• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

No love for Magnepan MG II ?

Zombie thread? Any more comments?

Found on AK
Magnepan MG-IIA for sale

I'm going to try and take my amp up today (Sept 26,2019) and try them. Likely 3 hours of driving for that experience.
I have a 60wpc class A/B tube amp that I'm not so sure can feed these. That is why I'm going to try them.
 
You should be fine except for heavy metal rock and very loud. All depends on your particular listening expectations.
 
Lots of fun coming up moving them around for best sound. And these are light enough to pull em out to listen and push em back when you aren't seriously listening.
 
Blue Shadow said:
Lots of fun coming up moving them around for best sound. And these are light enough to pull em out to listen and push em back when you aren't seriously listening.
Click to expand...
The base is not that stiff/strong. I assume these are supposed to be 90degrees to the ground. I *could* get some angle steel brackets to strengthen/straighten things up, but that after market mod might take away from the factory original value.
 
They should tilt back enough to not fall over forward.

Bass is not to strong, they do not slam you. But the sound comes out equal or more from the back (front has the perf plate metal holding the magnets, back has Mylar diaphragm and wiring open to the grille cloth so more surface area open to the rear) and it is necessary to move the speaker in and out from the back wall to accomplish best bass characteristics.

Next step is to walk half way between the speakers from the line between the speakers into the listening area. Hear the bass increase and decrease as you do this? Position listening in a bass node not a bass null spot.

Get a sub and run the Magneplanars full range and have the sub do from 60, maybe 50 or less on down to fill in.
 
now when you do love them, folks make hardwood frames to hold the driver that makes things better. But that is modding them and that is something folks do to keeper equipment cause most can't recoup modding costs.
 
These will be driven out to CO (in SoCal now) next week and go in a 1948 cinder block house. The walls (and floor and ceiling) are part of the equation here.
It will be months before it looks like the bottom picture. I'm thinking place in the purple or red options. Corner gets a fireplace.
upload_2019-9-27_9-46-43.png

upload_2019-9-27_9-48-40.png
 
without listening, being there, the center purple/red combo would be a starting point. further apart, maybe moving the purple one then adjusting the distance to the front wall and the distance from the chair to the speakers. Maybe some dispersion of the back wave with well lots of folks have fake ficus in that area. The cacti might be ok if they are that big and enjoy music.
 
Wanted to revive this thread.
I found a pair of these speakers in my area on CL. These are model # MGII B. Asking $550. The owner says there is crackling in one speaker.
I can rewire. Is $550 a good value?
 
PDoyle said:
Is $550 a good value?
Click to expand...
Can't talk value in this forum. Has to be in the dollars and sense forum. close to half of list price for a 1981-1985 speaker is kinda high unless it is something special with a name brand folks have to own.
 
I bought my MG IIs in the mid to late 70's and have always run them with a Technics SE9600 for power, 200 + watts.
After seeing some of these comments, I think most criticism is due to lack of power and poor placement.
The II goes to 40 hz so don't expect "thump", and the HF panels are good to 15k Hz so don't expect "sparkle".
But as far as balance, they are unbeatable. With a lot of power they have great dynamic range.
To me, the sound is a lot like the AR 3a. Acoustic music, classical, jazz and voice they excel at.
Set up correctly they have unbelievable sound stage, deep and wide.
They were expensive when I bought them in 1976, ($550) but the have stood up well for nearly 50 years.
If they are unused for a period of time, they need a little run time exercise to come back to full capability.
I've never had wire delamination or problems with the mylar film.
 
I got a tympani I, mgII , mmgw,mmg(I)

The mgII is a simply a fantastic speaker to listen to they do roll of a bit in the top. However of music , a speaker doesn't have to run all the way up to 20khz.

As virtually no audiophile will hear to 20khz, that's wishful thinking at best. They sound warm, inviting , en hug you in sound.

How does it compare to a Tympani ...
There is nothing like a Tympani in the affordable range that can match its performance on the mid high .

My least favorite is by far the mmg(i) especially compared to the mgII size does matter. I just sold that one on eBay so I can get a mgI or mgII as side channels replacement.

Sounds way better
 
I love mine and run it with a M&K Goliath or my freshly rebuilt M&K Volkswooofer (my current favorite sub). I run whatever amp seems to sing to me. I even had really good luck with a Pioneer SX1010 receiver. I listen to more detailed jazz and such music on these and they are amazing to me. For me and in my setup they are the best I have heard. Altec 19s come close and do a few things better but when you are in the sweet spot and everything is jiving these maggies make the hair on your arms stand up and your head swing around looking for where that sound came from. Diana Krall whispers in my year, piano has never sounded better, drums are sweet too. I place less demand than some as I dont require really high volume for the music I like on these. I also have some SMGa's I have not tried in aged. Need to drag those out of hiding.
 
I've had a set of those Maggie's several years now, I find them to be warm and the tones exceptional. I push em with either a Scott299c, " very warm',,,,,,,,then a Berning Z 270 amp, and a TF-10 pre. Very snappy, very lively. Prefer the warm 299C blend, for my jazz and classical days, and the Berning for Blues and rock related music.

Picked em up in Reno for 300.00 ish.

Dirk
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom