Maggies MMG

pearsall001
pearsall001 Posts: 5,094
edited November 2009 in Speakers
I'm half tempted out of curiousity to take them up on their 60 day home trial. Only $599 for the listen & the $599 is fully credited if you move up the chain within a year. Any thoughts or listening experiences?
"2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • kawizx9r
    kawizx9r Posts: 5,150
    edited November 2009
    I love my MG-1B's.

    Sure they're from 1984, but everything from the highs and lows (down to 40hz) is absolutely fantastic! If you've never heard voices, acoustical instruments/etc. on planars then you're in for a treat. :D

    I've never heard a pair of MMG's but I do know that the newer/later models just kept getting better compared to the old. Just make sure you have a high-current amp to run them with (notice I didn't say ****-watts).

    -Freddy

    Edit: One more thing, they're very addictive. When I check out the gon now it's usually to see what new planars have come up. Just make sure you're not listening to heavy rock/alternative on these things.
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    heiney9 wrote: »
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited November 2009
    I've owned a bunch of Magnepan and personally wouldn't bother. It's a tease and the starter suggestion from me would be the 1.6QR. The resale is better on them if you don't like them.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited November 2009
    dorokusai wrote: »
    I've owned a bunch of Magnepan and personally wouldn't bother. It's a tease and the starter suggestion from me would be the 1.6QR. The resale is better on them if you don't like them.

    What he said.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited November 2009
    How often do you sit in the sweet spot?
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,221
    edited November 2009
    Maggies are great, I have 2 firends that own them. But, you really need to be in the sweet spot to get the full advantage, IMO. Same could be said for SDA's..........but SDA's still sound decent off axis.........not the Maggies so much. They are an experience, one that you should try in your audio journey.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,094
    edited November 2009
    Face wrote: »
    How often do you sit in the sweet spot?

    Believe it or not...not that often. My AAD 2001 monitors have such phenominal off-axis capability that the sweet spot isn't all that important. My "Man" chair is off to the right side of the front right monitor but even at this position it sounds like your front & center.

    I'm wondering if the Maggies can produce the same effect?
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited November 2009
    I don't miss my experience with AAD but maybe I was drunk.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,221
    edited November 2009
    Any speaker that has awesome off axis response usually doesn;t have a great sweet spot to being with. You CAN'T have both. And no the Maggies won;t produce the same effect. The Maggies I've heard have a sweet spot about as wide as your head. :D. But, ohhhhhhhhhhh what a sweet spot it is.

    Your AAD's won;t compare at all. Maggies are special but they come with the caveat of having to have a larger room to set them up properly in and then usually one person at a time can enjoy the sweet spot. Just changing the forward angle by 5* changes the whole presentation.

    But when dialed in..............they are impressive and I've not heard a box speaker that sounded like a Maggie. My modded 1C's with tubes can come sort of close, but not 100% magic.

    H9

    P.s. If you're going to do Maggies skip the MMG's
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,094
    edited November 2009
    dorokusai wrote: »
    I don't miss my experience with AAD but maybe I was drunk.

    You must have been plastered!!! :D
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited November 2009
    I don't believe anything worked very well in the rig that evening so I would like to hear them again.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,094
    edited November 2009
    heiney9 wrote: »
    Any speaker that has awesome off axis response usually doesn;t have a great sweet spot to being with. You CAN'T have both. And no the Maggies won;t produce the same effect. The Maggies I've heard have a sweet spot about as wide as your head. :D. But, ohhhhhhhhhhh what a sweet spot it is.

    Your AAD's won;t compare at all. Maggies are special but they come with the caveat of having to have a larger room to set them up properly in and then usually one person at a time can enjoy the sweet spot. Just changing the forward angle by 5* changes the whole presentation.

    But when dialed in..............they are impressive and I've not heard a box speaker that sounded like a Maggie. My modded 1C's with tubes can come sort of close, but not 100% magic.

    H9

    P.s. If you're going to do Maggies skip the MMG's

    From the way you've explained the Maggies sweet spot...it sounds like your head is in somewhat of a vice & outside that vice the sweet spot collapses. If that's the case then maybe Maggies won't be my cup of tea so to speak.

    But the AAD's create a dynamite sweet spot...seated both directly in front of them or off axis. It's uncanny the presentation that they produce. Everyone that's been over for a listen has been very impressed with their ability to recreate a soundstage like they do.

    I'm not really looking to replace them, just curious to give something else a listen.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited November 2009
    Small drivers usually offer good dispersion.

    Just curious, to make sure we're on the same page, you're talking about two channel music, correct?
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Hawkeye
    Hawkeye Posts: 1,313
    edited November 2009
    Just a quick thought about the sweet spot. Mine is at most, 2 people wide and that is sitting very close, as in wife close! There aren't too many men I'd like to sit that close to.:D

    But, if I'm doing something around the house which takes me away from the SS, I don't worry about it. The music then becomes background and all serious listening is suspended. And in all seriousness, how big does it need to be? I don't have a lot of people over to do critical listening so the 2 person spot is plenty for me.

    Gordon
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited November 2009
    My 1.6's image real well when I'm in the adjoining kitchen :) I think the issue of the sweet spot is kind of over-exaggerated. As long as you can give them the space they need (ie at least 3 ft from back wall, and 3 to 4 ft from side walls, and be able to set at least 8 to 10 ft back from them and still not be up against the rear wall) the sweet spot opens up. As with any speaker there is one really really sweet spot. I have mine in an apt, have few if any placement options, and they still work really well. Of course I'm also pretty close to the placement guidelines I referenced above.
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,221
    edited November 2009
    I will say my comments are based on the fact that I "live and die" in the exact sweetspot. So for me I was just making the comments based on my personal preferences. Still as a general rule Maggies have a smaller sweetspot than most cone/box type speakers and when you're out of the sweetspot things diminish quicker than with a conventional speaker.

