The roll-out of Magnepan's 1.7, in my opinion, has been one of the most anticipated audio events in the past few years. I've heard many audiophiles and music lovers at shows, on the web, and on forums speculating about the new speaker. Magnepan, certainly one of the cornerstones of high-end sound, has a large, faithful following, many of which have been eagerly anticipating the follow-on and upgrade to the much-loved 1.6.I've lived happily with the 1.6 for the past year, and was thrilled when Wendell Diller from Magnepan offered me a pair of 1.7s to evaluate. Wendell didn't stop there. He also arranged for a Bryston 4BSST2 power amp to accompany the 1.7s, and came out with his lovely wife Galina to set them up with a personal touch. Very nice.