Magnepan MC1 Speakers

Built to order

$1,495.00

Need advice? Want a price match?

Talk to Mike

Third-generation owner

Call or text: 410-239-2020

Yes, that's literally his cell

Availability

Custom built to order in White Bear Lake, MN. Lead time is approximately 3-5 weeks from order.

See our Terms & Conditions for details.

Family-Owned Authorized Dealer

We're an authorized dealer for every brand listed on this site, so your warranty is valid and fully supported. We're a real brick-and-mortar shop in Chestertown, MD with shelves of actual inventory, not a drop-shipper. Family-owned and run for three generations, since 1978.

Magnepan Delivery and Shipping

Magnepan Speakers are large and most incur a fee unless delivered.

Free Local delivery up to 500 miles or more with minimum qualifying purchase
See our shipping policies for details. We will contact you after your order.

Color Options

Magnepan offers an array of variants and colors. If you have questions or want to see more of what Magnepan can do with visual choices, contact us.

The Magnepan MC1 is an on-wall, 2-way quasi-ribbon planar speaker that brings full Magneplanar sound to rooms where floor-standing panels will not fit. Just one inch deep, it mounts flat to a wall or the side of a cabinet and folds out of the way when it is not in use. Run a pair as surround speakers, or angle two as a dual center array. Paired with a Magneplanar woofer or a powered subwoofer, the MC1 covers both home theater and serious music listening, with the speed, definition, and open soundstage the panel design is known for.

Key Features

Compact Wall-Mounted Design: Attaches to walls or cabinets, ideal for spaces where floor-standing speakers are impractical.
2-Way Planar/Quasi Ribbon Technology: Delivers midbass to high-frequency performance with the speed and definition of a Magneplanar panel.
Foldable Convenience: Folds out of the way when not in use, and angles for the best sound dispersion when it is.
Enhanced Low-Frequency Response: Wall placement uses boundary reinforcement to extend bass down to 80Hz from a one-inch-deep panel.
Home Theater and Music Use: Works as a surround, as a dual center array, or as a music speaker in tight rooms.

Design and Build

The MC1 measures just 1 inch deep, so it sits unobtrusively on a wall or cabinet. Its planar-magnetic and quasi ribbon driver panel is thin and light without giving up the character of a full Magneplanar. The speaker is available in several trim and fabric options to match the room, and the foldable design lets it angle for optimal dispersion or fold flat against the wall when not in use.

Performance

Despite its compact size, the MC1 delivers a large soundstage and real dynamic range. With a frequency response of 80Hz to 24kHz, it reproduces music and movie soundtracks with clarity and precision. The planar-magnetic design gives fast transient response and low distortion, resolving fine detail that box speakers this size tend to smear. Paired with a Magneplanar woofer or a subwoofer, the MC1 fills out to full-range performance for both critical listening and home theater.

Technology

The MC1 uses Magnepan's planar-magnetic and quasi ribbon technology, replacing cone drivers with a thin, lightweight diaphragm suspended in a magnetic field. This delivers speed and accuracy in the midrange and highs, and the quasi ribbon extends the top end for detailed, natural treble. Mounting the speaker on a wall or cabinet lets the MC1 use boundary reinforcement to reach down to 80Hz, and the foldable mechanism lets you angle the panel for the best dispersion and imaging.

Surround and Center Channel Use

Designed for wall or cabinet mounting, the MC1 is an easy fit for rooms with limited floor space, and optional floor stands add placement flexibility. It is rated for amplifiers from 40 to 200 watts at 8 ohms and presents a 4 ohm load. Used as a surround, a pair brings the planar character to the sides and rear of a home theater. Used as a dual center array, two MC1s angled toward the wall on either side of a monitor create a centered image that outperforms a single conventional center channel for dialogue clarity and imaging.

Building a Magnepan home theater around the MC1

The MC1 is the on-wall surround. Here is how the rest of the Magnepan planar home theater line fits around it.

Magnepan MC1 You're viewing

$1,495 / pair

On-wall quasi-ribbon planar. Run a pair as surrounds, or angle two as a dual center array. 80 Hz to 24 kHz from a panel just one inch deep.

Magnepan CC5

$1,995

The matched planar center channel for an MC1 front stage. A wide, low-profile panel voiced to blend with the on-wall speakers, 200 Hz to 20 kHz.

Magnepan DWM Bass Panel

$1,295

A planar bass panel that adds low-frequency area up to about 200 Hz while keeping the dipole planar character, rather than a boxed subwoofer.

