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LRS or used 1.7?

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Hi team,

I'm looking at my first pair of Maggies.
A set of used 1.7's (not the "i" version so about 10 years old or so) has come up for sale in my area.
For the same price, I can buy a new set of LRS's.
I am likely to go active as I already own a miniDSP 4x10hd.
What would be your recommendation?
Room is carpeted and 7m x 6m (23 ft x 20 ft)
FYI - I'm in Sydney, Australia and we do not have the 60 day trial here.

Thanks in advance!
Aaron

Follow Ups:

RE: LRS or used 1.7? - iamjohngalt 12:41:29 10/30/20 (1)
I'd look for a pair of IIIa's, 3.3R's, 3.5R's, 2.5R's, or 2.6R's to get the true ribbons. Yes, they will eventually de-laminate but the true ribbon is worth it. QR's just don't have what it takes.
Definitely need to audition.

Edits: 10/30/20
- +10. The true ribbon tweeter is a game-changer. - MWE 13:59:18 10/30/20 (0)
  I have had both QR & TR and could never go back to the QR.
  
  Mark in NC
  "The thought that life could be better is woven indelibly into our hearts and our brains" -Paul Simon
RE: LRS or used 1.7? - riverdinaudio 15:36:36 10/17/20 (3)
Eminent Technology LFT8s are in a world unto their own! Would be my first choice without a doubt. They are almost indestructable unless abused and do everthing the Magnepan does but way better. As a life long Magnepan owner and believer, the 1.7 rules over a .7 or LRS. The 3.7 does get you that magical Magnepan True Ribbon Tweeter. Just make sure the Magnepan has no buzzes or rattles. They do not like living in direct sunlight or high humidity. But then nothing does!
I do not believe Magnepans currently support active external crossovers and will not tolerate much equalization.
- Eminent Tech LFT-8b - iamjohngalt 10:26:50 11/05/20 (2)
  If you are familiar with the MG3.7 and the LFT-8b, how do they compare?
  I'm a big fan of the Magnepan true ribbon speakers and have 2 pairs here, but I haven't heard the Eminent Tech LFT-8b.
  I'm looking for some speakers to match up with the tube line preamp that we make to present in audio shows next year
  and for our showroom.
  - RE: Eminent Tech LFT-8b - riverdinaudio 11:19:06 11/06/20 (1)
    LFT8 and 3.7 are very similar. That said, if you can find a LFT8 BUY IT! You will be very pleased. The LFT8 kills all Magnepans pre quasi-ribbon. The LFT series is everthing we wanted the Magnepans to be. Very sad that very few will ever get to hear the Eminent Technology LFT series. I have a 3, 6 and several 8's. Fact; the 1.7 and LFT8 are more balanced top to bottom than I could ever get the original MG20 to be. More detail much less Magnepan compression. I just purchased a 3.7i and it is a masterpiece. Bass with weight we did not think was possible from a Magnepan. No ribbon tweeter glare and balanced sound top to bottom. Three parts speaking as one. Wish now I had purchased the 20.7. Anyone with the wire on membrane Magnepan should be scouring the 2nd hand market or better yet go to your local dealer and go quasi-ribbon! And yes, the True Ribbon Tweeter has no equal. IMO
    - RE: Eminent Tech LFT-8b - iamjohngalt 07:31:09 11/07/20 (0)
      Thanks for the reply, riverdinaudio.
      
      I haven't been impressed with either 1.6 or 1.7's when compared to the true ribbon Maggies - even the 30 year old models, but I haven't heard the 1.7i version.
      
      I am putting an order in for an LFT-8b with Eminent. I hope it will be as satisfying as the ribbon Maggies for me with our Ten Octave tube preamplifiers.
RE: LRS or used 1.7? - BDP24 16:43:05 10/10/20 (3)
The risk with buying a used pair of 1.7 is the possibility of current or eventual delamination of the conductive wires from the Mylar, very common in old Maggies. Unless you just absolutely can't scrape together the $ for a new pair, I would not buy used.

A much safer bet is a used pair of Eminent Technology LFT-8b, with have no such problem, and are actually a superior (in the opinion of some, myself included) loudspeaker to the 1.7i. Some even prefer it to the 3.7i. Available occasionally for $1500 used.
- Eminent Tech LFT-8b compared to Maggies - iamjohngalt 07:39:25 11/07/20 (0)
  BDP24, do you own the Eminent Tech LFT-8b speakers?
  I'm interested in your comparison of the LFT-8b to Magnepan true ribbon models. I have 2 pairs of Maggie (older restored by Magnepan) true ribbon speakers, and haven't been impressed by the 1.6 or 1.7 quasi ribbons in comparison.
- delamination rare after 2005 - DrChaos 14:31:43 10/30/20 (0)
  In 2005 Magnepan changed the glue, delamination is rare for models manufactured after then.
  
  Edits: 10/30/20
- probably not on 1.7's - DrChaos 09:15:30 10/13/20 (0)
  see my msg above, but the systematic delamination problem doesn't seem to affect the QR or later post 2005 round wire drivers.
  
