I have heard hundreds of speakers, from travels over the country while working for a speaker company. I have heard the Maggies many times, and they are good speakers. They present some issues for women typically, because of their large physical presence. They sound excellent, and require very good(as do all really good speakers) amplification to sound their best. They are almost resistive, as opposed to reactive load, making the amp see a more consistant load, albiet one which is, depending on your room, requiring a lot of power. The bass, is more rear wall/distance dependant than most speakers, as they require loading the rear wave. Overall, excellent speakers.
I own the Von Schweikerts and find them to be one of the most musical speakers I have heard. They are fast and diminsional, with bass which plummets into the 20hz (almost exactly an octave below an upright double bass' lowest note, open "E" string)region. The rear firing tweeter allows the speaker to sound very transparent, and not at all gimmickey. Overall, I prefer the Von Schweikert, of course, since I bought them, but you are definitely considering two very good speakers. Your ears are the final judge. I think, as a final comment, that Von Schweikert has trumped almost everyone in dynamic speakers at this point.The VSA's are better than almost anything up to about 20K (this is only my humble opinion). Good luck, and if you need any advice you can privately email me, you have a million choices.
Larry
I own the Von Schweikerts and find them to be one of the most musical speakers I have heard. They are fast and diminsional, with bass which plummets into the 20hz (almost exactly an octave below an upright double bass' lowest note, open "E" string)region. The rear firing tweeter allows the speaker to sound very transparent, and not at all gimmickey. Overall, I prefer the Von Schweikert, of course, since I bought them, but you are definitely considering two very good speakers. Your ears are the final judge. I think, as a final comment, that Von Schweikert has trumped almost everyone in dynamic speakers at this point.The VSA's are better than almost anything up to about 20K (this is only my humble opinion). Good luck, and if you need any advice you can privately email me, you have a million choices.
Larry