Magnepan 30.7

[Ron Resnick]

Does anyone know the frequency at which the midrange driver in the midrange/tweeter panel crosses over to the mid-bass driver in the mid-bass/bass panel?

What is the crossover frequency between the mid-bass driver and the bass driver (both of which are in the mid-bass/bass panel)?

 

[MRJAZZ]

Does anyone know the frequency at which the midrange driver in the midrange/tweeter panel crosses over to the mid-bass driver in the mid-bass/bass panel?

What is the crossover frequency between the mid-bass driver and the bass driver (both of which are in the mid-bass/bass panel)?

I believe it’s 3 k for the Ribbon, not sure about mid bass driver transition...

 

[KlausR.]

Yesterday I had the occasion to listen to the 30.7 at a friend's home. Amps were Aesthetix Atlas, source was Aesthetix Romulus.

Frankly, I had expected more, given the hefty price tag (about 100 k-Euros) attached to the system. Some stuff like guitar ensembles (Friedemann "Saitensprung") or Church organ with choir and female singer (Marianne Mellnas "Julsang") was very pleasing, but the system failed on stuff like deep bass (Rio Amazonas by Oystein Sevag & Lakki Patey) and the electronic (?) drum in Sting's "A thousand years". Pogressive rock/metal with heavy guitars, mixed with very litte to no dynamic range (Ayreon, Universal migrator) was equally disappointing, when comparing to my system where the drum and Ayreon are much more powerful, and the Rio Amazonas bass more solid and pronounced. The Magnepan/Aesthetix did produce these sounds, but with someone pulling on the brake cable.

They also failed on the LEDR's Up and Lateral test signals.

My 2 cents,
Klaus

 

[Ron Resnick]

Yesterday I had the occasion to listen to the 30.7 at a friend's home. Amps were Aesthetix Atlas, source was Aesthetix Romulus.

Frankly, I had expected more, given the hefty price tag (about 100 k-Euros) attached to the system. Some stuff like guitar ensembles (Friedemann "Saitensprung") or Church organ with choir and female singer (Marianne Mellnas "Julsang") was very pleasing, but the system failed on stuff like deep bass (Rio Amazonas by Oystein Sevag & Lakki Patey) and the electronic (?) drum in Sting's "A thousand years". Pogressive rock/metal with heavy guitars, mixed with very litte to no dynamic range (Ayreon, Universal migrator) was equally disappointing, when comparing to my system where the drum and Ayreon are much more powerful, and the Rio Amazonas bass more solid and pronounced. The Magnepan/Aesthetix did produce these sounds, but with someone pulling on the brake cable.

They also failed on the LEDR's Up and Lateral test signals.

My 2 cents,
Klaus

Thank you for this report. Considering how many amps and loudspeakers these days cost €100,000 by themselves, and considering how well I personally think such a system would, in the right room, reproduce guitar ensembles and vocals, I would be happy to defend the proposition that the total system cost is reasonable for the SOTA sound quality one is getting on the types of music on which this system excels.

But you have written another point as well with which I agree: I think, and a friend of mine who has enjoyed Magnepans for over 25 years would agree, that this system needs serious sub-woofing (or even 100Hz woofing) to play deep bass and rock and metal.

I would consider a REL “six pack” of No. 25s or G1 Mk. IIs or a pair of JL Audio Gothams or Wilson Audio Master Subsonics to be necessary additions to this system for deep bass and rock and metal. A custom woofer tower system receiving a low-pass signal from a transparent cross-over device might be an even more effective (if much more DIY difficult) way to go.

 

[KlausR.]

I would be happy to defend the proposition that the total system cost is reasonable for the SOTA sound quality one is getting on the types of music on which this system excels.

In my book, SOTA is in the eye of the beholder. For me SOTA is still this





17Hz - 20 kHz, ± 1,5 dB. Designed to be neutral without compromise. Your mileage may vary.

But you have written another point as well with which I agree: I think, and a friend of mine who has enjoyed Magnepans for over 25 years would agree, that this system needs serious sub-woofing (or even 100Hz woofing) to play deep bass and rock and metal.

Would you not agree that a brand's flagship speaker, at this price point, should not need "a little help of its friends"?

Klaus

 

[Ron Resnick]

In my book, SOTA is in the eye of the beholder. For me SOTA is still this


View attachment 58536


17Hz - 20 kHz, ± 1,5 dB. Designed to be neutral without compromise. Your mileage may vary.



Would you not agree that a brand's flagship speaker, at this price point, should not need "a little help of its friends"?

Klaus

SOTA is in the ear of the beholder — I totally agree.

No, I cannot agree, on the help from friends point. Speakers often do not excel with every genre of music. I think 30.7s reproduce vocals and ensembles more realistically than many speakers costing multiples of the price of the 30.7s.

It does not offend my sensibility to think that for Magnepans to excel at deep bass and rock music as well we need to expand their operating envelope with additions of dynamic drivers which move a lot of air.

 

[KlausR.]

No, I cannot agree, on the help from friends point. Speakers often do not excel with every genre of music. I think 30.7s reproduce vocals and ensembles more realistically than many speakers costing multiples of the price of the 30.7s.

It does not offend my sensibility to think that for Magnepans to excel at deep bass and rock music as well we need to expand their operating envelope with additions of dynamic drivers which move a lot of air.

If the Magnepans need an exo-skeleton for climbing steep hills, then maybe that speaker technology should be considered as being seriously compromised in that particular respect and by design always be combined with on-board subs.

