The Diptyque Phénomène

French Magnepans?

Lets just go ahead and get it out there on what everyone is thinking. Are these just French Magnepans? I could give you a whole wordy intro into that question, but instead, lets just dive straight in.

Diptyque was first introduced in France in 2001 as an answer to a more engaging sound experience while taking into account the aesthetics and surroundings as well. The speakers were to fit into an environment, rather than focusing your space around them. They add to both sonically and visually, now being offered in over 160 RAL Color finish options. A new lens at which to create an image.

Challenging the Norm With Planar Magnetic

Planar magnetic speakers operate on a fundamentally different principle than conventional dynamic speakers. Instead of cones and domes, they use a thin diaphragm suspended between magnets, which vibrates to produce sound. This design offers several advantages, including improved transient response, incredible separation of instruments, and the ability to create a vast, immersive soundstage. However, planar magnetic speakers typically require meticulous placement and powerful amplification to shine. Or at least an amplifier with incredible current. Diptyque challenges some of these norms, offering speakers that are easier to drive and integrate into your system while retaining the signature benefits of planar magnetic technology. This comes from several places in their ISODYNAMIC design approach, including their proprietary use of a PPBM®: Push Pull Bipolar Magnet system, and Proprietary ribbon tweeter.

Diptyque vs. Magnepan: What Is the Difference?

While Magnepan is a familiar name in planar magnetic speakers, Diptyque positions itself as a refined alternative. In order to get a fair comparison of these both amazing speakers, it’s crucial to ensure an apples-to-apples evaluation. To do this, I first considered what aspects of performance truly matter in creating a great listening experience with planar magnetic speakers. This allowed me to focus on key areas that define a speaker’s compatibility, usability, and overall sound quality. I’m also going to explore the aesthetics, or as it's known to most reading this, WAF (Wife Approval Factor).

After some reflection, I decided to compare the Magnepan and Diptyque planar magnetic speakers using the following criteria:

1. Drive and Amplification
2. Room Interaction
3. Bass Performance
4. Sound Profile
5. Aesthetics

Below, I’ll break down each factor and explain how these two speakers stack up against one another.

Drive and Amplification

Diptyques are relatively easy to drive (6 ohms, 160 watts recommended), and my Modwright 225i handled them effortlessly without ever getting warm. Magnepans, by contrast, often demand more power and careful amp matching to avoid straining the system. I've had customers change entire systems to accommodate Magnepan speakers, as they tend to need current more than wattage to keep up. Diptyque will likely already pair with your system in most cases. If making a speaker change is on the table, (or come on lets be honest, who am I talking to here?) If adding an additional pair of speakers is something you are looking to do, the Diptyques will likely be a shoo in. You would likely not have to sweat changing your amplification.

Room Interaction

The room is important when setting up Diptyque speakers, honestly they are much more like setting up a traditional loudspeaker when it comes to placement than I was expecting. While some back-wall distance is ideal (32 inches worked well for me), they sounded good even 1.5 feet off the wall. Diffusion, not absorption, on side and rear walls brought out their best. The room, and like traditional speakers, the DP115 floor standing speakers seem to benefit from room diffusion, however absorption really threw a wet blanket over the delivery and overall sound. I also typically have subs in my system. However I wanted to go without subs on this one. As an experiment, I wanted to see what the Diptuques truly bring to the table without support, and so with the removal of the subs, so goes the absorption I had up. Wow, they really opened up!. The highs really came into focus, but more impressively, this is when the bass came into the room, and in spades.

Magnepan and other dipole speakers typically require more precise positioning and room treatment for optimal performance. The bass they produce always seems to be at odds with the room, it’s almost like right when you get them in the right place, then another recording will tell a completely different story. Magnepan speakers like the LRS+ definitely have a really tight window for a sweet spot, in most rooms. With both Magnepan and Diptique you would have the tweeter inside when positioning the speakers as left or right, however I found that having the tweeter out worked better with the 115’s in my space. Mileage may vary. Although they work well a little closer to the walls, as close as a foot and a half, these ended up about 32” off the back wall and 17” off the side walls.

