Magneplanar MMG review - by Bob O'Neill - The Audio Curmudgeon (Bound For Sound)

Five-hundred-fifty bucks per pair is the price.

Magnepan is selling the MMG direct!

That's right! By mail!!-or at least UPS.

For only $599 with a 60 day "if you don't like 'em send 'em back guarantee." You also get a 100% trade-in allowance if you buy another, presumably larger, pair at your dealer within one year. What a deal!

These mini-Mags are the smallest speakers that Magnepan makes - they even have the great quasiribbon tweeter/mid-range. Their size may be small but their sound is BIG.

In preparation for this review, I listened to a number of speakers in the price range. (And remember, with ordinary box speakers you have to figure another one or two hundred dollars for stands. The MMG's are , of course, floor standing and thus require no stinking stands.) I have yet to hear any other competitive speakers that sound as real, or as natural as the mini-Mags. In order to b your attention in a dealer show m, the box speakers have a

boosted bass and exaggerated highs. Take one of these boxes home and see how long it takes you to tire of boomy one note bass and ear splitting treble.

Let's face it, there are few - very few - good $599 speakers out there. Most of them will make Bonnie Raitt sound like Lyle Lovett, and they will not have the definition and imagery, breadth or depth of sound stage that a planar speaker can give you. On the MMG's, a Steinway will sound like a Steinway and not like that old spinet in your uncle's basement.

Buy these! They are one of the true bargains in audio. And then in three or four months when you've become as hooked on planar sound as I am, truck 'em on down to your Magneplanar dealer and trade 'em in (remember that 100% trade-in allowance) on some bigger and better Maggies.