Magnestand: made in America

jk@home · « **Reply #20 on:** 6 Jan 2012, 12:54 am »

Actually I think Davey lives in that area...jk

The speakers look fantastic, congrats! Have you decided on a subwoofer yet, or is that now on hold? When I built my quasi-Gunned MMGs, I ran them for a year with no subs, got by. Still that extra low end comes in handy.

TomS · « **Reply #21 on:** 6 Jan 2012, 01:11 am »

Even with the phone pics, it's obvious that is some beautiful work! Congrats and enjoy

Rclark · « **Reply #22 on:** 6 Jan 2012, 01:44 am »

Thanks guys! Yes I believe I've settled on subs, the Epik Legend, duals, then maybe 4 total, are looking really good right now.

nicksgem10s · « **Reply #23 on:** 6 Jan 2012, 02:26 am »

Congrats Rclark!

Very nice looking speakers you have there. I researched his mods before and those look really great. I believe what you have said about their sound.

It certainly looks like the spalted maple I have used in the past but I am not an expert.

I bet after running them for a few weeks will have them sounding even better with all those new substantial crossover components and wire.

Have fun

-Nick

SteveFord · « **Reply #24 on:** 6 Jan 2012, 02:57 am »

Time for a speaker wire upgrade there, Mr. Rclark!
Kimber 8TC works really well with Magnepans but that's just my opinion. They have a much fuller sound to them than the 4TC if anyone's interested.
Pick up some lemon oil for that beautiful woodwork.

Rclark · « **Reply #25 on:** 6 Jan 2012, 04:24 am »

Thanks Nick!

Ok, Davey and I have talked, and I think I understand where he's coming from a little better. I don't really know a whole lot about him and PG's whole deal, as I don't read the asylum. I kept it to reviews on the Magnestand from actual users when it came to deciding. And bar none, all Magnestand owners LOVE them, as do I now. Anyway he is nearby and I plan on taking these to his place and get a chance to compare to his with active crossovers.

Won't that make a neat thread?

Meanwhile, even though these are very young, they are settling down and wow. Live, warm, punchy, and laid back, super detailed.

And the most "3D" I've ever heard. What I had going was pretty good before, and the stock MMG had nice seperation, but last night I was listening to Elton John, and the positioning of instruments in space is far more lucid. There was a high hat drum, that sounded like I could reach out and touch it, and there were echoes in the studio or hall were the song was recorded and they sounded like they were coming behind me. And intruments meant to be off to the sides, are really off to the sides and solid. It's quite something.

Vocals? Forget about it.... can't get over that warmth... Very nice.. I think I like a warm sound. It's a sense of life, like real voices, real instruments.

Wires? Guess if I'm gonna experiment again, it will be with these. Next up will be subs, Omnimic, room treatments. I'd like to have it all wrapped up by early next month. Already talked to Chad Kuypers of Epik, looks like I'll have no problem getting the intro price when I'm ready to order.

Meanwhile, listening to my buddy's funk/jazz band right now, and it sounds like they are in my room. And the smell of the wood when entering, is... nice. They make the rest of my room like like ass...

I need to get some high res shots up soon, maybe before the weekend is over.

Rclark · « **Reply #26 on:** 6 Jan 2012, 08:08 am »

"I'm just so peeved cause' she hasn't sent me any full body shots"

- Napoleon Dynamite.

We're charging the battery on the real camera and hope to have some better pics if not tonight then soon.

But what I really wanted to mention was that the crossovers are indeed doing the rollercoastery bit, and for about a few hours there I think I caught a glimpse of what the final result and wow.. I can't wait

It is going to take a very very serious speaker to impress me after this. I think as they approach final burn in they are going to become even more impressive, which is something I experienced to a much smaller degree with the crossover kit for my GR Insignia's (Dayton crossed with Sonicap Gen II), and for my Virtue Two.2 (Claritycap highpass mod).

