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Magnepan 20.7
20.7
These Maggies' magical ability to transport listeners to a different space and time, and to there realistically recreate (with lifelike scope and size) the sound of acoustic instruments and the venue they were recorded in is extraordinary. It almost goes without saying (since these are Magnepans), but the 20.7s are also incredibly good values, although you're going to have to bring a lot of power to this party, and you're going to need a good deal of room to house two speakers the size and width of a couple of NFL linebackers. Don Saltzman- the absolute sound, 249
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The Magnepan 20.7 delivers a vast, immersive soundstage and an exceptionally vivid midrange; its full-height ribbon treble adds airy, detailed top end while large planar panels yield taut, controlled bass. HiFi News and Audiophilepure praise its imaging and timing, noting it needs a powerful amp and ample room to shine.
Pros
- Exceptional midrange clarity and timing that reveals instrumental detail and keeps complex mixes coherent.
- Huge, three-dimensional soundstage and precise imaging that create immersive, well-layered presentations.
- Resolving ribbon treble and taut planar bass deliver airy top-end detail and controlled low-frequency performance.
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Cons
- Very low sensitivity — requires a powerful amplifier to reach high SPLs and avoid running out of headroom.
- Large physical size and dipole behavior demand ample room and careful placement to achieve the best results.
- Single pair of terminals only (no native bi-/tri-amping or bi-wiring), limiting connection flexibility.
Sound Quality
93/100
Bass
91/100
Large-panel dipole bass is taut, well controlled and extends convincingly for a panel design; reviewers describe 'taut and supple' bass guitar and reduced LF room gain typical of dipoles. Lacks the slam/physical impact of big box woofers and sensitivity requires a powerful amp, so the presentation is refined rather than chest-thumping.
Mid
95/100
Midrange is a standout: reviewers praise lifelike string attack, superb timbral detail and coherent, seamless presentation across the range. The 20.7 is noted for unwrapping complex mixes and maintaining timing of massed instruments, giving vivid musical presence.
Treble
94/100
True ribbon treble and quasi-ribbon mid produce exceptional shimmer and top-end detail ('shimmer on the hi-hats' and unusually expressive synthesisers). Treble is highly resolving and airy without reviewer-noted harshness, though the delivery can be incisive.
Soundstage Imaging
94/100
Soundstaging is superb and immersive: reviewers report huge, well-layered images and fine left/right separation (cymbals and tambourines distinctly placed). The dipole behaviour gives a vast, room-filling three-dimensionality, though room size and placement strongly influence the result.
Dynamics
88/100
Excellent timing and conviction convey micro- and macro-dynamics well, preserving instrument attack and pace. However, reviewers note percussion is not especially physically impactful and there's slight compression at very high SPLs; sensitivity limits headroom without a muscular amp.
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Build Quality
89/100
Construction is consistent with Magnepan's high-end planar approach; review references the acoustically transparent 'socks' and substantial panel engineering. No major build criticisms in the review, but detailed notes on internal bracing/crossover were not given.
Features Connectivity
80/100
Passive baseline applied.
Value for Money
74/100
Sonically exceptional but expensive (~£19k in UK / listed price range shown), and requires a large room and powerful amplification to fully shine. Great performance for the price if you have matching system/space, but the high cost and placement/amp demands limit broad value appeal.
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