Any Martin Logan or Magnepan fans on here? question

[Ratamahatta 437]

I have a pair of speakers that I am selling and when they do I an considering trying some Martin Logans-electrostatic or some Maggies. Has anyone had a chance to compare them to the ALIII? I have a chance to pick up some Sound Lab Dynastat for $750, I hear they got real good reviews. I have only heard the Martin Logans they have in Best Buy (Magnolia), They sound pretty good but no match for the AL III. I have only heard some Maggies a long time ago but cannot remember exactly what they sounded like but remember it was good. I am really digging this non conventional type speaker in the AL III and just would like some thoughts on other non conventional affordable types out there. (IE)affordable $900 used

 

Thank you!

[TNRabbit 371]

I doubt you'll find M/L for that but you can find Maggies for that price. Personally, I find the Maggies problematic & a little finicky. They dont' get very good bass but are fine with a sub.

[peck555 366]

I'm a big fan of Maggies, admittedly you don't get huge bass, but an acoustic bass sounds just right. I listen to jazz, and singer songwriters and Maggies are perfect for that.

 

[Ratamahatta 437]

thanks for the replies, I found these locally

 http://denver.craigslist.org/ele/1974571131.html

 

 

 

http://denver.craigslist.org/ele/1950802359.html

 

 

no Maggies though.

 

[Guest RodH]

IMHO: a properly maintained & utillized set of ALS's will blow them all away....

to each his own!

[SteveFord 1,119]

For the price, 1.6s are hard to beat.

[Guest RodH]

Hey, I love Maggie's too. Just wish they could pound a bass note a little cleaner without a sub.

Had a couple sets over the years, Loved them 99%, got hung up on the low notes.

It's me not you!

[Ratamahatta 437]

Thanks all! I found these for a bit of a drive to my home state. I use a sub so I never worry about bass.

 

http://albuquerque.craigslist.org/ele/2003299860.html

[Guest RodH]

With a little help - thay are soooooooooooooo sweet!

[SteveFord 1,119]

That is a steal! 

Check for wire delamination (up at the top and bottom of the loops) and give them a good listen for any sort of weird buzzes.

If all is good, cross a sub over at 40hz, place them a good 3' out from the rear and side walls and you'll be all set.

They will show up anything that's sub par in your system so consider yourself forewarned.

They go real good with big tube amps.

[Guest RodH]

For that price.....I'd be all over it.

[Ratamahatta 437]

thanks guys, that is a 6-8 hr drive one way and I need to sell the other speakers first. up until about a week ago we had about 6 pairs locally.

[peck555 366]

For that price I might drive there from NY.

 

[Guest RodH]

Greg....You wannna pick those up for me Bro????

[Ratamahatta 437]

they're gone, he was just too lazy to delete.

[peck555 366]

Damn, i was warming up the Lotus.

 

[Ratamahatta 437]

I went with my wife today to listen to some Maggies at a shop in Denver today, my wife likes this stuff as well, has a good ear and is a good critic. 1st was the MG 12's as soon as they came on me and my wife looked at each other and said nope. They sounded pretty good but mid to low bass extension bass was lacking big-time, and over-all just kind of sounded weak and thin. I know using a sub would help but I will take my AL III+ over these any day. I messed around with set up and just did not do it for me.  Next was the MG 1.7, much better vocals sounded fuller and highs had more detail but still after much listening we looked at each other and  we both started shaking our heads. Finally we went into a room where they had the MG 3.6 set up at, now these were something, mid-bass was full vocals were smooth highs were detailed sound-stage was great and excellent separation. I could tell a sub would be needed for me but not a problem as I always do. I felt these might give my AL III+'s a real good run for the money if not do better. I would have to do some serious A-B comparison to reach that kind of decision though, not to mention these were $5,000. These are all my opinions and are suited for my tastes in music, some of you I know will reach completely different conclusions. Which I would suggest as this is a journey and not a destination, well for me anyway.  For what I have in the AL III plus  its the best money I have spent on speakers ever! If I could ever find a pair of 1.7 or 3.6 and afford them I would most definitely get them though. but probably not in this lifetime, lol.

[angelod307 63]

i have listened to some logans years ago. they were very nice. they had a stronger midbass for sure over the al3's. otherwise, they cost way too much for me to afford. i think the al3's are by far the underdog speakers to own. not that mnany other companies have speakers that can do the magic these can for under 1k with rebuilt crossover and a new set of woofers. shit, my last set cost me 500 witn a tfm35, i needed a new set of used crossovers for another 75 and then even with another 130 for the new caps, i am still way under 500 for the set, and can't think of one other speaker that even comes remotely close to the wow factor i get from the carvers. now, the next thing i highly recomend for you is a cd player from jolida.net. a jd100se for 469 delivered to your door, while they last, you will have another eye opening experience when you a/b it to your current player. you will shit yourself.

[Audioquest 8]

 

 

I have a pair of speakers that I am selling and when they do I an considering trying some Martin Logans-electrostatic or some Maggies. Has anyone had a chance to compare them to the ALIII? I have a chance to pick up some Sound Lab Dynastat for $750, I hear they got real good reviews. I have only heard the Martin Logans they have in Best Buy (Magnolia), They sound pretty good but no match for the AL III. I have only heard some Maggies a long time ago but cannot remember exactly what they sounded like but remember it was good. I am really digging this non conventional type speaker in the AL III and just would like some thoughts on other non conventional affordable types out there. (IE)affordable $900 used

 

Thank you!

 

I've owned a few pairs of Maggies over the years, and they are extremely bass-shy. They sound good, but very focused and narrow sound field, as well as they are somewhat amp fussy nor are they efficient. Having said that, the QR series are mostly like that. If you pound a lot of bass through them the VC wires can become ripped from the mylar film. A friend did that one day when I was over having a beer and he got a little carried away with the Bryston 4B and then the rattling begins, which I repaired for him after several hours of work. The higher end MG (3.6/20.7) though are amazing sounding, although they still benefit from some bass assistance. They are all great for Jazz, Acoustic, vocals etc.

Only 1 pair of ML's have been in my stable over the years, and at first I liked them, but again a narrow beam of extacy. The current pair Platinums excel in every way with any type of music over both of those brand models that I have owed.

 

You should go listen to the Sound Labs though. I'm not familiar with that model, but generally their lineup gets stellar reviews.

[Ratamahatta 437]

thank you, I have decided against getting anything at this time, well almost I picked up some sweet Jamo C603 bookshelf speakers. But nothing substantial, the Soundlab's are gone, and ML are all out of my price range.  Part of the reason I like this obsession so much is the prospects of a great deal, Anyone with money can go out and get good sound but when you do it on a budget it that much sweeter!

[Audioquest 8]

 

 

thank you, I have decided against getting anything at this time, well almost I picked up some sweet Jamo C603 bookshelf speakers. But nothing substantial, the Soundlab's are gone, and ML are all out of my price range.  Part of the reason I like this obsession so much is the prospects of a great deal, Anyone with money can go out and get good sound but when you do it on a budget it that much sweeter!

 

I totally agree. I've had some pretty expensive systems in years gone by, but all in all I get more joy on many levels in what I currently have.

[BillD 239]

I think that there is true pleasure in maximizing the enjoyment/price ratio, no matter how wealthy you are.  In fact, my wife doesn't realize how lucky she is that she married a Scot like me.  And throw anything away — nay laddie.

[Ratamahatta 437]

I have lass than $2000 in my main rig with the AL 3+, rebuilt M 1.5t and homemade 18" sub and some of my friends spend that much on IC's and speaker wire.