prepared with these wonders. Even the bass sounds very real and believable, and you can learn to live without the bass slam that boxes provide. After a bit, you will even swear the bass on Magneplanars is really the way it was meant to be heard. This speaker is a Godsend for $500 bucks a pair. The DEAL of the CENTURY!! Highly recommended and then some!!

Similar Products Used:

Thiel, Sonus, Legacy, Carver Silvers

Natural, realistic, comfortable sound. Large sound stage.

None

In terms of resolution, imaging, and spectrum coverage,
these speakers are on a par with those of $1000-$1500
price range. However, the best thing about these speakers
is that you can listen to the music without noticing any
bothering sound characteristic you want to remove. Before
I tried MMG, I had been satisfied with NHT super zero + Energy XL-S8 subwoofer except for the tense high of the
NHT. MMG not only solved the problem but also produced
much larger sound stage and more 'realistic' sound.
I drive MMG with Musical Fidelity A2 integrated amp
(25W at 8 Ohm and 50W at 4 Ohm) and still use the Energy
sub. The sub helps but I do not think it is essential for
classical music.

Every detail and nuance in the recording will be reproduced right in front of you

None I can readily see or hear!

I've had this wonderful set of speakers for almost a year now, and am a total convert to Magnepan. I used to be a doubter, but I find myself drawn in to the planar sound. And to think that the MMG is only the smaller, entry speaker from Magnepan makes me wonder what the larger models sound like! Everything is so transparent and natural sounding with no colorations. The music just floats in front of you with a grandeur and warmth that just needs to be heard to be appreciated. The only caution is that if you have a larger room, the MMG might not be your ideal speaker. You may have to move up to a 1.6. My MMG's sound great in my listening room (which is a smaller converted bedroom), but they sounded a bit weak in my large 35 x 40 family room. I think I will order the 1.6's for this area when I get the fundage.

Buy this speaker with total confidence! You will be amazed at the detail and soundstage! I give the MMG's a 5 star rating, because they truly are a perfect speaker for the money!!!

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B&W, Paradigm, Dahlquist

Sound quality second to none for speaker under $3k but......

Lacking in quality assurance, frustrations of having to deal mail order when something goes wrong, product is 2-4 weeks back-ordered

These speakers have beautiful sound. The sound is heavenly from about 40hz (in my room, others rooms have lower limits around 50hz) all the way thru the frequency range. I have to agree with others that, while they don't go to subwoofer depths, the bass that is present is wonderful. Vocals and acoustic music is stunning.

Now for the not so positive of my experience with these speakers. My first pair arrived a few days before Christmas and as I was hooking them up, I noticed that the driver assembly on both speakers was sticking out- pushing on the fabric. I called Magnepan and they said this is not normal and indicated that they were damaged in shipping- twisted or dropped or something and the assembly popped loose. The box arrived in perfect shape. Two days later, they were on their way back to the company.

Much to my dismay, I was told that production was behind and the new speakers wouldn't be shipped for a while. Well, I received the replacements today. They are worse than the first pair. The driver asemblies on both are actually loose on one side and move around within the frame. The only thing holding them in the frame is the fabric. Again, the box is in perfect condition.

My point is this- I can understand the first pair could have been damaged, but the second pair seems to be an obvious oversight at the factory. In addition, I'm also thinking this was the case with the first pair now that these arrived the same way, only worse.

A prior reviewer mentioned questionable quality. I read his review and thought he was just too picky and was looking to whine about something. Well, I stand corrected. Now it has happended to me and I totally understand his point.

My advice- awesome speakers sound wise for the money, but beware. If these speakers are this fragile, then they are not a product for mail order. Otherwise, quality control has missed the boat on both pair that I've received.

I might give Magnepan the benefit of the doubt and give them a chance for a third strike, except now I'll be waiting to enjoy them for 3 or 4 weeks again and will be praying that the third time really is the charm. More than likely, however, my current pair will be my last and will be going back tomorrow. If I decide to give them that third chance, I'll update at a later time.

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None. I have auditioned various Martin-Logins, which are the only speakers similar to the Magnepans that I've heard

Sweet natural highs; open effortless midrange; phenominal clarity; honest bass from a panel of this size; excellent timbre that only a good panel can seem to deliver.

It would be unfair to list weaknesses. This speaker does everything well within its intended design limit. It cuts off sharply at 50hz, but that's also what it was designed to do. In fact, to my ears it reproduces instruments down to that level better than I have ever experienced.

