Experienced Maggie Lovers Please Advise

Here is a review of the Magnepan 2.7i. I have not heard the MG3.7i so can't compare them, nor have I heard the X version of any Magnepans.

I own LRS+ and I have heard 3.7i, 2.7x,2.7i and 1.7i. I like them all very much. Martin Logan 11a sounded better to me in the same spot. More money. I listen to mostly rock music though. the extra bass was palpable. I could easily live with the 3.7i or 2.7x though.

I have 1.7's. I feel they are the sweet spot for quality/value to price. The 3.7's are a step up in performance and price however for me it's not worth it. The 20's are a different story though but very much higher in price. 

Using an active crossover really changed the game for the 1.7's. Setting the low pass filter at 70Hz and 18db/oct opened up the higher volume listening quite a bit.

I've had many Maggies over the years, including 1.7 and, currently, 3.7.

The prevailing wisdom is generally to buy the biggest model you can afford. I agree with this. 

I also have not heard any X. I find it hard to believe that they are worth the significantly greater price. But I could be wrong.

I used to love Maggie, but now I don't.

I have owned the 1.6, 1.7, 3.7, and now I have the 20.7's.  Bigger is always better when it comes to Maggies.  I've never heard the X versions.  I did upgrade the crossovers in my Moabs and that made a significant difference so perhaps it is worth the cost.

I've owned MG-Is and the original 2.7is; I had the 2.7is for five years before moving to a home that couldn't accommodate them and taking a different approach. The 2.7i in particular was an incredible speaker, very lifelike. I eventually settled on my grail speaker, Quad ESL63s, which I've had for 15 years.

We recently bought my son a system as a graduation present, and he chose the 1.7i. In that process we heard the whole line up to 3.7i, but this was before the new 2.7i came out, and before the x introduction. They're all great, in very similar ways. As you move up, you get better, fuller, more extended bass, although the fundamental character remains the same. As many have observed over the years, as you move up you also experience larger, if not better, images.

When I bought my 2.7s, the next one up was the 3.6i, and I listened extensively to both. I ultimately chose the 2.7s because I felt the bass was very close to the 3.6, but the overall presentation was more coherent, the speakers disappeared better and there was just music in front of me. That may be something they fixed in the 3.7i, and that may be even better in the 3.7x. That said, Jim Winey, the founder, did say the 2.7i was the best speaker they'd ever made, and at the time he said it I agreed.

I have the 37i and have also owned 1.7 and 1.7i as well as a friend bringing LRS over and as other have said bigger is definitely better, you get a better sound stage, more definition and cleaner sounding instruments and vocals . If you enjoy rock and music with deep bass a sub is a welcome addition.

I have always purchased gently used to get more for the dollar.

Agree that bigger is better, as long as your room is big enough...otherwise smaller can be better...LRS+ in a small room is awesome...agree that the 1.7i might be the best value...

I have what many would consider a small room 12 X 15 with my 3.7i and two subs and I'm glad I upgraded to the largest Maggie's I could afford.

I have a small acoustically treated room, 12x11x9 that I had a few speakers in, from monitors to a full-range speaker. I always needed the acoustic treatments with all the speakers including the LRS+. However, with the LRS+ I found that removing the absorption panels for the left and right first reflections improved the sound of the LRS+, without any negative issues.

My only complaint on the LRS+ is that it is not as detailed as some other speakers I have had in the same space with the same price point, ex KEF LS50 Meta. However, the LRS+ was better overall for what I like, a big soundstage with depth that I could overlook the less than great detail retrieval,

A new speaker from Magnepan seems to address my concerns.

MAGNEPAN .7X, Compared with LRS+ and More! (youtube.com)

The other thing to consider with maggies is the power. They love power and the bigger you go the more power they can take. You don't mention what amplification you have or are considering but, in my opinion, the 3.7's I've dealt with sounded much better on a good 200wpc amp than a 100wpc amp. I suspect the 2.7 would also be in this category. 

With that said, I'm sure others would agree, if you go down to the 1.7 or below a good 100wpc amp will do fine. 

@yesiam_a_pirate 

Do you like listening at lower volume levels at all? From my experience Maggie's wake up at higher volume levels. I purchased the Eminent Technology LFT 8's speakers instead. 

@aniwolfe That would be my big knock on the 20.7s.  They really open up around 80 dBC.  On most music they simply don't bring the magic at listening levels 10 dB lower.  I have no idea why that would be true but it is certainly my experience with them.

@aniwolfe: Your wise recommendation (and choice) of the Eminent Technology LFT-8b will no doubt be ignored, as always. I’m a long-time Maggie owner, starting with the Magneplanar Tympani T-I purchased in 1973, and currently the Tympani T-IVa (the current MG30.7 is very similar).

The ET LFT-8b is priced only $200 more than the MG1.7i, and is (imo) significantly better (I compared the two). Review by Steve Guttenberg on YouTube. In print by Robert Greene in TAS, as well as a few reviews in UK mags, all very positive.

While the 1.7i can use as much power as you can afford (83dB sensitivity, 3-4 ohm impedance), the LFT-8b doesn’t need an arc welder amp. The planar-magnetic panel presents an 11 ohm load to the power amp, making it a better choice than Maggies for those who prefer tubes. Dual binding posts for easy bi-amping. And most importantly, the LFT driver, unlike that of the single-ended/unbalanced MG1.7i, is a push/pull magnetic design. That is a BIG deal. Would you buy a dynamic loudspeaker (cones) with non-push/pull drivers?! On top of that, the LFT driver reproduces 180Hz to 10,000Hz, with no crossover in it's operating range!

The 3.7i is the sweet spot in the Maggie line up, the best value. If you are a Maggie lover with the right amp, I guarantee you will not be disappointed. Examples of amps that make them shimmer are the Bricasti Design M25, The Parasound JC 5, and the Pass X250.8. 

The speakers should be in symmetrical corners 3 feet off the front wall and at least 1 foot off the side wall aimed directly at the listening position. The wall behind the speaker needs to be deadened with 6 or 8 inch thick acoustic foam tile floor to ceiling to limit comb filtering and provide the best image specificity. 

I have to add that the Eminent Technology LFT-8B's or LFT-8C's are the ticket as they are easier to drive, sound real nice at lower volumes, do not require a monster amp to drive them, and with the dynamic woofer or powered woofer provide plenty of bass.