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I may have lost some marbles.

68.1.131.10

In Reply to: RE: well, it looks like a go posted by emsquare on February 23, 2011 at 14:52:18

They may have been missing all my life ;-). Who knows? Maybe this is crazy, but I like to think that if Magnepan considers the 3.7 an upgrade, then it is. The 3.7 has received some great reviews. The venerable 3.6 certainly is a fantastic speaker. I thought about the 20.1s - thought hard about them. If I can't have the greatest, I'll get the latest. I've grown very accustomed to the 3.6s; it will be interesting to compare the 3.7s to them.

It's become clear that a single sub (even if it's a monster) just doesn't cut it like a pair. That part, I know, will be a major improvement.

Crazy or not, this is fun!

"Information is not knowledge.
Knowledge is not wisdom.
Wisdom is not truth.
Truth is not beauty.
Beauty is not love.
Love is not music.
Music is THE BEST." FZ

Follow Ups:

RE: I may have lost some marbles. - emsquare 19:29:06 02/23/11 (11)
I thought about your 3.6 acquisition when just about that time came the release of the 3.7. Not that having 3.6's is 'Making Do' but darned it... I know that if I was in your place that that I would at least like the option to chose. I'm glad that this is still a possibility for you. It will interesting to see if they play like an improved model to you or not.

Would it be a bad thing if it was a toss up between the two?

But I think you are right about the subs. I've heard the difference and hold the opinion that stereo subs are clearly preferable. I keep reading that below a certain point that sub location isn't directional like main speakers are. Somehow I am not quite convinced that is completely true.

In search of musical bliss...
- I auditioned 1.7s - wazoo 19:55:48 02/23/11 (10)
  That was what I initially intended to purchase - a pair of bloody 1.7s. Andy (and others) told me that I had to listen to a Maggie with a true ribbon tweeter so that I could make an informed decision. When I went to demo the 3.6s, I fell in love. I liked the 1.7s, but they were different from the 1.6s - still, I wanted the 1.7s until I heard those ribbons.
  
  I intend to keep this pair of speakers for a long time. Part of me hates to start that a generation behind. There are theoretical advantages to the foil - they've been discussed in pretty good detail on this forum. If they are to the 3.6, what the 1.7 is to the 1.6 (with the exception of the super-tweeter thing), then I won't be displeased. If it's a toss up between the two, then I'm still delighted. I'm anything but rich, but I have some money that it won't hurt me to spend (it was already spent in my mind), so I want to have a little fun.
  
  "Information is not knowledge.
  Knowledge is not wisdom.
  Wisdom is not truth.
  Truth is not beauty.
  Beauty is not love.
  Love is not music.
  Music is THE BEST." FZ
  - the deed is done - wazoo 17:09:48 02/24/11 (0)
    I don't know how long it will take, but I have the 3.6s until the 3.7s arrive, so I'm not exactly suffering ;-). I went with black on black this time - black goes with everything, eh? Now, the waithing begins...
    
    "Information is not knowledge.
    Knowledge is not wisdom.
    Wisdom is not truth.
    Truth is not beauty.
    Beauty is not love.
    Love is not music.
    Music is THE BEST." FZ
  - RE: I auditioned 1.7s - emsquare 16:31:22 02/24/11 (0)
    Sound thinking, (the pun stands) Waz.
    
    I didn't know you started out with an eye on the 1.7's. The 3 series, though, is a tough act to follow. I've heard other speakers that are on that level or even technicly better. But nothing I would rather own if I only get to have the one rig. And I admit to avoiding the 20's because I just really don't want to know yet. To pair those with an appropriate amplifier is a little... uncomfortable... for now. And I just don't have a playroom that justifies that kind of rig. Now if that changes... then the question may need to be reconsidered.
    
    That said, a 3.X is a very comfortable place to be. The naked ribbon tweeter doesn't stink. I think if you get that right then you are not exactly hurting for good sound. I've never really thought that Magnepan was The End All speaker for all destinations. But a quick price comparison with most of the possible contenders makes them all that much more attractive. IMHO, of course.
    
