o2so Posted June 23, 2017 Share Posted June 23, 2017 Hi all, I am contemplating a system upgrade, again. In my experience, speakers provide the maximum upgrade per dollar spent. However I am not sure that the budget that I have (say 4k plus whatever I can get from my current speakers, which is likely to be around 2k) would allow any significant sound quality upgrade from my Maggies 1.7. Is there anyone out there who has left the maggies world and found better, without spending a fortune? Sent from my SM-P585Y using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Posted June 23, 2017 Share Posted June 23, 2017 bigger maggies? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al.M Posted June 23, 2017 Share Posted June 23, 2017 If you have to stick to panels maybe a used Martin Logan Ethos electrostat for around $4-5k or Ambience 1800 ribbon hybrids for around $2k used. Otherwise $4k could get you some decent three way driver box speakers. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocky500 Posted June 23, 2017 Share Posted June 23, 2017 (edited) I went to Lenehan MLT3 speakers and thought they were a great upgrade from 1.7's. The 1.7's are in a league of their own in the top end with small intimate music with wind, brass, string instruments. It was the midrange and bass that I was never quite as happy with. The Lenehans just seem to have more body and dynamics to the music and vocals. Edited June 23, 2017 by rocky500 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blybo Posted June 23, 2017 Share Posted June 23, 2017 (edited) Spatial Hologram M3's are in my mind, an obvious direction to take for anyone wanting a bit more omph than the Maggies provide and take advantage of the minimalized room reflections just like ribbons or electrostatics do. Much smaller size and cooler aestetic too. $4k delivered from McLeans. The Holograms are also very good at lower volumes, which is important to me, as my wife hates loud music. Edited June 23, 2017 by blybo 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volunteer sir sanders zingmore Posted June 23, 2017 Volunteer Share Posted June 23, 2017 1 hour ago, o2so said: Hi all, I am contemplating a system upgrade, again. In my experience, speakers provide the maximum upgrade per dollar spent. However I am not sure that the budget that I have (say 4k plus whatever I can get from my current speakers, which is likely to be around 2k) would allow any significant sound quality upgrade from my Maggies 1.7. Is there anyone out there who has left the maggies world and found better, without spending a fortune? Sent from my SM-P585Y using Tapatalk The obvious question is, what do you think is missing from your current setup? IMHO you'll need to spend a lot of money to get anything near the transparency and delicacy of Maggies - I moved away from panels (not maggies) into horns and in some ways it was just a different flavour of 'good' If you are looking for more slam or bass extension, maybe consider adding a sub (or two). I'm sure @andyr would happily chew your ear off about the benefits of this (and he's right!) 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
o2so Posted June 23, 2017 Author Share Posted June 23, 2017 The obvious question is, what do you think is missing from your current setup? IMHO you'll need to spend a lot of money to get anything near the transparency and delicacy of Maggies - I moved away from panels (not maggies) into horns and in some ways it was just a different flavour of 'good' If you are looking for more slam or bass extension, maybe consider adding a sub (or two). I'm sure [mention=104099]andyr[/mention] would happily chew your ear off about the benefits of this (and he's right!) Oh I did add two REL T5 and a digital room correction system. Massive improvement in punch. In fact, I'm quite happy of my system right now. But since when upgrading has anything to do with how happy one is of their system?Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
o2so Posted June 23, 2017 Author Share Posted June 23, 2017 Spatial Hologram M3's are in my mind, an obvious direction to take for anyone wanting a bit more omph than the Maggies provide and take advantage of the minimalized room reflections just like ribbons or electrostatics do. Much smaller size and cooler aestetic too. $4k delivered from McLeans. The Holograms are also very good at lower volumes, which is important to me, as my wife hates loud music. I had my eyes on the M3s too. Have you had a chance to compare these with Maggies?Also, are you sure the price is 4k only? Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volunteer sir sanders zingmore Posted June 23, 2017 Volunteer Share Posted June 23, 2017 9 minutes ago, o2so said: But since when upgrading has anything to do with how happy one is of their system? I hear you brother ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blybo Posted June 23, 2017 Share Posted June 23, 2017 11 minutes ago, o2so said: I had my eyes on the M3s too. Have you had a chance to compare these with Maggies? Also, are you sure the price is 4k only? Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk That's what I paid last year but FX fluctuations and supply/demand could effect price I guess, I know Bill doesn't carry much stock or actively push the brand. I traded my Maggies to Bill to get the M3's, but never heard them side by side. It was a leap of faith that paid off. The Spatials are much better with rock or EDM, and are a quasi horn/waveguide design to help take the room out of the picture. If you believe the designer, having such a low crossover point (600hz IIRC by using a custom designed compression driver instead of traditional tweeter) also helps by keeping the crossover out of critical vocal frequencies. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blk plastic Posted June 23, 2017 Share Posted June 23, 2017 @o2so You should head up to Mcleans if you can. Bill's got the Spatials on the floor,so doing a comparo with the 1.7's should be easy.There's nothing like letting your ears decide. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blybo Posted June 23, 2017 Share Posted June 23, 2017 If you really want to go up the tree there are far more esoteric Spatial designs as well. I believe there is a new compression driver for the M3's now which takes them to 16ohm and very easily driven by SET amps. Even with mine I've demo'ed SS integrateds with only 50wpc and it's way more than I need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Posted June 23, 2017 Share Posted June 23, 2017 I like the look of Spatial X1... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
