Magnepan LRS+ Even Better Than I Thought
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
- I've recently spent a lot of time listening to the Magnepan LRS+ with the Gato PWR-222, Dayton Audio HTA 100, and Heaven 11 Billie amplifiers. I will review each of these amps over the next month or two.
Jana's excellent Magnepan video for John Darko's channel, • AMERICAN MADE: Magnepa...
My LRS+ review, • The NEW Magnepan LRS+ ...
Magna Riser Magnepan stands magnarisers.co...
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Twitter: @AudiophiliacMan
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Kudos Steve, you couldn't have said it better. I'm truly stunned by the LRS Plus as you have illustrated here. I am using a Hegel H590 with them as well as two REL T7/x series subs which are arranged diagonally in my room and WOW. These are my first ribbons ever after having many electrostatic speakers over several years and was so reluctant to take a step "backwards" and I could not have been more incorrect. In fact I am thinking of my next "upgrade" and giving serious consideration to the Magnepan 20.7s one day. Thanks for the follow up video.
You know ... if you're thinking of an upgrade there's a problem. I don't need any upgrade. I'll give you some food for thought. There are people who go to buy a lawn mower and when they get it home, it's too big for their lawn! They can't turn it around easily and you know this is a problem. Why do US buyers buy REL? Why do you run British stuff with American stuff? Maybe it's cheaper, I don't know.
You find the top Hegel a necessity for these speakers?
@@keplermission the LRS+ were designed just for that very affect upon audiophiles who, having tasted a bit of the good life, desire more. Nothing wrong with that. I went from the original LRS to ordering and fully enjoying my 3.7i. Best decision I ever made.
Lemme tell you…bigger IS better.
@@Revelator2025 Bigger is better but I heard the famous REL Storm and you know, it was a BIG unit but it was poor quality sound, very poor definition, but maybe as a demonstration model it had been left powered on for a few years and the power supply was needing refreshed. You know, we can't judge so easily that some design is bad, just by hearing it in a sales place. No we can't judge but M&K is a US brand and they're the sub-woofer people but Cerwin Vega at one time was best. But both M&K and CV were closed down and might be they've been recreated but, you know there are bargains out there worth looking at.
@Revelator2025 *If* you have the room for bigger. Maggies are picky
Back in 1978, the Maggie MG-lla were my ‘gateway’ drug into high end audio. I heard them at a local high end store and actually thought they were probably going to be thousands and thousands of dollars based on how incredible they sounded. I was literally astonished that they were only $650. for the pair. Suffice to say, I bought a pair that same day and never looked back (and never at a ‘conventional’ box type speaker again.) We are fortunate to have such a great American speaker manufacturer, still going strong after nearly FIFTY years of business. Long live Maggies!!
Great American speaker and all that but there was no impedance at 8 ohms and you know, just awful paper specifications. These were really 'odd ball' speakers, impedance was 5 ohms, sensitivity was 'low' and they'd need an equalizer and a McIntosh amplifier. The Frequency Response was around 60Hz to 3KHz, but boosted up it could do 40Hz-18KHz.
magnepan is actually russian speaker manufacturer but americans stole their design
@@superhussein Well the Описание 25АСЭ-101 «Статик» is another design similar to the British Empire QUAD ESL-57 shared with the Soviet Union by England's Cambridge Five back in the 1940s. The know came from Nazi German submarines and the Soviet F.R, was 45-30,000, bass 45Hz, at -8dB, with 82dB SPL at 4 ohm and very low distortion, dropping to 3.2 ohm. Certainly the FR plot for the Soviet model looks far superior to Magneplan LRS Plus but was not mass-market, you know it was for studios and the US speaker is for everyone. I don't think America stole the Russian design, it was around in the US and USSR and from the same Nazi Navy source.
@@keplermission Not 8 ohms. So what? Once you feed them properly (and that doesn't mean it has to be expensive amps) the results are unparalleled. Nothing else -even at multiples of their price- comes even close to the natural and realistic sound ('you are there' / 'they are here', depending on the recorded material) that these maggies depict.
Also, maggies can't be properly measured with standard procedures: a mike at 1 mt doesn't get the whole sound they are projecting; the dipole radiation pattern can't be properly captured with the microphone either or measured in anechoic conditions; I think that's why Stereophile hasn't reviewed maggies in a long time (and years ago Atkinson, against the praise of his reviewer, made the sin of classify the .7 in their class C, just because he couldn't measure them properly) .
But people that really listen and don't just look at graphs (like the guys of The Absolute Sound or the great Steve) do review this marvels, and they constantly ran short of adjectives about what these awesome loudspeakers achieve.
Beware that there is one Maggie for every room size; yesterday I tried a .7 in small room and sounded just incredible; then I tried the same speaker later in a much larger room, and although t was fed with a much larger and costlier amp it sounded anemic. I'm pretty sure the 1.7i or 3.7i would be spectacular in that larger space.