Bass Performance

While neither brand is known for visceral bass impact, the Diptyques deliver accurate, well-separated bass that integrates seamlessly with the midrange and treble. Magnepans often lean more heavily on external subwoofers to complete the sound, which tends to change the dynamics in the room altogether, as they are a different type of speaker altogether. With that in mind the Diptyques have rich and pleasing bass, very present in the room. There is a definite weight to the sounds, but not a chest thumping impact. If you are someone that needs that soul crushing bass, subs are a must, otherwise these are not for you. In recording where most of the bass comes for 50 hz and up, you're golden. These are well rounded for most any genre, but they are definitely a little recording picky. Or should I say, they are not going to help your bad recording sound good. Bass is the defining factor here, and this is where their “recording fussiness" can come into play. If you have heard Arcade Fire 1000 times before in your care, and you expect those huge swelling moments to sound great, and have the impact that you felt in your soul was there….Go see them live because it's not on the recording.

Now, Take, something like “Feels Alright” by Spoon; it had great impact, drive, emotion, and I was engaged, I wanted the next measure and the next, and in the bridge, I was right there with Brett Daniels, humming along with anticipation of the band just charging back in to wrap up their thought. It all translated, bass to the highest highs.

Sound Profile

Diptyques excel in creating a complete soundstage and effortless imaging with depth. They bring a naturalness to music, whereas Magnepans may lean more toward analytical precision. Diptiques have timing to them, that allows for the midrange to breathe a little rather than throwing info at you. This allows for a more natural sense of timing. The vocals in particular seem to sit right where they need to be, and hit your ears in a way that you can sculpt out a singer nicely in front of you. I find their image depth and overall placement to be one of their best attributes. 

In-Depth Demo Experience

I'm so quickly reminded of how real break in is the moment I hook up a new pair of planar magnetic speakers or headphones. Man it sounds like your third cousin is trying to convince you that he can make speakers with spare parts from his failed attempt at racing go carts. It takes time, and they break in differently than other speakers. It's like an unfolding process. Actually the older I get, it’s like all the various bearlike stretches it takes for me to work right every morning. These particular demos I have were listened to and mostly broken in, but they definitely benefited from having some music playing through them for some time, and letting the system gel. I left Massive Attack on loop all night, on a lower volume. They sounded almost great the next day. There was still something missing. I switched the tweeters to the outer position, and then BAM, it was all there . To quote Thom York, as I was listening to Kid A at the time “ Everything in its right place!”. I also removed some wall hangings used as absorption, but left up the diffusion panels, and that seems to be the ticket with these speakers. 

One defining characteristic was their incredible spatial imaging. Listening to The Cure, I was struck by how the chimes at the beginning of a track (Pictures of you) seemed to move across the room, creating layers of depth and space as the band played in front of and behind these chimes. Their separation of instruments is unparalleled; multiple instruments occupying similar frequency ranges were distinctly placed within the soundstage. For example, low bass guitar, synth, and drums, all playing in the same space were easy to differentiate, and placed in front of you.

What surprised me most was their versatility. Unlike some planar magnetic speakers, which can sound overly polite or lacking in dynamics, the Diptyques delivered energy and excitement. At lower levels, they maintained clarity and detail, and as I turned up the volume, the soundstage expanded without losing composure. And this is when they really showed off their disappearing act. It was like all that was left before me was simply a performance. A clear image of a full band in some cases, in other cases a lone singer in the room.

Bass was well-controlled and detailed, though not chest-thumping. The speakers could shake the walls with deep, accurate bass, but they never crossed into the physical impact territory of traditional dynamic designs. That’s not a flaw—it’s simply the nature of planar magnetic bass reproduction.

Aestetics

I'm used to my .7s. Like most Magnepans, or for any other speaker for that matter, you have a grill cloth cover, almost as though it's meant to fit in with furniture, but for “That 70’s Show”. So very nice for some of the modern throwback setups ive seen, and hell, I own a pair myself for that reason. Diptyques open up the horizons for having something that doesn't dominate your visual or sonic landscape, with its look or design. Similar to Focal, Bowers & Wilkins, and others have really stepped up the expectations for visual design in traditional speakers over the years, Diptyique is doing that for the planar world, and doing it with class, and a sense of timelessness. 

Who Are Diptyques For?

The Diptyques are perfect for listeners who prioritize tonal accuracy, spatial imaging, and musicality over sheer power or exaggerated tonal characteristics.They sound truly impressive with the sources I used, and they definitely benefit from higher-quality components but are overall not incredibly picky. Keep in mind, these speakers range from $7999 to $49,999. They will perform as well as what you feed them when it comes to pairing for sonics, or quality.

