I missed my Martin Logan Aeons and find box speakers hard to live with so I was browsing ebay for some used dipole speakers when I came across the Magneplanars.
I'd heard the name years ago but new nothing about them.
I found this Stereophile review
https://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/595/index.html
and decided to take a chance on the MG1.6i QRs from a busines seller. They arrived yesterday in their original packaging and were soon unpacked and left to acllimatise for an hour. At 64" tall and 19" wide, they dominate my modest lounge and were located 1m from the wall and 1.5m from the side walls, angled in slightly.
I knew my 35w PP valve amp wouldn't be happy driving the 4ohm power hungry load so I connected them to a Marantz PM6007 integrated amp using it's onboard AKM dac to convert the optical SPDIF output from my LG tv.
Theen i sat back, not knowing what to expect or even whether they would be defective but wow, memories of the Aeons came flooding back with their great transparency, accurate 3D sound stage, smooth frequency reponse and absence of exxcess treble or bass.
I was certainly hearing more than my Naim SBLs delivered, in particular, the ambience of the recording venue was very noticeable.
I think I have discovered a best kept secret......
I'd heard the name years ago but new nothing about them.
I found this Stereophile review
https://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/595/index.html
and decided to take a chance on the MG1.6i QRs from a busines seller. They arrived yesterday in their original packaging and were soon unpacked and left to acllimatise for an hour. At 64" tall and 19" wide, they dominate my modest lounge and were located 1m from the wall and 1.5m from the side walls, angled in slightly.
I knew my 35w PP valve amp wouldn't be happy driving the 4ohm power hungry load so I connected them to a Marantz PM6007 integrated amp using it's onboard AKM dac to convert the optical SPDIF output from my LG tv.
Theen i sat back, not knowing what to expect or even whether they would be defective but wow, memories of the Aeons came flooding back with their great transparency, accurate 3D sound stage, smooth frequency reponse and absence of exxcess treble or bass.
I was certainly hearing more than my Naim SBLs delivered, in particular, the ambience of the recording venue was very noticeable.
I think I have discovered a best kept secret......
With my 3.5r and 3.6r experiences, the sound will get any better after 2..3 month of operation/listening ... just stay tuned...
Yes, as they have been unused for possibly months, I may well hear differences after a few weeks. However I can say that they go low, no sub needed.
I almost pity those box speaker owners who have never experienced open dipole speakers, preferably planar or electrostatics. There is a big risk they'd be converted.
My first foray into dipole speakers used conventional drivers in Linkwitz's Phoenix system and I was smitten then but along came some ESL-63s and then the Aeons.
https://www.linkwitzlab.com/builtown.htm
I almost pity those box speaker owners who have never experienced open dipole speakers, preferably planar or electrostatics. There is a big risk they'd be converted.
My first foray into dipole speakers used conventional drivers in Linkwitz's Phoenix system and I was smitten then but along came some ESL-63s and then the Aeons.
https://www.linkwitzlab.com/builtown.htm
Congratulations! The MG1.6 was a very successful model for Magnepan.
They convey the ambience of the recording venue extremely well (on recordings that have natural ambience). The impression is not one of listening to speakers. This can be a revelation.
The MG1.6 really does need the low output impedance and high current drive of a solid-state amplifier.
The measurement methods in the Stereophile review do not work with large dipoles.
You may be interested in my article on the MG1.6's design.
Ed
They convey the ambience of the recording venue extremely well (on recordings that have natural ambience). The impression is not one of listening to speakers. This can be a revelation.
The MG1.6 really does need the low output impedance and high current drive of a solid-state amplifier.
The measurement methods in the Stereophile review do not work with large dipoles.
You may be interested in my article on the MG1.6's design.
Ed
Thanks for the link to your article.
I have a calibrated mic and REW to do some measurements. There is quite a sharp peak at a room eigentone around 60-70Hz which may be difficult to damp but it's not overly troublesome. My room is a bit on the small side for them.
I might experiment with some absorbers on the wall behind (not for the LFs) to see if the imaging is even better.
I have a calibrated mic and REW to do some measurements. There is quite a sharp peak at a room eigentone around 60-70Hz which may be difficult to damp but it's not overly troublesome. My room is a bit on the small side for them.
I might experiment with some absorbers on the wall behind (not for the LFs) to see if the imaging is even better.