One final clue: mind the power cables with these units: as they demand lots of current, power cable/distributor could be a severe limiting factor. I checked this recently: I replaced a "standard" power cable with a nice Shunyata Anaconda and the improvements were jaw-dropping. With other speakers I haven't had that sort of huge differences with cables. Granted, Shunyata's are extremely expensive; I am now testing cheaper alternatives.
@@99Noodles personally I would recommend a good used ‘Class D’ amp such as a Bel Canto, Peachtree, or maybe a new amp from one of the smaller boutique brands like XTZ Sound, D Sonic, etc.
Every audiophile should listen to a pair of properly driven Magnepans at least once in their lives to experience their particular strengths. Even as someone who doesn’t own Magnepans the success of the company is heartwarming to witness and well deserved.
MAGNEPAN is the top selling high end speaker brand of all time.
I bought these. The imaging is certainly spectacular but they otherwise sound thin. I noticed after some use that one speaker was distorting in certain frequency ranges. I sent them back. The Company claimed I caused the problem by overdriving and refused to honor the repair under the warranty. I don’t think I played these louder than about 90 dbs. The amp was a McIntosh with power guard. What an unpleasant surprise from a company selling a high end product.
I've had my LRS+ on Magna Risers for a little over 6 months now and the things are just incredible. Don't go trying to pair just any sub with them, most subs can't handle the speed of the LRS+. I use a pair of Rythmic F12s and have them time aligned with DSP (no EQ, just using DSP for time alignment) and it is just pure magic. I've heard $500k setups at audio shows that don't come even remotely close to my sub $4000 LRS+ 2.2 setup. Before I actually received my LRS+, I did some demos of the LRS, .7, 1.7i, 3.7i, and 20.7 in an audio shops test room and I wish I were joking when I say the LRS+ in my setup absolutely destroy the 20.7 setup I demoed. I use a pair of Parasound A21+ to drive them and now that my setup is nitpicked to where I want it, they make surround sound seem like a joke. I get full surround out of my 2.2 setup in a fully theater curtained room and the urge to upgrade has completely left my mind altogether. I don't have any plans on upgrading...ever.
Yes, I've got one Rythmik L12 and I'm happy with the integration with my LRS+'s.
@@scottroberts4551 Just bought the L12 to pair with the MG12's. What are you using for a crossover setting. Thanks!
Thanks for that info, you probably saved me a lot of pain and confusion and money.....Your system sounds amazing....
@@kl9941 Mine is set ~60hz and sounds fine but I really need to tweak the L12 to see if I could get even more out of it. I have the level set pretty low. My goal with the sub is to make it seem part of the maggies - not a separate box booming away. Setting the parametric eq on it is my next project. The L12 is the best sub in it's class by far.
Eh, how did you find the LRS+ vs 1.7i (the supposed "sweet spot" in the Magnepan line-up)? Also, with the Rythmiks, do they sound as big as a 1.7i or above?
I heard some 3.7s and was already looking at the LRS+ because of the size and price. Your last review is what helped me make up my mind. Can’t wait for mine to show up.
No ... Steve used a Dayton ITA100 tube amplifier with 50 watts PEAK (30 watts root) and these are a way of cheating because low price tubes have a very middle range frequency output ... just like the LRS Plus Maggie and its hideously jagged Frequency Response, resembles 1940s Tannoy speakers, that please a lot of vintage audio people. But old, ancient, Tannoy (and other brands) are far more watt efficient and guess what? Such vintage speakers are a better buy for tube amps. The Maggies are best for transistors that sound best at high power like the volume turned up to 2 o'clock, you know but tell us what amplifier sounds best for you. We need to know just what works best.
Love that you chose to play the band Morphine for this review. They have some great tracks. Awesome as always Steve.
I can heartily recommend the regular LRS. But you won’t hear full potential unless you spend some bucks on quality power. I’m using a Pass X150.5. I learned over time to pull them 5.5 ft away from the front wall, aim them straight ahead, and sit fairly close at less than 6ft. When you do this, it’ll be much more than a “wall of sound”…it’s insanely DEEP as well as wide. All of the sound will emanate from this giant, floor to ceiling tank of sound BEHIND the speakers - and then from there it completely envelops you. I also have the Magna Riser stands; takes a very long time from ordering to delivery, but it’s worth it to have the LRS more up off the floor. The LRS is the deal of the century.
I fully agree. After ESLs and dynamic cone driver boxes over the years, I took the plunge with the original LRS. Changed my perspective in a big way…
Indeed. Amp power is key to attaining best results with Maggies. You can get away with less but orchestral crescendos or dense instrumentation and the compression/strain will rear it’s ugly head.
Also Magna Risers are highly recommended.
