Hello,
I have owned the Khorus for about 5 months now. Previously I owned Maggie 3.3s for about 3 years. No doubt the differences between the 3.3 and the 3.6 is minimal vs the Khorus vs Maggie sound.
The Maggie sound/experience is quite unique to just about every other speaker out there. You either love them like no other or you can not at all tolerate their weaknesses. They bring on a musicality and richness and huge presence that is phenomenol. If you can get them 10-12 feet apart, they fill the space between them so incredibly. It was all this that got me addicted to the Maggie sound. But it was my lack of success to get the sound I enjoyed so much with them at higher volume levels like I had them at medium levels.
The amp that I had with them was first the ARC VT130 and then later Classic 150 monos. The VT130 was clearly the more magical amp in the mids with the Maggies. But neither of these could handle the Maggies at high levels .... but oh how awesome it was to the power limits of these amps.
Yes I know everyone claims that Bryston is THE amp here, but these speakers come to life with tube amps. Ultimately I realized I could not afford the tube amps that these speakers so much needed and so I passed these speakers on to quite the "fortunate" buyer. I have regretted this ever since as I should have just stored them under my bed when the day came that I could afford or find THE amps for these speakers.
I then heard the Khorus and they were so impressive. These have far superior resolution. I clearly hear some bits and pieces of detail in music that I had never heard with the Maggies. And without a doubt the bass is far more extended and controlled. The khorus handles sudden changes in volume much easier too. Would this be a "speed" characterization?
The ARC amps handle these speakers with so much more available headroom now. And in fact I find the ARC sound to be quite a good match with the Khorus. It was almost too much of a good thing with the Maggies.
The incredible airyness of the Maggie ribbon tweeter is not quite there with the Khorus. But I find the Khorus tonal balance to be a bit more neutral. The Maggies clearly do have a weight in the mids that quite frankly I love(d). I am not at all an imaging fanatic so this "quality" is not an issue to me.....but the Khorus does a more pinpoint job at image location.
So it really comes down to your personal tastes in tonal balance and presentation. And it has everything to do with amplifier selection. The Khorus allows for far more choices here and perhaps even a higher output SET amp. I am sure a 15-25w such amp would be incredible here. But forget about it with the Maggies!
By the way, a couple of used Counterpoint SA20/220/NPS400 amps might be just what the Dr. ordered to make the Maggies do their magic without breaking the bank. But if you want a less picky speaker with a more neutral presentation and much easier to place in your home, the Khorus is next to impossible to beat for its price on the used market.
Hope this all helps.
John
I have owned the Khorus for about 5 months now. Previously I owned Maggie 3.3s for about 3 years. No doubt the differences between the 3.3 and the 3.6 is minimal vs the Khorus vs Maggie sound.
The Maggie sound/experience is quite unique to just about every other speaker out there. You either love them like no other or you can not at all tolerate their weaknesses. They bring on a musicality and richness and huge presence that is phenomenol. If you can get them 10-12 feet apart, they fill the space between them so incredibly. It was all this that got me addicted to the Maggie sound. But it was my lack of success to get the sound I enjoyed so much with them at higher volume levels like I had them at medium levels.
The amp that I had with them was first the ARC VT130 and then later Classic 150 monos. The VT130 was clearly the more magical amp in the mids with the Maggies. But neither of these could handle the Maggies at high levels .... but oh how awesome it was to the power limits of these amps.
Yes I know everyone claims that Bryston is THE amp here, but these speakers come to life with tube amps. Ultimately I realized I could not afford the tube amps that these speakers so much needed and so I passed these speakers on to quite the "fortunate" buyer. I have regretted this ever since as I should have just stored them under my bed when the day came that I could afford or find THE amps for these speakers.
I then heard the Khorus and they were so impressive. These have far superior resolution. I clearly hear some bits and pieces of detail in music that I had never heard with the Maggies. And without a doubt the bass is far more extended and controlled. The khorus handles sudden changes in volume much easier too. Would this be a "speed" characterization?
The ARC amps handle these speakers with so much more available headroom now. And in fact I find the ARC sound to be quite a good match with the Khorus. It was almost too much of a good thing with the Maggies.
The incredible airyness of the Maggie ribbon tweeter is not quite there with the Khorus. But I find the Khorus tonal balance to be a bit more neutral. The Maggies clearly do have a weight in the mids that quite frankly I love(d). I am not at all an imaging fanatic so this "quality" is not an issue to me.....but the Khorus does a more pinpoint job at image location.
So it really comes down to your personal tastes in tonal balance and presentation. And it has everything to do with amplifier selection. The Khorus allows for far more choices here and perhaps even a higher output SET amp. I am sure a 15-25w such amp would be incredible here. But forget about it with the Maggies!
By the way, a couple of used Counterpoint SA20/220/NPS400 amps might be just what the Dr. ordered to make the Maggies do their magic without breaking the bank. But if you want a less picky speaker with a more neutral presentation and much easier to place in your home, the Khorus is next to impossible to beat for its price on the used market.
Hope this all helps.
John