Planar Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: Magnestand Magnestand (Maggies) 1.6 Speakers by Music Man Bob

Model:	Magnestand (Maggies) 1.6
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$2300 (roughly)
Description:	Beautifully Built Wooden Frames with newly designed xover network
Manufacturer URL:	Magnestand
Model Picture:	View

Review by Music Man Bob on May 21, 2011 at 13:12:59
IP Address: 98.231.226.123 Add Your Review
for the Magnestand (Maggies) 1.6

Please let me start out by sharing with you how I came into ownership of these monster speakers. About 6 months ago a dear friend of mine (Charlie) in the Boston area contacted me regarding a pair of 1.6 Maggies for sale. I immediately jumped at the opportunity and submitted the asking price. I found out later that the speakers had been sold previously and the buyer returned them for a refund because they had been damaged while being shipped. I also found out that the original seller was a very fine gentleman who owns an audio salon here in the Baltimore area. As a matter of fact my friend Bhek and I had been to this salon to listen to a set of 1.6 and 2.6 speakers.

The seller informed me that he has sent the speakers back to Magnepan and they agreed to do a complete overhaul, I guess because the salon owner sold their speakers and lots of them. Of course this was a tremendous benefit to me since I would be getting brand new speakers. I was ovrjoyed and looked forward to getting them home. However, I let the salon owner know that I wanted them sent from Magnepan directly to Peter (John) Gunn for his golden touch. The salon owner made those arrangements. I informed brother Gunn of the arrangements so that he would know when to expect my babies. John contacted me to let me know they had arrived to him in great condition. That leg of the journey was completed without incident. Peter had set a time to begin work on my speakers in February or March of this year. Needless to say, I kept bugging Peter to start work on my speakers even though they arrived to his shop a month or two early. You can see how much I wanted to get those babies home. I've got to say that Peter communicated with me regularly. Once he started work he kept me updated as to progress and any concerns he had. He did have some slight concerns whether he could give me the exact design I wanted. He also informed me he was still waiting for new capacitors he planned to use in the xovers. They finally arrived from overseas and in the end he did a superior job and much better than I had hoped. I am more than satisfied with these pieces of art. They are simply beautiful to look at and listen to.

I've got to give all of the credit for putting the speakers together to my friend Bhek. I would have done more to help but there was a serious boxing match on that evening and I found myself glued to the TV for much of the time. Sorry Bhek and I do hope you'll forgive me for doing so little.I do recall holding the active speaker while Bhek put the bottoms and supports on. Peter sent a great set of instructions and they were easy to read.

I have continued to upgrade my music system, in particular, the VPI Mk 4 turntable with a TNT super platter, footers and new AC input that permits using various upgrade power cables. I am using an SME arm with several cartridges, to include the Grado The Reference, SAE moving coil and the Shure V-15 Mk 4 with Jico stylus. I play CD's on a Parasound C/BD 2000 transport that has been upgraded. I use a Lite tube DAC with premium tubes.

And now for the music and my listening experience. The music consisted of the following:

LP's .......................................

Miles Davis - Sketches Of Spain (Columbia Stereo/PC8271)
Michael Murray - The Great Organ (Telarc Direct to Disk Stereo 5036)
Joan Baez - In Concert Part 2 (Vangaurd VRS-9113)
Kyung-Wha Chung - Bach's music for unaccompanied violin (London CS 6940)
King College Choir - Sound Of King's (EMI SEOM 5)
Sonny Rollins - Way Out West (Analogue Records APJ 008)

CD's ........................................

Maria Schneider Orchestra -Allegresse (ArtistShare 0005)
Jaco Pastorius (Colomby Productions Epic EK 33949)
The Hillard Ensemble - Morimur/JS Bach (ECM Series 1765)
Cindy Blackman - In The Now (High Note HCD 7024)

Although I was informed by Peter Gunn there was a minimum need to break the speakers in, I did not do any serious listening until they had been playing over several hours each day for about 2 months which is partly the reason it has taken me a while to write this review.

These speakers had a sonic signature to live for in my honest opinion. While I won't waste you time going through each CD or LP here I will point out some of the things I heard on several. The Miles Davis, Sketches Of Spain was awesome. the sound spread from wall to wall and easily extended well outside of each speaker. The trumpet of Mr. Davis was clear and sometimes piercing as he played from the middle to the very high register of his horn. On the fourth cut, Saeta, you can hear the snare drums all the way to the right rear in the distance. As I continued to listen the snares grew louder as they came up to the right speaker. The brass joined in and as it grew louder the sound spread out from the left to the right wall of my living room and well outside of the speakers, WOW! I had a vivid impression the drummers and horns were about to step into my living room. This was a powerful experience. I mention this particular recording (LP) because I played another recording (CD) of Sketches Of Spain featuring the great Lew Soloff. I can tell you in comparison, the Miles Davis/Gil Evens work was far superior in terms of sound.

