HiFi+ 3.7i review

RE: HiFi+ 3.7i review , posted on October 10, 2014 at 11:57:35
Hasse Audiophile Posts: 414 Joined: June 2, 2000	Hi there Mark, Do you agree with the reviewer? I still have not decided if I should replace my 3.7�s with the new i-model....

RE: HiFi+ 3.7i review , posted on October 10, 2014 at 12:34:53

neolith
Audiophile

Posts: 4842
Location: Virginia
Joined: February 21, 2002
Contributor
Since: December 2, 2004

The question is do YOU agree with the reviewer -- do you find the 3.7 deficient in the areas he mentions? The other question is what could you do with the $500 plus shipping costs to make your system better? $500 can go along way in improving the acoustics of your listening room or gettng a better phono cartridge, etc.

"Our head is round in order to allow our thoughts to change direction." Francis Picabia

RE: HiFi+ 3.7i review , posted on October 10, 2014 at 13:23:10
Hasse Audiophile Posts: 414 Joined: June 2, 2000	$500?! more likely $3-4000 if you like me have to trade in my 3.7�s. An i-upgrade would cost me $3500 from Sweden and is out of the question. I wonder when the 3.8 will be released.......

Everyone so far has said the 3.7i sound better, posted on October 10, 2014 at 14:31:45

audiozorro
Audiophile

Posts: 628
Location: VA-MD-DC
Joined: January 9, 2007

Some folks are not happy they don't know the i(mprovement) changes that make it sound better than the 3.7. But I have yet to hear someone say it sounds worse.

IMO a side-by-side comparison may be what's required if your local dealer is willing, or you have an audio friend or regional audio club with the 3.7i, or you're willing to pack up your 3.7's and drive them to Magnepan for comparison and upgrade. Perhaps if you make arrangements Magnepan can upgrade your speakers during the 1-2 days that you are there (I can't imagine the $500 upgrade would take more than a day or two) to save on shipping costs or damage.

I have heard several people say they prefer the 3.6 to the 3.7, especially if you intend on modding either. Unfortunately I have not read any reviews comparing the 3.7i to the 3.6 modded, whether the Mye stands or PG mods, but that's another level of wide open opinions.

For owners of 3.7's, you have several upgrade paths:

a. $500 upgrade to 3.7i
b. $650 upgrade for the Mye stands
c. $795 upgrade for 1 DWM
d. $1490 upgrade for 2 DWMs
e. 2 DWMs plus separate amp with volume control for DWMs
f. any combination such as a+b+e

I don't own the 3.7s, but I suspect that any of the above upgrades will be a definite improvement and there should be no rush to upgrade, unless you are swimming in dough.

RE: Everyone so far has said the 3.7i sound better, posted on October 10, 2014 at 15:40:20

Hasse
Audiophile

Posts: 414
Joined: June 2, 2000

Haven�t heard the 3.7i�s yet but they made their debut in Sweden at the

Gothenburg audio show

RE: HiFi+ 3.7i review , posted on October 10, 2014 at 15:47:23

neolith
Audiophile

Posts: 4842
Location: Virginia
Joined: February 21, 2002
Contributor
Since: December 2, 2004

Sorry, didn't realize you lived on the east side of the pond. Magnepan has a program to upgrade 3.7's to 3.7i's here in the States. Regardless, the same questions remain -- just more so :). I wonder if spending some money to rebuild the frames in hardwood, ala Peter Gunn's Magnestands, wouldn't be a better choice.

"Our head is round in order to allow our thoughts to change direction." Francis Picabia

RE: HiFi+ 3.7i review , posted on October 10, 2014 at 18:42:16

Utley1
Audiophile

Posts: 1609
Location: NYC
Joined: July 30, 2010

Please try a Bourne 5222 inductor less than 5$ each...It had a very positive effect on my 1.7's in deepening the mid and lower bass as well softening the upper registers.. I heard the 3.7's in NYC several times and loved the clarity, a bit of top end tilt, slightly brittle with both Arc tube amps and some very expensive Canadian solid state(moon). The Lyric team said they would have a good talk with Wendell. I thought the speaker much better than a non bi-amped or modded 3.6. You own a wonderful speaker and you would be out of your mind to have them reworked in the states. I did hear the 3.7i and agree with the reviewer and may one day buy them.

RE: HiFi+ 3.7i review , posted on October 12, 2014 at 11:28:01
mraudio Audiophile Posts: 457 Location: Northern Colorado Joined: November 4, 2006	The new issue of the absolute sound has a review of the Magnepan MG3.7i.

RE: Everyone so far has said the 3.7i sound better, posted on October 14, 2014 at 19:20:25

Mark Man
Audiophile

Posts: 1079
Location: MN
Joined: January 31, 2010

Hasse...

Great to hear from you...