Loved my LRS so much I’m now using 3.7i’s with Magtech amplification.
i've personally gotten the chance to hear these myself here in Denmark, i 100% agree with steve on this review. they are truly amazing to listen to, it is really something else.
Cool, a shoutout to Robert Raus @Magna Risers. I've been a Maggie owner since 2001, currently have 1.7i with Magna Risers 2nd Airborne stands and two SVS 3000 Micro subs
I bought a pair of 1.6's in 1999, still love them.
I remember being stopped in my tracks in a shop with these speakers playing background music. Everyone should here it once before they die.
There are very few things in life they actually need the call. I have LRS plus and they are astounding! I am using a Hegle H390 to power them. And as a bonus {because I did not need it}, I'm using a Rose RS250 as a streamer/dac/preamp.
Believe me the LRS + sounded pretty damn good prior to the Rose. But now---I'm getting those last subtle notes. Those faint ding/dings that I didn't know were there. And YES, I have listened to many, many recording that I was very familiar with and ACTUALLY DIDN'T KNOW that extra breath of sound WAS IN THERE.
Really, I can stop for quite a while now. Really. Unless I hit some kind of jackpot or otherwise, I'd just be spinning my wheels and spending more money in an attempt to get any better.
I thought about goin the PASS route or Bryston. But I have to say, the Hegle is making the magic come out of the LRS +.
OUTSTANDING.!!
I just unboxed my LRS + speakers and am so impressed at the sound. I have a pair of Zu DW6 Supremes in the same room, and at a fraction of the price, these Maggies are something else, another level. I could actually power them with a Fosi ZA3 amplifier, which really surprised me, and it did not even break a sweat. I have other amps here, and I would suggest something in the 100 wpc+. I would also HIGHLY SUGGEST purchasing an active crossover like the Rolls SX45 that is sold on Amazon or Parts Express for $109. You will need a subwoofer, or two to successfully use this crossover, as you will be sending the highs and mids to the LRS and the lower frequencies to the subs. This will relieve the stress on your amplifier as it will not have to deal with the lower bass frequencies, your amp will thank you and give you more flexibility in amplifier choices. The crossover goes between your source and the amplifier. I have mine crossed at around 50 or 60Hz, tune to your room and subs.
My 30 year old Magnepan MG-1.5/QR speakers are working like new, but I did fairly recently put them back into action after about 20 years stuffed in a closet. I was afraid they wouldn't function but they are as sweet as ever.
I have 1.5s biamped with about 700wpc and that makes them come alive! Magical speakers!
@@Typhoonbob
Originally back in the '90s mine were run by an Adcom GFA555 II along with a pair of NHT 10" passive subwoofers and that combo had plenty of juice. I had hooked the Magnepans up to that same amp after digging them out and it worked fine, but I bought a Yamaha A-S3200 integrated amp and this is also a good pairing. Also got a Klipsch R-112SW powered subwoofer for a bit more bass.
Got mine in January. One other unique thing they do for me over all my other speakers is they actually make poor recordings sound better instead of worse.
The Sennheiser hd650s have that effect too. Makes anything sound good.
That's because their both low and high frequencies are abysmal. I have the original LRS with two REL T5.
I respect your opinion but I don't find that. I find with my equipment that it is very easy to differentiate the good and poor recordings, but I don't mind that. To me it's more truthful which is what I want.
@@systemawarrior I agree. When I was reading OP comment I was thinking, thats not true 😂
I would like to thank you for your thoughtful and informative lessons. I was on the edge, ready to get these...your review pushed me over the edge. I found a shop an hour away. I brought 3 cds to check these out, and I didn't get through the 2nd song before saying " I will take a pair ." I'm using a Yamaha AS-801, a Klipsch SW100 subwoofer, and a cheap Samsung blu-ray connected to the dac on the Yamaha. All I can say is that these speakers bring me tears of joy! I am constantly trying to make more time to listen to these!
I usually run my Maggie .7 with my Luxman or McIntosh integrated amps. I did hook up my Willsenton R8 with N/O stock 6550 tubes and it sounded really good. Not loud but very musical.
Steve had an interesting observation about the image placing things correctly. I’ve been taken with the focus of the LRS. Small percussion is pinpoint sharp and focused. Quick with no ringing overhand. Converter here is Gungnir Multibit which affects the sound. Modi and Modius are voiced like Gumby but don’t have Gumby’s focus. That’s what amazed me about the LRS, the focus, clarity, and image. Here with a stereo Vidar playback is goood to 85 dbA or so. Around 90 and Vidar will check out for a nap.
LRS is a line source. That is key to the image behavior. Image is nice, even 30 degrees off axis. Even sitting in front of a panel yields an image but shifted a bit. Tipping them up a bit is about putting ear level on axis. Vertical panels are for the taller panels.