    In search of musical bliss...
  - RE: I auditioned 1.7s - josh358 10:17:55 02/24/11 (6)
    So far, I have yet to see a negative review of the 3.7's. And one rave, or at least the first half of one (HP's).
    
    Of course, the same thing was true of the 1.7's, and yet there are people who prefer the 1.6's . . .
    - RE: I auditioned 1.7s - pictureguy 17:56:32 02/27/11 (5)
      For those of us WITH 1.6s, you have to balance the cost difference of sell/buynew to how much upgrade that same $$ will buy.
      I think a case can be made for HotRodded 1.6s for those who own them and want to upgrade. Unless your pockets are pretty deep and you're game for the 3 series.
      
      The same MAY apply to the 3.6 / 3.7 upgrade. Cheaper to hotrod than buy new.
      
      Being an essentially Broke 1.6 owner, I know where I'm headed!
      
      Just an opin.
      
      Too much is never enough
      - RE: I auditioned 1.7s - josh358 07:15:52 02/28/11 (4)
        
        In Reply to: RE: I auditioned 1.7s posted by pictureguy on February 27, 2011 at 17:56:32
        
        If you're really ambitious and your 1.6's are getting older, you might want to consider converting them to 1.7's! The magnet assemblies are apparently the same, so we're talking about new foil on the diaphragams, maybe a day's work, and a new crossover. The one thing I'm uncertain about is whether they kept the diaphragm tension the same, but even if they didn't, it should still work, just may not give you exactly the same sonic results.
        
        RE: I auditioned 1.7s - pictureguy 09:38:18 02/28/11 (3)
        
        In Reply to: RE: I auditioned 1.7s posted by josh358 on February 28, 2011 at 07:15:52
        
        Sounds like a real crap-shoot, go the 1.6-> 1.7 route.
        Much more so than a reframe and converting to an external crossover with simplified wiring. Even if the first round is with stock parts.
        
        With the same magnet structure that means, to me, at least, that the mylar setup is very probably the same. Are electrical sensitivities the same between 1.6 / 1.7? I'm not even going to touch on power handling.
        
        What I said somewhere else was 'evolution, not revolution' when I saw the 'new' 1.7s.
        Too much is never enough
        
        RE: I auditioned 1.7s - josh358 10:01:34 02/28/11 (2)
        
        In Reply to: RE: I auditioned 1.7s posted by pictureguy on February 28, 2011 at 09:38:18
        
        AFAIK, there's no change in sensitivity. There pretty much couldn't be, with the same magnet assembly. Pictures on PG's site just look like they've added a foil loop for the supertweeter, slid the tweeter over by one loop, and of course used foil rather than wire for the bass. So all someone would have to do to go that route would be to do a rebuild with the foil and change the crossover. Which is probably most practical for people who have old 1.6's that have delamination and need rebuilding anyway . . .
        
        RE: I auditioned 1.7s - pictureguy 10:35:51 02/28/11 (1)
        
        In Reply to: RE: I auditioned 1.7s posted by josh358 on February 28, 2011 at 10:01:34
        
        You're such an OverAchiever!
        
        I should talk. I'm trying to wind my own inductors!
        Too much is never enough
        
        RE: I auditioned 1.7s - josh358 12:06:25 02/28/11 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: I auditioned 1.7s posted by pictureguy on February 28, 2011 at 10:35:51
        
        Prolly why I ended up designing things for a living. I just can't stop.
        
        The frustrating thing for me is that I've had to spend all my time on house renovations, when I could have been doing something useful like tinkering with speakers instead.
  - RE: I auditioned 1.7s - crom 07:26:22 02/24/11 (0)
    What kind of time frame did your dealer estimate as far as delivery on the 3.7's? Going back with the same finish or getting a custom paint job on aluminum stiles this time around? Take care, John

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