Magnepan MMG

[Pyrrho]

Been reading a bit about these lately. Should I take a drive up the road to White Bear Lake and visit the factory or am I just compromising my wallet? Will I HAVE TO HAVE THEM, or will I walk away appreciated a different, but not necessarily better sounding speaker than my paradigms?

"Better" is always a subjective term. The Magnepan MMG will certainly sound different from your Paradigm Monitor 7 speakers. How you will feel about them is hard to predict, but you might feel like you have to have them if you listen to them. Or you might not.

The Magnepan MMG speakers are less efficient, are 4 ohms, and will not play as loud as your Paradigm speakers. If you are considering higher end Magnepans, you will probably need to go to a dealer to audition them, as I don't think they want to cut off their dealers with the models that are sold through them.

Since you have a surround system, if you are considering using the Magnepan speakers in that system, you would probably want to change all of the other speakers and not just the front right and left speakers (this applies especially to the center speaker, which should sound like the front right and left speakers). So if you are not wanting to do that, you might want to stay at home and enjoy what you already have.

But for anyone who has not already purchased speakers, if the MMG is at the person's price point and will fit in their space and they have the amplification necessary for them, I strongly recommend listening to them if possible.

 

[timmay8612]

Sounds like I'd have to replace my AVR to use them anyway, since I believe its only 85w/channel. No idea where I'd put a center channel that size either. Never listened to that type of speaker before though, very cool looking!

 

[JerryLove]

Sounds like I'd have to replace my AVR to use them anyway, since I believe its only 85w/channel. No idea where I'd put a center channel that size either. Never listened to that type of speaker before though, very cool looking!

You will want real amps, not an avr, not for Maggies. That said: if your AVR has pre-outs: use it as a pre.

 

[bhodge]

Sounds like I'd have to replace my AVR to use them anyway, since I believe its only 85w/channel. No idea where I'd put a center channel that size either. Never listened to that type of speaker before though, very cool looking!

FYI the center channel is not like the L/R channels, its dimensions are 36 x 10.5 x 5.5 inches. It looks the part as a center channel (although I suppose it is slightly bigger than the average center channel).

They do suggest/offer another option if you don't have room for a center:
http://magnepan.com/model_CC3

Never tried it but intriqued.

BTW - I am a happy 1.6 owner with a PC-Ultra13 and love 'em!

 

[munroe]

Magnepan HT Set-up

Just a couple of pics of my evolving livingroom HT. Still waiting on the 4311CI to arrive so i can calibrate everything, but the little Onkyo 608 is chugging along with no clipping + i added 2 Phase Tech V-Surrounds to the maggie MMG poles for FH speakers - !!

 

[munroe]

Cc 5

I called Magnepan about upgrading to a CC 3 center & was told they weren't producing them anymore because they're building the new CC 5, with shipping towards the end of this year.
From the Sound & Vision november 2010 test report,

10 1/2" x 36" x 5 1/2" Quasi-ribbon design, 13 lbs. $895.00.

Don't know if it's a step up or down from the CC3 yet, so i'm waiting for the reviews to come out.

 

[alienpi]

After owning the MMGs for a few years and now the MG12s for a few years I've went and auditioned other brands of speakers. There aren't any speakers that I've heard that I'd trade for my Magnepans that are of a comparable price. It seems the only speakers that I like the sound of are 5-10 times more expensive.

Next stop, MG1.7s. Maybe next year I'll find a used pair of MG1.7 and sell my white MG12s.

 

[FattyMcFatFat]

I am interested in purchasing a pair of MMG's... I've got a few questions though

First, I'd be driving them with a NAD C355BEE, would that be enough power to drive these guys?

Second, If I place them in a confined space, are they going to sound atrocious? Or will they just not sound as good as they would if they were out in the open? I plan on putting them on either sides of my desk would mean one speaker would be next to a wall, and one speaker would be next to an entertainment center. I could move around my stuff, but it would be a huge hassle, and I dont know how much extra space I'd get by doing it.

Thanks

 

[Pyrrho]

I am interested in purchasing a pair of MMG's... I've got a few questions though

First, I'd be driving them with a NAD C355BEE, would that be enough power to drive these guys?

Second, If I place them in a confined space, are they going to sound atrocious? Or will they just not sound as good as they would if they were out in the open? I plan on putting them on either sides of my desk would mean one speaker would be next to a wall, and one speaker would be next to an entertainment center. I could move around my stuff, but it would be a huge hassle, and I dont know how much extra space I'd get by doing it.

Thanks

Yes, your NAD should be good enough to drive them. Whether they will play as loud as you would like or not is another matter.

The sound of Magnepan speakers is very affected by room placement, and you won't get the most out of them if you position them improperly. However, they will still sound good in most reasonable positions.