Love your shirts, Steve!
a Maggie 1.7i here, with Rogue RP-1 pre and Rogue Stereo 100 power amp, in a fairly large space (some 500 ft2). I just can't imagine how anything can sound better than this. I had the MG-IIA decades ago, followed by dozens of other conventional loudspeakers (B&W, Tannoy, Kef, Audio Physic, etc). Not one of them came even close to these Magnepans. I can't understand now how I survived all those years without my daily dose of maggies.
I recently heard the 1.7i at a local hifi store along with many, many pairs of Kantos, KEFs, and other high end loudspeakers, and while I'm usually a headphone person (very into detail-oriented headphones like STAX), I absolutely fell in love with the Maggies. They just went on sale, so I'm probably gonna be picking them up in a month or two, maybe sooner depending on how much I can sell off some of my STAX gear for, haha.
I sure love my 3.7i's
That makes two of us.
I found that the Magnepan's throw a big soundstage but the sound of instruments and voices sound larger than life. With my old Acoustats I get the same big soundstage but instruments and voices sound like the right size and many sounds have a stunning they are in the room sound. And the bass is so deep and tight and real sounding that everything else sounds distorted except for real life sounds of course. I recently heard some $46,000 speakers they only just start to sound like my Acoustats.
Hear, hear. I joke that my Acoustat Spectra 33's powered by Altec tube monoblocks can bring Karen Carpenter back from the dead.
I just "happened to get" lucky you Steve. Love you long time.
MagnaRisers, yes!!
great video on youtube that shows the Magnepans being built. Brilliant engineering determines the price, because the actual build is very economical.
Oh thanks a lot Steve. Now the waiting list is going to be even longer.
Steve, your LRS+ review a year ago made me Maggie curious. After 5 months I received my LRS+ and paired them w/dual REL T5x subs. I think the subs open the soundstage even more. Not sure what is happening psycho acousticaly. Waiting for my Magna risers to arrive.
I finally heard a pair, extremely nice speaker. However, it needs tubes. Coming from a pair of Maggie 1Ds driven by a single ARC D75, a quality tube amp rated at a mere 75 watts would drive these quite nicely, provided you don’t need to rock the house down.
Agree wholeheartedly, I'm powering my LRS+'s with a Rogue Audio Chronus Mag3 all-tube in triode mode (60watts) and it's plenty loud and smooth like butter.
Great choice with the Morphine. After hearing a couple songs a few years back, one Thursday Thursday Thursday (lol) I purchased a copy of each of their offerings. I have the LRS in my closet… I will bust them out again. I do miss the bass being a Genesis fan…
Hi Steve, you are absolut right and and i know what you mean. I use a SMGa with a Decware ZKIT1 with only 2x2W in a small room and it sounds great. Greetings from germany.
I just set mine up an hour ago. The bass is really nice. Listening to Buena Vista Social Club. Horns, guitars, drums, vocals. Sounds great with no break in. I was expecting weak bass so I grabbed a sealed sub. Except for movies I won't need it.
Thanks for the music.
I still have my MMGs in use that I bought in 2011 powered by a 1st gen Emotiva XPA-2 amp and run with a Rel T5. I have thought about getting the LRS+ or a higher modelbut don't know if it is worth it. They sound great already as long as I turn up the volume.
I'd say it's worth it. The LRS/LRS+ are cleaner than the MMG, which I used to own. The MMG had design compromises so it would work with an inexpensive receiver. The LRS drops those compromises and is designed to be used with a good amp -- your XPA-2 should be fine (I used to have one of those, too). The LRS+ is even cleaner -- haven't heard it, but the reviewers are ecstatic. If it were me, I'd do the trial -- if you don't think it's worth it, you can send it back.
Steve great video as usual. I trust your guidance. I want a streamer dac or just an external dac to go with my soon to be received lrs plus. I’m going to drive them with a Rogue cm2. I like forward, clear resolved with big soundstage for voices and acoustic guitar. The listening area is 9x13 but open behind and on the right. Any thoughts/ suggestion Steve and the audience ?
I'd be really interested in hearing LRS+ paired with linkwitz stereo dipole lxsub2. Not the cheapest pairing because they are pricey to begin with, need separate amps and a digital crossover like the lxmini 2x4 hd. Right there you're at $1300 + $540 + $260, so just over $2000. A lot for two smallish dipole subs, but the accuracy and ability to integrate with the LRS+ should be off the charts.
Those things are more than twice as expensive in Europe as in the US. Please take care of that and we will be all over it!! ❤ Around € 1850!! 🤢
Reviewers always let you know they need lots of power and space behind them…but they almost never mention the terrible off-axis performance and tiny sweet spot.
You're correct. Sorry about that
That's why I'm going with Wharfedale 4.4's. 😂
Yes. Narrow sweet spot for these. It increases obviously with the larger Maggie’s. But when you’re in the spot, they are magical.
