Magnepan MG1

[danger boy]

ok.. a friend of a friend who knows someone's friend has a pair of these Magnepan MG1's for sale for $175

but I don't know much about them.. I understand they are quasi - ribbon speaker tweeters.. but that's about all i know.

I remember a few of the people in here at one time have owned a pair of Maggies.. but what else should I know about them?

I can't go see and hear them because the seller lives like a long ways away...

so if anyone has any insight into MG1's please post here. or PM me. :)

[honda cber]

those are vintage speakers, lol...

though i have not heard MG1, i have heard newer versions and have promised myself to own some in my lifetime. of course, that will necessitate buying a power amp, as it seems these would laugh at anything i own now.

provided i had the cash, i would personally be very interested in a deal like that...
a

[BlueMDPicker]

The MG1's are prone to deterioration of the adhesive that bonds the aluminum magnet wire to the Mylar planar surface. If the wire has become exposed to the atmosphere, it can turn to aluminum oxide rather rapidly.

Magnaplanar no longer rebuilds the MG1's, but does offer the wire, aluminum solder, terminals strips, and (most importantly) UV protectant that goes on after the wires are adhered in kit form for around $50. The MG1 IMP (simple crossover circuit added) and later models have the UV protectant missing in the MG1 and Tympani models.

If you can't go hear them or have a trusted friend who can, I'd take a pass. Additionally, they don't ship well as un-redone vintage models. Shipping shock and vibration can break the magnet wire--especially the tweeter section.

I'd hold out for another pair you can get an ear on. $175 is a wee bit above average for this model.

[danger boy]

thanks for the info BlueMDPicker .. they are not located close to me.. other side of the state.. plus the room they would be in would be to small I think for this type of speaker.. so i'm passing on them.

[dkg999]

If you want to experiment with the Maggie/Planer sound, I would pick up a new set of MMG's for $550. By the time you bought the MG1's for $175, then put the time & money in them to fix them, you would be close to the $550 the MMG's cost. And the MMG's usually resell with no problem for $350 to $400 if you don't like them.