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LRS or used 1.7?

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Posted on October 7, 2020 at 19:37:56

aaronsadventures
Audiophile

Posts: 2
Location: Sydney, Australia
Joined: October 7, 2020

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

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RE: LRS or used 1.7?

iamjohngalt

12:41:29 10/30/20

+10. The true ribbon tweeter is a game-changer.

MWE

13:59:18 10/30/20

RE: LRS or used 1.7?

riverdinaudio

15:36:36 10/17/20

...

Show full thread outline!

RE: LRS or used 1.7?

iamjohngalt

12:41:29 10/30/20

+10. The true ribbon tweeter is a game-changer.

MWE

13:59:18 10/30/20

RE: LRS or used 1.7?

riverdinaudio

15:36:36 10/17/20

Eminent Tech LFT-8b

iamjohngalt

10:26:50 11/05/20

RE: Eminent Tech LFT-8b

riverdinaudio

11:19:06 11/06/20

RE: Eminent Tech LFT-8b

iamjohngalt

07:31:09 11/07/20

RE: LRS or used 1.7?

BDP24

16:43:05 10/10/20

Eminent Tech LFT-8b compared to Maggies

iamjohngalt

07:39:25 11/07/20

delamination rare after 2005

DrChaos

14:31:43 10/30/20

probably not on 1.7's

DrChaos

09:15:30 10/13/20

RE: LRS or used 1.7?

DustyC

12:19:17 10/10/20

RE: LRS or used 1.7?

Green Lantern

14:58:53 10/10/20

RE: LRS or used 1.7?

FX35

09:44:11 10/12/20

RE: LRS or used 1.7?

Green Lantern

17:18:33 10/09/20

RE: LRS or used 1.7?

Norman M

10:27:41 10/10/20

RE: LRS or used 1.7?

farfetched

13:28:02 10/08/20

RE: LRS or used 1.7?

Mcmusicman

11:01:04 10/08/20

RE: LRS or used 1.7?

Norman M

09:59:11 10/08/20

RE: LRS or used 1.7?

grantv

21:06:25 10/07/20

RE: LRS or used 1.7?

mraudio

21:36:31 10/07/20

RE: LRS or used 1.7?

aaronsadventures

23:01:09 10/07/20

RE: LRS or used 1.7?

farfetched

14:21:30 10/13/20

DrChaos

16:25:04 10/13/20

RE: LRS or used 1.7?, posted on October 7, 2020 at 21:06:25
grantv Manufacturer Posts: 6196 Location: B.C. Joined: January 15, 2002	Nice sized room. I'd go with 1.7's in there.

RE: LRS or used 1.7?, posted on October 7, 2020 at 21:36:31
mraudio Audiophile Posts: 218 Location: Northern Colorado Joined: November 4, 2006	"Nice sized room. I'd go with 1.7's in there." +1

RE: LRS or used 1.7?, posted on October 7, 2020 at 23:01:09
aaronsadventures Audiophile Posts: 2 Location: Sydney, Australia Joined: October 7, 2020	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?, posted on October 8, 2020 at 09:59:11
Norman M Audiophile Posts: 1345 Location: NYC Suburb Joined: December 9, 2012	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?, posted on October 8, 2020 at 11:01:04
Mcmusicman Audiophile Posts: 14 Location: Wilmington NC Joined: April 15, 2020	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?, posted on October 8, 2020 at 13:28:02

farfetched
Audiophile

Posts: 828
Location: Cleveland!
Joined: October 13, 2010

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?, posted on October 9, 2020 at 17:18:33

Green Lantern
Audiophile

Posts: 15507
Location: San Diego, Ca
Joined: November 12, 2002
Contributor
Since: June 17, 2003

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.

RE: LRS or used 1.7?, posted on October 10, 2020 at 10:27:41
Norman M Audiophile Posts: 1345 Location: NYC Suburb Joined: December 9, 2012	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?, posted on October 10, 2020 at 12:19:17
DustyC Audiophile Posts: 873 Joined: November 4, 2000	Take the 1.7's. Maybe add a sub later.

RE: LRS or used 1.7?, posted on October 10, 2020 at 14:58:53

Green Lantern
Audiophile

Posts: 15507
Location: San Diego, Ca
Joined: November 12, 2002
Contributor
Since: June 17, 2003

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?"

RE: LRS or used 1.7?, posted on October 10, 2020 at 16:43:05

BDP24
Audiophile

Posts: 1055
Location: Vancouver, Washington
Joined: September 12, 2013

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.

RE: LRS or used 1.7?, posted on October 12, 2020 at 09:44:11
FX35 Audiophile Posts: 86 Joined: March 6, 2020	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.

probably not on 1.7's, posted on October 13, 2020 at 09:15:30
DrChaos Audiophile Posts: 1828 Location: San Diego Joined: July 13, 2009	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?, posted on October 13, 2020 at 14:21:30

farfetched
Audiophile

Posts: 828
Location: Cleveland!
Joined: October 13, 2010

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, posted on October 13, 2020 at 16:25:04
DrChaos Audiophile Posts: 1828 Location: San Diego Joined: July 13, 2009	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.

RE: LRS or used 1.7?, posted on October 17, 2020 at 15:36:36

riverdinaudio
Audiophile

Posts: 6
Location: Virginia
Joined: February 20, 2013

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.

RE: LRS or used 1.7?, posted on October 30, 2020 at 12:41:29
iamjohngalt Audiophile Posts: 32 Location: SouthEast US Joined: January 1, 2003	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.

+10. The true ribbon tweeter is a game-changer. , posted on October 30, 2020 at 13:59:18
MWE Audiophile Posts: 878 Location: Hillsborough, NC Joined: June 8, 2000	I have had both QR & TR and could never go back to the QR. Mark in NC Mark in NC "The thought that life could be better is woven indelibly into our hearts and our brains" -Paul Simon

delamination rare after 2005, posted on October 30, 2020 at 14:31:43
DrChaos Audiophile Posts: 1828 Location: San Diego Joined: July 13, 2009	In 2005 Magnepan changed the glue, delamination is rare for models manufactured after then.

Eminent Tech LFT-8b, posted on November 5, 2020 at 10:26:50
iamjohngalt Audiophile Posts: 32 Location: SouthEast US Joined: January 1, 2003	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, posted on November 6, 2020 at 11:19:06

riverdinaudio
Audiophile

Posts: 6
Location: Virginia
Joined: February 20, 2013

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, posted on November 7, 2020 at 07:31:09
iamjohngalt Audiophile Posts: 32 Location: SouthEast US Joined: January 1, 2003	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.

Eminent Tech LFT-8b compared to Maggies, posted on November 7, 2020 at 07:39:25
iamjohngalt Audiophile Posts: 32 Location: SouthEast US Joined: January 1, 2003	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.

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