Quote Originally Posted by nightflier
While I think there are lots of other options in the $2K price range, I have to say that for a whole lot less than that, the Quads 21L or 22L are a fantastic value. Yes they are made in China, and yes they are box speakers, but that's about all the griping (if you can call it that) anyone can have. They have tremendous bass, are beautiful to look at, come from a respectable designer with experience in the business, and have an incredibly well balanced tweeter.

Now I own both these and the MMGs and the Quads are a whole lot better than the planars, in my opinion. I have yet to get the MMGs to sound good. Maybe its placement, maybe its overly high expectations, maybe its my amps, maybe its bass, I don't know, but the Quads blow them away. I suppose since Quad also makes planars, they know a thing or two about good sound. Maybe when I get a bigger house I'll give the Magnepans 1.6s a try, but for now, I am very happy with the Quad 22Ls. I've put them up against a lot of speakers in the same price range, and there aren't many that I've liked as much.

I've recently auditioned both the Quad 21Ls and the magnepan MG12s.... The Quads sounded very promising despite being in a terrible listening room (the front of the store with lots of noise and no seating)... while the MG12s were totally dissapointing in a dedicated listening room with ultra-expensive McCintosh Gear driving them.... Now I suspect that I would have been able to enjoy the Maggies more, if I had different tastes in music.... So depending on your tastes the maggies may not suit you...