Magnepan MG 1.7 to be debuted at CES

[RGA]

I don't like Maggies, but next time I'm in Toronto, I think I need to audition the 1.7s... Would be interesting to see if these ones could change my mind....

The ridiculous thing about that room at CES (I wonder why Valin didn't point any of it out to his readers) was that they were

A) aided by a center channel - which may or may not have helped the stereo spread - the center channel was in the demo and I felt it had less of the head in the vice grip that all other Magnepans I have auditioned have. Is it that the 1.7 is better at this or is it that the center channel shored up the problem? They had 12-15 chairs in the room and probably needed the center to help out - other designs don't need that.

B) everything was completely controlled by the Magnepan/Bryston presenters - no one got to hear their own music and no one got to play anything with bass, and no one got to play it at anythig above what I would call "low" volume levels. Considering they brought massive SS Bryston's you'd think they'd put on something even remotely challenging. Okay so Slayer may be a bit much but how about a simple piano for heaven sake - they play two 3.5-4 minute pieces of violins - oooh tough - and they sounded a bit wonky and overly trebly to me - but I was in the front row right so because it sounded so off - I got up (probably gave the demonstrators a heart attack) and walked to the back center where it was better.

Interestingly, Ray Kimber brought what he said are the best speakers he has heard up to $25k - and they were Sony "boxed" loudspeakers. And Ray was playing wonderful outdoor recorded drum pieces and various other music at difficult levels with tremendous thunder. He too was not taking requests but he was there promoting his ISOMIKE recordings (2 of which I purchased) and was playing hard to reproduce recordings at high levels.

If you didn't like the 1.6 and you like rock - the 1.7 isn't going to change your mind IMO.

Ajani - be careful about the reviewers you read - you may want to read up on this individual before you put a whole lot of stock in him - same warning goes for Peter Aczel who was reviewing stuff he sold. http://www.goodsoundclub.com/Forums/...stID=5093#5093