Planar Speaker Asylum

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Planar Speaker Asylum

Magnepan MG 1.7 or "old" 3.6R

190.196.203.167

Hi
What would provide in your opinion the best bang for the buck? Room in big enough to accommodate either speaker:
New Mg 1.7 at $1800 new or
MG 3.6 at $2200
oe even MG 3.3R.. about $1200
Looking for the best bang for my hard earned bucks..
Amps will be of sufficient power: about 500 Watts/ch at 8 ohms doubling down ... Would like to try bi or tri-amplification in the future.
lesly

Edits: 03/18/12

Follow Ups:

RE: Magnepan MG 1.7 or "old" 3.6R - The peleton 09:15:03 03/21/12 (4)
I completely disagree. No not 3.6s No not 1.7s I say modded 1.6s for sure. Send em to Gunn and get a great amp save your money - youll get way better sound. I thought the 3.6s were like Mutumbo trying to limbo CANT GO THAT LOW! lol I thought the 1.6s went lower maybe they dont but sure sounded like that to me -- I had 3.6s with sunfire 300 monoblocks which was close to 600 wpc into 3.6s and couldnt stand the sound- sold them after a month. To this day I miss my modded 1.6s I sold for next to nothing - 800 bucks! Id pay 1000 for them now
- 3.6R - sbrians 13:08:24 03/21/12 (0)
  I've heard gunned 1.6s with more expensive electronics than I own. Quite nice, smooth & clean. But my 3.3s have something that I really like also - may be more dynamic? (after years of fine-tuning, etc.). I think gunned stands with active crossover may be best.
  Me & my wife have always preferred my 3.3s to stock 1.6s, even upon the 1st few seconds of hearing them when they needed re-glue, we knew that they had great potential.
- RE: Magnepan MG 1.7 or "old" 3.6R - tyu 11:52:07 03/21/12 (2)
  One guy here that has the 3.7s .... cross them over at 70hz so that should tell you the 3.leve a lot to be had to get good sound out of maggys...the 1.6 has the wire base drivers.... Magnepan well go back to the wire base driver...thay did on the miny...i have had 3 pr of the 3s never got good sound till i went to the MG2.5r..All i see the 3s for as a way to get good ribbins for low $$$.. The words of a Acoustat owner.. peleton ...Dose not fear the loss $$$ to find great sound...Goodluck
  - RE: Magnepan MG 1.7 or "old" 3.6R - JBen 13:35:14 03/21/12 (1)
    You know, Tyu, this reminds me of something that I heard on my 3rd (and best) audition of the 3.7s. Before I describe it, let me say that while thunderous bass was not in evidence, I never found it underwhelming. It was more on the natural side than on the overly impressive side.
    
    That said, here a curious thing. At times, in some passages of music that I use all the time with my MMGs and with some good boxes regularly...the 3.7s threw a "bass surprise". This was like reaching down to frequencies that are out of their expected range. It was not very strong, just well rounded, resounding and delightfully proper.
    
    That day we went back to a friend's home and I played these same passages on his B&W 802D, on which I could not remember ever hearing these bottom notes. To my surprise, we had to turn on the subwoofer before we could replicate something of similar intensity on some. There were other passages where the 802Ds made it happen just fine but less "sweetly". Of course, on most material outside these examples, the 802Ds are more dynamic, but not like it used to be compared with older Maggies.
    
    My net take was that given enough power, a proper room config and sufficient break-in time, the 3.7s would likely surprise many people with their low reach.
    
    LOL! Pipe organs are still not going to do their best lows on 3.7s.
    - RE: Magnepan MG 1.7 or "old" 3.6R - tyu 05:48:46 03/22/12 (0)
      sO you say
      I never found it underwhelming. It was more on the natural side than on the overly impressive side.
      
      You have got it... that what i here on most of the foil type maggys an the 3s..but for me there not forgiveing ...An the B&W can be vary none forgiveing...An then there like all maggys there flat..An the pole-peace is in the back....i am not cuting CD...I like a sweeter sound.. i think most do ...It the [Sound of the Sound] that not right to me...but i dont think one speaker ever going to do it for me...it to much funn to have 6-10 pr around... i have a room ...an now no one but ME to make happy.
      
      you say
      The 3.7s threw a "bass surprise". This was like reaching down to frequencies that are out of their expected range. It was not very strong, just well rounded, resounding and delightfully proper.
      
      I get this on all the older magnepans....bass surprise....SOME time..i can see where some well say ...there just to good...for what?? the Tone.
      
      The 3.7 for over $5k ...I can do better for less..ESL that i have still kill the magnepans in most ways...Old maggys are a lot of fun an can be had for littel Cash!
      
      Thanks
RE: Magnepan MG 1.7 or "old" 3.6R - IEaudiodude 15:16:58 03/19/12 (0)
3.6 without a second thought
Another vote for 3.6's - grantv 07:07:55 03/19/12 (0)
As you have the room and amps, absolutely.
RE: Magnepan MG 1.7 or "old" 3.6R - ahendler 18:54:45 03/18/12 (3)
Remember the 1.7 cannot be bi-amped or bi-wired. If you really want to bi or tri amp go for the 3.6
Alan
- RE: Magnepan MG 1.7 or "old" 3.6R - lmisteus 19:08:56 03/18/12 (2)
  I am somewhat curious as to why the 1.7 can't be bi-amped... Even after a little "surgery"? Invasive for sure but I tend to like active multi-mplfication especially that I will use a TaCT as pre...
  - RE: Magnepan MG 1.7 or "old" 3.6R - JBen 20:06:00 03/18/12 (0)
    Welcome!
    
    LOL! I agree about the 1.7s. It is just a matter of time before someone here has the nerve to do the intervention. I would most certainly do, if I had 1.7s.
    
    OTOH, the ribbon tweeter, foremost, and then the larger area, are assets that would make the 3.6s a for a better audiophile & tweaker experience.
    
    In any event, I hope you have taken the time to visit our Magnepan dealer, not far from where you are. I would suggest some quality time with, at least, the 1.7 and the 3.7, using your own music. The last time I was there I spent a couple of hours with each.
    
    Back to the 3.6s, the only 2 things I found that a 1.7 was better at were: 1. the well integrated driver array and 2. the ability to sound good even at low volume.
    
    Still, if I had the option I'd go for 3.6s...and tweak the hell out of them. For the time being, that's what I did to my MMGs...which should bridge me just fine 'til some 3.7s down the road.
  - RE: Magnepan MG 1.7 or "old" 3.6R - ahendler 19:53:09 03/18/12 (0)
    Because they use a series xovr. You would have to do major surgery and redesign a new active xovr that would work. Magnepan says that the series xovr design is a major factor in the improved sound of the .7 series, so eliminating it may degrade the sound of the speaker. i'm sure there are people out there who have done it that might be able to help.
    Alan
RE: Magnepan MG 1.7 or "old" 3.6R - RickeyM 16:48:51 03/18/12 (1)
I vote for the 3.6R. Those ribbon tweets, ah ...
- RE: Magnepan MG 1.7 or "old" 3.6R - TitaniumTroy 17:36:27 03/18/12 (0)
  I vote for the ribbon tweet's also, plus the 3x series lower bass.

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