Do you own Magnepan LRS speakers? If so, please share your experience/opinion.

I’ve got a pair of LRS’s.  I really like them but want the 1.7i’s pretty bad.  The LRS is a funny speaker. It can be the most underwhelming, crappy sounding speaker I’ve had if not set up exactly right.  Set them up exactly right with some good associated equipment and they are a completely different animal.  I had a neighbor weld me custom stands.  The LRS’s sound much better elevated off the ground and positioned vertical instead of tilted back.  You’ll definitely want a subwoofer as well.  I run the LRS’s full range and have my sub fill in the lower registers.  Also, they don’t play loud.  
 

The LRS’s do a few things exceptionally well.  They are incredibly fast.  You can really hear this during drum rolls.  The Vocals are there in the room with you at times.  The imaging isn’t as precise as a good 2 way stand mount speaker but the images are much larger, which I prefer and feel that it is more life like or realistic.  Oh, and the piano sounds fantastic too.  
 

I could see why someone would listen to the LRS and think they are junk but set up properly, they sound fantastic within their limitations.  They also produce more distortion than the higher end speakers I am used to but the distortion isn’t as audible from my listening seat. I also changed out the fuses in the LRS and it smoothed out the sound noticeable (no snake oil).

I think the LRS is a great way for someone to sample the maggie sound.  If you like it, the 1.7i is the next logical step.  The 1.7i plays louder, has more bass and probably sounds just a tad better than the LRS.

Just know that Maggies need to be placed in the room where they need to go, not where you would like them to go. Minimum 3 feet out into the room and preferably 5 feet. Everything b_limo said is right on. 

Thanks for the input.  I have had Magnepans in the past, 1.6, 3.6, 20 and a couple of others, but after moves and selling off my systems I am re-starting and the LRS looks to fit my current situation.  

I have had Magnepans in the past, 1.6, 3.6, 20

Can you fit 1.7s into your space? You might find the LRS a little disappointing but it's a cheap mistake and can be sold easily. I have .7s but I thought my old MMGs were better. Stereophile says the LRS is better than the .7. I hope so. 

russ69

Thanks for the input.  My current space is too small, but that will change this early Summer.  I may just wait and get the updated 1.7.  Since I have owned the 1.6 it would be an easy fit for me.  If I wait until after the move, my new space will help decide. If I have space for a 2nd/bedroom system, I will likely use a Magnum Dynalab receiver I have, the 208 in it.   I guess I am doing some pre-move research on possibilities.  I know my new place will not have room for the 20 models that I have owned and loved.  I believe much of my audio course/direction was heavily influenced by my first good system, which was based around the Dahlquist DQ-10 speakers and tube Conrad Johnson units. 

@jusam , if you can, get a pair of 1.7i’s.