I had several weeks to really play with my magnepan 1.6's. I've found out multiple things, which are:

-- I've learned that I have a lot to learn. I don't think the Manepan's are 'novice speakers'. They are fairly transparent and take some work to sound there best.

-- On the plus side, the company itself is really great to work with. I've called them up multiple times and they have been a big help. Further, they told me that most of there staff is at the CES, so to call back when they return--then I'll get even more help.

-- I have flip/flopped multiple times with these speakers. I've thought:
- Wow what a great sound!
- to Uggg.. It's OK.
- to With a little bit of work, it will be great.

-- I think that some of my problem is that I lack a real sense of determining how to 'diagnose' what I don't like about them. In other words, I listen to certain CD's and I think: Wow!! Musical nirvana. then I listen to other CD's and I think: something wrong here.... Not sure what???

-- My best times to evaluate things is when I teleworking. Then I listen to music 12 hours straight. My favorite set of CDs on these 1.6 speakers is several Celtic Hymn CDs. The 1.6's sound warm, full, vibrant and really increadable. and the bass--wow--shakes the house.

-- Then other CD's, I'm fairly disappointed with the speakers. So, I'm trying to figure out what is going on and at the same time to evaluate the 1.6's and figure out how to integrate them into my system.

-- What I've currently thinking, is:

-- It is so cool with these speakers to hear nuances of music that I've never heard before. I mean with CDs that I've listened to over and over for months, I'm discovering whole threads of musical content that I never noticed before. This is really neat.

-- Then, with certain CDs the bass shakes house..... A couple days ago, the speakers were not turned up too loud and my wife came down stairs complaining that they could not even talk up stairs because of the house rumbling.

-- The imaging is the best that I've ever heard. But yet, I had extremely high expectations of these and so am a little disappointed. I think my expectations was to high.

-- I think that my LP's tend to sound better then my CDs. So, I'm thinking that maybe my cheap 'top of the line' monoprice video cables are a problem. Or maybe my dual use DVD /CD player?

-- I only have one of he speaker stands (with points) put on now. I have not done a real evaluation, but first listen is: Wow! what a difference in bass. But, still I need a 12 hour session with it to do a real good evaluation..

-- I was really amazed that I heard, for the first time, 'granny-ness' in music. When I set the speakers exactly with what dawnrazor told me (via the web site), on one CD I could hear grannyness. Very distracting. But, then when putting the speakers back at 3 feet from the wall, that disappeared. So I guess that the 'optimum' position brought out all the music and exposed all my system's weaknesses.

-- The last big problem that I've got with the speakers is that many CD's sound 'thin' compared to my old B&W 684's (which are now sold). But then other CD's sound great and I cannot think of a single record that does not sound great. This is why I'm thinking that I've got a cabling problem or DVD/CD problem??

-- In general, I've gone from the:
-- Pinicale of excitement with buying these 1.6's
-- to buyer remorse
-- to now: "These are great speakers, I just need to set them and my system up correctly".

-- Appreciate all your help. This process has been gobs of fun. Learned a lot and really enjoyed playing/tweaking with things. Also, I love having really different speakers. I mean, I tell people that I've got mylar strip speakers that are almost 6 feet tall that vibrate to make sound-----and they think I'm nuts. I like that....

-- Last point, I live on the east coast and am now in Seattle. Then I fly home for a week and then fly out to Oklahoma city for two weeks. So, I'll not have much time to try any of your suggestions. But, please know that when I have a chance I'll make sure to try them.

Best Regards,
Stan