    I say get your ears on them and decide for yourself

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,094
    edited November 2009
    Hey guys, thanks for the input on the Maggies. From what I can gather, I don't think that they will float my boat. However I will find a place to audition them in person before I even consider taking a pair home. I think Dan's place carries them, I'll have to give him a shout.

    This is how I typically audition speakers at a stereo store. I definetely start in the sweet spot to get a feel of space, depth, width, height & how precise the vocals & instruments are presented within the soundstage, not to mention how good they actually sound. If they pass mustard there, then I move off axis to the right a good 2-3ft & give a listen. If the right side speaker doesn't completly disappear or the soundstage somewhat collapses or I am overpowered by the sound coming from the right side speaker...they flunked my test.

    Because what I'm getting from my AAD's is a complete soundstage no matter where I sit. I literally have no speakers in my room...they completely disappear. I enjoy that flexibility & don't want to have to sit in an exact spot to hear how good a speaker sounds.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited November 2009
    We don't need anymore Magnepan fans anyways.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited November 2009
    I'm a proud Magnepan fan boi!

    I'd love to be a Sonus Faber fan boi, but need to be about the 4th or 5th owner of most of their stuff to afford it!
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited November 2009
    Have you listened to omnipolar or open baffles?
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited November 2009
    Face wrote: »
    Have you listened to omnipolar or open baffles?

    Such as?

    I've listened to Mirage speakers, but can't remember if they are omnipolar. I've listened to a lot of horn loaded open baffle DIY speakers. I owned ESS AMT-1C's for quite a while, which could fall into what you are referencing I think?
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,094
    edited November 2009
    Face wrote: »
    Have you listened to omnipolar or open baffles?

    No I haven't, but I would like to hear a pair of Mirage OMD-15's & even a pair of the new versions of OHM speakers & the Decware ERR's. I don't even know where to start with open baffles.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,221
    edited November 2009
    Mirages are omnipolar.

    Pearsall01...............those must be some pretty farking remarkable speakers. I've listened to hundreds of speakers and could never hear the full soundstage 2-3 feet to the right or left. Even SDA's playing info from the opposite channel can never do that.

    You must have some super-human speakers there.........I'd just stay put since they do it for you from every location in your listening space.

    I think we have different listening criteria.

    Enjoy and if you get a chance listen to some Maggies

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited November 2009
    dkg999 wrote: »
    Such as?

    I've listened to Mirage speakers, but can't remember if they are omnipolar. I've listened to a lot of horn loaded open baffle DIY speakers. I owned ESS AMT-1C's for quite a while, which could fall into what you are referencing I think?
    Mirage are omni's.

    I'd like to get my ears on a pair of horn/dual concentric open baffle speakers, such as these: http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=72093.0

    As for your ESS, those could be considered di-poles. Speaking of, those tweeters are available again, PartsExpress carries them. I wouldn't mind trying a design with them, but they aren't cheap.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Lowell_M
    Lowell_M Posts: 1,660
    edited November 2009
    heiney9 wrote: »
    I will say my comments are based on the fact that I "live and die" in the exact sweetspot.

    H9

    He's not lying. The only wear spot on the furniture in his apartment is a very defined **** mark stretched into his couch exactly in the sweet spot. :D
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,221
    edited November 2009
    Lowell_M wrote: »
    He's not lying. The only wear spot on the furniture in his apartment is a very defined **** mark stretched into his couch exactly in the sweet spot. :D

    And I am not fat **** or overweight! I live and die in the sweetspot!
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited November 2009
    pearsall001 wrote: »
    If they pass mustard there, then I move off axis to the right a good 2-3ft & give a listen. If the right side speaker doesn't completly disappear or the soundstage somewhat collapses or I am overpowered by the sound coming from the right side speaker...they flunked my test.

    2-3 ft? And you don't expect the speaker in that side overpowering the other one? You must be talking about moving around with a pair of headphones on.....
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited November 2009
    Face - I wouldn't run a Heil AMT on anything but tubes. Maybe my ears/tastes have changed, however I heard a nicely restored pair a couple of years ago and I thought my ears were going to bleed. I know I liked them at one point, powered by HK Citation amp/pre IIRC.
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,094
    edited November 2009
    Ricardo wrote: »
    2-3 ft? And you don't expect the speaker in that side overpowering the other one? You must be talking about moving around with a pair of headphones on.....

    LOL! No headphones. I think my room might have a lot to do with it. I have my room heavily treated with absorption, diffusion, & bass traps. And that's not even taking into account any of my furnishings, carpet, nothing reflective at all on any of the walls, etc.

    I'm a firm believer that the room is a top priority in obtaining great sound. Also, a lot of guys have a high level of regard for Nelson Pass with his knowledge of designing & building amps. Pretty much the same respect Phil Jones gets in the audio world for his design & building of fantastic loudspeakers. The AAD 2001 monitors were his crown jewel until he came out with this beast...the 7001i monitor. Man, I'd like to hear those puppies!!!http://www.philjonespuresound.com/PJWeb13_7001i.aspx
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,023
    edited November 2009
    Wow,12 and a half g's for monitors ?? They better have sex with ya for them bones.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited November 2009
    dkg999 wrote: »
    Face - I wouldn't run a Heil AMT on anything but tubes. Maybe my ears/tastes have changed, however I heard a nicely restored pair a couple of years ago and I thought my ears were going to bleed. I know I liked them at one point, powered by HK Citation amp/pre IIRC.

    Thanks for that info Doug.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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