Magnepan vs Quad

The Maggies have a wonderful coherence, but so have the Quads, they present a wonderful soundstage, but so do the Quads. The Maggies play a touch louder, they also seem to me a little more power hungry than the Quads. The Quads I think, dissolve complex musical information slightly better than the Maggies, they are a tiny touch more transparent, perhaps, but I cannot be quite sure. Its a very tough choice to make, both are excellent transducers. My advice is that you should try and listen to a Quad system before making up your mind. Perhaps through Audiogon you can find a fellow audiophile in your vicinity who runs a pair, or hop a plane, if you can. I would definitely not buy blind. Oh I think you Maggies are also a touch more dynamic, however with the Quads, if positioned right, you sometimes get the most beautifully holographic images, say of female singers, they are amazing in reproducing string quartetts, but when I listen to large symphonic music, I always want to turn up the volume control, a sure sign, that they lack a bit in dynamics, though they dissolve complex musical scores in a bewitching fashion. I could live with both speakers for a long long time. If you want the best of both worlds I would try one of Roger West's offerings though.

Audiokinesis, to these here ears you are right on the money! You've put it much better than I did. Gmorris's subwoofer idea is also great, that goes for the Quads too, by the way. The 989 are indeed similar voiced to the 63s in the midrange, they have better bass, the highs are sometimes slightly etchy with mediocre software. Its a demanding speaker, but heaven with good recordings of small ensembles. All the same, Sdzink, I would also look into the Soundlab ESL's, they REALLY give you the best of both worlds

Sorry about that, LjGj, what was it, that she didn't like about it? Was it too big, too black? I think its a very good point to bring in and to consider, when hunting for a new speaker system.

Pleasure, Sdzink, will you tell us how you decided yourself and, once set up, how you liked it?

I think, she had a point aboput the endcaps. Its truly a pity that they went cheapo there!