No doubt some will find it unorthodox that Magnepan has turned to Outlaw Audio, an Internet-based company, for their ICBM, which may or may not be required for use depending on the adjustability of the bass-management system of your processor. Personally, I applaud Magnepan for doing what it takes to bring to market a home-theater system that is purely Magneplanar in spirit. However, the ICBM is an extra $325, and you'll have to buy it over the Internet unless Magnepan can work something out with Outlaw Audio and its own dealer network. As a customer myself, and in the face of rising Internet sales that bypass the traditional brick-and-mortar shops, I would encourage support of any dealer who stocked the Magneplanar-specific ICBM so that customers could buy this complete system in one place. If you find such a dealer, treasure him -- he's clearly one of the good guys.

In the meantime, I can only try to sum up this Magneplanar system as the most revealing, the most emotionally evocative, and the most reasonably priced system that I’ve ever reviewed for Home Theater & Sound. Adding to this system’s wonder is that you don’t have to break the bank on electronics to experience this level of reproduction either. This system is so utterly clean, detailed and transparent that those forced to use ultra-polite levels (such as apartment dwellers) will not miss a trick. And while bass performance was very good on its own, it will require a good subwoofer to plumb the depths of deep bass, just as do most systems comprised of even more expensive speakers.

I am in a quandry. I live in Portland, Oregon and we seem to have only one Maggie dealer. When I dropped by one day they were in "flux." They were still doing construction.

I am down to two speakers for an upgrade I would like to get to this summer; the ML Vista and the Magnapan 12 or 3.6. I would really be interested in hearing your thoughts on the better choice.

I know the best judge is my own ears but I just don't want to end up with something that I really regret.

Thanks for your help

Aaronmadler, I thought I'd heard on this site that Outlaw has stopped making the ICBM. Maybe the 990's bass management has made it unnecessary.

psyprof1,

The review was from several years ago at least. I still have not yet received the Maggies.