Welcome! Need support, you got it. Or share your ideas and experiences.
Return to Planar Speaker Asylum
50.134.78.96
In Reply to: RE: Difference between 3.7 and 3.7i's posted by EmailTim on March 27, 2014 at 14:26:13
The difference is $500 (cost to upgrade) plus shipping.
From what Magnepan says, the difference was too small to designate with a "3.8" but is significant. Reading between the lines, this means there was a change to the crossover as a change to the mid-woofer panel would probably cost more. Whether the change warranted a 3.8 designation or not probably has more to do with the wisdom of not pissing off a bunch of customers who just bought the latest and greatest. As best I can tell the difference between the IIIa, 3.3 and 3.5 were tweaks to the crossover with the drivers unchanged but that did not stop Magnepan from coming out with new designations. OTOH changes to the xo with the II series just generated a letter modification (IIa, b, c). Who knows what goes into marketing decisions?
Edits: 03/27/14Follow Ups:
Sure seems like Magnepan's all over the board with all the new, and 'new and improved' offerings over the past few years since Jim Winey retired.$500 for the upgrade along with shipping and you're looking around the neighborhood of around $1500 clams (depending on where you live I guess). Not to mention downtime, along with neurosis and extreme nail biting brought on by the fear of shipping perfectly good panels across country for a $500 upgrade!
This hobby is definitely a big mo-fo at times.
may the bridges I burn light the way-
Edits: 03/28/14
When it comes to shipping, bigger is not always better. I just had my DAC upgraded and I was glad it was small and shipping was within the state.
Would like to hear back from anyone with the upgrade.
neolith wrote:
"As best I can tell the difference between the IIIa, 3.3 and 3.5 were tweaks to the crossover with the drivers unchanged but that did not stop Magnepan from coming out with new designations."
The drivers ARE different. Just look at the number and placing of the buttons and strips for tuning.
You are much more observant than I, thanks for the correction. However, if the changes were only placement of buttons and strips then my observation about minor changes generating new model designations remains correct but if there were other changes such as panel size, etc then I stand corrected.
I read somewhere else the the change was a difference in tensioning which improved bass a bit. The change was already implemented in production line.
...is stronger mid bass. I don't need more bass either as mine aren't reproducing the bottom octave. So, if that is the upgrade, I don't need it. Of course, all of this is really just hearsay as Magnepan is mute on the subject.
I believe Magnepan might have generated some good will by offering the 3.7 to 3.7i conversion as a mere courtesy to any owner of that "latest and greatest" who was willing to undertake the trouble and cost (as well as the down time being speakerless) of shipping them to and back from them. Considering all their costs, including labor how much profit could be earned by performing this conversion??
I fully agree with you that Magnepan is just trying to offer their customers the best product and after dealing with them for over 30 years, I am sure that the cost of the upgrade just covers their costs and no profit is being made. However $500 seems to me to be a lot of money for what is probably a marginal improvement. Of course, I am a tightwad and a skeptic and naturally have not compared the 3.7 to the 3.7i. Lack of facts should not be a reason for withholding opinions - it's the basis of political discourse in this country.
My comment was only about the marketing decisions concerning product designation. Unlike a lot audio manufacturers, Magnepan is slow to change designations and so bringing out a 3.8 model after only about 2 years would probably upset their fan base.
Since in very short order Magnepan's latest seemingly turned out not to be its greatest and their cost and any profit in making the upgrade is small, or non-existent if any at all, they should 'eat' it's cost and perform it free of charge!
What gets under my skin is having no idea what that cost covers. Okay, I know it covers the upgrade, but what, exactly , is the upgrade? What possible motivation could exist for not revealing any details about what the upgrade is or even what it addresses? My suspicion matches Neo's - the crossover is re-worked (and the only basis I have for that assumption is the cost). I don't suspect Magnepan is making money on the upgrade, but that it is being offered as a courtesy to those of us who already own 3.7s. I sincerely appreciate that, but I don't appreciate the secrecy.
For all I know, the upgrade could be meaningless to me (considering my configuration).