There are moments (like right now listening to Alice in Chains) where it sounds downright wierd. Hard to describe... and then it clears up... Kinda like before my laser eye surgery when I used to have to wear contacts and they'd go a bit blurry for a bit, then suddenly clear up. But it's a slow thing, over the hours you hear this going on. First time for me hearing such a dramatic break in.

Crossovers are one area where I believe they break in, I've seen enough evidence, and it makes total sense that they would, like speaker drivers.

I had been listening to my GR Insignia's (really need to get around to writing a review on those) the entire time while I waited, and while those are definitely great speakers, they simply don't compare to this, aren't able to give me huge grins and that chill, that you just can't believe how good it is feeling.

Incidentally, yes, ClarityCaps on the amp sound great so far with the cap combo in the speakers, just fyi.

jk@home · « **Reply #27 on:** 6 Jan 2012, 01:09 pm »

Make sure you check out Davey's OB sub he's using on his MMGs, you may be cancelling that Epik order

Lots of folks use plain ole magnet wire on their Maggies. Some use really small stuff, like 26-30 gauge, the size of human hair. That just seems wrong to me

, plus my fingers are too fat to deal with that size anyway. The Anti-cable wire that Paul Speltz sells is just nicely packaged mag wire.

I use 5' lengths of 16 gauge magnet wire, slightly twisted, I picked up at a local ET store. I had tried Goertz mi 2 Veracity copper, but I got more micro-detail out of the cheapo mag stuff. The 10 gauge Goertz now goes to my subs.

Find a ET supply house or motor rewind shop and pick up some of this wire just to try, shouldn't cost you more than $20 for a roll.

pardales · « **Reply #28 on:** 6 Jan 2012, 02:16 pm »

I owned Maggies a long time ago....this has me thinking. I'd like to hear your continued reports as the speakers/crossovers break-in. Thanks for posting about your experience.

Rclark · « **Reply #29 on:** 6 Jan 2012, 08:09 pm »

Oh. not gonna mess with changing out panel wires for quite some time.. Can you describe the changes with that done? You've done it huh? That wire mod?

Will do Pardales, especially as I upgrade the last parts in the system.

jk@home · « **Reply #30 on:** 6 Jan 2012, 08:16 pm »

I'm talking about the cabling between power amp and speaker. Going nowhere near that panel rewire mod recommended by Wendell, that would be a guaranteed disaster on my part.

Rclark · « **Reply #31 on:** 6 Jan 2012, 08:23 pm »

Yeah me too! Not seeing the need at the moment either, I think merely upgrading subs, doing treatments, will make this system very competitive sonically.. You already know

And when I switch into hirez recordings on my future super nice dac and setup, I'm just very excited to hear these playing that sort of level of source. They sure are making the most of my ERC-2 though, I'll tell you that. No complaints here.

persisting1 · « **Reply #32 on:** 6 Jan 2012, 08:45 pm »

Wow, they built a tiny house for your crossovers. They look really nice. Congrats

Rclark · « **Reply #33 on:** 6 Jan 2012, 09:18 pm »

Yeah the main changes are

1) no more fuse, no more attenuator bar

2) upgraded crossover (I obviously opted for the best parts possible, but you don't have to), now seperate from the panel in own housing, and sonically isolated with provided iso-dots (panel controlled as one piece now, instead of segmented, sounds incredible this way)

3) replacement of stock mdf frame with hardwood frame, stand, spikes (provides most of the sonic improvement I'm guessing)

4) reversal of the pole piece.

5) improved binding posts and connectors.

Probably more, minor stuff I can't think of. But pretty extensive changes when taken as a whole. It really is a whole new speaker in many respects. Still an MMG, but far greater performance and without the sweet spot limitations of before. And yes, awfully nice to look at.