@nostradamus7648 Yea sold mine after a year of living with the 4.4s. Excellent shape and had troubles getting the $800 I did. Still have the LRS's
I can’t speak for other models or other rooms, but I don’t find these are particularly hard to place or require you to be dead center. Yes, it’s better there, but because they throw a large wall of sound, I find it pleasing from speaker to speaker in my room with enough distance between them. I was expecting them to be much worse. The vertical dispersion can be an issue if you’re standing, of course.
I’ve really enjoyed my time with these. They’re not as refined as my high end speakers, but the wall of sound effect with a fair amount of detail and quickness is just very pleasing. I just find I don’t always listen super critically these days, so I’m willing to forgive them for not soundstaging or imaging quite like a high end point source.
I concur on the Maggies..I have had MGIIIa speakers for years (biamped with Bryston 3B)...and MGII before that ...their sound is pretty amazing. I have no need of strong bass, so they are great...even with rock music.
Why discuss a $10,000 a pair amp when a $1400 / pair Hypex or Purifi will do a wonderful job on the Magnepans? Otherwise great review Steve thanks.
Take the small step up to the Magnepan .7. They might be more available and worth the slight price increase.
Hi Glenn I have the Magnepans. 7's
and was wondering if the LRS sounded better the .7's for some reason? What say you? Oh what amp are you using to feed the watt/current hungry Magnepans? I have the fuse jumper upgrade along with Magnarisers
@@Jack96993 You can think of the LRS as a downsized .7. It won't buy you anything and you'll lose some. LRS+ might be better in the highs, but you'd be giving up bass and output -- I'd stick with the .7's if it were me.
@@Jack96993 The amp currently (pun intended) hooked up is a moded ADCOM GFA555. Extra toroidal transformer to make it true dual mono. But I have a set of 250W monoblock tube amps in the wings right now.
Steve, would the LRS+ be an improvement in any way over the .7s? I love the .7, but I am very curious about these ones. Thank you.
No
I have seen reviews, maybe his earlier one? that said there is an improvement as you go up to the .7 and the 1.7i. It's just that the LRS+ is such an incredible value and the 1.7i's are not 3 times better!
Depends on room size as well. 1.7’s are way overwhelming in my smallish living room, but wonderful in a school library.
Steve, I bought a pair of the LRS......but not the Plus. Why? Because I'm going to run and external crossover from GR-Research, that has much higher quality components, really flattens out the response and eliminates need for fuse, as it keeps the tweeter from playing as low as the stock design. Even with buying the LRS used, this whole thing will cost more than new LRS+. but should sound killer. Will post my thoughts on before and after.
What amp would work best with these for under $1000?
Are these a good speaker for a small room? It seems to me they would be a good choice as long as the room is big enough to place the speakers properly.
Haven't dipped my toes in the planar world yet mostly because of placement and room size concerns, but am certainly curious. Have you heard anything on the "30.7 for condos" as of late? I know they are at the other end of the price spectrum, but people seemed pretty excited when Wendell was making the rounds with them. Been a few years now and I wonder if they are headed for production.
I will ask Wendell about that. But if your room is small the condo speaker isn't that small! The LRS plus is smaller.
And around one thirtieth the price!
Thanks Steve. Condo aesthetics will probably keep me in boxes anyhow, although I could see exploring some DSP cardiod designs like the Kii Three or the Dutch and Dutch 8C. Still, as you well know, we all like to live vicariously and dream of that system beyond the rainbow.
Pair these LRS+ with some D'Agostino Progression and they will SING!
In terms of sound quality, how would you guys compare these to the 1.6QR's?
I have both. In my rather small room, the 1.6 was a bit too much, especially on the treble/brightness scale. But then again, it wasn’t until many years later when I got the LRS, that I experimented with no toe in at all and aiming them straight ahead, sitting pretty close, and listening more for the stage BEHIND the speakers. The LRS are actually fairly dark sounding in this position (in comparison) but oh my goodness, there is perfect midrange and plenty of detail for me. I never tried positioning the 1.6 straight ahead - maybe it would’ve been great. But I think the smaller LRS is perfect for my room size and the better suited speaker for me. It doesn’t have as much bass as the 1.6, but I was getting a bit too much bass from the 1.6 in the small room anyway. LRS works fantastic with my KEF 12” sub.
Can anyone advise me if my Anthem MCA-225 (225 wpc) would be adequate to run the LRS+? I saw and heard them today at AXPONA and they are intriguing to say the least. I also have a 5 year old Yamaha A-S801 (100 wpc) that I could use to power them too. The setup is in a 22x30 unattached garage with an 8 foot tall dry walled ceiling. The walls are insulated and drywalled. I'm in Chicago so the speakers would be exposed to to hot and cold and humid conditions . I could put them in my basement during the winter months but they would remain in place in the garage from about May until November. My desired music source is 100 percent cd's. Mostly basic top 40's pop rock and hard rock from the70's & 80's.The room has 2 large carpets, two couches, tons of artwork on the walls and there are curtains on all 4 walls minus the 16 foot overhead door and the 8 foot party door. I'm concerned that the heat or elements could prematurely damage components in the speaker and drastically reduce the longevity and lifespan. . But MAN! A grand is a great deal!!