  I wish I could hear a ET speaker. But the true ribbon has spoiled me, can't imagine going back. Maybe only a magical rare Apogee Diva or 20.7 :)
RE: LRS or used 1.7? - DustyC 12:19:17 10/10/20 (2)
Take the 1.7's. Maybe add a sub later.
- RE: LRS or used 1.7? - Green Lantern 14:58:53 10/10/20 (1)
  Agree, as great as the LRS is, it's 'still' the entry level speaker designed to want you to buy the 1.7i
  Which begs the question: "what (if any) are the differences between the 1.7 and the 1.7i?"
  
  Edits: 10/10/20 10/10/20
  - RE: LRS or used 1.7? - FX35 09:44:11 10/12/20 (0)
    Which begs the question: "what (if any) are the differences between the 1.7 and the 1.7i?"
    
    Josh knows but can't(won't) tell. It must be pretty embarrassing.
RE: LRS or used 1.7? - Green Lantern 17:18:33 10/09/20 (1)
I think you'll find the LRS as being lighter and quicker than the bigger Maggies; -that's just the way they're built.
The bigger Maggies (and by bigger I mean 1.6 series and up) will bring you more robust, richer (some say 'darker) presentation.
When you get up into the true ribbon tweeter series the quickness and airy'ness returns along with the richness and robust presentation.
If it were me and going by your room size I'd jump on the 1.7. But be careful though, I was in the exact same predicament as you last year, a guy was selling his 1.7 (non 'i') for $750 due to a non-working tweeter on one of the panel (I knew this beforehand and even auditioned them before I bought them).
Unfortunately once I got them home and put the injured one on my bench I could do nothing for her ('whole different technology than the old copper wire series).
I ended up selling them for basically what I paid for them.
So I guess my point is there's gotta be a reason why they're going so cheap, if you can audition them fine, if not buyer beware.

Edits: 10/09/20 10/09/20 10/10/20
- RE: LRS or used 1.7? - Norman M 10:27:41 10/10/20 (0)
  Of course auditions beat no auditions, however more often than not, auditions place limits on both available time and type(s) of program material. (IIRC in one infamous 30.7 demonstration there wasn't even a CD player available.)
RE: LRS or used 1.7? - farfetched 13:28:02 10/08/20 (0)
Is this actual consensus??

I got my LRS's I guess a little less than a month ago. Oh heavens. My previous were mg-12's, which I loved. The LRS's are knocking my socks off.

But then I came to your room size. Im at approx. 16x12 feet. I don't think the LRS's are going to do your room justice. You would probably yearn for subwoofers, and man, that can spoil the LRS's. In my room they give a taste of 40hz fine for my listening level (70db avg)
/ optimally proportioned triangles are our friends
RE: LRS or used 1.7? - Mcmusicman 11:01:04 10/08/20 (0)
1.7s
The LRS will leave you wanting more in that space. I listen to 1.7s and have no desire to change until I get my 20.7s. Those will be my last speakers I purchase.
Currently driving with a Bryston 4B3 and the combination is sublime.
RE: LRS or used 1.7? - Norman M 09:59:11 10/08/20 (0)
Obviously no one can predict the future (or even be fully aware of the present). E.g. this a (rare?) example of a 1.7 problem:

https://tinyurl.com/y6ewuqtv

I wouldn't putz around possibly wasting both time and money, and buy a new 1.7i. If I couldn't afford them now (and there's no shame if that be the case), I'd stay out of the game until I could.
RE: LRS or used 1.7? - grantv 21:06:25 10/07/20 (4)
Nice sized room. I'd go with 1.7's in there.
- RE: LRS or used 1.7? - mraudio 21:36:31 10/07/20 (3)
  "Nice sized room. I'd go with 1.7's in there."
  
  +1
  - RE: LRS or used 1.7? - aaronsadventures 23:01:09 10/07/20 (2)
    OK, seems the 1.7's is a better fit for my room size.
    
    The 1.7's are 10+ years old, what can go wrong with them over time?
    Is there specific things I should be checking for when I inspect them besides playing them?
    Can glue etc come apart?
    What are common issues with older maggies?
    - RE: LRS or used 1.7? - farfetched 14:21:30 10/13/20 (1)
      You can't inspect the mylar since it is under a sock so the next best would be some signal sweep or something you could play at loud enough volumes to hear any rattles or sizzles, which delams can sound like.
      
      Bring over a bass amp and a bass guitar, and play through them. That could work.
      
      But not many sellers are interested in you torture testing their merchandise, I would guess.
      / optimally proportioned triangles are our friends
      - sinewave sweep - DrChaos 16:25:04 10/13/20 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: LRS or used 1.7? posted by farfetched on October 13, 2020 at 14:21:30
        
        Yes, a sinewave sweep, switchable left or right channel should do it. In music problems can be difficult to hear, but can sound up instantly at a specific frequency if there's an acoustic-mechanical resonance from delam or some other issue.
        
        I've heard this myself.
        
        Try a computer & an app.

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