Magnepan CCR

$4,795

Reference center for larger Magnepan fronts like the 20.7 or 3.7i. A true ribbon tweeter over quasi-ribbon midrange, 200 Hz to 40 kHz.

Magnepan CCRx

$7,000

The CCR with the full X-Series parts upgrade and a curved true ribbon, built to anchor a 20.7x or 3.7x front system.

Mike's Take

The DWM keeps the whole system planar, and it is the right call if you want to stay pure Maggie. But most customers who want real low-end output for movies end up with a subwoofer that digs deeper and plays louder than a bass panel will. We usually pair the MC1 with Perlisten subwoofers, which stay fast and clean enough to keep up with the panels.

Browse the full Magnepan collection to build out the rest of your system.

The Listening Room Difference

We're a third-generation family business with a brick-and-mortar showroom in Chestertown, Maryland, and a reputation built on exceptional service and relentless passion for hifi. Whether you're visiting in person or ordering online, we bring decades of experience, personalized service, and honest guidance to every interaction. We don't just ship boxes. We help build systems, answer your questions like real humans, and make sure every detail of your setup is right, from the cables to the final connection. Our passion is helping you get the most out of your gear, with support that lasts well beyond the sale.

Magnepan MC1 Specifications

Description	2-Way Quasi Ribbon/Planar-Magnetic
Frequency Response	80Hz to 24kHz +/-3dB
Recommended Power	40 to 200 watts at 8 ohms
Sensitivity	88dB / 500Hz / 2.83V
Impedance	4 Ohms
Dimensions	38.25" H x 10.25" W x 1" D
Shipping Weight	28 lbs per pair
Trim Options	Black Wood, Natural Oak Wood, Dark Cherry Wood. Fabric: Black Classic, Off-white Classic, Grey Classic, Cherry White Classic

How much power does the Magnepan MC1 need, and what kind of amp?

The MC1 is a 4-ohm speaker rated for 40 to 200 watts at 8 ohms, so like every Magnepan it wants clean current more than raw wattage. Magnepan's guidance is to look at an amplifier's 4-ohm rating, not its 8-ohm number, and choose one that stays stable into 4 ohms with a strong power supply. Thin receivers that derate at 4 ohms are the ones to avoid; a separate, current-capable amp will get far more out of the panel. If you are running the MC1 for two-channel music, integrated amps like the Rogue Audio Sphinx v3, Cambridge Audio EXA100, or Primare I25 all have the 4-ohm stability and current the panel likes.

Does the Magnepan MC1 need a subwoofer?

The MC1 reaches down to 80Hz using boundary reinforcement from the wall, which covers most dialogue and midbass. For home theater, or if you want real low-end weight, adding a subwoofer fills in the bottom octaves the panel does not reproduce. The key with any Magnepan is speed: the sub has to be quick enough to keep pace with the panel, or the bass lags behind the mids and highs. Magnepan's own DWM Bass Panel keeps the whole system planar, but most customers who want more output for movies pair the MC1 with a fast subwoofer. We most often reach for REL and Perlisten subwoofers, both of which stay clean and articulate enough to blend with the panel rather than lag behind it.

Can I use the Magnepan MC1 as surround speakers or a center channel?

Yes, the MC1 is designed for both. As surrounds, a pair brings the same planar speed and open dispersion to the sides or rear of a home theater that Magnepan is known for up front. It can also work as a dual center array: two MC1s mounted on either side of the video monitor and angled toward the wall create a centered image that Magnepan says outperforms a single conventional center channel for dialogue clarity and imaging. Both uses rely on the same wall or cabinet mounting the MC1 was built for.

How do I mount and place the Magnepan MC1?

The MC1 is an on-wall speaker just one inch deep that attaches to a wall or the side of a cabinet, and that boundary is part of the design: it is what lets a panel this small reach down to 80Hz. Optional floor stands are available if you would rather stand it than mount it. Magnepan's placement guidance is to keep the speakers away from room corners, especially for front channels, and in a typical rectangular room to position them on the side walls about 4 to 6 feet from the front wall. The foldable panel lets you angle it toward the listening position for the best dispersion.

Is the Magnepan MC1 the same as the "MG MC1" or "MGMC1"?

Yes, they are the same speaker. "MG" is short for Magneplanar, Magnepan's own term for its planar-magnetic panel design, so you will see the MC1 listed as the MG-MC1, MGMC1, or Magneplanar MC1 depending on the source. There is no difference in the product; it is Magnepan's compact on-wall planar speaker under any of those names.