The more I listened to vinyl, the more they won me over. Paired with a Modwright PH 9.0X Tube Phono Stage and a Rega Planar 10 Turntable, these speakers delivered an experience that exceeded my expectations and showcased their full potential.

Their spatial qualities are particularly striking. As I spun record after record, one thing became clear: amidst all the detail, space, and imaging, Diptyque has prioritized conveying emotion with a natural sense of timing. This is a difficult balance to achieve, but they’ve nailed it here. The result? Long, immersive listening sessions with zero fatigue.

If you value subtlety and balance over flashy tricks or exaggerated frequency ranges, the Diptyques are likely the perfect speakers for you.

When you turn the lights on (if you listen with them off, like me), you are left with a modern looking wall, that does admittedly take a bit to adjust to if you are used to staring at a pair of traditional floor standers, or even Magnepans. They are a very modern take, but have a sense of timelessness. They are not covered in a grill cloth, rather a solid body of steel, purposefully finished in a color of your choice. I would not worry at all about completely swapping the color, design or overall appearance of the room with regards to the speakers. They will fit just fine. 

These speakers are ideal for:

• Audiophiles who want planar magnetic performance without excessive setup challenges.
• Listeners with medium to large rooms seeking holographic imaging and an expansive soundstage.
• Those who enjoy long listening sessions without fatigue.
• Individuals who prefer not to use subwoofers but still want satisfying low-end response.
• Music lovers who value subtlety and balance over flashy tricks or exaggerated frequency ranges.

Overall Opinion

The Diptyques are not about being the “most” of anything—they don’t aim to be the most detailed, the most midrange-focused, or the most bass-heavy. Instead, they excel at delivering an all-encompassing, emotionally engaging musical experience. They balance precision and musicality in a way that makes them easy to live with while still thrilling to listen to. I get lost easily in these, especially when im just listening to CCR, or in a Pink Floyd phase which quite frankly can go on too long. These are just enjoyable as hell to listen to.

If you’re looking for a speaker that respects the integrity of the music while still immersing you in an effortless soundstage, the Diptyques should absolutely be in contention. They’re refined, versatile, and undeniably enjoyable—a true High Fidelity speaker, that happens to be Planar Magnetic.

Notable Recordings in my time with the Diptyques:

• Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid (This was the recording I felt best showcased these speakers in my time with them so far)
• Eurythmics - Be Yourself Tonight
• Prince - Art Official Age
• Maxwell - Embrya
• Spoon - Lucifer On The Sofa
• Anything From Steely Dan, but Kamakariad Donald Fagan's second solo album, had some particular pop. That is about as far down the Yacht Rock Rabbit hole as I go, but these speakers are a Yacht Rockers dream. That era, those recordings of these speakers…..I can almost smell the cheeseburgers in Margaritaville from here.

Speakers and Gear Involved in Listening

Diptyque DP115

Weight Disclaimer: 32 kg = 70.5479 multiplied my middle agedness, and factoring in will power, these really do weigh more like 187 lbs. Heavy my friends, if you're sneaking this purchase in without your significant other knowing, grab a friend, this will make you grunt. Dead giveaway. I pulled an ass muscle putting these in place. Disclaimer over.

• Type : 2 ways
• Crossover : 1600 Hz
• Sensitivity : 86db /1 W /1m
• Impedance : 6 Ohms
• Type : 2 ways
• Crossover : 1600 Hz
• Sensitivity : 86db /1 W /1m
• Impedance : 6 Ohms
• Bandwidth : 40-22000 Hz
• Power Handing : 150W (recommended amplifier > 60W)
• Dimensions with stand :1205x475x300 mm

Modwright 225I Integrated amplifier

• Hybrid Tube
• Class A/B 225 Watts a channel at 8 Ohm.

Modwright PH9.0x

Rega Planar 10

Hana ML Low-Output MC Cartridge

Cambridge CXN V2 Streamer

Kimber Kable Carbon Speaker Cables and Carbon Interconnects for the Digital Side

Cardas Clear Reflection Interconnects and Clear Reflection for the Phono SideNordost Frey 2 Power cable on the Modwright 225i.