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Can Magnepan survive Wendell Diller?

I bought my first set of Magnepans in 1976, and I currently have a pair of 1.7i's.

It is difficult for me to upgrade to the 3.7i's because their are so many things that the company can do to improve their product that they simply won't offer; upgraded crossover components, a solid wood/rigid frames and better stands are examples.

Other companies are now doing this, but Magnepan always says Wendell doesn't think that is a good idea.

Can a man who suggests using lamp cord for his speaker line really have that much control over an otherwise unique technological approach to speaker design? I must be missing something obvious when a product is hand assembled in MN and any of these upgrades would, in my mind, warrant factory upgrades. Who wouldn't spend an extra $1k for a 1.7i with a hardwood frame and an upgraded x-over? Adding a ribbon tweeter to the 1.7i would warrant an additional $1k, still bringing them in $2k under the 3.7i.

Is it common for one person to hold an entire company back in high end audio? 
william53b

Showing 3 responses by bdp24

bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,109 posts
 
Anyone jonesing for a pair of 30.7's, but doesn't have the $30k it takes to buy a pair, there is a cheaper alternative:

- Find a pair of the last Tympani model---the T-IVa, of which the 30.7 is an updated modern incarnation. I have a pair, and love 'em. A pair of the T-IVa will set you back less than a tenth the price of the 30.7.

For you wanting the "30.7 For Condos":

- Just add an OB sub to your existing Maggies. GR Research/Rythmik offer an excellent one, though it is available only as a DIY kit. GRR has a woodworker in Canada who makes a great H-frame in flat-pack form, and it's not that much harder to assemble than an Ikea dresser.
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,109 posts
 
No offence intended, @william53b. Eminent Technology is an even smaller company than Magnepan, has far fewer dealers, and doesn't advertise or attend CES regularly to sell their wares. But like Magnepan, they have survived in this tough business. They're both doing something right!
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,109 posts
 
Lots of points made here, all valid and of interest imo. After all, we're all planar lovers first-and-foremost, right? If you're not, get lost ;-) .

I would just like to remind everyone that Magnepan is far from the only loudspeaker company using crappy x/o parts. If you watch Danny Richies' GR Research YouTube videos---in which he shows you what is inside the mass-produced speakers people send him for upgrades---you know the x/o parts in almost all speakers are junk. Magnepan chooses to make their speakers that way to be able to sell them at a given price point, as do all the other company's (well, not Wilson, etc.). Hi-fi fanatics have always looked for ways to make better sound, and it's easier now than ever.

As for you guys who like your 1.7's, but would love to own 3.7's were it not for their size: why, why, why, do you all continue to ignore the Eminent Technology LFT-8b? 13" wide, 5' tall, 1' deep, and at $2499/pr an absolute giant killer! The UK reviewers soiled themselves while describing the sound of this marvel, as did Robert E. Greene in TAS, and VPI's Harry Weisfeld, who described the LFT-8b as having the best midrange he has EVER heard, including that of the QUAD ESL.  
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