Magnepan - Legendary Planar Magnetic Loudspeakers

For over 50 years, Magnepan has defined a category all its own—planar magnetic loudspeakers that offer a sonic experience unlike anything else. Known for their stunning transparency, lifelike imaging, and wide-open soundstage, Magnepans have earned a legendary reputation among audiophiles and music lovers around the world. Now, we’re thrilled to bring these remarkable speakers to our showroom and to our customers.

A Brief History of Magnepan

Founded in 1969 by Jim Winey in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, Magnepan emerged out of a desire to solve what many audiophiles and engineers had long struggled with: how to faithfully reproduce the natural, immersive quality of live music without the limitations of traditional box speakers.

Winey’s breakthrough was the Magneplanar—a full-range planar magnetic speaker that used ultra-light Mylar film and magnetic drivers to create a fast, detailed, and coherent sound unlike any dynamic cone speaker. The result wasn’t just a new type of speaker—it was a new way of listening.

Over the decades, Magnepan has remained one of the most respected manufacturers in the audio world, known for its commitment to craftsmanship, minimalist design, and Made-in-USA ethos. From the towering Tympani systems of the 1970s to the beloved MG series, and the critically acclaimed LRS+, 1.7i, 3.7i, and 30.7, Magnepan speakers have consistently been lauded as giant-killers—delivering top-tier performance at prices that challenge the norm.

Magnepan speakers are not ordinary speakers. They are dipole radiators, producing sound from both the front and back of the speaker panel. This design creates a wide, three-dimensional soundstage that can fill a room with astonishing realism. Whether you’re listening to solo piano, orchestral recordings, or intimate jazz sessions, Magnepan speakers disappear into the room, leaving only the music behind.

What Planar Magnetic Technology Means for You
 

Magnepan speakers are fundamentally different from traditional speakers in both design and experience. Their planar magnetic architecture allows for:

• Line-source dispersion, minimizing ceiling and floor reflections while maximizing image stability
• Phase-coherent, crossover-optimized designs for seamless integration across frequency bands
• Reduced cabinet coloration, since there are no enclosures — just music
   

Because Maggies are dipoles, they interact with the room in a way that creates holographic depth and realistic spatial cues. Proper placement and pairing with quality electronics reward the listener with a breathtaking sense of presence — vocals that float in space, strings that shimmer with air, and bass that is tuneful and articulate.

“The first time I heard a Magnepan, it changed what I thought was possible from a loudspeaker. The experience was addictive — and unforgettable.”
— Steve Guttenberg, The Audiophiliac

Key advantages include:

• Incredibly low mass diaphragms for lightning-fast transients
• Phase-coherent sound and exceptional clarity across the frequency spectrum
• Unmatched imaging and spaciousness, especially with acoustic and vocal recordings
• Ribbon and quasi-ribbon technologies for lifelike resolution and detail

What Makes Magnepan Speakers Technically Unique
 

�� Driver Architecture

Magnepan speakers use one or more of the following driver types:

Quasi-ribbon planar magnetic drivers — These use aluminum foil traces bonded to a thin Mylar diaphragm suspended in a magnetic field. Unlike a voice coil, the entire diaphragm is energized, resulting in uniform force application and far lower mass than a cone driver.
True ribbon tweeters (available in higher-end models like the 3.7i and 20.7) — A pure aluminum ribbon, just microns thick, suspended in a magnetic gap. This type of tweeter has extremely low mass and no damping materials, yielding unmatched speed, air, and detail in high frequencies.
Line-source configuration — Most Magnepan models function as vertical line sources, which minimizes vertical floor/ceiling reflections and maintains consistent SPL at ear level, both near and far.

Dipole Radiation & Room Interaction

Magnepan panels are dipole radiators, meaning they radiate sound from both the front and rear of the diaphragm in equal but opposite phase. This has several acoustic consequences:

Reduced sidewall reflections, since the panels are less omnidirectional than box speakers
Natural ambiance retrieval, as rear-wall reflections contribute to a realistic sense of space
Minimal enclosure coloration, since there’s no traditional cabinet to store or reflect energy

Proper setup is essential, but once dialed in, Magnepans offer a holographic soundstage, with excellent depth, width, and image precision — ideal for critical listening.

Crossover Design & Integration

Magnepan crossovers are designed with time and phase coherence in mind. The company avoids steep slopes that can cause phase rotation, instead opting for designs that preserve waveform integrity between drivers. Key features include:

Minimalist crossover circuits using high-quality passive components
First-order or shallow-slope filters for natural driver blending
Series and parallel topologies, carefully optimized per model

Additionally, higher-end models like the 20.7 and 30.7 feature multi-panel modular designs and external passive crossovers, allowing for advanced bi-amping and more refined system tuning.

