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REVIEW: Magnepan MG-1.7 QR Speakers

Model:	MG-1.7 QR
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$1,995
Description:	Planar Magnetic Loudspeaker
Manufacturer URL:	Magnepan

Review by Riverdinaudio on April 02, 2021 at 04:34:08 IP Address: 204.111.9.38

Add Your Review for the MG-1.7 QR

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Sold my MG20's several years ago and had been wanting to purchase the MG1.7QR to keep Magnepan in rotation. Found previously owned 1.7, not 1.7i, at my local dealer. From moment one, the 1.7 was more coherent from top to bottom than I could ever get the 20's to sound. The Quasi Ribbon design renders all previous designs obsolete. Durability should be greatly improved since there are no longer heavy stiff wires glued to the diaphragm. I also believe there have been design improvements that greatly minimize diaphragm "slap" against the magnet structure. Easy to hear on the 20's. Never heard it on the 1.7's. These Quasi Ribbon Magnepans speak with one voice from lowest note to inaudible. The Magnepan "compression" on high volumes is gone. The 1.7's seemed to have no restrictions on dynamics. I am sure someone will question that statement. We all know that pre-QR Magnepans seemed to have a narrow range of volume setting for every type or music. And we all knew when we had "passed OK on the volume control". They started to sound harsh. Not so the 1.7 with one warning. The 1.7 is not designed for rock concert row one SPLs. Don't try to feel every bass note! Remember how we had the loss of fine detail as the volume was reduced below that magic range. Not so the 1.7. Detail is present at background levels. Enough praise. The rule with Magnepans, with all speakers, if you want lower bass go larger with more displacement. If you want more detail and sparkle at the top move up to the True Ribbon Tweeter. One of the greatest tweeters in the audio kingdom. In short, if you have a pre-QR design do not hesitate to make a move. If you are contemplating a Magnepan in your audio life, save a couple more dollars and bypass the LRS or .7 which should only be stepping stones anyway unless you are limited in physical space. The 1.7 needs a couple of feet to the sides and behind so open up that soundstage. One last point, amplifier ratings. I have no tube amps. I have used a First Watt SIT-3 @ 30 watts into 4 ohms up to a Pass Labs x250.8 @ 500 watts into 4 ohms. More is better!

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Product Weakness:	They need space to do their best. A love for unlimited clean power. If you are used to subwoofer bass, keep the subwoofer.
Product Strengths:	Coherence of all components speaking as one unit, it is a 4 way!<br>Dynamics that allow all forms of music to shine.

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Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier:	Pass Lab x250.8
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Pass Lab xp20
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	R2R, Truntable, All forms digital
Speakers:	1.7
Cables/Interconnects:	Pine Tree Audio
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	All forms appreciated here
Room Size (LxWxH):	20 x 11 x 52
Room Comments/Treatments:	foam panels music end side walls
Time Period/Length of Audition:	2 years
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

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