You read the above information correctly. I sold my $3,300 pair of Joseph Audio RM 25-si's for a $500.00 pair of MMG's. It all happened innocently enough when a fellow commuter began to describe to me the sound of planar speakers and his affection for them. I was so into what he was saying that I missed my stop. The only thing I could think of, until I got in front of them, was to audition a pair of Maggies. I went to Lyric Hi Fi in Manhattan, NY and listened to the 1.6QR's and the 3.6R's. My first thought was to get ride of my present dynamic drive speakers and order the 1.6QR's. Since the 1.6QR's were out of stock and had a 60 to 90 day wait, I decided to order the MMG's direct. Well it has been a little over a month now and I am rediscovering my CD collection. These speakers are so musical from top to bottom that finally you begin to focus all of your attention on the performance instead of the equipment. Lyrics that sounded buried in the mix in some of my CD's are now extremely coherent. My largest investment since I inserted these into my system has been a quest for more quality music to build my library. Finally, I've discovered a speaker design that has only one agenda and that's to bring the listener closer to the emotion of the performance. Thanks Jim Winey for a spectacular design. Also, thank you for your dedication for 30 years to continue to refine your design instead of dramatically changing it for the worst. You have given this Audiophile great listening pleasure!

Similar Products Used:

None. My speakers before this pair were the Joseph Audio RM 25-si's at $3,300 a pair retail.

Incredible depth and musical reproduction on all source material from blues to metal to classical. Very sturdy product that eye pleasing and ear pleasing as well. I've had multiple types of speakers in the past from large ported Cerwin's to Large Advents quad bi-amp set up and nothing compares to the MiniMaggies. I purchasing another pair for a second Carver amp to run tandems. I have these running through a 14" Sonnance sub-woofer and at normal listening levels the sound is "live".

These need good clean power, don't try to push them with an amp that cannot dip into to chassis or you will pop some fuses.

These are the best loudspeaker for the money made anywhere. I've never been more pleased with an audio product purchase than I have with these excellent planar speakers.

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None, heard old Maggies with twin 250 watt Marantz amps and could not believe the clarity (with LP's no less)

Realism! Easy to move around. Bass quality.

Touchy positioning for serious listening

The night I first listened to these MMGs, I wanted to jump on this site and write, “buy these!” One thing stopped me; the computer was eight feet from my listening chair and I couldn’t move for hours, finally collapsing into bed, stunned and delighted, sometime in the early morning.

An audio salesman had told me that their speakers, Vandersteens, had clarity and imaging similar to planar speakers, although at the time I didn't know what he was talking about. With research, I found Magnepan and their planar speakers, but was worried by reviews saying they need a high power amp. With my classic Marantz 1077 integrated rated 38 watts at 4 ohms, it seemed the Maggies might be useless. Deciding to risk the cost of a large pizza in return shipping fees, I ordered the MMGs. After first hooking them up and slowly turning the volume up from zero, the speakers made . . . sound. No smoke or sparks. What a relief. I kept turning it up and it kept getting louder. With the volume about 15 degrees higher than usual, they reached a normal listening level...and sounded fine. Big sigh of relief.

Then something hit me - the music. Everything was right in front of me. The band and voices were right there - front, left, right, up and down - wider and taller than the speaker limits. Instruments had their positions and blended and resonated naturally. With eyes closed, the speakers vanished, and musicians and singers appeared in completely different, but specific, locations. Detail was amazing and soundstage astounding yet effortless and natural. Although my system was due for a speaker upgrade, I never expected the difference to be so dramatic.

When Mark Knofler slid his pick across the strings and I could tell where his guitar was in the room and the direction of movement, I just smiled, shook my head, and sighed. Later, Joni Mitchell's voice was about a foot above and slightly left of the pick on her guitar strings, both naturally in front of me. Frankie Goes to Hollywood didn't deliver the slam that big dynamic drivers can, but I could hear the difference between bass strings and even visualize them vibrating. The realism is uncanny, at first even spooky.

Over the months, I’ve made various other improvements. I rearranged the room to get the speakers and listening positions closer to optimum, bought new speaker cable and some different upstream components including a used 100w H/K Citation amp and M&K subwoofer. The final test (before Magnepan’s 60 day trial was over) was to home audition the Vandersteens that got me started on this quest. One weekend, I borrowed Vandy 1Ce’s from a local dealer. These are great speakers that I would eagerly buy at $800 if not for the MMGs. The Vandersteens are pure, rich, and reproduce bass with authority. The 1Ce’s are the best dynamic speaker in the sub-$1000 range that I’ve heard (B&W, NHT, and Meadowlark).

