sqlsavior
Lunatic Member
Lately and for years now, Stereophile seems to have made no more than an occasional passing reference to Magnepan speakers, despite their having a very favorable reputation among audiophiles since their founding, and a sizable market share. I read that this was ostensibly due to Magnepan's insistence that measurements of their speakers not be published, for fear of revealing trade secrets.
In the August issue however, the new Magnepan .7 model was reviewed by Herb Reichert, but in his new Gramophone Dreams column, without measurements,(http://www.stereophile.com/content/gramophone-dreams-5#HimAvYJPKeTldqmh.97), not as one of the Equipment Reports, which usually include measurements. Herb tried them with five different amps, and mostly raved about the Maggie's sound. During a comparison with the Kef LS50s, he said: "...the LS50s midrange and lower treble sounded thicker and significantly less transparent, and their treble less extended and refined." The Kef LS50s are Sterophile Class A (Restricted LF). His review summary of the Magnepans in a system included: "By the standards of high-end audiophiles, that's borderline Class A sound...".
But in the October issue just out, the Magnepan .7s are placed in Class C (Restricted LF), with the explanation: "Class B, felt HR; Class C, decided JA."
I suppose John Atkinson simply may not trust Herb Reichert's ears. But if the .7s sound like the 1.7s I have, I would not put them in Class C.
Do you think Class C is a fair assessment? Does JA have a beef with Magnepan?
In the August issue however, the new Magnepan .7 model was reviewed by Herb Reichert, but in his new Gramophone Dreams column, without measurements,(http://www.stereophile.com/content/gramophone-dreams-5#HimAvYJPKeTldqmh.97), not as one of the Equipment Reports, which usually include measurements. Herb tried them with five different amps, and mostly raved about the Maggie's sound. During a comparison with the Kef LS50s, he said: "...the LS50s midrange and lower treble sounded thicker and significantly less transparent, and their treble less extended and refined." The Kef LS50s are Sterophile Class A (Restricted LF). His review summary of the Magnepans in a system included: "By the standards of high-end audiophiles, that's borderline Class A sound...".
But in the October issue just out, the Magnepan .7s are placed in Class C (Restricted LF), with the explanation: "Class B, felt HR; Class C, decided JA."
I suppose John Atkinson simply may not trust Herb Reichert's ears. But if the .7s sound like the 1.7s I have, I would not put them in Class C.
Do you think Class C is a fair assessment? Does JA have a beef with Magnepan?