Video Interview with peter Qvortrup of Audio Note...

[E-Stat]

Also, a speaker that only sounds good with specific types of music cannot really be accurate... If it was accurate, it would be honest to all recordings.... not flattering to a specific genre, but nasty to others...

I believe that any speaker that sounds anything like the *live* source for a rock concert will NEVER sound realistic with acoustic music. Acoustic music never possesses the thick midbass that punches you in the solar plexus. A concert drum can hurl a first octave bass wave at you that you feel and a pipe organ can flutter your pants legs, but neither will punch you like an equalized woofer.

On a side note, since the Quad Electrostats were brought up.... I find it interesting that I had such a bad experience with Maggies, yet I love the Electrostats I've heard.... I always got the impression that Planar fans Love both....

There are similarities among planar dipoles, but differences do exist between Maggies and stats. Both are capable of creating a large acoustical space (when given the room to breathe), but I find full range electrostats superior in two respects: low level resolution and coherency. Consequently, I find myself listening at lower levels with them vs. Maggies to get a certain sense of dynamic contrasts.

rw

[Ajani]

I believe that any speaker that sounds anything like the *live* source for a rock concert will NEVER sound realistic with acoustic music. Acoustic music never possesses the thick midbass that punches you in the solar plexus. A concert drum can hurl a first octave bass wave at you that you feel and a pipe organ can flutter your pants legs, but neither will punch you like an equalized woofer.

Possibly because I enjoy using headphones (though I was always like this), I don't regard the physical impact (A wicked kick in the chest or windows vibrating and shattering) as being "sound"... I don't look for that when I audition equipment (and frankly I usually don't like it, if I find it)... So when I talk about accuracy, I am referring to whether for example: A pair of Soundlabs can sound like a rock concert, and not whether it can produce the same physical impact of a kick in the ribs...

I regard the search for physical impact, to be moving past accurately reproducing music and towards recreating a Live 3D experience.... So just as I don't attempt to recreate the smell of Cigarettes, Weed and Sweat from a local club, I don't care about recreating the sense of touch (the aforementioned kick)...

[E-Stat]

So when I talk about accuracy, I am referring to whether for example: A pair of Soundlabs can sound like a rock concert, and not whether it can produce the same physical impact of a kick in the ribs...

Then we agree, but others reasonably would not.

So just as I don't attempt to recreate the smell of Cigarettes, Weed and Sweat from a local club, I don't care about recreating the sense of touch (the aforementioned kick)...

Or the sounds of the drunks!

rw

[hifitommy]

the maggies need to be set up correctly just as any other speaker, to maximize its potential. estat is correct in stating that planars need a fair amount of space to allow proper performance.

MOST speakers need space around them to allow them to develop optimum tonal and and spatial accuracy.

stuffing speakers back against the rear wall or too near the sides can grossly compromise their ability to perform at or anywhere near their best.

in my room, i am able to allow either my maggie MMGs or spendor s3/5s to do a great job.

[Ajani]

the maggies need to be set up correctly just as any other speaker, to maximize its potential. estat is correct in stating that planars need a fair amount of space to allow proper performance.

MOST speakers need space around them to allow them to develop optimum tonal and and spatial accuracy.

stuffing speakers back against the rear wall or too near the sides can grossly compromise their ability to perform at or anywhere near their best.

in my room, i am able to allow either my maggie MMGs or spendor s3/5s to do a great job.

I'm sure the 12s were properly setup... The dealer has been handling Maggies for a very long time, and the room was clearly setup for them... I won't post a link (so as not to do a disservice to the dealer), but I can find a pic of the room on their website now...

[RGA]

Ajani

Granted the following is the pot calling the kettle...
The bottom line is that if you don't like a panel loudspeaker it is because of one of or all of the following: They were nto set-up right, you didn't use enough power, you used enough power but it was not the right amp, you don't appreciate the type of bass (correct bass) that panels put out.

Magnepan has a signature sound - if you perceive that to be the right sound then you're in luck and there will be no converting you (well almost) - if you don't like them then no amount of excuses or amps or room set-ups will help.

But you will agree they sound unique and that is at least more interesting to listen to than most things out there - even if they're not you're cup of tea. I actually prefer the 12 and the 1.6 to the 3.6 and the 20.1 - I have heard the 20.1 several times and have been roundly wholly unimpressed. The 1.6 is the ace in the line-up IMO and for the money is probably the best loudspeaker around - let's face it everything at 2k is a bit of a compromise. The 1.6 has them too but has some strengths few possess. A 1.6 or 12 with a couple of well executed subs could work very well.

[Ajani]

Ajani

Granted the following is the pot calling the kettle...
The bottom line is that if you don't like a panel loudspeaker it is because of one of or all of the following: They were nto set-up right, you didn't use enough power, you used enough power but it was not the right amp, you don't appreciate the type of bass (correct bass) that panels put out.

Magnepan has a signature sound - if you perceive that to be the right sound then you're in luck and there will be no converting you (well almost) - if you don't like them then no amount of excuses or amps or room set-ups will help.

But you will agree they sound unique and that is at least more interesting to listen to than most things out there - even if they're not you're cup of tea. I actually prefer the 12 and the 1.6 to the 3.6 and the 20.1 - I have heard the 20.1 several times and have been roundly wholly unimpressed. The 1.6 is the ace in the line-up IMO and for the money is probably the best loudspeaker around - let's face it everything at 2k is a bit of a compromise. The 1.6 has them too but has some strengths few possess. A 1.6 or 12 with a couple of well executed subs could work very well.

The Maggies certainly sounded unique... but they just sounded totally wrong to me... Though I'm still perplexed, since I heard a pair of Final Sound 400i Electrostats and thought they sounded brilliant... I preferred them with the subwoofers off, as I much preferred the stat's bass to the boom from the subs... I've heard Martin Logan's previous generation of hybrid stats and for the most part liked them (minus the cone bass - which didn't sound all the well integrated to me)...

As I'm not a thunderous bass fanatic, planars should float my boat, but somehow those MG12s just did nothing right for me... I'd certainly audition another pair of Maggies in a different room just to see if my impressions might change... but nothing in the original room indicates that the room placement or that the All McIntosh gear being used to drive the Maggies were deficient..

[E-Stat]

I have heard the 20.1 several times and have been roundly wholly unimpressed.

What was the setup in the best arrangement? While I prefer my stats, I confess the 20.1s I heard in Harry's Room 2 two channel system (before they were moved to Room 1 as MC/HT) sounded pretty darn impressive! He used a Burmester 001 CD front end through a CJ ART with Joule Electra Rite-of-Passage amps and Valhalla throughout (naturally).

rw