Magnepan 3.7-My Impressions

[salmtpa]

Hi guys, it’s been a while since I was on here. It’s been a very busy year or so but wanted to let you know my impressions of the new Magnepan 3.7s. I now have about 300 hours or so on them so they’re pretty much run in. I went from 3.6s to the 3.7s so I was familiar with what Maggies do right. Most of what they have historically done “wrong” is by omission: lack of real dynamics, not being able to play loudly, somewhat vague imaging, need for a pretty powerful amp. That being said, the 3.6 is a very good speaker when taken on its own, especially when driven by Mac or Krell amplification.

The 3.7 gives you much more of what Maggie does right, primarily in an incredibly coherent top to bottom presentation and even deeper and wider soundstage imaging. Both macro and micro dynamics are vastly improved, I was kind of expecting that given the early reviews. What totally shocked me though was the level of impact in dynamics, there is real “thwack” there now. And overall they seem to play louder than the 3.6 does, though Magnepan didn’t change the sensitivity spec. Resolution and transparency are also considerably improved. One review I read said it seemed like a sheet or veil had been removed from in front of the speakers. I have to agree, there is more of a sense of immediacy and clarity of articulation. Probably the most surprising characteristic of all though is the 3.7s imaging. Where before images were a bit diffuse, they are now almost mini-monitor precise. Almost, I’m certainly exaggerating with the mini-monitor reference but the difference is striking. Especially the center image. That is a bit startling on it’s own since the 3.6 was actually very good at center image projection. I don’t know how much this has to do with Magnepan’s new crossover and mid and woofer panel designs but I have felt no need to even try experimenting with the tweeters on the outside edge. Those of you familiar with Maggies will understand they have historically recommended the tweeters be on the outside, where for the 3.7 they recommend inside placement. BTW, toe-in with the 3.7 needs to be more pronounced than with the 3.6.

So to sum up, I’m extremely happy with the 3.7s, though it did take a number of months for them to arrive after ordering them.

(PS - If anyone is interested in buying a pair of well cared for 3.6s let me know. I’ll be posting them in the for sale section soon.)

[mgard]

salmtpa,

Everything I have read about the 3.7's was very positive. I see you are not running sub's. I have the 1.7's and they definitely needed the JL 110 subs to bump up the low end. Enjoy your new speakers and thanks for the review.

~Mike

[kfr01]

Great post!

Great post. I bought the 3.7s a few months ago and love them. I had maggies 20 years ago as a teenager, and the 3.7 are the first maggies i have heard as an adult that i had to have (coherent, balanced in frequency extension, not too aggressive/bright, musical, dynamic, to scale, etc).

[Masterlu]

Great hearing from you Sal, best of luck with your new 3.7's

[audiot servant]

salmpta great post, great avatar and great choice in speakers and also a big +1 on your thoughts on your 3.7s...

They have certainly gone way beyond my expectations...

There were the expected improvements you get over the first few hundred hours but some real magic surprisingly kicked in at about 500 to 600 hrs... hoping it comes your way also.

The panels freed up a bit more taking micro dynamics, transparency and focus to another level... I thought it was good before then but it is really something now.

A definite shift in bass integration came also about at that time which adds a touch of real meatiness... having zero desire for a sub now.

Best move was getting a pair of stands (the standard ski's definitely hold them back as well as up :-)... I went with Sound Anchor stands... almost like an order of magnitude shift... Hifi Tuning fuses also have made a difference for the better and am just about to change the stock jumpers out for a set of silver jumpers... all a bit slow (the fuses and me) but getting there eventually.

Look forward to sharing even more of your and dpod4's thoughts down the track... best wishes...

cheers
Graham

[Ritmo]

Nice review Sal!

Thanks,
Mike

[salmtpa]

Originally Posted by audiot servant

salmpta great post, great avatar and great choice in speakers and also a big +1 on your thoughts on your 3.7s...

They have certainly gone way beyond my expectations...

There were the expected improvements you get over the first few hundred hours but some real magic surprisingly kicked in at about 500 to 600 hrs... hoping it comes your way also.

