bookshelf speakers to replace my Maggies


I've loved Magenpan speakers from the first moment I heard a pair in 1983. I've owned and listened to various Maggies for twenty-five years but a few months ago my "vintage" speakers (1.5) gave out. For all the obvious space/marital reasons, I can't replace them, at least for now. I picked up a pair of PSB Imagine B speakers and I like them; they keep me going. But I sorely miss that Magnepan sound--the presence, the realism, the emotional beauty, the "air." I've never heard another speaker that can reproduce acoustic instruments like Maggies. 

I want to start scheming and thinking. I would greatly appreciate any advice on a pair of bookshelf speakers that might fill the void. I know this may sound illogical, but perhaps a pair that creates something somewhat similar to the Magnepan sound. (I understand that the designs are radically different, create different senses of space, etc.) Let's say under $4000. To be clear, I'm not looking for "the best bookshelf speaker" but, for those who know Maggies, the speaker that can have its own identity and yet ... how else to put this? ... make me happy the way my Maggies did.

Thank you very much!
northman

Showing 2 responses by audiotroy


You may want to consider the Legacy Calibre it is a bit more expensive but it does not sound like a mini monitor it has real bass and throws a gigantic sound stage. The Calibre use a large custom Heil AMT tweeter so in the top end it is delicate and resolute like the Maggies.

As per your dilemma you do need to visit a major city or go to shows.

if you can visit our shop located 15 mins from Newark airport we have:
Quad, Kef, ATC, Paradigm, Alta Audio, Legacy, Elac monitors on display. 

You should also check out the ATC SCM 19 which are huge sounding monitors also very detailed and clean extremely dynamic.

Good luck 

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ
Other speakers you should consider the Jantzen Valencia monitors, the Quad Z series uses a fantastic ribbon tweeter and are very inexpensive $2,500.00 for the Z2 monitor. 

You may also want to check out the Scansonic line and the higher end Elac monitors. 

Many of these systems with high technology tweeters capture some of the Maggie sound and in terms of image placement all of these monitors will recreate a more realistic sound stage then the Maggies.