A Legacy of Audio Innovation

Founder Jim Winey, dissatisfied with the limitations of conventional cone-and-box loudspeakers, he developed the planar magnetic transducer — a flat, lightweight diaphragm suspended in a magnetic field, capable of moving air with incredible precision and speed. This technology formed the basis of the Magneplanar speaker, which quickly earned acclaim for its ability to reproduce music with breathtaking clarity and realism.

“With Magnepan, what you get is a sense of space and dimensionality that most conventional speakers can’t approach. The speakers just vanish, and you're left with the performance.”
— Michael Fremer, Analog Planet / The Absolute Sound

• Unlike typical dynamic drivers, Magnepan’s ultra-thin Mylar film diaphragm is driven across its entire surface by strategically placed conductive traces. This results in:
• Extremely low moving mass, which translates to razor-sharp transient response
• Uniform driver behavior across the frequency range, reducing distortion
• Dipolar radiation, creating a room-filling soundstage and natural ambient cues
• Ribbon and quasi-ribbon drivers in higher-end models for high-frequency delicacy and detail

Models That Have Become Benchmarks

Over the decades, Magnepan has built a loyal following by offering speakers that outperform their price class, often challenging and even eclipsing far more expensive competitors. Some of the most beloved and critically acclaimed models include:

• Magnepan LRS+ (Little Ribbon Speaker Plus): A stunning entry point into planar sound, offering resolution and imaging rarely found below $1,000.
• Magnepan 1.7i: A full-range speaker that’s become a reference point for price-to-performance in the industry.
• Magnepan 3.7i: Incorporating a true ribbon tweeter, this model delivers exceptional treble extension and micro-detail.
• Magnepan 20.7 and 30.7: Flagship-level planar systems capable of true full-range performance with monumental scale, ideal for dedicated listening rooms.
• Magnepan

“Few speakers can create the illusion of live music in a room the way a properly set-up pair of Maggies can. They are, in many ways, the most honest transducers I’ve ever heard.”

— John Atkinson, former Editor-in-Chief, Stereophile

OCD HiFi Guy Factory Tour, Part 1

OCD HiFi Guy Factory Tour, Part 2

Reviews Excerpts Over The Years

Tone Audio (2022)

Tone Audio's review highlights the 2.7x's immersive soundstage and build quality:

"The 2.7x plays a lot more music in a much more immersive way than past models... The new speakers have a simple elegance about them and Magnepan offers about 16 different frame/grille cloth combinations."
— Tone Audio

Magnepan MG 1.6/QR (1999)

In his review for Stereophile, Brian Damkroger noted:

"Each succeeding generation of Magneplanars has been more dynamic, detailed, and articulate than the previous one, all the while maintaining and even refining Magnepan's wonderful, seamless sound."

He highlighted the MG 1.6/QR as a significant advancement, blending planar strengths with dynamic system characteristics.

Magnepan MG 3.6/R (2002)

A review from SoundStage! praised the MG 3.6/R for its high-frequency performance:

"I listened to literally dozens of jazz, pop and orchestral LPs while looking for a chink in the ribbon’s armor, but I found none. This is certainly one of the finest high-frequency transducers currently available."

The reviewer emphasized the speaker's exceptional high-frequency transducer quality.

Magnepan MG 3.6R (2009)

Christiaan Punter from HiFi Advice compared the MG 3.6R favorably against Martin Logan speakers:

"Martin Logans may well be better suited for rock music: they sound more impressive and visceral, and love playing at high levels. Magnepans on the other hand are gentler and more refined, especially in the treble which is second to none." HiFi Advice

He also noted the importance of careful setup and positioning to achieve optimal performance.

Magnepan LRS (2021)

A review from Audio Nostalgia described the LRS as:

"Very musical and natural sounding speakers. Fantastic transparency and transient response. They are extremely engaging and easy to listen to."

The reviewer highlighted the LRS's exceptional value for money, despite some limitations in bass extension and dynamics.

Magnepan SMGa (2019)

In a retrospective review, Ric Mancuso from Audiophile Audition reflected on the SMGa's enduring appeal:

"The magic of Magnepan’s or other good flat panel designs is the absence of any box colorations. It’s an open sound field, most like listening to a concert outdoors."

He noted the SMGa's ability to perform well in various room environments, offering a natural and immersive listening experience.

Magnepan Factory Tour Video - 2022 - "American Made" by Darko Audio