The panels freed up a bit more taking micro dynamics, transparency and focus to another level... I thought it was good before then but it is really something now.

A definite shift in bass integration came also about at that time which adds a touch of real meatiness... having zero desire for a sub now.

Best move was getting a pair of stands (the standard ski's definitely hold them back as well as up :-)... I went with Sound Anchor stands... almost like an order of magnitude shift... Hifi Tuning fuses also have made a difference for the better and am just about to change the stock jumpers out for a set of silver jumpers... all a bit slow (the fuses and me) but getting there eventually.

Look forward to sharing even more of your and dpod4's thoughts down the track... best wishes...

cheers
Graham

Actually I forgot to mention the jumpers and fuses. I have a set of dealer made jumpers that I had been using on the 3.6s that I now use on the 3.7s in place of the solid metal stock ones from Maggie. They're made from Transparent stock, the local dealer here in Tampa uses the same thing on all Maggies on demo in his store. In addition, I use ceramic body fuses in place of the glass stock fuses. I tried HiFi Tuning fuses in place of the stock ones and did not like the sound at all (that was on the 3.6s, just assumed the same would hold true for the 3.7). I was pretty disappointed in that, I use a HiFi Tuning fuse in my ARC and though I can't say it was a dramatic change I was able to hear a difference nonetheless. Just more transparency and openness.

I'd love to try something like the Mye stands but my system is in my living room and I'm afraid they'd look too industrial.

I plan on getting the Mye stands in a month or two once my Maggies are broken in. I want to hear the difference after speakers are broken in more. I bought the HiFi Tuning Supreme fuses for my 3.7s (have them in all my components right down to my headphone amp), and immediately, surprisingly noticed a tightening and deepening of the bass. I thought I would hear changes in high frequencies so was pleasantly surprised to notice most immediate change in the lower frequencies including mid bass. I ordered Duelund Cast .6 10 watt premium resistors for the tweeter attenuator (1.0 was too damped thru my tube front and my end tube amp; and zero attenuation is just a little bright for my room). To replace stock U pin jumpers I am trying out Mapleshade (made for maggies), Cardas GR, and customized Empirical Design jumpers. The latter sound the most promising since the designer obsesses phase, signal flow, etc. and has done these for Maggies before. The best thing, tho, is these 3.7s sound awesome with no tweaks and not broken in. Question for 3.7 owners....current amp and dream amp? I love how my VAC 300.1a tube amp sounds....dream on certain types of music to have a little more muscle, so bi-amping 300.1a to 300 wpc, or if there is a benevolent ARC dealer willing to be kind to me, I'd buy the Ref 250s in a NYC minute...

[metaphacts]

Originally Posted by dpod4

I plan on getting the Mye stands in a month or two once my Maggies are broken in. I want to hear the difference after speakers are broken in more. I bought the HiFi Tuning Supreme fuses for my 3.7s (have them in all my components right down to my headphone amp), and immediately, surprisingly noticed a tightening and deepening of the bass. I thought I would hear changes in high frequencies so was pleasantly surprised to notice most immediate change in the lower frequencies including mid bass. I ordered Duelund Cast .6 10 watt premium resistors for the tweeter attenuator (1.0 was too damped thru my tube front and my end tube amp; and zero attenuation is just a little bright for my room). To replace stock U pin jumpers I am trying out Mapleshade (made for maggies), Cardas GR, and customized Empirical Design jumpers. The latter sound the most promising since the designer obsesses phase, signal flow, etc. and has done these for Maggies before. The best thing, tho, is these 3.7s sound awesome with no tweaks and not broken in. Question for 3.7 owners....current amp and dream amp? I love how my VAC 300.1a tube amp sounds....dream on certain types of music to have a little more muscle, so bi-amping 300.1a to 300 wpc, or if there is a benevolent ARC dealer willing to be kind to me, I'd buy the Ref 250s in a NYC minute...

How in the world did you find ED? Great stuff but it's almost like Karl hides from potential customers.