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Maggie LRS so ridiculously good

I ordered a set of the LRS just to be able to say I have lived with Maggies at least once.  I've had a lot of speakers and some big dog expensive ones like Kef Blade and Revel Salon 2 to name a couple.  These 650 dollar LRS bring as much enjoyment as anything I've ever heard in so many ways.  They don't love hard driving music for sure but for quiet listening or mellow type music they will give you transcendent moments.  I swear they are breaking in or something and becoming a little more dynamic than when brand new.  These have to be one of the greatest hifi bargains of all time.  My 30 watt Pass 30.8 drives them well.  I had 3.6 maggies many years ago and I snubbed them, thought they were so compressed sounding but maybe I was wrong or not using the right amp.  These are just wow and so impressive what you can get for the money.  I have a feeling a killer amp is a big part of the equation with these but even with a Naim Uniti Atom in a smaller space these are still awesome.  This has to be the ultimate apartment speaker for someone who can't turn it up very loud and likes to listen late and night, you can really enjoy these at very low levels.  Anyway I just wanted to put my enthusiasm on public record, if you are thinking of pulling the trigger do it and also give them some time don't write them off to quickly.  I wish I had a separate space so I could always have a set of maggies ready to listen to when the mood and music was just right.  
128x128ejlif
keegiam
730 posts
 
This thread is tempting me to try my first new speaker in 28 years.  With the Magnepan 60-day trial offer, what's the risk?
Do you think my 175 wpc Classe would drive the LRS well enough?  My room is only 11' wide by 14' deep, but the rear wall is mostly open with another room beyond.
pkatsuleas
248 posts
 
keegiam, I think it's more important how the amp does with 4 ohm or below loads than how many watts.  I've tried my McCormack dna .5 and Rogue Atlas Magnum 3 tube amp (each 100 watts) with good results.  But, my Hegel H360 is the best combination.  420 watts into 4 ohms and damping factor of over 4000 does the trick very nicely.    

As mentioned, they are not the best for slam or rock concert levels.  But get plenty loud for me.  They excel with drums, voices, guitar, horns, air.  I will most likely be picking up a REL sub in the near future to help flesh things out.
ejlif's avatar
ejlif OP
1,366 posts
 
Yeah I think you'd be fine with the Classe amp.  I'm running a 30 watt amp in an 18x26 room that opens to an upstair and it get loud enough for me.  You aren't going to get super loud kick ass sound out of these but what they do well is pure magic.  Since mine have broken in they seem to be opening up more and not as closed and compressed sounding as when brand new.  Give them a chance when you get them don't write them off to soon

keegiam
730 posts
 
I listen mostly to jazz, blues and guitar solos/duets/trios.  I don't need to play loud rock, but I do like to hear those types of music at nearly realistic levels (like seeing a live music in a small club.)  I'm a vinyl head and am not opposed to dabbling in tubes at some point.  In the process of getting my SOTA/SME V refurbished & rewired, with a new A-T ART9XA cartridge to boot - it should be ready any day now.

I'm used to more of a full range sound (Aerial 10t's) but am curious if I'd get hooked on the spaciousness of the LRS.  Also, I've always loved electrostatics but, like many, never wanted huge panels.

The reason I went Classe pre and Classe amp was my concern over the tubes deteriorating (or the nagging thought that they were).  I think I was just being paranoid.
tom8999
151 posts
 
I have been a Maggie owner since 1972 so I am biased - but I do have friends that use B and W and Wilson. Glad to hear you like the LRS speakers. As you move up their speaker line IMO you get a lot more sound for the money with the 1.7is. They are just over $2200, but the clarity, soundstage and  vocal quality are hard to beat. The 3.7i get you to the true ribbon tweeter but cost to get there is $6300. Most posts I see on this website do not do any cost / benefit analysis. With the LSRs below $1000 - this is the best way to expand this hobby to the masses.  You do need clean power to push any Maggies, but once you have the power and a good source - I use Krell and LUMIN - the sky is the limit.

Happy Listening!
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