Comparing the Magnepans and Vandersteens side by side, I found that the Vandersteens have a smooth, familiar sound and successfully eliminate much of the cabinet resonance with their “boxless” design. The MMGs sound different from box speakers with no resonance characteristics of their own, lending higher purity to the music.

The 1C’s go deeper with beautiful bass and provide more visceral impact on rock and orchestra crescendos. Sometimes, though, the deep bass seems to be a bit disconnected from the rest of the music, like some frequencies in between are missing or the bass is artificially extended. The MMGs are smooth, natural, and tight right through their bottom limit, which doesn’t get to floor-vibrating notes.

The MMGs create a wider and taller soundstage. Neither pair offers much depth, but the MMGs have the edge here, too. Both pairs image well, but again the MMGs are superior, with instruments and vocals being sharp and focused, almost crystalline. In comparison, images from the 1C’s are blurred making it harder to locate and visualize them. The 1C’s have a wider sweet spot and they do a better job of filling the room with sound. The MMGs have a very tight sweet spot, almost telegraphing treble and midrange to the listening seat. They don’t fill the room with sound as much as create a convincing impression of the performance.

For rock, heavy metal, pipe organ, and other music where deep, strong bass carries much of the message, the Vandersteens may be the better choice. They also should work better with lower powered amps and, in my 13’ x 16’ x 9’ room, don’t need a subwoofer to make a powerful impression. For vocals (including Pat Benatar, Jennifer Warnes, and Sarah MacLaughlin), jazz, classical, and any other acoustic music, the Magnepans are more musical being almost scary in their realism. Vocalists on good recordings sound like they’re in the room singing to you; instruments are natural and equally “there.” While I could easily live with either speaker pair for many years, I kept the MMGs for their dazzling realism.

Over later months I added an MSB Link DAC (improving resolution and depth on CDs - now I know what timbre and air mean), bought a better, used tuner, and have been experimenting with cables. The subwoofer helps with deep bass and blends well provided the sub’s volume is fairly low so as to not muddy the MMGs clean, agile mid and upper bass. Complaints on other reviews that the MMGs don’t play loudly enough baffle me. Even with 38 watts, sound level was more than adequate, though additional power smoothed and flattened the response. While time and familiarity have mellowed my initial fanaticism, I still find the MMGs to be stunningly good and a joy to listen through after six months.

Five big stars to both the 1Ce’s and the MMGs for performance. The fact that Magnepan could do this and leave you $300 to buy CDs, cables, or pay rent earns the MMGs a bonus in value.

Similar Products Used:

Vandersteen 1Ce, B&W, NHT, Meadowlark

Expanded and deep soundstage, truer instrument and voice timbre, tight bass, extended highs, accurate mids, fast transient.

None, considering price.

Thank you all who have enthusiastically posted positive comments about this speaker. I have been listening to it for a week, and I have just one word for it: MAGIC!

I have been fortunate lately to be able to try and purchase
several wonderful pieces of "music makers". First one is the Assemblage ST-40 tube power amp. Second one is PS Audio
P300 PowerPlant. And last but not least, the "steal of the century" MMG from Magnepan.

Not only their products are truly musical, but their service
and courtesy are first-rate. As a new owner of the MMG, I have 60 days to decide whether I want to keep it or return for a full refund. I also have from 120 days to a YEAR to decide whether to keep or return and purchase a better model and get between $350 - $500 credit.

The speaker cable posts don't look conventional, but I managed to use the spade converters with banana type.
There's no need for me to repeat what others have said about the MMG. For me, that's it: there is no going back to conventional speakers! Still, any tips on how to further improve this speaker would be greatly appreciated.

A highest and enthusiastic FIVE STARS rating!!!

I am a professional acoustic and electric bass player. The MMG's have the best bass I have ever heard from a stereo speaker.On these speakers I can tell whether the strings on a bass are steel,nylon or gut. On other speakers it's just a blurry boom.I don't know whether they demand a lot of power because the only amp I've used(a Mackie 1400i)is rated at 700 watts per side into a 4 ohm load.Trade these in? Never!