Mark Dickerson
Stunt Coordinator
- Joined
- May 10, 2003
- Messages
- 128
Doug:
I originally had some DCM Time Windows which I purchased in law school some 24 years ago, but replaced them with some B + W 601s when I moved into a smaller house in California (The DCMs needed more room!). I have had the B+Ws for the past 12 years and they really have not been satisfying after the DCMs, but we had our family in the meantime and I really couldn't find what I wanted.
As for comparisons, I went to a local dealer and heard the smallest pair of Maggies (MG12s) that they had on hand that retailed for $1050US and compared them to some Paradigms (Monitor 7s, I believe) that retailed for $1200US. I heard the Paradigms first and I liked them very much--they were balanced, accurate, and very smooth. I could listen to them and enjoy them for a long time. But I only had to hear the Maggies for about 5 minutes and there was no comparison for me--the Maggies sounded clearer and much more lifelike. The speakers disappeared and the performers were now in the room. By comparison, the Paradigms sounded "veiled" and a bit boxy (something that has bothered me about my B+Ws for years). I remarked to the salesperson that it sounded like a wet blanket had been thrown over the Paradigms.
I have also heard several of the Polks, and I found their LSi Series to be interesting and enjoyable, but again, they sounded boxy by comparison, and not quite as seamless. By "boxy", I mean the soundstage is relatively small and compressed, when compared to the Maggies. I have wanted to hear some Monitor Audio speakers for years, but I am new to Colorado and I have not found a dealer for Monitor yet.
Other speakers that I listened to before buying the Maggies include the jm Lab Cobalt 816s (too bright for me, but pretty nice otherwise), KEF Q7s (too coarse, and unfocused, especially for the price), KEF Reference Model 203 (very nice and enjoyable, but at over $2K, too expensive), and Thiel CS 1.5 and 2.3 (very nice, and somewhat close to the Maggies, but I thought they sounded a little clinical compared to the Maggies).
When I ordered the MMGs, I did not know if they would be comparable to the MG12s that I heard at the dealer or not. In particular, I originally feared the MMGs would not have the bass compared to the MG12s and thought about putting in a subwoofer before I ever got them. However, when I actually got the MMGs wired up, I was very satisfied and a bit surprised. Bass is no problem! The top end was nice from the beginning, but I must say that as I play them (and I am playing them a lot), they are getting even smoother. Best of all, the imaging is absolutely first rate, just like their bigger brother. Now, while I do not have the bass to rattle the roof in the explosions in my action DVDs, they have more than enough for the music I listen to. (I will add a sub to my HT system after I purchase a receiver). Supposedly, the bass rolls off at 50 Mhz, but I am able to hear everything on my prized recordings. Most importantly, the string orchestras sound warm and mellow, without sounding edgy, there is no "chestiness" in male voices, and female voices sound right without sibilance. My wife, who has faithfully tolerated my obsession with buying new stereo equipment for the past 23 years, but who was never much impreessed with it, told me that she now understands. In short, I consider the MMGs superior to the Paradigm and Polk speakers I have heard in your $1500 price range, and the MMGs cost about 1/3 as much.
I consider my purchase of the MMGs to be the best HiFi purchase I have ever made. In fact, they are a steal. I am now a devoted Maggie owner and I have only had them for four and a half weeks! For those who have purchased the bigger Maggies, they must really be in Nirvana. But I am very pleased with my MMGs. Now if I could only get the right receiver to drive a whole Maggie HT system, I would be really happy!
I originally had some DCM Time Windows which I purchased in law school some 24 years ago, but replaced them with some B + W 601s when I moved into a smaller house in California (The DCMs needed more room!). I have had the B+Ws for the past 12 years and they really have not been satisfying after the DCMs, but we had our family in the meantime and I really couldn't find what I wanted.
As for comparisons, I went to a local dealer and heard the smallest pair of Maggies (MG12s) that they had on hand that retailed for $1050US and compared them to some Paradigms (Monitor 7s, I believe) that retailed for $1200US. I heard the Paradigms first and I liked them very much--they were balanced, accurate, and very smooth. I could listen to them and enjoy them for a long time. But I only had to hear the Maggies for about 5 minutes and there was no comparison for me--the Maggies sounded clearer and much more lifelike. The speakers disappeared and the performers were now in the room. By comparison, the Paradigms sounded "veiled" and a bit boxy (something that has bothered me about my B+Ws for years). I remarked to the salesperson that it sounded like a wet blanket had been thrown over the Paradigms.
I have also heard several of the Polks, and I found their LSi Series to be interesting and enjoyable, but again, they sounded boxy by comparison, and not quite as seamless. By "boxy", I mean the soundstage is relatively small and compressed, when compared to the Maggies. I have wanted to hear some Monitor Audio speakers for years, but I am new to Colorado and I have not found a dealer for Monitor yet.
Other speakers that I listened to before buying the Maggies include the jm Lab Cobalt 816s (too bright for me, but pretty nice otherwise), KEF Q7s (too coarse, and unfocused, especially for the price), KEF Reference Model 203 (very nice and enjoyable, but at over $2K, too expensive), and Thiel CS 1.5 and 2.3 (very nice, and somewhat close to the Maggies, but I thought they sounded a little clinical compared to the Maggies).
When I ordered the MMGs, I did not know if they would be comparable to the MG12s that I heard at the dealer or not. In particular, I originally feared the MMGs would not have the bass compared to the MG12s and thought about putting in a subwoofer before I ever got them. However, when I actually got the MMGs wired up, I was very satisfied and a bit surprised. Bass is no problem! The top end was nice from the beginning, but I must say that as I play them (and I am playing them a lot), they are getting even smoother. Best of all, the imaging is absolutely first rate, just like their bigger brother. Now, while I do not have the bass to rattle the roof in the explosions in my action DVDs, they have more than enough for the music I listen to. (I will add a sub to my HT system after I purchase a receiver). Supposedly, the bass rolls off at 50 Mhz, but I am able to hear everything on my prized recordings. Most importantly, the string orchestras sound warm and mellow, without sounding edgy, there is no "chestiness" in male voices, and female voices sound right without sibilance. My wife, who has faithfully tolerated my obsession with buying new stereo equipment for the past 23 years, but who was never much impreessed with it, told me that she now understands. In short, I consider the MMGs superior to the Paradigm and Polk speakers I have heard in your $1500 price range, and the MMGs cost about 1/3 as much.
I consider my purchase of the MMGs to be the best HiFi purchase I have ever made. In fact, they are a steal. I am now a devoted Maggie owner and I have only had them for four and a half weeks! For those who have purchased the bigger Maggies, they must really be in Nirvana. But I am very pleased with my MMGs. Now if I could only get the right receiver to drive a whole Maggie HT system, I would be really happy!