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About 23 years ago I bought a pair of SMGa's and I really loved them, especially after my wife and I moved out of our apartment and into our first home. I was using them in a sort of loft area that looked down into the dining room and in this big space they sounded very nice, although there was the typical tiny sweet spot where things locked into place.
After moving to our current home 17 years ago my listening room became the unfinished basement, and they just didn't work in that space. The walls were pink insulation with poly stapled over them, and a bare concrete floor. I ended up selling them and ultimately going back to a ported bass-reflex enclosure, some old JBL's. Then I did the low power tube amp through vintage Altec Lansing studio monitors for a number of years, but this stuff is on its way out now too.
My current system is an Exposure integrated amp through Focal Chorus 826V speakers in my now-finished basement. It sounds very very good.
So here's my current issue. I like the Focal sound so much that I am considering an expensive upgrade to the Electra 1028Be model, which I can get for about $7,700 new. I was also in Audio Perfection here in Minneapolis recently, and happened to listen to the 1.7's & 3.7's. Both sounded quite nice, although their room was way bigger than mine and very lively. This got me thinking, and questioning my direction.
Have any of you current Maggie owners ever had the chance to compare your panel speakers to the Focal line? I wish there was a way to get everything into my listening room so I could do my own comparisons, but this is pretty much impossible unless I shell out the bucks to buy everything. Then I'd have to sell as used whatever I decided not to keep.
My wife WOULD kill me if I put $7,700 + $5,500 + $2,100 on my credit card to buy all 3 speakers that I am considering, so does anyone have any suggestions for me based on past experience? And no, getting a divorce is not an acceptable answer.
Thanks.
Rick
Follow Ups:
I haven't had a chance to compare Focal with Maggies in the same room, but I've listened to Focal at a friend's place. These speakers sound very different than Maggies. To my ears, they sound somewhat congested, but in a pleasant way, if it even makes sense to put it that way. Compared to them, my Maggies sound extremely open and airy. I recall how the cymbals through Focal sounded much more aggressive than through Maggies. Also, the bass was very muscular, but also very colored, compared to the leaner but more realistically sounding bass through my Maggies. Overall, Focal delivers very pleasant, euphonic coloration. I don't hear any coloration on my Maggies.
At the end of the day, it's all totally down to personal taste.
I'd say you're a perfect candidate to try the MMG's 60-day in-home trial, or find a used set. Stand them up straight with some knocked-together basic stands, and give them a try. This will get you maybe 70-80% of the 1.7's sound.
Worst case, you loose shipping costs or have to go through the hassle of re-selling them.
Best case, keep them, or upgrade to the 1.7's or 3.7's and recover your minor initial investment!
The Exposure is a great int....but it won't do the job on the Maggies you are considering. I suspect you know that though. I've heard the Focals with BAT electronics (add $10K) and they did sound really good, but I prefer panels. There's a surprise since you are in the Planar Asylum! LOL You know you need to get them into your room to hear which you prefer. Used 1.7's is a good option. Good Luck to you...
Hi Atver,
The years that I had my SMGa's I was using a Creek integrated. About 80 watts a side into 4 ohms if I remember correctly. I was able to get things pretty damn loud at my old house, which is why I think the Exposure will be OK. I don't usually turn things up too loud anymore, plus the room is much smaller and the panel much bigger.
If I regularly threw loud parties I'd keep the old Altecs and their 99db sensitivity rating.
You are right
My current system is an Exposure integrated amp through Focal Chorus 826V speakers in my now-finished basement. It sounds very very good.
So here's my current issue. I like the Focal sound so much that I am considering an expensive upgrade to the Electra 1028Be model, which I can get for about $7,700 new
The Magnepans can,t get close to the focal line!But i know this you dont..
So if you wont to see what the pan can do there 4pr 1.7 on audiogon an a pr of 3.7....best can be with maggys is about 80% of wat you have now ...but you wont no if you dont go..goodluck
How do you feel about buying used audio gear? All my planar speakers have been used (so far). Several of my vintage amps and preamps are also used. So, I have no problem making purchases of used audio equipment. Some folks wouldn't ever consider buying used.
Personally, I would buy a used pair of whatever, that way whatever you buy, you can pretty much recover your cost if you decide they aren't what you wanted. I realize that used 1.7s and 3.7s could be a challenge to acquire, so I would start by looking at used 1.6s or 3.6s, depending on whether you like the true ribbon tweeters or not. There are plenty of those on the used market.
While I'm sure both will sound different then their newest versions, I would think that they would give you a good idea if you really want to get back into planars or not. If you find they're not what you were looking for, then you can sell them for whatever you have invested in them.
Another option, if you know that you enjoy the true ribbon sound of 3.7s over the quasi ribbon sound of a 1.7s, is to pick up a pair of vintage IIIAs, which I personally believe to be one of the best values of used true ribbon speakers on the planet today. Of course, if you go the used route, you want to have a listen to whatever you buy and you need to inspect them for delamination and understand that delamination can become an issue if it's not an issue already. The thing about delamination is, it's fixable and according to some on this forum, maybe even preventable. Worst case with delam issues, is you send them back to Magnepan for a complete rebuild.
I'm sure that's where the newest versions, the 1.7s and 3.7s will trump their previous versions, since they are foil on mylar and not wire glued to mylar. I could be wrong, but I'm guessing that the foil will be attached differently and that they won't have the delamination issues of the older versions of Maggies. Only time will tell.
IIIAs are the route I went and I'm sure not sorry about it.
Have a
Good day
I too am a proponent of buying used, the caveat is you better do your homework and know that you will like it. Buying new from a dealer has the advantage of in home trial/audition and after purchase customer care.
Good luck with whatever direction you go with.
Jim
Music is the best thing you can do legally that doesn't require a medical prescription!
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