I had not listen to Sonny Rollins in a while and had not heard his Way Out West album for a very long time. The Magnestands were startling regarding how they reproduced the sound of Sonny's tenor sax. The sound was big and I could hear the pads as he played the lower D & E notes on his horn. Sonny was in the room with me as he played. The other instruments also came though with realism. The sound of the band was real through these speakers. Ms. Cindy Blackman is a jazz drummer of great talent who's mentors were people like Tony Williams and Elvin Jones. This is the recording to show off how very well the Magnestands are able to reproduce the sound of a drum kit. When Ms. Blackman strike the edge of the snare of tom tom the sound literally explodes into my living room. Each stroke of the brushes are clean and sound like real brushes on a drum head. Of course her band mates come though with clarity and realism.

I never ceased to be amazed at the difficulty when it comes to playing the music of Bach, in particular his partitas for unaccompanied violin. Ms. Kyung-Wha Chung is up to the task. More importantly every note she plays comes through my Maggies with power and great beauty. Each note is captured with such awesome beauty I can hardly find the words. The sound of the violin was the right size in my living room. I attend lots of concerts, both jazz and classical and find it rather easy to recall the sound of various musical instruments. In my honest opinion the Ciaccona is the most beautiful of all violin music. It is very difficult to play and reproduce well. And when played with emotion and verve it is a powerful experience. Ms. Chung stood in my room and played for me. The Magnestands were up to the task and reproduced each note with fire, subtlety and magic. I tend to get very emotional whenever I hear this great music played well and though speakers that can get the job done well.

The Joan Baez and Hillard Ensemble recordings showed what the Magnestands can do with vocal music. Joan Baez voice reminded me of silver on a cloud as reproduced by my speakers. The Maggies did a fine job of producing a very realistic image of this fine folk singer. The sound was enthralling and vibrant. The Hillard Ensemble Marimur CD was joyous event for me. My Maggies did an outstanding job of getting each voice right. These speakers managed to separate each voice so that I could pick out the tenor from the countertenor. This is a recording that demands a really good stereo system to get the voices and violin right. This music is based on Bach's great Ciccona (Partita in D for solo violin). However, this recording also features the outstanding Hillard Ensemble vocals. Again, the Magnestand don't fail to do their thing. Not only can I hear each distinct voice, but the stops and double stops of Christoph Poppen's violin. This is music of extraordinary beauty and it brings tears to my eyes whenever I hear it. Again, my speakers are powerful in their presentation of this and other music.

Recently I had an opportunity to visit Georgia and attended the Audio Show there in Atlanta. While there I had a chance to visit an audio salon and listen to a pair of Magnepan 1.7's. While these are wonderful speakers, I believe my Magnestands are superior in looks and sound. Well, there is a but ....... I heard a preacher say once, where there is a but there is at least some kicking. The but here is in the very low bass area. My Michael Murray Telarc recording of J.S. Bach's for organ has stops as low as 16hz. I do understand my room has a lot to do with the reproduction of very low notes so I am not complaining. The Jaco Pastorius recording where he plays Charlie Parker's Donna Lee proves that when it comes to low bass at the 40hz or above my speakers have no problens. Mr. Pastorius played Donna Lee as a solo and it was superb. Each note played came through my Maggies with clarity and jaw-dropping power. I am very satisfied my speakers can play all but the very lowest bass. I am OK with that for now. Later I will have to decide which sub-woofers I can find fast enough to mate with these speakers. Until then I can sit pretty because these speakers are sounding mighty fine indeed. I promise to attempt to post photos of my speakers later.

Product Weakness:	Very low bass
Product Strengths:	Open and full sound. Exceptional width, height and depth

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Threshold S/300 Power Amp
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): DR-5 Pre Amp
Sources (CDP/Turntable): VPI HW MK 4/TNT Platter
Speakers: Magnepan 1.6 (Magnestand Mods)
Cables/Interconnects: Moderate high end
Music Used (Genre/Selections): LP's and CD's
Room Size (LxWxH): 23ft x 18ft x 9ft
Room Comments/Treatments: Minimum living room furniture
Time Period/Length of Audition: 2 months plus
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): None
Type of Audition/Review: Home Audition

Amplifier:	Threshold S/300 Power Amp
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	DR-5 Pre Amp
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	VPI HW MK 4/TNT Platter
Speakers:	Magnepan 1.6 (Magnestand Mods)
Cables/Interconnects:	Moderate high end
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	LP's and CD's
Room Size (LxWxH):	23ft x 18ft x 9ft
Room Comments/Treatments:	Minimum living room furniture
Time Period/Length of Audition:	2 months plus
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	None
Type of Audition/Review:	Home Audition