# Magnepan 3.7i vs 1.7i **URL:** \ **Category:** Loudspeakers\ **Created:** [May 8, 2019, 1:11am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/magnepan-3-7i-vs-1-7i/10799 "2019-05-08T01:11:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tensor9](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/tensor9/32/5573_2.png) [@tensor9](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/tensor9)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2019, 1:11am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/magnepan-3-7i-vs-1-7i/10799/1 "2019-05-08T01:11:09Z")
I have a chance to get a pair of 3.7i’s for a good price. Is it worth the upgrade from my 1.7i? Opinions are welcome! ---
**Author:** ![dawkinsj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@dawkinsj](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/dawkinsj)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2019, 1:32am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/magnepan-3-7i-vs-1-7i/10799/2 "2019-05-08T01:32:23Z")
Yes if your room will hold them. ---
**Author:** ![michaelhifi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a5b964/32.png) [@michaelhifi](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/michaelhifi)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2019, 3:21am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/magnepan-3-7i-vs-1-7i/10799/3 "2019-05-08T03:21:58Z")
To me it is easily worth the upgrade. ---
**Author:** ![wybe](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/wybe/32/23662_2.png) [@wybe](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/wybe)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2019, 10:07am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/magnepan-3-7i-vs-1-7i/10799/4 "2019-05-08T10:07:38Z")
Definitely! I went from Magnepan 1.7 to 3.7i. What a hugh improvement! Better in all aspects of the music. Go for it! ---
**Author:** ![darrenv1070](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/darrenv1070/32/270293_2.png) [@darrenv1070](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/darrenv1070)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2019, 12:04pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/magnepan-3-7i-vs-1-7i/10799/5 "2019-05-08T12:04:10Z")
I heard that Thursday morning my 3.7i’s will finally arrive! First pair had to be refused, shipping damage. ---
**Author:** ![bruce-in-philly](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/bruce-in-philly/32/55_2.png) [@bruce-in-philly](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/bruce-in-philly)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2019, 2:30pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/magnepan-3-7i-vs-1-7i/10799/6 "2019-05-08T14:30:17Z")
FWIW, years ago I went from 2.5Rs… then to MLs… then very quickly dumped them to the MG 20. It is fascinating to me… the lower end Mangepans have (or had, I have been out of it for a few years) sound so similar in characteristics to the higher end models… it is kinda surreal. Other brands… well their cheaper units can sound radically different than their higher end models but these Magnepans are different in that way. That said, once you enjoy the bigger models, there is no turning back. You just get MORE. And it is worth it. Peace Bruce in Philly ---
**Author:** ![hthaller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3d9bf3/32.png) [@hthaller](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/hthaller)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2019, 4:26pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/magnepan-3-7i-vs-1-7i/10799/7 "2019-05-08T16:26:45Z")
My experience with planars (electrostats and magneplanars) is that SQ and listening experience improves with size of the panel. I would not hesitate so long as they don’t overwhelm your room as dawkinsj cautions. That said, I have heard 3.7’s sound fantastic in some smaller rooms, I would jump on the opportunity. ---
**Author:** ![straightwire](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/straightwire/32/123306_2.png) [@straightwire](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/straightwire)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2019, 12:27am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/magnepan-3-7i-vs-1-7i/10799/8 "2019-05-09T00:27:51Z")
I have 1.7’s with a complete PSA rig, including a P20. They just keep getting better with every upgrade. My speaker cables cost more. 3.7’s are on my short list and the quicker ribbon and larger bass panel might be the way to go. Can’t go wrong with either. They just like good power and your wallet. ---
**Author:** ![timm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@timm](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/timm)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2019, 3:59am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/magnepan-3-7i-vs-1-7i/10799/9 "2019-05-11T03:59:20Z")
But…what do we work for anyhow?? Do it! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![darrenv1070](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/darrenv1070/32/270293_2.png) [@darrenv1070](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/darrenv1070)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2019, 12:32pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/magnepan-3-7i-vs-1-7i/10799/10 "2019-05-13T12:32:46Z")
I’ve been digging my new 3.7i Maggies. About 100 hrs maybe only. They are the best imaging, honest, natural speaker I have ever used on my system. I bet I take my dealer up on his offer to offer full trade in value within a year if I decide to get the 20.7 or 30.7 in the future. That would depend on budget and room size ( as I am looking for a new house )… ---
**Author:** ![bruce-in-philly](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/bruce-in-philly/32/55_2.png) [@bruce-in-philly](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/bruce-in-philly)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2019, 3:33pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/magnepan-3-7i-vs-1-7i/10799/11 "2019-05-13T15:33:55Z")
Try putting them along the long wall… I have a disagreement with Paul… I found Magnepan’s to be very sensitive to side wall reflections. You want to have the reflections from the back sound wave delayed… near sidewalls shorten the distance… also diffract that rear wave… this acoustic delay and distortion helps your brain tease apart the information and makes for wow-imaging. Sounds counter intuitive… Look up Haas Effect and stochastic interfearance localization. Peace Bruce in Philly ---
