Holding off on my comments until I log more time with them side by side. Should have a report by next weekend. The retail price of Maggie’s 20.7 is around $14k US and the 120 MBL with stands is around $24k.
1 Like
Have you considered trying out one of the new Spatial models. Clayton has the in home trial period and at one point Paul at Anti-Cable in Lake Elmo was a dealer of sorts and personally owns one of the new models.
Yes. I had some open baffles from Decware recently. Might call Paul and see if he wants to let me do a no obligation shoot out with the Maggie’s and the MBLs. The one area the MBLs are definitely winning is the small footprint vs the Maggie’s which is not hard to do.
I think he bought the M3 Sapphire for himself.
I’m thinking of a pair of open baffle subs from GR Research. Danny claims they will marry with the 20.7’s better then a box sub. And flat to 20 hz
1 Like
Be very interested in your breakdown. I will say getting the 20.7 for me was the ‘he’s cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs ‘ move. Taking it to 24 … man. Saying that I’d still like to hear your impressions as I have heard other omnis that I liked very much. Heard the gallo reference 3.1s a long time ago and was very impressed with the open-ness and bass extension. Wasn’t crazy about the low sound stage which - of course a 6’7” speaker fixes. 
These weren’t in the mix - but before I got the Maggie’s I listened to a lot of high end gear and preferred the 20.7. These included Sonus Fabre Strats/ B&W 802D/Wilson Alexandria XLF/ and Mac Line Arrays.
My Maggie brothers. I feel like I am cheating on an old girlfriend. My Maggie 20.7s were the first speakers I owned that made me realize I wanted the absolute sound. The biggest part of that feeling was the way they transported me to the venue. The way drums sounded like drums. Trumpets like trumpets. Louis A and Ella in my room. I bought the MBLs 120s as a test. Honestly they are better than the Maggie’s in every way. Better bass, better dimensions, more coherent. So much so that I am diving off the deep end and going to MBL 101 e MK II with a full MBL noble set up preamp, monos, and Cd dac. Everything is going up for sale. More to follow.
4 Likes
Congrats man. Mike at Suncoast has sold a number of systems with that setup during the Covid shutdown.
An adventure, certainly!
Omg!! Wow. Pics when it’s done. Congrats !
Been a Maggie fan all my life (had Tympani 1D’s after college in the 70’s) but always was intrigued with other planar and omnidirectional offerings. I’ll have to give these MBL’s a listen. Thanks for sharing your research.
1 Like
I don’t want to overstate the difference between the 120 MBL and the Maggie 20.7. They have a lot of similarities. The retail price difference is around $10k with the Maggie’s at 14k and the MBLs at 24k. Accordingly, one would argue that the MBLs should sound better.
I like the more 3d sound field with the 120s and their form factor. They are also easier to move around the room to create different sound field effects. With the treble and mid range petal bulbs they essentially are a point source from 600 hz and above. I am surprised at how good the performance is below 600 hz. They go down to around 32hz in my room. They are as easy to drive or easier than they Maggie’s. The BHK 300s worked well with both speakers.
The BHKs are ok with the 101 MBLs but they are not enough to drive the 101s to their best. That is why the MBL noble 15s monoblocks are in order. The journey continues.
2 Likes
Yes, it’s a journey. Thanks for the additional info. I have PSA rig similar to yours but not the real estate. Love the planar top and mids and but all that Mylar won’t fit in my room.
2 Likes
Timm I owned 20.7’s and due to getting married and space I sold them 3 years ago. Needless to say life sucked majorly without them. I recently auditioned Wilson Alexia 1 and 2 honestly neither quite moved me the way my Maggie’s did. So I ordered me a new pair of 20.7’s in cherry and black and can’t wait to get them. I should have them installed next week and will post pictures.
6 Likes
Welcome @bluesy41 !
Pictures or it did not happen.
1 Like
Ohhhhh yaaahhhh!!! I love to hear that. What space are you putting them in? Powering with what?
1 Like
My room is 16w x 23 x 9.5h. I will drive them with my ARC REF210 mono’s. I used this combo before and the sound was glorious. Just had the amps retubed at ARC.
1 Like
And like @bluesy41, I’m a few weeks out from ditching my 3.7s for 20.7s. I really can’t wait, although I’m getting used to it.
I feel yah… my order took exactly 11 weeks. I would have them today if it wasn’t for the fact that my amps are in transit from Audio Research for maintenance. Again I’ve had 20.7’s and 3.7i’s before and I can say with 100 percent certainty that you’re going to love the 20.7’s. Happy for you man. Mine are scheduled for delivery for 4/21 by my dealer. I’m bummed at ARC because my speakers have been at the dealers for a week. ARC had my amps for 12 weeks.
1 Like
I have mine about 18” from each sidewall in a 17x30 room. I think they will work swell in that room
1 Like