With Maggies it’s all about current. Which amp delivers more of it? The BHK300 or the M1200?
Great point!
I bet BHK
I have the 20.7 in cherry and beige/white cloth on Mye stands with Stillpoint Ultra 5’s nstead of brass points. Had 3.7 c/w on mye stands with the little bass panels. sold bass panels s they did not add much.Sold 3.7 to friend who sold them and bought 3.7i’s.
He came to hear the 20.7 to see if it was that much better and was blown away by how much better he thinks the 20.7 are. Definitely worth the increased cost to him. He wants to buy my 20.7 if I decide to get the PS Audio FR-30. Have not heard the FR-30 yet and friends that have heard the AN-3 say it is coming along, but now that does not matter, because the FR-30 is so different. Hope to hear it at Axpona or RMAF if coronavirus will go away.
My system driving the 20.7 is all PS Audio. BHK pre and 300 monos, transport and DAC (last software upgrade really good) and Stellar phono hooked to P-10 (system pulls 400-600+watts depending on volume)(hope to add P-20 with FR-30) . The 300 has plenty of power to drive 20.7 in my 17.5 x 21 room. I recently sold my vintage 1973 Audio Resarch D-150 tube amp and it had no trouble driving the 20.7. Just has rolled of bass and highs but sounds spectacular. Still can’t believe I sold it.
The mye stands make a big difference with the maggies. The stillpoints help on my hardwood floor, but if you never hear them, you will not miss them.If you live or come near Richmond Va come listen.
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I’m very curious how many Magnepan owners use subs versus how many simply use them standalone?
Magnepan and Audio Research tube amplification have always gone together exceedingly well. Perhaps it is because they are made within 30 miles of each other.
Shhhhh, I have dibs on those 20.7!
We are on our second set of Magnepans. There first were MG1s purchased in 1982. They finally delaminated about 4 years ago. Currently have 1.7s that we purchased second hand with a REL Storm subwoofer. Great sound improvement…swapped out the Storm for a pair of REL S/3 SHOs. I’ve listened with and without the RELs…massive improvement in the depth of the soundstage and the fullness of the total sound.
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I have 1.7i’s and use a pair of REL Carbon Limited subs with them. Sound is magnificent with no problem blending these subs with Maggies. I had a couple of audiophiles over and asked them if they could hear any blending or discontinuity problems. They tried but could not hear any discontinuity between the 1.7i’s and the REL’s. I fully intend that this will be my last speaker system until, I have to go to the old folks home.
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No sub on 20.7.
you can be number 2.
I’m waiting for the PSA speakers. Also looking to demo the Legacy Audio Aeris.
My first Maggies also were a pair of MG1s I bought new in 1978. I kept them for over 20 years. They were just beginning to show the audible effects of delamination when I finally sold them, though that wasn’t the reason - I just had too severe of space restrictions in a new living situation. Late last summer I rejoined the fold with a new pair of .7s that I really love, even more than the old 1s. I think these are much more resolving of detail. And in my case, I already had a Hsu sub that I’d been using with a pair of Meadowlark Kestrel 2s, and it seems to be working very happily now with the Maggies.
Yes they have always been a good combination. My first big system came from a trip to Myer Emco in DC to hear the ARC SP-3 to start better system than Dynaco (built kits) and Advent. They were doing demo of ARC SP-3 and D75A amp driving Maggies. I bought entire thing and had for years.
I have a pair of 3.7is with a pair of DWM base panels. 20.7s are out in my basement because of a height restriction from the I-beam that holds the first floor up. Probably not a good idea to move it. I had the opportunity to listen to the 30.7s last year at the listening room. Do they sound better than 20.7s? Yes. Do 20.7s sound better than 3.7is? Yes. Do 20.7s sound better than 3.7is with DWM bass panels? In my mind that’s marginal. 20.7s have better bass slam at high volumes but those are a volumes that I seldom listen. I figure the $6K I save buying what I have over 20.7s paid for the M1200s I have on order.
Beautiful setup!!
I wish this was posted before I sold my 3.7i’s! I asked my dealer the question of the DWM base panels and they said buy a sub. I have JL subs! I was looking for more mid bass not sub bass. Damit!
DWM panels do NOT sound like a sub. If you like the bass from a Magnepan, the DWM will extend the low frequencies below what 3.7is can do and fill in the mid bass, add slam and impact. I’ve never been a fan of a sub woofer for music. Movies? Yeah, I get that. The DWMs have to be the least expensive “upgrade” with the most impact I’ve made, or at least close.