**Author:** ![hthaller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3d9bf3/32.png) [@hthaller](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/hthaller)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2019, 4:08pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/magnepan-3-7i-vs-1-7i/10799/12 "2019-05-13T16:08:42Z")
I would second that suggestion. I did this with my M-L Summit X’s and the improvement in soundstage width and depth and resolution was not subtle. Some compromises in dealing with room nodes, but what in this hobby does not require compromises? All in all, a worthwhile experiment. ---
**Author:** ![bruce-in-philly](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/bruce-in-philly/32/55_2.png) [@bruce-in-philly](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/bruce-in-philly)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2019, 5:06pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/magnepan-3-7i-vs-1-7i/10799/13 "2019-05-13T17:06:50Z")
Room nodes… argh… awful. I didn;t realize how bad they are until I hooked my sound pressure meter and started playing test tones. Single frequency tones… just play a tone, and move the meter 1". Wow, the volume swings. Not all frequencies of course, but most and some, where they perfectly interact with room dimensions, go off of the charts. From this I learned that diffraction is your biggest friend. Peace Bruce in Philly ---
**Author:** ![hthaller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3d9bf3/32.png) [@hthaller](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/hthaller)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2019, 6:16pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/magnepan-3-7i-vs-1-7i/10799/14 "2019-05-13T18:16:12Z")
Amen, Bro! OTOH, I can employ the poor man’s EQ for frequencies less than 250 Hz. simply by sliding the listening chair back and forth just a bit (into and out of nulls) depending on the recording. But diffraction works better, for sure 😉 Mail]([https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986](https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986)) for Windows 10 ---
**Author:** ![j1hampton](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/j1hampton/32/17705_2.png) [@j1hampton](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/j1hampton)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2019, 10:40pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/magnepan-3-7i-vs-1-7i/10799/15 "2019-05-13T22:40:47Z")
@darrenv1070 Good to know, glad you’re happy with them. Maggie dealer is a few blocks from me, looking forward to a 3.7i demo… love the staging magic they create… enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![tensor9](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/tensor9/32/5573_2.png) [@tensor9](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/tensor9)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2019, 10:43pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/magnepan-3-7i-vs-1-7i/10799/16 "2019-05-13T22:43:45Z")
Ok, I’m really considering these Maggies. They’re less than 2 years old, mint condition, come with Mye stands. The only thing is they’re shipping from Cali. The owner is super careful with his stuff, and I’m paranoid about shipping Maggies as well. Here’s the thing. Freight shipping with a custom palletize/box the suckers up is gonna be… $800. Regular freight shipping with no pallet or anything is around $500. Worth it for the extra protection? ---
**Author:** ![darrenv1070](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/darrenv1070/32/270293_2.png) [@darrenv1070](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/darrenv1070)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 1:27am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/magnepan-3-7i-vs-1-7i/10799/17 "2019-05-14T01:27:11Z")
My first pair had to be refused. Shipping damage. If they are packed as they ship from Magnepan, and strapped correctly and pelleted, then your fine. Any other way, I’d drive to pick them up with a large cargo van ---
**Author:** ![tensor9](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/tensor9/32/5573_2.png) [@tensor9](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/tensor9)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 1:29am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/magnepan-3-7i-vs-1-7i/10799/18 "2019-05-14T01:29:19Z")
It was around 500 WITHOUT a pallet, so maybe the super fancy, boxed $800 shipping is not so bad. It is coming all the way from Cali to Wisconsin. ---
**Author:** ![RsZk](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/rszk/32/137141_2.png) [@RsZk](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/RsZk)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 4:15am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/magnepan-3-7i-vs-1-7i/10799/19 "2019-05-14T04:15:21Z")
Considering it’s a private sale with no recourse for damage, I’d opt for the pallet. Also make sure that they mount the ribbon tweeter protectors as they are the most prone to vibration/wind damage. ---
**Author:** ![timm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@timm](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/timm)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 4:44am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/magnepan-3-7i-vs-1-7i/10799/20 "2019-05-14T04:44:11Z")
Ditto what Rszk said. Ask about the ribbon protectors. Do the pallet. Does he have all the original boxes? Mye stands will be separate in their own box. For the record. The speakers come in two boxes for the panels. There are also two tubes that the ribbons normally gets put in - and then you screw in the ribbon to the panel. Plus the standard stand boxes? Then you have the magnets that keep the ribbon in place that we were talking about. This is how mine came from factory. Now if people have had success w ribbons installed in the panel / delivered w the protectors maybe you don’t need the tubes for the ribbons and don’t have to install them yourself. (A tedious but easy task) One more note. I’d call magnepan and ask them who they use. [Next page](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/magnepan-3-7i-vs-1-7i/10799.md?page=2)