A simple question. Is the LRS the best effort by Magnepan? What if it were a not so good example of what Magnepan can do ? I am awaiting measurements from other dipoles to form an opinion. This is the first and only dipole so far reviewed by Amir,
Magnepan has often stated that the "LRS" was marketed to give people who couldn't afford one of their higher priced models, a "taste" of Magnepan. It's simply a loss-leader speaker that likely has a very low profit margin at $650.
I've owned the LRS, the .7 and finally, the 1.7i over the course of 6 weeks. For my preference, the .7 performed the best in my 16' x 15' living room. I really liked the .7 - but the guy who bought my LRS model, also wanted the .7, too. So, I reluctantly sold them to him. I then sprung for the 1.7i, which in my room, was a huge mistake. The speakers didn't bring me the same joy that the .7 model did. The 1.7i was towering behemoth compared to the .7 and really killed the views in my living room with the windows. I placed the 1.7i up for sale, and ironically, the guy that bought the LRS and the .7 from me, also wanted the 1.7i, too. So, I sold them. Now, I'm Magnepan-less in my home. It was a good experience.
Some impressions: When using the Crown XLS1502 amplifier, the LRS and .7 was capably powered. However, when switching out the Crown for a Parasound A23+, the bass was much better defined on the .7 than the LRS. I could really hear where the .7 benefitted from the better amplifier. I didn't have the Crown amplifier at the time I had the 1.7i, so I couldn't make any conclusions with respect to amplifier comparisons.
With the Magnepans being gone, I can reflect upon it being a great listening experience. The Magnepans did quite well with the jazz I'd listen to, but seemed to be a bit weak when it came to listening to rock and roll.
So, now here I am with the Wharfedale Linton Heritage speakers, on their dedicated stands. The sound is big, full, and does well with many genres of music. Plus, I've brought back my view in my living room with respect to being able to see out the windows again.
Here's a view of the 1.7i in my living room. As you can see, they are quite large - standing at 65" tall, with a few more inches added to that height by using the Mye stands.