I was just running my pair with a Fosi ZA3, so yes, I would say you will have no issues. But! You did not mention subwoofers. I would get at least one sub, and purchase the Rolls SX45 active crossover to split the high end and subs, or the low end. Doing this, cutting off the frequency at say around 50-70 Hz will take a lot of stress off of the amp and allow the Maggies to really sing. the Rolls crossover is on Amazon, $109. The garage... I'm in Detroit, I would not leave mine in the garage. They are light enough that I would keep them in the house and bring them out when you want to use them.
@@michaelwright1602 Thank you for the advice!
@@danbrodersen5838 I have since broke out my old and trusted Emotiva XPA-2 amplifier. Go get that Anthem if you can swing it. That extra grunt of my old first generation XPA-2 really opened up these Maggies. And I have had better and more expensive Class A/B amps through here, the Emo always wins. The extra horse power of the Emo takes these LRS+ speakers to another level. Very 3 dimensional and holographic. I would stay away from any and all Class D amps if this is the sound you are looking for. And the more WPC the better.
A nad m10 v2 will be a good choice for this speakers? Thanks a lot
I'm hesitating between the Audio Physic Step 35 or the Magnepan LRS+, I have a relatively small space and I want a speaker with a very good 3D image. I mainly listen to classical music. What do you think about this dilemma?
Well, I've never heard the step, so I can't speak specifically to that question. But LRS compared to any small speaker, the LRS is going to generate a much more life-size image. That part is easy. However, the LRS absolutely needs the best quality amplifier to do its job. The Schiit Vidar is a sweet starter combination. And remember the LRS needs to be at least 2 feet from the wall behind it
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac I currently own a Graham Chartwell 3/5, otherwise I am happy with them - but do you think switching to Magnepan LRS+ would be a smart move?
I wonder what would happen if you used a double pair.
Had Quads 2905 some years ago and miss the transient response they had, do the Maggies deliver at Quad level?
Probably, I can't say for sure having never compared the two speakers.
When it comes to stands for the LRS+ I strongly suggest you save yourself some big bucks and get some universal TV table stands. Pretty much the same thing and is TEN TIMES CHEAPER!
Love the idea. Do they fit well
Dutch and Dutch 8C. You will never have to review any other speaker or stereo system for that matter. Like the new wireless LS 50, but bigger and better. They cost 15K but they sound 100k and all you have to do is put them on your network and listen to a speaker that does everything extraordinary well. The king of AXPONA 2023. Made all other manufacturers very, very, very nervous. No amps no streamers no cables perfect frequency response clean, and loud.
What are the physical and electronic differences from the original LRS to the LRS+ ?
Magnepan doesn't tell us anything. The panel is exactly the same so the changes have to be with the crossover. Oh I know what's changed. The price. Ha
@@jamescease4280 Heh, no, it isn't a crossover tweak, it's more than that. Wish I could say more, but that's up to them, not me. :-)
I have one big problem with this (and other big planar/electrostatic speakers) is that they don't sell a cat-proof version .....,.
Perhaps there's a market for that..... 😉
I would like to hear your opinion on the MAGNEPAN .7S
He reviewed those a while back.
Love my Maggies!
I've got both LRS & LRS+ Both great. Ok LRS+ slightly more bass but marginal, soundstage the same. There is no way I can go back to box speakers. Dead giveaway.. DEEEEAAAAD Giveaway!
I'd love a pair of these, but the import charges to get them to the UK make them about $1500.
Still a bargain
Wonder what a stacked pair or quad stacked pair would sound like?
Wendell Diller at Magnepan tried combining two pairs, stacked side by side. He was very impressed!
Excellent Steve. Thinking of upgrading from 20+ year old MG 12's. Any thoughts comparing the LRS+ and the .7 ?
the .7s are better, but the LRS+ is just amazing for the price. Neither are a bad choice.
Is the lrs plus easier to drive than the originals?
No, original and the + are not easy to drive! Impedance drops well below four ohms, and sensitivity is extremely low. The MMG and SMG speakers from Magnepan were easier to drive.
Can some serious hi fi guys here help me pick out of the LRS Plus and the B&w 705 s2. I like big soundstage, detail, transparency 3d sounding. Bass and oomph isn't the priority here but I like I got kick and snare attack. High ceiling, generous sized room.
My hearts going with 705's but Im not a well seasoned audiophile. Thanks.
