Magnepan or Carver???


I have a line on Magnepan 3.5r speakers, or a pair of Carver Carver ALIII ribbon speakers.

Currently I am running Klipsch La Scalas in my HT/listening room with a Heresy center channel, and Klipsch quartets in the bedroom, with upgrades.

Would I enjoy the Maggies, or the Carvers more? And should I hold out for Maggie 3.6r speakers instead?

Thanks for your input!

Steve
128x128theduker
You're moving from a very high sensitivity speaker - Klipsch- to a very low sensitivity speaker - Maggie.
Is your amp up to the challenge? You may not like what you hear and it's not the speakers fault.
drumhead makes a really good point--you need a ton of power for either the maggies or the carver. another consideration is that many people (myself included) feel the maggies need a sub or two (they don't go as deep as the carvers). yet another consideration is that placement is extremely critical to both. all that said, if you're up for the challenge and you've got the $$, i'd pop for the 3.6 maggies, which really do sound great under optimal conditions.
I had a pair of the Carver ALIII's , there were OK to me, although I never got them to sound special like the pair of Apogees I have now - there was a disconnect with the bass also (small bass driver) they dont go very low either... the 3.5's are big speakers and have a big sound - they dont really compare to the Carvers - i would take the Magnepans everytime.
If that is the choice, go with the Magnepans. I had some (sob!) Carver Amazings, which are still the best speaker I have ever heard. The ALIII's weren't. They weren't even in the same family, tonally. Which was weird, when you think about it. Anyhow ....

And to echo the comments of others, power. You don't say what amplifier you have driving the Klipsch speakers, but I will tell you that the Amazings didn't sound truly great until I hooked up some major power to them. The same was true with all the Maggies that I had, back in the day.
Kevvwill, "Carver Amazings, which are still the best speaker I have ever heard."

I once had that experience as well with the Amazings. Heard the ALIII, but they really didn't make an impression on me.