[Paul McNeil]

I'm just getting acquainted with my new Mggies 1.7s, and I'm in love.

I've got them going with a Crown XLS 2500 amp (see earlier post; xhttp://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=137402.msg1461666#msg1461666).

Of course, these 1.7s lack deep (< 50 htz) bass, so I added a subwoofer, a Rel T9, connected via high-level to my power amp (as per Rel recommendations).

I spent a lot of time trying to integrate these two, and the result was definitely positive.

Then I had the chance to add a Dspseaker 2.0 Antimode (Stereophile class A rated, if that matters) to this 'downstairs' Maggie system (the Dspeaker unit was previously 'upstairs' on another system, that has been temporarily disabled}.

Wow, now amazing integration of subwoofer and Maggies, and consequent glorious improvement in sound.

Has anyone else tried this? Getting rid digitally of room resonances in the 20-80 htz range is a no brainer (and Audyssey and perhaps other algorithms do this well). But I had only an analog pre-amp (Adcom) and the afore-mentioned Crown power amp.

So, I insert this Dspeaker Antimode 2.0 in between pre-amp and amplifier, it measures and corrects in room bass response. And now I get flat bass from 200 down to 25 htz.

Without this correction, there was an awful 50 htz peak ('boomy stuff'), among other flaws.

And, I'll never notice the sub again (nor will my spouse, since it is behind a bookcase in a corner). The 'integration', which is a matter of flat response, explains this.

[Jack Gilvey]

I have no experience with that unit (looks outstanding), but proper room correction can have dramatically positive effects - much more so than a different cable or power amp. Especially in the bass range which is so susceptible to a room's bad influence. Physical acoustic treatments are best, but rarely have much WAF. Sounds like an awesome setup.

[Paul McNeil]

I think that the DSPeaker equalization not only eliminated room resonances, but also quickly (10 min) and accurately (its plus or minus 3db measured by the DSPeaker, 120-25 htz) solved the problem of interaction between sub and Maggies.

Of course, I could have fiddled more with volume and cross-over and sub placement...

...but room treatments (big tubes full of fluff in the corners, for example) are out, WAF = 0.

 I'm lucky to have these Maggies 4 ft out into the room...attractive plants can now be placed behind, you see. And these will act as diffusers!

[josh358]

The DSPeaker got great reviews and I'm a big believer in bass EQ, given how crazy bass response is in most listening rooms. Of course, as Jack observed, bass trapping is best -- the DSPeaker can fix response peaks but it can't eliminate the time smear (ringing) that accompanies them and causes pitch shift and one-note bass (though reducing the amplitude at that frequency will significantly reduce their effect. But even with practical bass trapping equalization is warranted on the bass, since it's never completely effective.

It's probably still worth trying to find the optimal location for the sub to minimize the aforesaid time smear and also dips that the DSPeaker can't correct.

It sounds like better mating with the Maggies was an added benefit.