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Tossed between the horns Maggie 3A/PSB Gold I

I have been a long time Maggie fanboy, having bought my first pair back in 1982. For the past 12 years I have been using a pair of MG 3A's with a pair of M&K subs. I have continued to keep these in great operational shape and over the past winter I upgrade the caps in the cross-overs, replaced the tired ribbons, rewired the speakers with silver/cooper/teflon wire and remoloxied the diaphragms. I also put new socks on them. Needless to say they sound and look great. I also have Sound Anchor stands; so for all intents and purposes, these speakers have been taken almost as far as they can go.

Recently, I have taken in a pair of PSB Gold I. Generally, I get a second pair of speakers to listen to and play with from time to time. After a short period of time I usually sell off the second pair because they do not provide me with the same sonic enjoyment as the Maggies. However, the PSB are proving to be a bit of a different story.

They are a bit more upfront sounding and have great dynamics at low/medium to low volumes. They throw a good sound stage and when bi-amped and used with subs they have a well defined and deep low end.

My Maggies, on the other hand, have a better high end. The ribbon tweeter can't be bested, in this regard. They also have a more organic sound and throw a larger sound stage. However, you do have to be sitting in the sweet spot to enjoy it. Off axis and everything collapses. The mids are more laid back, which is great for some recordings.

So, that is the good and the not so good about each speaker. I can keep both but would eventually need to sell off one due to limited room and it makes a mess of my listening space.

After another week or so I'm going to throw the Maggies back into use and make my choice, however, I know it is not going to be an easy one.

Ultimately, I am going to use my ears, as I always do, to decide but my question to you, the reader is, "which would you choose?" Please no responses that include it is up to me and let my ears decide. Of course, this is what I am going to do. I want to entertain your thoughts specific to these two choices.

Thanks!!!!
raymonda

Showing 6 responses by raymonda

raymonda OP
855 posts
 
Budget is limited to what I can sell and turnover for the next purchase. I have thought about the above options but really I'm not sold that 3.3, 3.5. 3.6 would be much of an improvement over my modded and tweaked 3A's. Also, I would not be able to get the funds to cover the added expense of a 3.7, unless I sold the subs, which I don't think I would do.

The thing that I really like about the PSB Gold I's is their well articulated bass, when used with my subs, without the subs, and run full range, the advantage is less so. The acoustic bass really sounds accurate with this combination. Also, the soundstage is wide and you don't have to be sitting in the sweet spot to get it.

As for the PSB's, the metal tweeter is OK and can sound good on well recorded material but can also be a bit harsh on other material. Vocals do pop out because of the forward presentation of the speaker, which again can be good or too much. I'm trying my amps in triode mode to see if that can help settle the mids down a bit.

My Maggies have been my reference....and tweaked out they are surely nice. What they lack is "jump" on low to moderate volumes and 40-120 hz can be a bit bloomy. The bass in this region is not as articulate as the PSB's. As I have 33 years of experience with Maggies I am very versed with set up and have them position for their best sonics. I also run a HP at 80hz and subs to better control the first octave, which has improved them in this area but they are simply not as good as the PSB's, bi-amp'ed with subs in this area.

Although I really want to throw the Maggies back in to reference them vs. the PSB's I want to give the PSB's at least 2 weeks of serious listening before the Maggies come back. This way I hope to eliminate the charm of a new speaker and gain a greater understanding of what I like and don't like.

raymonda OP
855 posts
 
Shakey,

You might be right but that would only leave me around $1,700 for an alternative speaker and I don't think I can get more at that price point.
raymonda OP
855 posts
 
Tekton Pendragons 1500.00

Spendor S9 1200.00

Or keep an eye on your local Clist for Klipsch Fortes or Cornwalls. Both usually under 1K.

I'm not in agreement with your assessment on most of these speakers. I have experience with the Klipsch you have listed and they don't come close to the Maggies, nor do the match the PSB's. Sorry but they do not do it for me. I have owned them....modded them and sold them.

Spendor can make a nice speaker but again, I'm not overly impressed and the Tekton's, well I wouldn't buy blind as I have never seen one or heard one.

Exactly why cant you keep both? Speakers aren't like wives, you can have several and they don't get jealous. Think of the advantages of being able to swap back and forth at will. Depending on your mood, whether you want slam or air.

Well, room is one reason and I really don't like to clutter things up for too long. If I had two rooms that would be different. But for a short period of time, yes, I can manage two.
raymonda OP
855 posts
 
Shakes,

I've done all that with klipsch and they are dynamic but extremely colored. I would not go down that path again.

Vanderstieen 3, although ripe sounding have limit high end extension and my Maggie's out class them.

Right now I leaning towards sell whatever sells first and let that be the driving factor......maybe.
raymonda OP
855 posts
 
("but a bit warm and veiled"

That is exactly how I would describe them. Frequency response is definitely tilted downward...)

I have found that their signature is dependent on the amp and pre-amp used, but would agree that when used full range their bottom is full. However, when crossed over at 80HZ and used with subs it much improves their bass performance. They no longer become a bit bottom heavy and slightly ill defined but, rather, they transform into a well articulate and deep speaker. Relieving the woofer of 80hz and below does wonders. It also allows the woofer to focus on 80-250hz region, which it does nicely.

At first I was a bit bothered by the metal tweeter, as I usually am. Although, with a bit of tweaking up stream, positioning, and trying different amps has brought me much better high frequency response.

So, here I am.......I like both speakers. The PSB's perform better with solid state and my Maggies sound great with tubes. I could live with both, and just might do so, at least for a while, but ultimately I'm leaning on selling both and upgrading to 3.6's. Until then, I'm enjoying the ride.

BTW, I have experimented with a hybrid system, e.g., running the 3A's on the outside and the Golds on the inside and roughly 7-9db's down. This does strike a excellent split between the two, provides great headroom and a nice balance with more accurate timbre. However, it takes away depth in the sound stage when played at louder volumes. I know, I can hear the crowds shouting heresy but it works to a large degree!!!!
raymonda OP
855 posts
 
and like the wind they're gone!!!!!

Thanks for the heads up though.
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