In any case, I mentioned this bass issue veeeeery cautiously against my friend and he basically agreed, but nevertheless seems to be perfectly happy with those Maggies, and this is what it is all about. My mileage clearly varies.

Klaus

 

[Ron Resnick]

Whether or not to add dynamic driver reinforcement to Magnepan speakers (or Martin-Logan CLS or CLX speakers or Analysis Audio speakers, etc.) is an age-old question. I like enough symphony orchestra music and rock music such that the answer for me personally would be “yes.”

But it’s tricky, because it is not just about bringing subwoofers up underneath the main panel speakers at 40Hz or so. What I would be missing on rock and symphony orchestra is oomph and power in the 100Hz to 200Hz region. So it is a conundrum.

This is why I switched years ago from MG-IIIAs to Martin-Logan Prodigys, and why my future ribbon speakers have cone driver reinforcement starting at 200Hz.

 

[jadis]

Sharing pics of most probably the first 30.7 in the Philippines. Owner is an old friend of mine. We almost have similar tastes in speakers, owning B&W800s in the 90s, and both of us have the 3.7i's but he went 2 steps further to the 30.7 just a month ago. He is very impressed by them.

 

[adyc]

What amp does he use to drive 30.7?

 

[jadis]

What amp does he use to drive 30.7?

BFA Mono blocks. He said the bass punch of these panels is almost equal to his huge 4 tower Danish speakers.

 

[Tango]

Sharing pics of most probably the first 30.7 in the Philippines. Owner is an old friend of mine. We almost have similar tastes in speakers, owning B&W800s in the 90s, and both of us have the 3.7i's but he went 2 steps further to the 30.7 just a month ago. He is very impressed by them.

View attachment 73025

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Awesome mystique listening room. The lighting and shadowing with wood contrast make the room feels special. I heard the 30.7 two times. Both times I like the tone, clarity., openness and tape--like sound very much. There are so many great audio rooms in asia.

 

[jadis]

Awesome mystique listening room. The lighting and shadowing with wood contrast make the room feels special. I heard the 30.7 two times. Both times I like the tone, clarity., openness and tape--like sound very much. There are so many great audio rooms in asia.

It's a deeply thought out room. The amazing thing is that this room is big enough to house 2 speakers 'back-to-back'. The other end of the room has a system anchored on Air Tights running Gryphon's Kodo speakers. So he will just 'spin' his listening chair around to listen to them.

 

[adyc]

It's a deeply thought out room. The amazing thing is that this room is big enough to house 2 speakers 'back-to-back'. The other end of the room has a system anchored on Air Tights running Gryphon's Kodo speakers. So he will just 'spin' his listening chair around to listen to them.

How large is the room? Thanks.

 

[jadis]

How large is the room? Thanks.

I have not visited him so I can just make an estimate. Should be around 80 to 100 square meters, rectangular.

 

[Addicted to hifi]

Sharing pics of most probably the first 30.7 in the Philippines. Owner is an old friend of mine. We almost have similar tastes in speakers, owning B&W800s in the 90s, and both of us have the 3.7i's but he went 2 steps further to the 30.7 just a month ago. He is very impressed by them.

View attachment 73025

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Beautiful setup I wish I had this much room for my 30.7s.congratulations

 

[Addicted to hifi]

Whether or not to add dynamic driver reinforcement to Magnepan speakers (or Martin-Logan CLS or CLX speakers or Analysis Audio speakers, etc.) is an age-old question. I like enough symphony orchestra music and rock music such that the answer for me personally would be “yes.”

But it’s tricky, because it is not just about bringing subwoofers up underneath the main panel speakers at 40Hz or so. What I would be missing on rock and symphony orchestra is oomph and power in the 100Hz to 200Hz region. So it is a conundrum.

This is why I switched years ago from MG-IIIAs to Martin-Logan Prodigys, and why my future ribbon speakers have cone driver reinforcement starting at 200Hz.

imho If you want real dynamics from a speaker only horn speakers can provide it.I gave up along time ago in trying to find a speaker that does it all.i use magnapan 30.7 for acoustic music , classical chamber music and high quality vocal recordings.than my stacked horns for pop, rock heavy metal any music that is very demanding because I am very demanding. I run to 15 inch subs with the horns for flat bass response to 18 hz.my horn system hits you in the chest with bass slam and dynamics.116 db for 1 watt input. My friends are absolutely blown away when they hear my horns for pop and rock and big orchestra sounds.the 30.7s shine in the areas my horns don’t.I believe I am now fixed for life.I listen to all types of music and have 2 very different speakers that give me everything I require.

 

[Gregadd]

" You got to have friends. You know you can't d o it alone."

 

[Addicted to hifi]

I don’t like the idea of magnapan using dynamic drivers with there panels.I like pure panels and I am sure a lot of people would agree with me.i don’t believe adding dynamic drivers would improve the Maggie’s for pop or rock music Much.they will still be much more suited for classical, jazz etc rather than a pop or rock speaker. If people want punch and real dynamics everyone knows only horns are good enough.

 

[Ron Resnick]

. . . If people want punch and real dynamics everyone knows only horns are good enough.

I am happy for you that you are satisfied with your two very different systems!

But . . . "everyone knows"? Many people would disagree, and contend that only the percussive impact of dynamic drivers can provide "punch and real dynamics." I personally think that both horns and big cones can provide "punch and real dynamics."

I, for one, find significant wooferage (e.g., a REL "6 pack") mated with Magnepan 20.7s (driven by a few hundred watts) to achieve sound which is close to or at the state-of-the art.