How do the Magnepan 3.6r compare to the new 1.7

Macdadtexas, Some people are more sensitive to a speaker's coherency than others.

FWIW, coherency is a high priority for me. IMHO, in the right room, the 3 series is the sweet spot in the Maggie line up.

Well insofar as the reviewers are concerned, the comments on the 3.6s lack of coherency surfaced primarily in the reviews of the 3.7. Since it's introduction in 1999 the 3.6 was heralded by these same reviewers as among the best speakers produced, and certainly among the very best speaker values. With the very best front end equipment the crossover of the 3.6 reveals itself to be a weak link in the speaker design; however, what most people describe as incoherence or discontinuity in the speaker is the inability of their equipment to drive the 3.6 w/sufficient high current wattage. The ribbon will then scream, squeal, and buzz while the other panels will try to avoid bottoming out against the magnets.

I have the 3.6's and I have heard the 1.6's in my own room and auditioned the 1.7's several times at various shows; I like the 3.6's better by far. I think that the 3.6's are a major step-up over both 1 series.

I've never understood why J Valin hears a discontinuity issue with the 3.6's; I've never heard it... I think that the Magnepan 3.6 is one of the finest speakers I've ever heard at any price...

However, I have also heard the new 3.7's (only under show conditions) and my initial impressions are that they are even better than the 3.6.

Oh yeah; buy a good used pair of 3.6's and live in sonic happiness... Just be sure to feed them top-notch amplification with lots of watts and current!