Main listening styles are lots of coltrane, and 67-74 miles Davis etc 70s prog fusion, lots of rock and some classical.
Review with new Magnepan wooders, please.
As soon as they are real products I'll be on it.
Man I want these, but I don't listen to music loud anymore. Them needing high current and a bunch of power to come alive, I wish.
I live in a apartment building.
Please review Elipson 3210 speaker
The whole "quasi-ribbon" thing is marketing fluff. The LRS+ is a planar, not a ribbon. You might as well call the LRS+ quasi-lasagne , you'd be just as accurate (and maybe more so) than calling it a quasi-ribbon.
The aluminum ribbon strips do contribute to the sound, unlike the wires that used to be glued to the diaphrams.
@@jamescease4280 The aluminum is attached (via adhesive) to the planar film. The conductor (aluminum) does not move without moving the planar film. All the Magnepan did was stop using copper wire as the conductor and switched to aluminum foil.
The reason they call them "quasi ribbons" is that other manufacturers were calling their planars ribbons when they weren't. They didn't want to be misleading, but they wanted to highlight their change from a wire voice coil to a flat ribbon-like one.
@@TheDanEdwards Major improvement in clarity over the wire, though. (It's aluminum wire, BTW, even if it looks like copper with the adhesive on.)
What a shame, european price € 1.500. Anyway tempting to have a listen.
This has nothing to do with the review. I ran across a product that would be perfect for a review. It is a linear power supply for the technics sl1200g series. Its an easy mod and i would love to know how close this upgrades it to the sp11. It is the EPS-01 Mark II "G edition" linear power supply for Technics SL-1200 GAE/G/GR.
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Interesting that Morphine sounded good because there's was a lot of low end in that band.
I've had Magnepans and unfortunately I always found them lacking in bass response.
Easy fix
Depends on the size. At one extreme, the LRS only goes down to 55 Hz or so; at the other, the 20.7 and 30.7 go down to 20Hz. Lots of people pair the smaller Maggies with subs, though integration can be difficult.
Do they make subwoofers?
Coming very soon. They’ve been showing it audio shows for about a year.
Yeah called a bass module. If you get a sub from another company make sure its " Fast " in nature.
80 db in sensitivity its very inefficiant almost at all times below 4 Ohm dont buy it of you want to play loud
So many flavors... so little time.
magnepan should make the lrs to be biwired and biamped along with the rest of their speakers.
You could put it this way: Magnepans have their fans... But in my opinion they are by no means hi-fi speakers, as the devastating test in the ASR proved, where at least the old LRS was judged to be one of the worst speakers with many faults ever measured and heard there. I myself had a Magnepan MG-1B sold to me by a dealer in my youth. After six months, I was happy to be able to sell it for good money
That is a badge of honor, they rarely if ever listen to any of the gear or speakers they review. Measurements only take you so far.
What will we do when Steve is gone ....I'm never buying anything he doesn't recommend , every time I hear the gear he suggests he's dead on the $
Walker Anna Brown Laura Robinson Jose
It's a shame you don't demo the equipment. Your videos miss that dimension.
GR-Research did a crossover upgrade for the LRS.
I think I would stay with Magnepan's 50 years of knowledge in that area.
@@jamescease4280 Agreed, not a GR fan
@@jamescease4280 you think a less linear crossover is better?
Why dont you talk about speaking at Axpona? Make a video or post!
Thanks, I talked about Axpona at the end of this video.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac What's the subject? C'mon, Steve, give us a tease!
A community post might be nice too for anyone who doesn't happen to hear this video. I don't think a lot of people know about it
So you didn't bother to watch the whole video but you saw fit to give him advice on his content???
Magnepans are in reality expensive, because they are so poorly designed (unlike the Martin Logans) that you are forced to replace your amp with a larger amp for the drivers. High-power HiFi amps are very expensive, and it's not worth the effort; it's better to buy a good pair of classic speakers rather than those horrible towel dryers.
Martin Logan’s are bright AF and entirely unpleasant IMO.
Magnepan lied to me re delivery of their 30.7s for over a year. F Magnepan. Loosers and liars running that company.
Bottom line is your wasting your money DUH......
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On what?
You buy a thousand dollar speaker and have to spend at least 3 grand or more just to power them just doesn't make sense in my opinion
I just talked about a $230 amp that sounded decent.
You missed the point. Unlike other speakers, these $1k pair of Maggies will allow the better electronics to come through. Unlike other $1k speakers the better the amp the better they will sound regardless. Others just max out along the way.
money spent in many cases has little correlation with overall quality of sound
I’ve powered my Maggie MMG’s with my McIntosh MA6900 ($4500 used) and with my Aiyima T9 ($130). Of course the Mac brings more dynamics & detail, but the little T9 turns in an enjoyable performance. Have fun!
