Can Magnepan survive Wendell Diller?

I don't think DMW bass panels were ever marketed as subwoofers but rather to reinforce the bass of existing Maggie's which go to about 30 or 35 hz.
If Maggie's sound could be greatly improved at a very reasonable price I'm sure they would be, or someone would be offering it as a service or a diy kit.
If you feel better buying a different speaker you think offers you more at the same price buy them.
I think Maggie's continue to be a terrific bargain in today's world for us who enjoy the sound after all every speaker is a compromise.

As far as the race car comparison, that's nonsense. Passenger car and SUV engines are getting smaller and smaller. And, for production racing (by far the most common form) the size of the motors corresponds mostly to the size of the production car motor. Even true with retrograde NASCAR   With F1, it's completely at the mercy of the marketing and political whims of the FIA. And Motorcycle racing hasn't messed with the engine categories in over 20yrs. So it had NOTHING to do with audio, whatsoever. 

The guy sounds lazy.  Rather than cheap and greedy, like klipsch, as a corporate strategy.  But it’s working for him.  Until it doesn’t.  Fortunately there’s a lot of innovation going on with parts and designs for those of us who care.  Magnepan doesn’t owe anybody anything, so file your grievance and make the most of your own ingenuity.

I was an early Magnepan user in the late 70's and early 80's.  Somehow I moved away looking for better audiophile sound.  I moved up over the years to a full Meridian top of the line system.  Last year I chucked it all in and bought a big Classe amp and a pair of 1.7s.  After working with them for about a month, I had great sound.  This year I bought a pair of 3.7i's with Mye stands.  I just about have them dialed in.  I have only put in better jumpers and have replaced the fuses with copper tubing.  I love the sound.  I do not see any other speaker in my future.  Most speakers are flawed in some way.  I can joyfully live with the flaws of the Magnepans

William53b - Thank you for this thread. I have enjoyed all of the comments - I have been a Maggie owner since 1982, and have gone thru  the MG11s, 1.6qrs, and now own a set of 1.7is with a DWM base panel. I got my 1.6qrs modded by Peter Gunn - he puts the panels into a custom wood frame for you (mine are ambrosia maple with zebra wood trim. I then added the Audiokenesis SWARM subwoofer system to my modded 1.6s. Peter Gunn puts in his own high quality crossover network. The midrange and high end on my modded 1.6a is much better than my 1.7is. Vocals are amazing. I use the modded system in my Mancave and also run movies Thur the system - the subs do a great job with most movies soundtracks and I do not overstress the 1.6 panels trying to fill the room with strong base.

The only way I got my DWM panel to really work well with my 1.7is was to biamp it. Running it as Maggie  suggests in parallel with the 1.7s overheated my Krell integrated amp( Krell K300i). Once I biamped my system I got more bass into the room to where I am happy with this system.

per Peter Gunn - the change in manufacturing of the 1.6 panel (using copper wire for the midrange and bass and foil for the quasi ribbon tweeter) and the 1.7is (using all foil for the bass, midrange and tweeter) is a major limiting factor on the 1.7 design. After living with my two systems now - I agree with him.

. So I agree the Magnepan design can be improved - people are doing it.

This is the beauty of our hobby - for my home - for my budget - my two systems ‘knock it out of the park’ - if you are ever near Greenville SC come by for a listen!