o2so Posted June 23, 2017 Author Share Posted June 23, 2017 [mention=149395]o2so[/mention] You should head up to Mcleans if you can. Bill's got the Spatials on the floor,so doing a comparo with the 1.7's should be easy.There's nothing like letting your ears decide. Mah, i wish i could but I would have to take my son (who is one and a half) with me, which would result in the store being completely destroyed and shat on. Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Posted June 23, 2017 Share Posted June 23, 2017 2 minutes ago, o2so said: and shat on. That son of yours act like my cat who poops on the floor just because (he knows how to use the litter box) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blk plastic Posted June 23, 2017 Share Posted June 23, 2017 7 minutes ago, o2so said: which would result in the store being completely destroyed and shat on. Hahaha, best thing I've read today! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyr Posted June 23, 2017 Share Posted June 23, 2017 1 hour ago, blybo said: If you believe the designer, having such a low crossover point (600hz IIRC by using a custom designed compression driver instead of traditional tweeter) also helps by keeping the crossover out of critical vocal frequencies. That's a bizarre claim as, the way I understand it ... 600hz is well inside vocal frequencies! Re. where XO frequencies should be ... my understanding is for ideal SQ, XOs should be at <300hz and >3000hz. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blybo Posted June 23, 2017 Share Posted June 23, 2017 I'm no designer, just want I remember hearing in a DAR video with Clayton Shaw, the designer. I said IIRC so may have the crossover point wrong but sure he said it was unusually low Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Spencer Posted June 23, 2017 Share Posted June 23, 2017 2 hours ago, o2so said: Oh I did add two REL T5 and a digital room correction system. Massive improvement in punch. In fact, I'm quite happy of my system right now. But since when upgrading has anything to do with how happy one is of their system? Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk Dipoles have a strong relationship with the wall behind them, so another consideration could be treating the front wall. You can further improve the transparency, alter the precision of the imaging and the size of the sound stage, all at the same time. Or do you just want to try something new and different? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Posted June 23, 2017 Share Posted June 23, 2017 10 minutes ago, Paul Spencer said: Dipoles have a strong relationship with the wall behind them, so another consideration could be treating the front wall. You can further improve the transparency, alter the precision of the imaging and the size of the sound stage, all at the same time. Or do you just want to try something new and different? Speaking of which do horns get affected by the wall behind them as much as the conventional box speakers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyr Posted June 23, 2017 Share Posted June 23, 2017 (edited) 3 hours ago, o2so said: Oh I did add two REL T5 and a digital room correction system. Massive improvement in punch. In fact, I'm quite happy of my system right now. But since when upgrading has anything to do with how happy one is of their system? You can make a substantial improvement to your 1.7s by buying some braced frames for them. Mye Stands (from Canada - which Bill used to import) are one option. Or ask @Petergonefishing to make up a set, like he did for @ghost4man ... or get a metalshop to make some up for you - like mine, for instance (see pic). You can then further improve the SQ by putting the 1.7s into custom-made hardwood frames - which any joiner should be able to put together for you. If you do this - plus put diffusors on the front wall, as @Paul Spencersuggested - you will have a significant increase in SQ. I suggest you won't then want to sell your 1.7s. Andy Edited June 23, 2017 by andyr 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
o2so Posted June 23, 2017 Author Share Posted June 23, 2017 Dipoles have a strong relationship with the wall behind them, so another consideration could be treating the front wall. You can further improve the transparency, alter the precision of the imaging and the size of the sound stage, all at the same time. Or do you just want to try something new and different? Can't treat walls without casing divorce. But thanks for the suggestion. I will keep it in mind for when I'll own a place with a a dedicated music room, and a Lamborghini. Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
o2so Posted June 23, 2017 Author Share Posted June 23, 2017 Dipoles have a strong relationship with the wall behind them, so another consideration could be treating the front wall. You can further improve the transparency, alter the precision of the imaging and the size of the sound stage, all at the same time. Or do you just want to try something new and different? Can't treat walls without casing divorce. But thanks for the suggestion. I will keep it in mind for when I'll own a place with a a dedicated music room, and a Lamborghini. Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyr Posted June 23, 2017 Share Posted June 23, 2017 10 minutes ago, o2so said: Can't treat walls without casing divorce. But thanks for the suggestion. I will keep it in mind for when I'll own a place with a a dedicated music room, and a Lamborghini. Given your wife-approval problem ... how far out from the front wall do your have your 1.7s? If the max you can do is a metre ... then, yes, get rid of the Maggies. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzr Posted June 23, 2017 Share Posted June 23, 2017 Bill gets his stands made locally now as far as I know & they are good! I had 20.7's with Sanders mono amps in a dedicated sound room when I heard the Spatials & was really impressed with the SET & the beautiful full midrange of the voicing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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