@@vinylcabasse I didn't didn't say that
I own a Magnepan LRS and the sound is truly amazing. I don’t see me going back to a conventional loudspeaker anytime soon. Thank you for your audio reviews and for letting us be part of your journey in the high-end scene.
I approve of this message...I just bought a pair. They are just astounding.
I recently purchased a pair of the LRS+ and I too am amazed at just how good these speakers sound. Driving them with a Conrad Johnson GAT preamp and a Levinson 5302 power amp. I also have a subwoofer with an active crossover connected with this system, and the LRS+ is giving my main speakers a challenge. Female vocals are jaw-dropping fantastic. Steve, I ran into you at Axpona 2024 and commented on your height. The world needs more genuine and uplifting people like you.
Listening to your review on LRS, Modius, Freya+, Vidar. Bass won’t move your ribs but it is deep, tight and detailed. Give Time Outtakes a spin. Leftovers from the Take 5 sessions. Jason uses LRS among others for development test.
A good friend of mine has LRS+ speakers with twin REL T5x subs driven by a PrimaLuna EVO 100 amplifier - it sounds superb. Easily the best I have heard at under $50k… it is dynamic, spacious, extended and so spooky real and alive!
I have a pair of the LRS Plus. Powered by a Naim Nait 5si, McIntosh D150 Preamp, Audiolab 6000 CDT, with 2 Rel T5i subs, and let me tell you can not do any better for the money. I have 2 other pairs of Maggies, LRS and the 2.6Rs (ribbon). I loved my LRSs, I did, but the plusses are much less congested than the LRS and the high end is vastly improved. They are also more efficient and go much louder. I know Magnepan won't say exactly, but the plusses go louder and are clearer. Upstairs, I have an Odyssey Kismet powering the 2.6Rs with one REL T7i and while that soundstage is definitely bigger, I am not convinced it's that much better than the LRS Plusses. Yes, the ribbon tweeter on the 2.6Rs is stunning, but I think the plusses are better integrated and I think the Naim has a lot to do with that. PRAT, iN spades. Side note, I bought a Hegel H120 for the 2.6Rs, and it failed miserably. Not enough juice. I bought into all that fan boy Hegel BS and am sadly disappointed. That Naim kicks that Hegels butt. My opinion, of course. The Odyssey as well is a much better amp than the Hegel. 😮
You made me Magnepan curious, so I found a factory restored pair of MGiiia (wanted true ribbons if I were commiting to this) and though I haven't gotten an ideal listening room situated yet, nor adequate power (Hafler DH220) all I can say is WOW! I am glad to have this in my life. Thank you
I used to use a Hafler DH220 (which I built) before I bought used Bryston 3Bs to drive my MGIIIa speakers...they are great. It took a bit of experimentation and meaurement before I found the right position for them (in my room tweeters on the inside, slight toe in).
Schiit Vidar is your friend. Bass is so clean your room modes will be obvious!
Love my 1.7i driven by anthem str integrated and using ARC. Next steps will be sub integration. Thinking dual RSL 10s mk2 or rhythmik f12 or perhaps relt7x. I run arc when the speakers are 2 ft from front wall and turn it off when I pull them into the room. The 1.7i is a pretty big step up over OG LRS but no clue on the plus. They are more forever speakers unless I get an opportunity for spatial audio x5 or perhaps m3 sapphire.
Hi Steve, I can confirm every word you say. I've been listening to the MG 1.7i for many years and I never want to give it up. I've owned many expensive speaker cabinets, but all of them had awkward resonances somewhere in the lower frequency range. Each had its own character. Magnepans don't have any character, they just play the music you feed them completely detached and with inimitable naturalness.
Excellent teview, Steve. I have a set of Magnepan 1.7i's and drove them with a Willsenton r800i integrated tube amplifier. It is a class A SET type amp. 50 w per chanel using 805/300b output tube combo. The sound is other worldly. The amp drives the panels without issue to extreme levels if required. Even better is using an electronic crossover to utilise the panels for mids and highs only with all bass going to subs. Just adding subs to the panels does not work you must use a crossover to remove all frequencies below say 80-100hz and routing those to the sub. Try it if you can it is an eye openner.
I have the 1.7i and I'm curious to hear these.
I traded in my box speakers for a pair of 1.7i and never looked back..Love them!!
I always suggest thinking of Maggies more as drivers than speakers. And your room is the enclosure. The trick being to find where they load to the room best.
I see your point
Steve--and other commenters here--could you address what moving up to the .7i or even 1.7i gets you? I'm thinking larger soundstage and more bass, but is there a tonal trade off? Meaning does the LRS+ have a tonal sweet spot that the others can't match? Maybe the larger models are more accurate, but are they as musical and enjoyable as the LRS+? I ask from the perspective of an LRS+ owner considering moving up. Thanks.