REVIEW: Magnepan Magneplanar MG12 Speakers

Model:	Magneplanar MG12
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$950
Description:	Planar Magnetic Loudspeaker
Manufacturer URL:	Magnepan
Model Picture:	View

Review by strangebrewpr on August 02, 2019 at 20:18:10
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for the Magneplanar MG12

Another review for Magnepan ? Yep , another one , and as usual a good one . I've had 4 Magnepans during my life . First were the SMGa , then the 1.4 , 1.6qr and now the MG12 qr. All sounded great at their price and all sounded different . They all had the maggie magic but in that context all flexed different muscles in their quest to reproduce music .

I got the opportunity to trade in my LSA1 reference for a pair of MG12qr with upgraded crossover all the way with separate cabinets for each crossover with specialize cables for the top and lower end . They almost had the full Monty .

When the exowner of the maggies left he said "you came on top on this deal" . After hearing the MG12qr for over a month I believe he was right , a testament of how good a LSA1 reference can be when properly fed and setupped .

What I wasn't expecting was just how good the MG12qr could be upgraded crossover not withstanding . The 1.6qr were better then the 1.4 as it should , the 1.4 better then the SMGa as it should , but I believe this improvement in sonics as you go up the price ladder was kind of changed when the MG12qr came out as the MG12qr in some aspects is superior to the 1.6qr in its sonic performance .

First it is extremely transparent and revealing to a extreme degree with a lot of neutrality . It's topend is not rolled off , it is extended and flat. It's lack of any box resonance with its extended top end makes it difficult to place . It could sound dry and edgy or soft and soggy .

One of the first surprises when I first heard them were their bass . They had great midbass and bass , fast , controlled , with ambience and transient snap . The lower bass was there up to the lower 40 which is quite good . Another thing that surprise me were dynamics . They were more Dynamic and propelled the music harder and wider then the 1.6qr which sounded more refined and controlled .

Soundstaging were great , after setup it was wide , big with images well placed with ambience cues all over and images outside the position of the speakers . Focus of images were not as good as the 1.6qr .

In some ways the MG12qr are the best Magnepan I have heard plus they are not that big so Waf is not that bad . For what they run on the used market their price must be great in the context of their performance . Found a pair ? Buy them , you won't regret it

Product Weakness:	Difficult to place , extremely revealing
Product Strengths:	Transparency , neutrality , soundstaging ,

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Mccormack DNA 125
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Audible Illusions Modulus 3a
Sources (CDP/Turntable): project turntable , Opera Audio Turandor CDP
Speakers: Magnepan MG12qr , Spica TC50
Cables/Interconnects: JPS Labs speaker , interconnects and powercord
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Ecleptic
Room Size (LxWxH): 33 x 16 x 10
Time Period/Length of Audition: over 1 month
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Richard Grey
Type of Audition/Review: Home Audition

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Amplifier:	Mccormack DNA 125
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Audible Illusions Modulus 3a
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	project turntable , Opera Audio Turandor CDP
Speakers:	Magnepan MG12qr , Spica TC50
Cables/Interconnects:	JPS Labs speaker , interconnects and powercord
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Ecleptic
Room Size (LxWxH):	33 x 16 x 10
Time Period/Length of Audition:	over 1 month
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Richard Grey
Type of Audition/Review:	Home Audition

REVIEW: Magnepan Magneplanar MG12 Speakers

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