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Broken hearted...magnepan and vandersteen

I finally got an opportunity to hear the 1.7i magnepan. I will blame my ears and taste, but I was underwhelmed. I heard them with tweeters inside and outside for comparison. outside did sound a bit better. Then I allowed them to play the vandersteen quatro ct. The speakers disappeared into the music. Deep, tall, wide soundstage with excellent imaging and air around the different instruments. Full range sound. Thankfully the trio ct sounded almost the quatros equal. I really was ready to go with magnepan. I was surprised. All other speakers are sounding inferior now. 
glfrancis2

Showing 4 responses by mcreyn

mcreyn
293 posts
 
I have owned multiple pairs of both Maggies and Vandies.  Your comparison really isn't fair as to either.  Just a few of the issues:

1)  Same room or different room.
2)  Comparing a $2,000 speaker to a $15,000 speaker.  Did you listen to the 1ci or 2ce Sig II which would be a fair comparison to the 1.7i?
3)  Amplification?
4)  Expecting the Maggies to have the same bass response as a speaker with a built in subwoofer.  

Your comparison is like saying I test drove a Subaru BRZ and McLaren and the McLaren blew away the Subaru.  
mcreyn
293 posts
 
I guess then, I am not sure what the point is of your post. It appears based on your second post that your budget is about $400-500 for speakers and an unknown amount for an amp. At that level, you really should be comparing a pair of Vandersteen 1C and Maggie MMG/MMGi, both of which can be had used in that price range. The Maggies will be much harder to drive (they need a good amount of power) where the 1c is a much easier load and more sensitive. If in fact Vandersteens are what you want, this gets you in the door at your budget.
mcreyn
293 posts
 
kenjit,

You should let Richard Vandersteen know that he has been doing it all wrong for the lasts 40 years and several hundred thousand pairs of speakers.  Maybe you can show him how to design a proper cross-over while you are at it as well as what he is doing wrong in designing his drivers.  
mcreyn
293 posts
 
Dennis Murphy has had some personal issues and is not currently selling speakers.  Jim Salk is continuing the the BMR and was kind enough to step in and finish Dennis's existing orders.  
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