The upgrade is worth $500, NOT $3-$4K, IMHO...

As I have stated, for me, with no shipping...this was a great value...

I am a cheap dude, I put a value on this as a $800-$1200 upgrade...and still be a great value...once again IMHO...

I could have lived with the 3.7's in their original form and not looked back...

The biggest change that "I" did in my room, they play much bigger, smoother overall and more coherent it that is possible...it was the first time I felt my room might be too small for these speakers...

As this has been a subject with much controversy, I personally felt Magnepan could have handled this better by giving out at least some explanation of WHAT was actually upgraded...but I will leave that alone...I am glad I had mine upgraded...

Now, that being said, you being in Sweden with all added expense of importing costs, I would hang onto your 3.7's...as is...unless you can sell them on the used market for good money and have less then $1500 to move into the "i's", it is not worth any more than that...

Hope all is well in your world...
take care
Mark

RE: Everyone so far has said the 3.7i sound better, posted on October 15, 2014 at 08:32:10
Davey	If the upgrade is worthwhile then the unfortunate thing about this is that it effectively reduces the value of stock 3.7's owned by folks who are not in an easy position to return them. The whole thing should have been handled better by Magnepan. Very disappointing. Dave.

RE: HiFi+ 3.7i review , posted on October 15, 2014 at 19:17:55

rhoni
Audiophile

Posts: 29
Location: bay area california
Joined: October 3, 2004

Magnepan is treating their customer base as if they were children and only the parent knows what is best. They should state their case for the upgrade and let the customers decide.

I don't think it's too late for them to publicize the update. If the upgrade has merits the customers will have the debate and merits will dictate the upgrade.

No need to tell reviewers about the upgrade and then force them into a gentlemen's NDA.

I believe all inmates would agree..., posted on October 16, 2014 at 10:04:07
Mark Man Audiophile Posts: 1079 Location: MN Joined: January 31, 2010	Magnepan handled this in the worst possible way...by ignoring their customer base, insulting their intelligence and this extremely paranoid shroud of secrecy...IMHO...as I have stated way too many times... thanks Mark

RE: I believe all inmates would agree..., posted on October 16, 2014 at 10:36:07

Swamis Cat
Audiophile

Posts: 272
Location: Illinois
Joined: September 7, 2013

An off the cuff comment....

I have a pair of IIIa's and a pair of newer 3.7i's and I can quickly swap them out. The newer speakers really are better (though not in low bass.) They are also much, much finickier.

When I swap speakers I am bypassing the upgrade from IIIa to 3.3; from 3.3 to 3.5; the huge changes (according to the audiophile press) from 3.5 to 3.6; the revolutionary change to ribbons in the 3.7 and now the mysterious upgrades to the i's. Yes the new speakers are better in most ways, especially in the midrange. But the improvement over 27 years really is not all that dramatic to these ears. If I was to score the two speakers I would probably give the older model an 8.5 and the new one a 9 or 9.5.

Every time a new model comes out we hear how much better the new one is and how many defects the old one had that nobody commented on at the time of its release.

I guess my point is really that the old models are smoking good deals (especially it you can bi-amp) For the cost of a cheap mass market box surround sound speaker, we can buy old Maggies that sound phenomenal. The best buy in audio may be used Maggies.

And no. My IIIa's are not for sale. And yes, I am glad I bought the new speakers. The improvement was worthwhile.

One guys opinion...

Nice, SC..., posted on October 16, 2014 at 11:08:04

Mark Man
Audiophile

Posts: 1079
Location: MN
Joined: January 31, 2010

What has always impressed me on this board is all the different models people own from way back when...

Maggie owners are all over the place as far as what they prefer and want out of their speakers...

Many prefer 3.6's to 3.7's, 1.6's to 1.7's, 20.1's to 20.7's, SMG's over MMG's...for many different reasons...it is my personal opinion the used 3.6's are the BEST Value in the used market selling for $2.5K to $2K...that is one hell of speaker for that price...

This is where I struggle, is newer better??? OR Just different???
Why do some people feel the NEED to contest others personal choices and HAVE to HAVE it in terms of better or worse??? Because I own it, it is automatically better???

As you have stated, through the years the changes have been much more subtle than drastic...

My 3.7's are the first ribbon model I have owned, will never go back to QR only Models...love that ribbon tweeter....
Thanks
Mark

RE: Nice, SC..., posted on October 16, 2014 at 18:43:32

Potrzebie

"Why do some people feel the NEED to contest others personal choices and HAVE to HAVE it in terms of better or worse??? Because I own it, it is automatically better???"

That is exactly what YOU DO, over and over!

You promote the 3.7i so much it makes us sick.

And it is ONLY you, promoting it as better by a mile than any Magnepan!

Enough is enough!

Planar Speaker Asylum

HiFi+ 3.7i review

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