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I've been getting great info from you cats and doin' research on modding my MMG's but I can't get past the fact that at the end of the day I'll still have a quasi-ribbon equipped speaker. So I'm giving serious consideration to setting my sights on the most affordable (around $400-600, but total budget of $1K) ribbon equipped Maggie that seems to not be too scarce in the used market and it looks like the III/IIIa is the one to pursue. I understand the age issues but if I get a set I plan to build frames for them (Sailor321's are a good example of what I'd want to do) and am willing to go through the procedure of correcting any delamination issues or taking measures to prevent it if there is no existing delamination.
Am I opening up a can of worms with older Maggies such as the III's? Will a modded set of III's (I'm open to frames, upgraded/custom external passive xover, active biamping, PLLXO...but not so hot on computer software crossover like DSP or whatever it's called), if given a thorough refurb, be a wise path to go down? Could I expect them to offer an unquestionable improvement in SQ over a set of modded MMG's?
Any 3 series is out of the question since I still haven't seen them on the used market for less than 2K. 2 series still seem to fetch pretty good coin as well and I just don't see them come up much in the used market.
I have a good selection of big amps all producing upwards or at 500wpc at 4ohm.
-Michael
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I don't know III vs my 3.3s, but if you have the power, my 4 pairs of Maggies' sound quality is proportional to their size.
Can't identify with the MMGs since I haven't heard them, But I'm a big IIIA fan. So much so, I have several pair.:o
One pair in fact, I drove all the way to N Texas from near Chicago, to pick up a couple years ago. These were about $550 on Ebay I think, and I was prepared to do some delam work on them, but just haven't got to it. Socks are off and new socks are here along with the Maggie glue from the factory. Just gotto get to it sometime.
In the mean time, the first pair of IIIAs I ever purchased are just sitting right now, pushed into a back corner, unused, because I recently made a heck of a deal on Ebay a few weeks back on a pair 12 yr old Cherry rail, black cloth 3.6Rs. They are a beautiful speaker and they sound good, too. I've been losing some sleep over these 3.6s a bit lately, because I just love how they sound. Not a big change, but they do sound a bit smoother, silkier, just a tad mobetta than the IIIAs they replaced. Which is to be expected. But I'm sure had I put more effort into the IIIAs, they could sound real similar. In fact, they do sound real similar, just not as buttery. I'm running a pair of more recently factory rebuilt IIIAs as my surrounds. I can't think of any other setup that would give as realistic an experience in a home theater. And one of my favorite things to do is pop in a concert DVD, such as Diana Krall Live In Paris, Nora Jones Live in New Orleans, any Clapton/Cream concert DVD, of which I think I have all (these guys know how to record music), Eagles, Blue Man Group, Concert for George, and a few others as well. Of course it helps that my front end source is the Oppo BDP-95 through it's analog outs.
One of these days, I'll have to try some fancier cables But that's another story/subject, isn't it.
Whatever you decide, I don't think you can go wrong. IMHO, used IIIAs are one of the best speaker deals on the planet. But some might say that of just about any Maggie.
Good day
I do not like the sound of the 3a....Maybe it the 3way setup ...The MG2.5r sound way better to me...I have two pr of 3a here now..but as for the room size...i have the 2.5r also..2.5 well need just as much room as the 3a....can you hear a pr...i like the 3s ribbions tweeter works well with ESL...the price is right on the 3a that for sure..The pole-peace on the 3a is in the front...mmg..are in the back...this makes a big diff..goodluck
The PO had stored them for a decade in his garage. So I eventually had to rewire the mids. But they have been solid since. I think you'd enjoy them, though I do occasionally get comments from my wife. They are pretty big.
One thing that has kept me from re-framing them is the prospect of having no sound for as long as the project took. Getting the III's while still having the MMG's would let you take whatever time you needed to make great frames.
I am partial to the IIIa. When I was looking to buy, I got the impression that the IIIa was somewhat better than the the III (different tweeter) but pretty similar to the 3.3 and 3.5. The 3.6 was a different animal but, like you, beyond my budget.
However, be aware that the cost does not stop with the purchase. The IIIa requires a bigger amp than the MMG, although it sounds like this is not a problem for you. Also the speaker is very revealing and you may want to upgrade your front end. I bought a new phono cartridge for $700. I also rebuilt the internal xo (externalized). The cost will obviously depend on the components (see Barry's post!) but $300 is probably reasonable. I also went to active bi-amp with a Marchand XM-44. I got a 2-way kit for ~$500 but that was 10 years ago and the cost is closer to $1000 . You could also go DIY for ~$100. Of course, there is the 2nd amp and cables. IMO, PLLXO is not practical for the IIIa. Stands and/or frames will be another expense and again the cost will depend on DIY, Mye stands, or Magnestands.
Expect to have some delam problems which you may be able to fix yourself. I sent mine to Magnepan about 2 weeks before PG posted his DAP fix but even so the delam was probably beyond DAP. I sent the bass-mid panel only to Magnepan and saved a bundle on shipping but the cost was ~$300. My ribbons are still intact but these can cost ~$100 each. New socks will be another $40 or $50.
Finally you need to consider your room, is it big enough? If not you may want to consider the 2.5 or 2.6 although these are harder to find.
Just so you know I am not discouraging you, remember that you will be amortizing your cost. I have had my IIIa's for about 10 years so the extra cost was ~$300 a year or less than a dollar a day. I have enjoyed them immensely and have no regrets at all.
On the violin: "Heaven reward the man who first hit on the idea of sawing the innards of a cat with the tail of horse."
My room is 14x20x8 and the 14' wall is the front wall.
Big enough for III's? This is a dedicated listening space and WAF is a non-issue.
I would try ~5' from the front wall and 2' from the side walls. Put the chair about 9-10' from the speakers. If you haven't done it yet, put in some corner bass traps and either diffusion or absorption panels at the 1st reflection point.
On the violin: "Heaven reward the man who first hit on the idea of sawing the innards of a cat with the tail of horse."
Neolith,
That's exactly the spacing I use with my MMG's. However, three feet directly behind each of them I have diffusion panels (though the front wall is five feet behind them). In the front corners I have diffusion from the floor up to four feet, then the remaining four feet above the diffusion up to ceiling is superchunk broadband corner absorbers. On the side walls I have absorption at first reflection and diffusion just after the absorption panels as you move toward the back wall. I sit nine feet from the speakers. So basically you're saying just set the III's exactly where I have my MMG's and I should be good?
On the violin: "Heaven reward the man who first hit on the idea of sawing the innards of a cat with the tail of horse."
Mine is 13x18x8. Speakers are ~2' from the back. It works for me, though I think placement could be optimized if I had my druthers.
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