Maggie MMGs Gunned down and to die for . . .

SolidSqual

http://buy.audiogon.com/cgia/cls.pl?spkrplan&1204942751





There are more pics at the link . . .

TroyD

They look nice but at that price? I dunno...I'd be looking a little farther forward to the 3.6's.

BDT

SolidSqual

ME too, but what if you had the money and didn't close your eyes listening to music. I would buy them.

TroyD

I'd still look at the 3.6's.

While I've not heard them specifically, I have heard the larger Maggies. The thing about the MMG's is that they are 550 new, to your door. If that was the only speaker that they made, okay, I could see it. However, no matter how nice it looks, the sound is where it's at and with the Maggies, the more you pay...you get a return for your investment paid in bass response, dynamics and detail.

I'm not sure these mods, other than the eye candy appeal have that same return for your wampum.

They look killer, I'll give them that.

BDT

SolidSqual

what if you already owned the 3.6s

SolidSqual

That's some serious craftsmanship . . . the 3.6s come with a similar look . . . too bad its not standard with the MMGs

TroyD

Agree but to keep them at 550....I'll take the concession in asthetics.

BDT

SolidSqual

Yup the smart thing to do.

George Grand

That's an awful lot of money to pay for woodwork.

dkg999

I think there is a thread at Audio Asylumn where the owner of these talks about the mods and the results. I have to agree, I would put the money into a pair of 1.6 or 3.6 instead of buying these. But then I am biased as I already own the 1.6's.

dorokusai

It's pointless to start at the MMG, but like Troy said it's the best hi-fi bargain on the market.

3.3 or better, period. The MG12 isn't too shabby.

EDIT: I backed off to the 3.3 since James has reported great things about them.

SolidSqual

dorokusai wrote: »

It's pointless to start at the MMG, but like Troy said it's the best hi-fi bargain on the market.

3.5 or better, period. The MG12 isn't too shabby.

God Mark, you're killing dreams. I just thought about buying the MMG for a good time.

RuSsMaN

The MMG is great for a good time. Hell, a GREAT time. I had to pad the top end down with the supplied resistor, and add a small, fast subwoofer with mine - but the MMG is certainly one of the best values in HiFi out there.

Mark is just a bitter audio man- the MMG is a not just a great place to start, it's a great place to stop for some.

Cheers,
Russ

capecodder

Add me to the "I don't get it crowd". Why would you start with that model and then pimp it up to almost 4 times original cost?? Very well done and probably very nice sounding but i can't believe that most of those that would be interested in these wouldn't rather have a higher end model and then opt for the same level of woodworking upgrades.

Looks like the owner also is a little dissappointed. Should have listened before purchase if he was looking for more bass response. That's old news with these speakers. I'll be surprised if he gets close to his price.

dorokusai

I say that because of going through 6 other Magnepan prior to owning a pair of 3.5R. It was wasted time in my eyes but someone else might have fun doing that I guess.

TroyD

The point is, if you buy the MMG.....you WILL go up the chain. That's the whole point and that's what Magnepan is banking on (that's why it's the best deal in audio) and as long as they have been doing it, they seem to have the right idea.

As a side note, I've always said that if Polk wanted to reintroduce the SDA, they should do what Magnepan does and offer a teaser model through direct sales. SDA is like a Maggie in that if you get a propper demonstration, you are EASILY hooked and that a propper demo in a hifi shop (especially now) is far from a guarantee.

BDT

dkg999

Russ - not sure that Mark is bitter, but he does have the room and gear to make the larger Magnepan models work. In my small cramped space, and with the gear I am willing to afford at this point, the 3.6R's would of been a bad choice. The 1.6QR's work better in my scenario.

If I have the space and the budget for the right gear, then someday I'll definetely move up to the 3.6R's.

jdhdiggs

The 3.? series isn't that much larger than the 1.6/2.7 series. The MAJOR difference is in the tweeter. That is a far bigger difference than the bass output.

Small cramped space? Bpffffssssh.... 10X11X8 foot right now for the 3.3's and they need no bass help in that tiny lil room.

Mark: Beyod wear and tear and cost, I can't tell the difference between any of the 3.x series UNTIL the 3.6. Just a different league in that one.

dkg999

jd - I have to respectfully disagree. My dealer slid the 1.6 and 3.6 into a small cramped listening room and we powered them with my Parasound amps. The 1.6's were mo'better and not as fussy on placement. No question that the 3.6 are better overall, just not better in my application. YMMV.

dorokusai

James - I agree, room isn't an issue and I don't have a stadium last time I checked. The 3.6 is noticeably different between our experience but not enough to get rid of them. Sonically the 3 series is much better than the smaller children.

DKG - I don't know how many times I've read about placement issues...someone must be thinking too much or doing something wrong. Magnepan are no harder to setup than a monkey coffin. Just like SDA's, I've yet to hear almost ANY speaker in an ideal enviroment but have been thrilled MANY times with the results.

dkg999

OK, bigger is always better, I stand corrected

SolidSqual

Another dream dead . . . guess I'll have to settle for my crummy adagios until I get money for some 3.6s . . .

dorokusai

dkg999 wrote: »

OK, bigger is always better, I stand corrected

Not really but the true ribbon is better and more accurate. Enjoy what you got, I'm just an opinion.

SolidSqual

dorokusai wrote: »

Not really but the true ribbon is better and more accurate. Enjoy what you got, I'm just an opinion.

Yup . . . but your opinion is very true. I should have bought the Lsi15s from the start, but started with the Rti8s. There's a lot of wisdom there.

jdhdiggs

dkg and SS: the 1.6's or even MMG's aren't garbage by any stretch, just that there is a quality difference going up the lineup. View it sort of like the Monitor ->RTi -> LSi lines with Polks.

The MMG's are the intro to the maggie sound and get you used to looking at the monolithes and I think they don't even really have a tweeter. The next step up (current lineup) is the MG12 which adds the first true seperate tweeter, then the 1.6QR's which is where I feel true "maggieness" starts. Much improved bass and good implementation of the quasi ribbon tweeter. Then you go to the 3.6R which moves to the full size ribbon and what most would consider "full range". Then there is big pappa: 20.1R's which apperantly eliminate all of the bass (or lack there of) issues.

dkg999

The 20.1's are amazing! I've listened to them at length. DSOTM is a religious experience on them It would be a tough choice in that price range between the 20.1's and the SF Cremona Elipsa (although I would enjoy having that choice to make!).

I enjoy my 1.6's immensly! The 3.6's are definetely better, no debate there. I did feel, maybe incorrectly, that with my space and source gear I was getting a better synergy with the 1.6's. As the 1.6's hold their value pretty well, trading up to the 3.6's won't be too painful when I am ready.

jdhdiggs

Look at the 3.3 and 3.5R's They really hold their value and would be an upgrade but cost similar to what you could get for the 1.6. Only issue is they are fairly rare.

dorokusai

I owned mine for almost 3 years and only lost $100 upon resale.

steveinaz

Mark, do the larger models have respectable bass and impact?

Texas42

I'd look at the Eminent Technology LFT-8b. It blew away my 1.6 QRs when I had them side by side. Usually can be found at reasonable prices used (or even new).

dorokusai

steveinaz wrote: »

Mark, do the larger models have respectable bass and impact?

I think so. If you've ever listened to Tool before, it runs those basslines just fine.