The MG1.7x program
The general idea is to take the existing design of a given speaker, and simply, almost one-for-one, replace all of the components leading up to the driver, with superior ones. This yields a noticeable, graphable, and customer-awing improvement. Up to this point, every person who has received an “X” upgraded speaker, or even their unmarked predecessors and early partial upgrades and tests, has provided glowing reviews. Thus far the program has been unanimously well received across the board. There are certain model-specific features, but the MG___X Upgrade Program is at its core characterized by the following factors:
Better Capacitors:
All capacitors that aren’t already, are replaced with high quality, copper-rich, polypropylene capacitors [banks]. Each capacitor [and bank] used is individually tested to the hundredth such that left and right crossovers’ capacitances are within five hundredths. With the increased level of testing and decrease in tolerance, minor value tweaks are employed in some models resulting in fewer capacitors used and a smoother response overall.
Better Coils (Inductors):
All coils that aren’t already, are replaced with high-gauge, copper wire, air-core, bobbin wound coils [arrays]. Each coil [array] used is individually tested to the hundredth such that left and right crossovers’ inductances are within five hundredths. Model depended: with the above capacitance changes in mind, some values are minorly adjusted for smoother response overall.
Better Wiring:
All wiring (aside from the green (+) and yellow (-) wires for True Ribbon Tweeters) is replaced with 15ga or higher solid copper wire. Excess wire (for ease of assembly, for instance) is completely removed. Careful attention is paid to design, layout, and pathing of the crossover components such that wire lengths are short and the overall wire-mass is significantly reduced. Left and right crossover and nameplate impedances are ensured to be equivalent for ideal balance.
Better Connections:
All connections within the circuit, from the solder lug attached to the terminal screw on the nameplate, to the crossover board, to the driver terminal block, and back are soldered connections. Besides the terminal screw, solder lug, and jam nut connection on the nameplate, there are no mechanical connections used
Better Inputs:
All nameplate components are gold rather than nickel.
Appearance:
The appearance of an MG1.7X is not intended to be visually really any different from that of its non-X counterpart (aside from the gold nameplate components in situations where that wouldn’t already be stock). The crossover of some models may be visible, such as with the MG1.7x, and as such that will be noticeably different in a side-by-side test. The nameplate will also have a small red “X” after the model to denote that it is a part of the X Upgrade program.
"This is a genuine Hall of Famer, and
an easy pick for TAS 2021 Budget Product of the Year."
In Issue 107, JV (Jonathan Valin - the absolute sound) selected Magnepan's tall, skinny, three-way, full range, quasi-ribbon, dipole MG 1.7i floorstander as one of his favorite loudspeakers of the last 70 years. High in resolution, low in distortion, with enough bass and treble (of superlatively high quality) to satisfy anyone save a headbanger, and a midrange that reproduces well-recorded voices and acoustic instruments with jaw-dropping realism, it is one of those "sweet-spot" wonders that pops up every decade or two. The 1.7i gave you a generous taste of everything its bigger and more expensive Maggie brothers were capable of for a fraction of what you'd pay for the same wonderment in a top-line dynamic speaker. In his review of Maggie's latest version of this classic, the 1.7i, long time TAS reviewer John Nork (who purchased the review pair) was in complete agreement.
John Nork 1.7i review
