Hi all,
Magnepans are planar dipole radiators, so the back wave is out of phase with the front wave (that's why they don't have any bass from the flat planar driver, because the back wave and front waves cancel each other out at low frequencies). Like other dipole and bipole speakers (the old Mirages), depending on the room setup and speaker placement, they can generate a big, diffuse soundstage that can be very flattering, especially in stereo. Imaging tends to not be as precise but it doesn't matter at first---the big wide soundstage is very seductive.
It's a quite different presentation from conventional direct-radiating speakers. Some love it, others find it overly large and unrealistic. I don't think they are suitable at all for home theater because you want precise imaging across the front soundstage. The Magnepans, like other planar speakers, have serious limitations in dynamic abilities at loud listening levels. If the mylar/plastic diaphragm moves too far, various unpleasant-sounding things may occur. Still, it is fun to explore the different presentation of a planar flat panel.
Regards,
Alan
