Magnepan 1.7i

The 1.7i does not deliver shuddering subsonic output, and HomeTheaterHifi found deep bass limited compared with conventional box speakers. Nevertheless, reviewers describe the low end as quick, clean and tight, with excellent pitch definition, texture and usable extension to around 40Hz when properly set up.

Midrange reproduction is a major attraction. The Absolute Sound found the 1.7i purer, less coloured and more coherent than earlier moderate-size Magnepans, with especially convincing voices, brass and instrumental timbres.

The quasi-ribbon high frequencies are widely praised for detail, transparency and extension. HomeTheaterHifi heard more overtone presence and a crystal-clear, vibrant trumpet sound without undue sibilance.

The speaker's ability to disappear is repeatedly highlighted, producing a large and unusually believable sense of recorded space. Reviewers describe ample three-dimensionality, eerily lifelike front-to-back placement and strong separation of instruments, though exact positioning and tweeter orientation materially affect the result.

One reviewer reports that the 1.7i can initially sound polite and somewhat lifeless, with limited dynamic range before substantial break-in. HomeTheaterHifi also measured high distortion at 50Hz and 90dB, although distortion was low in the midrange and treble.

The 1.7i's tall, enclosure-free dipole construction is inherently light for its size, and its mirror-imaged pair arrangement supports careful setup. The supplied reviews offer little direct comment on cabinet finishing, long-term durability or terminal quality.

At roughly $2,245-$2,995 per pair depending on market and period, reviewers consider the 1.7i an exceptional buy among serious loudspeakers. HomeTheaterHifi called the earlier $2,000-per-pair version one of the great values in speakers, while The Absolute Sound described the 1.7i as a steal and one of audio's finest values.