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How long should a ribbon tweeter on Maggies last?

A friend who is a prominent tube amplifier and speaker designer (mostly horns but some box speakers) had Maggies in the 70's and 80's and said that every year, to get them to sound good, he had to open them up and stretch the ribbons. That normal temperature changes from hot to cold, and just normal playing weaken the ribbons and stretch them out. As they stretch, the sound quality diminishes.

I have a pair of new 1.7i's on trial, and I'm concerned about how much of an issue this really is with the newer Maggies.

How many years have you been able to still get great sound out of your Maggies? What vintage are they?

Any further thoughts would be much appreciated.

Mike
ldworet
3 responses Add your response
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,982 posts
 
I was a Magnepan dealer for many years and I have never
heard of this?

If the ribbon is stretched out with use, you would need to
shrink them, not stretch them as per your comments
above...correct? Not sure that can be done.

My MG3.6's are about 12 years old now and the ribbon
tweeters have never been replaced, nor do they need to
be.

I still have a customer that has his original MGIIIA's, that
have to be close to 30 years old now. He has never
replaced his ribbons and they still sound great.

Also, the 1.7i's do not have a separate ribbon tweeter, so
you couldn't do this anyway.

IMHO, you are worried about nothing.
cwlondon
1,210 posts
 

I have owned several pairs of Magneplanars since about 1980 and have also never heard any concerns like the one you describe.

Let me guess: is your "friend" by any chance willing to sell his prominent horn and box speaker designs??
audioconnection
1,271 posts
 
Mike
((( A friend who is a prominent tube amplifier and speaker designer (mostly horns but some box speakers) had Maggies in the 70's and 80's and said that every year, to get them to sound good, he had to open them up and stretch the ribbons. That normal temperature changes from hot to cold, and just normal playing weaken the ribbons and stretch them out. As they stretch, the sound quality diminishes.)))

10 bucks says your friends tubes were wearing down
and he thought it was above.
The new 1.7Is tweeters on outside with Cardas clear Sky will fix you up.
Best JohnnyR
Magnepan dealer
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