DIY OB vs Magnapan?

[mayhem13]

Seems like an odd post for a DIY thread but i'm looking for opinions from people who've owned both at the same time. I just auditioned a pair of the new 1.7's and was totally blow away. Not sure i can touch this level of performance with a DIY OB effort with costs being equal. DIY speaker building is a hobby for me, and a lot of fun but there comes a time to lay down the saw and step back and listen.

[Pano]

What does a pair of the new 1.7s cost?
I do like the sound of Maggies, so they get my respect, for sure.

[studiotech]

Originally Posted by mayhem13

Seems like an odd post for a DIY thread but i'm looking for opinions from people who've owned both at the same time. I just auditioned a pair of the new 1.7's and was totally blow away. Not sure i can touch this level of performance with a DIY OB effort with costs being equal. DIY speaker building is a hobby for me, and a lot of fun but there comes a time to lay down the saw and step back and listen.

Had Maggies a while ago. They do some things SOOOO well, it is amazing. Well recorded acoustic guitar for example is to die for. For the $ they are damn hard to beat. Get the 1.7, save up for a pair of Rythmik audio servo subs and you are happy. Oh yeah, treat your wall behind and at the first reflection points too, it not the Maggies can sound a little bright and the soundstage will be too diffuse.

That being said, I am back to DIY in a big way, but am also going for a no-holds-barred set-up, so much more $ invested than 1.7 + Rythmik.

Greg

[dewardh]

Originally Posted by mayhem13

i'm looking for opinions from people who've owned both at the same time.

Pretty unlikely, I'd say. I've owned MGII (loved 'em) and MGIIIa (never warmed up to 'em). Now own Linkwitz ORION. Listened (briefly) to 1.7 at a local dealer. I'm not tempted to sell the ORION and get 1.7s. But if I owned 1.7s (and a subwoofer) I don't believe I'd be tempted to switch to ORION, either. Both are simply supurb loudspeakers, comparable in price if you count the amplifiers in the total cost. ORION have more and deeper bass, and can play a bit louder, but still need a sub if you want HT "effects" at wall shaking volume.

Between the two . . . a hard call . . . but I'd probably go ORION. Between either and anything else at anywhere near the price . . . no contest.

[jerome69]

2000$ a pair, a low price in the market.
Are the transducers are still fragile ? In the old version, you have to change the tweeter after some years...
I know the old version and frankly I prefer a good OB with electrodynamic transducer.

[Helmuth]

I measured a pair magnepas on a hypex class D amp. the magnepans do raise the high level quite a bit and the low in this case was raised by the room.. The sound stage was very stable and good audible.

They behaved like a loudness curve.

Stereo measurement on listening position 40msec window 1/3oct.




I know final 1.2 and 1.4 ESL. But the magnapan would have my preference better bass and does not suffer one sweet-spot like the esl does.

here one magnapan on about one meter in room see photo. 20msec window 1/3 oct.

[suntechnik]

Originally Posted by Helmuth

But the magnapan would have my preference better bass and does not suffer one sweet-spot like the esl does.

From my limited experience Maggies bass is absolutely outstanding no one subwoofer could come clause to a huge about 1 square meter planar transducer. Maybe bass horns could compete whoever could afford building them.

Maggies need crossover used before amps not after and amps driving speakers directly. I was using Krell FPB mono blocks for bass. Organ works reproduction was almost real I would say that subwoofers just a boom box in compare. Listening room must be large enough 50 square meters a least for right placement . Wall treatment with acoustics absorption material behind speakers would help a lot but they should not be close anyway. Place them a meter away from a wall (side or back) at least.

Ribbon mikes and speakers are best technology in audio imho but very finicky in setup and treatment not to mention WAF I am missing my Maggies very much.

[Helmuth]

Originally Posted by suntechnik

From my limited experience Maggies bass is absolutely outstanding no one subwoofer could come clause to a huge about 1 square meter planar transducer. Maybe bass horns could compete whoever could afford building them.

The bass of a horn sub is tighter and much more dynamic than I could hear from the magnapan.
But the magnapan went pretty deep easy 30Hz with a raise of spl.

[mayhem13]

Originally Posted by jerome69

2000$ a pair, a low price in the market.
Are the transducers are still fragile ? In the old version, you have to change the tweeter after some years...
I know the old version and frankly I prefer a good OB with electrodynamic transducer.

Interesting Jerome, as i'm very tempted to do something like your Avatar photo with dual Eminence Alpha 15's and either a 4-5" fullranger or dedicated mid/tweet. I could certainly do it for less than even a used pair of 1.7's but i'm not sure the effort is worth it. Those 1.7's just did everything right

And to everyone else,thannx for the feedback. I do have a pair of DIY Dayton RSS315-HF 12" sealed subs driven by 400w each so i image if crossed low say 60-80hz i'd certainly fill in the bottom of the maggies.

[Inductor]

For information, Magnepan MG-12 are available between 1000-2000/pair.
MG 12 - Magnepan, Inc.
http://www.magnepan.com/review_MG12_by_Wayne_Garcia
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue4/mg12.htm
http://newaudiosociety.com/equipment...er-review.html