I feel Magnepan has done themselves a gross disservice with their posture regarding this "3.7i" phenomenon. If I were a new comer wishing to acquire a panel type speaker and was made aware of this 3.7i scenario, I'd be highly dissuaded from purchasing a speaker system from these people.
Every time this topic is broached, I get a little more irritated. You're right that $500 is not an insignificant expense, but I'd be willing to pay it for an improvement that I considered valuable. As I have no idea what the improvement is, how the hell can I determine if it is valuable?I never thought I'd say anything negative about Magnepan, but this annoys me greatly. First, I took a hit when I purchased the 3.7s because I didn't wait - not because I was impatient, but because the answer my dealer received when he inquired about a 3.6 replacement was, "It will happen eventually, but..." Since the impression we were given was that the 3.7 wasn't immanent, I ordered a pair of 3.6s, only to see the release of the 3.7 a few months later. Now, the 3.7s have been 'improved' and I'd have to take another hit to get mine up to snuff. Hell, if I keep taking hits on them, I'll end up with a pair of 3-series that cost me as much as a pair of the 20s!
The secrecy only pours salt in the wound. What does the upgrade entail? Sorry, we can't reveal that. Okay, what deficiency does it address? Sorry, we aren't going to reveal that either. Hmm, then why should I send them to you? Because, we'll make them better! Yeah, but how? They'll sound better. Fine, but in what way? We aren't telling, but our listening panel agreed. So, I should just pack up my relatively new speakers and send them back to the factory for an undisclosed upgrade that will cost me another $500, plus shipping? Hey, it's completely optional. You're right about that and I'm opting out! That's too bad. If you let us upgrade them for you, you'd be pleased - scout's honor.
Yep, if I were a prospective customer and I witnessed such an exchange, I'd cross that manufacturer right off my list. No, that exchange didn't actually happen, but it does seem to characterize the situation we 3.7 owners face.
Edits: 03/28/14
Waz...
Your fictional conversation, IMHO is exactly what they say...
Me being the brash loud mouth I am, (very aware of my long list of character defects), I will pump them for as much info as I can get...when I have it done...
thanks
Mark
Ps. Have you opened them up and look at your crossover? Knowing you are a guy not afraid to take a look....
A couple of months ago, I started the process. I disconnected them and set up another pair of speakers (my old AR91s). I had every intention of digging into them, but a week later, I hadn't done a thing - except decide that I wanted my 3.7s back in service.
Sitting here, listening to them right now, I don't feel compelled to tinker with them. They are pretty darn fantastic speakers, even without the 'i' designation. Besides, mine are already improved.
I hope you can arrange a quick turn-around and suss out what changed about their sound.
First, yes you have already "upgraded" yours...
Second, they are really really good speakers...
Third, the curiosity is killing me...as I have said, no shipping has made the decision for me...if I had to ship them...HHHHmmmmm I would have to know exactly what I am getting and paying for...I do not believe that is asking too much...
I was on floor this afternoon with a flash light, trying to look at the x-over...can't really see anything, not that I would know what I am looking for...but was trying assess what open heart surgery would entail...then I was going to look on the MUG board see if there were any photos of 3.6 sock replacement...then thought...why bother...
So, when I take them in, I will bring bagels, (which have done previously and got allot of mileage out of a few bagels), wear something alluring and see what info I can walk away with....
Does anyone know if the 3.7i's have shown up at any dealers yet???
thanks
Mark
Magnepan is under new management!
This "Bad Blood" is Mark's doing!
I do not think Jim would have pulled this "TOTAL BS"!
with their general charge of $150 an hour labor (which they'll most likely eat) would lead me to think it can't be that extensive of an upgrade.
may the bridges I burn light the way-
Edits: 03/29/14 03/29/14
I think every last one of us agrees that Magnepan should fully describe what it exactly is that goes into the upgrade. In my book $500 + 2 way shipping ain't peanuts. It represents the cost of one of Magnepan's complete speaker systems, which many inmates here seemingly live and die for.
I should have added that I feel it's more than enough that the 3.7 owner is faced with the problems and cost of packing them up and shipping them to Magnepan, they should pay the cost of return shipping (which presumably they get at greatly reduced cost when compared to an individual customer).
Post a Followup:
FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: