I think I agree with you here. Whenever u hear a description of the newer models the words 'punchy bass' are usually used. While adding bass I'm not sure if it doesn't do something to the sonic signature which ....well ... Makes it sound like a powered subwoofer!!
I'd like to follow this up - because yesterday my son and I went to listen to some things...
What I was looking for was what 90% of the speakers could give... because quite frankly I didn't think my listening sessions would be perfect conditions... and they were not .....unfortunately... but here it goes...
First stop: Montis & Summit X...
Both were hooked to some parasound gear.... not the best.... not set up very well.... Summit X's were too close to the wall - maybe 2 feet.... They sounded good... however, they didn't blow me away... Same thing with the Montis... Compared to the older speaker line - I find the stat to have more body... the woofer and stat definitely do integrate better - and you don't really know what that is until you hear it... Thing is - I just didn't go 'wow'.... Now- when I listened to my Odysseys about 10 years ago... I went 'wow'!!!!!.... I just can't get away from that powered woofer... I think it just seems to force the bass at you ...it seems very directional to me...and to me - that seems to mess up the magic of the speaker.... Of course, my opinion and the YMMV applies as always.... It was a lousy setup - no doubt - but I definitely got a feel for the sonic signature of the speakers -- and to me - they are very much like the old summit....with some improvements.
I then went to listen to the Magnepan 3.7... different store.... Now - this guy has some great front end... All Arc gear.... but his room is about 13 feet wide and in order to sit in the middle of the speakers he has two chairs - one behind the other... First chair is prob 6 ft away from speaker... second is 8 ft away... The room also has pics with glass all over the room - and speakers and gear line the left side of the room and right side.... He had about 8 feet behind the speakers - but that was filled with a bunch of boxes... Haha.... So - I am just trying to give you the picture - that neither listening session was pristine.... the 3.7 sounded very clear to me... like an open window. I like them very much... But, the thing that really gets me... and this is crazy.... is their bass.... It isn't overpowering - but it has dimension... It seems to flow front and back ... not just front.... I find these speakers just fantastic.... I wouldn't rock out with them (as you prob could with the Montis/Summit) - but with everything else... the dimensionality... the cohesiveness.....the huge soundstage.....the textures.... and the smoothness of that ribbon.... wow...They sound like the entire panel just moves air... I know ' I can hear the air move... that sounds stupid - but can't describe it any other way... and I think it is because of the planar bass plus just the massive size of the planar listening area. A good example might be tympani... I had Swan Lake with me - and on the summit/montis... when that tympani hit -- it threw you back in your chair.... It was like 'batten dow the hatches here it comes!!!'.... The 3.7 - was not like that -- it was more like - wow - that sounds like a real tympani...it has depth and seems to be the appropriate volume and it seems to integrate with the rest of the music. However, given that - you know you might have some recordings where you are expecting a certain wow factor on the low end - and might not get it.... Listened to some Bach Organ on both Montis/3.7... Same type of thing... Montis seemed to hit you in the chest... 3.7 went low - and did have impact... but not the 'holy schnikes' low end... if you know what I mean...
I guess I am just not a big fan of the powered woofer... I mean, I feel like the Logans need it... The volume levels were flat... I guess I should have tried ratcheting it down some.. and I love bass... This is why this is a bit perplexing to me....
In any case - not meant to anger anyone - but just my impressions... I know the Summit X/ Montis can do better with better setup/gear etc... and they have got rave reviews... It just feels like the house sound for ML is essentially the old Summit to me at least... and that isn't too shabby... It comes down to personal taste at this level anyway...
If anybody has a chance to listen to the 3.7- I certainly would... It is a different sound... different presentation than most... I really want to get my hands on the 20.7....