Our most popular price range for loudspeaker sales is about $2k per pair, give or take a few bucks. We have an absolute embarrassment of riches in that price range. Let’s take a look.
Magnepan MG-1.7i, $3000pr (65h, 19w, 2d)
Magnepan’s 1.7i is impossible to beat for the money. That doesn’t mean it’s the right choice for everyone. But it might be the right choice for you.
Musically, Magnepan presents a very large, airy, lifelike image. The sheer size of the vocal coming at you from a Maggie is as convincing as any speaker, at any price. The 1.7i does not take a back seat to the plethora of $50-100k per pair, gigundo boxes out there. In fact, the Maggies sound less congested- at a fraction of the price!
Maggies do their best work on acoustic music. Vocal, guitar, piano… which is most of what I listen to. As a bad classical piano player myself, but one who practices every day nonetheless, the definition of the Maggie is unsurpassed.
When a world class pianist like Emanuel Ax is going to play a recital in NYC, he goes to the Steinway store and tries out several different pianos. Even among Steinway D’s, the king of concert pianos, no two are the same. Ax will test drive what’s on hand. The tone can be a little brighter or duller. The bass can be muddier or more taut. Which one does he choose? The one his wife tells him to- of course! She’s a Julliard piano teacher too.
Why wouldn’t we want speakers that can reveal the most subtle of nuances? Ax chose his piano for its sound (and action). Why not hear in your living room what he chose?
The 1.7i is a three way speaker implementing a super tweeter. It has true Quasi design throughout.
Magnepan MG .7, $2000pr
(52h, 15 1/4w, 2d)
Bryston A-3 $3290pr
(37.5h, 9.25w, 15d, 53lbs ea)
In Bryston’s A-3 we have a speaker with a different spin. Bryston values testosterone and the ability to deliver big time volume compared to everyone else in this range.
A-3 delivers the biggest punch and horsepower in its price class. With extremely heavy duty drivers and a massively heavy cabinet- typically 25-50% heavier than similarly priced competitors- A3 delivers the goods. In a recent survey by English mag “What Hifi” of speakers under $3000pr, 43lbs was the heaviest competitor. Some were 30lbs. The A-3 is 53lbs.
A-3 uses two 6.5” cast frame woofs with monster magnets, a 5.25” cast mid and the same Titanium dome tweeter used in its bigger brothers. SPL-wise, A3 is 3dB lower than T-5. A-3 is powerful and smooth- not bright.
Whether you’re looking for a powerful theater or music system, Brystons are up to the task with a 20 year warranty!