Rclark · « **Reply #34 on:** 6 Jan 2012, 09:36 pm »

not to bring up the whole wire debate, but I might be interested in trying this speaker wire from Jupiter (was looking over their site trying to learn more about the caps in my cross), simply for the fact that with my frames I think the cotton weave would fit perfectly in the looks dept.

http://jupitercondenser.com/Cable/cotton-insulated-cable.html

josh358 · « **Reply #35 on:** 7 Jan 2012, 12:14 am »

Quote from: Rclark on 6 Jan 2012, 09:18 pm

upgraded crossover (I obviously opted for the best parts possible, but you don't have to), now seperate from the panel in own housing, and sonically isolated with provided iso-dots (panel controlled as one piece now, instead of segmented, sounds incredible this way)

I think it's still crossed over at about the same point, but with a series crossover with slightly different midrange response? Don't think you'd want to run the panel as one piece, that would likely give you IM up the wazoo, melt the tweeter, and ruin horizontal dispersion, for starters . . .

Rclark · « **Reply #36 on:** 7 Jan 2012, 12:36 am »

The mid and midbass panel are run together, obviously the tweeter is seperate.

jk@home · « **Reply #37 on:** 7 Jan 2012, 01:26 pm »

The MMG is just a two way speaker, here is the "old" PG series diagram. This is what I use, but with different component (and an extra bypass cap thrown in for good measure):

If you really want your head to hurt, search the AA archives on series crossovers, lots of "discussions" there on the subject

As far as the copper wire, how does the manufacturer recommend using it, like Cat5 wire (powering speakers)? Separate shotgun runs or combining plus and negative in the same run?

I use 100% cotton in my system, placed cotton balls between the mag wire and ceramic cable risers (secured with rubber bands), and my crossover boxes are stuffed with balls also, along with cotton batting, with some desiccant packs thrown in to keep things dry.

Rclark · « **Reply #38 on:** 7 Jan 2012, 10:41 pm »

No I read all those threads already, it's why I decided to buy! And with the way they're breaking in, best decision I've made yet for my system. This was a HUGE gamble, I'd be sitting on some N3's right now, but after all the research my instincts told me to go this route (with subs). If you follow my threads on this forum, you realize I got my MMG's in just this august and hadn't really even heard planars before. Best decision.

I had actually started two sets of speakers, first I was going to built Jim Holtz Statement Monitors, I even got a flatpack from eD. But then I found out it might be a bad idea, sold the flatpack. Decided to go ahead with sealed N3's, bought cabinets from JParkhur, put nine coats of semi-gloss on em, was about to order the kit but something about planar's and the things planar owners would say, that just made me want something different than a box speaker.

Just so I could have a good box speaker to compare to, and so that my sand filled stands would have a use, I bought Insignia monitors and the GR upgrade kit. That was a learning experience and I used it as a reference to compare stock MMG to the GUNN MMG. That's how I can subjectively tell there's a big difference.

Every manufacturer has detractors, every single one. But owner comments about MMG's (there are thousands), combined with Magnestand MMG owners comments about the improvement, was enough for me to commit this amount, which is a lot for me (never thought I'd spend over 2K for speakers). $400 for mmg's off the 'gon, and the cost for the mod, with shipping, was $2482.

And not only for the performance aspect, there was also the fact that they would look really neat, and the price couldn't be beat. Hardwood frame is a performance mod, but it also gives you a chance to dress 'em up. Everyone who's seen them is floored by how they look. The tone of the wood is very very rich and warm, almost like they're wet. They certainly are the main feature when you walk in and see them.

It's been a HUGE pleasure, I can't state that strongly enough. I would do it again, and I feel like I got something that isn't always going to be available.

I got some (hopefully) higher res shots, my buddy is just ripping them onto disc for me. We're watching football, it could be tonight maybe.

and on the cables, I'm not sure, I just glanced at the page but it looks like material for both IC's and wire. Either way I think I'll finish off the system with those. They'll look great coming out the frame.

Rclark · « **Reply #39 on:** 7 Jan 2012, 11:53 pm »

Even with a good camera I'm not good. Anyway, please don't mind the digs, I won't be here forever. It is what it is.

before (note the boxes under the speakers, this helped a lot, I even had pieces of plastic under the boxes to get the mmg's totally upright. I was ridiculed for this pic, but I knew what was coming

. Anyway, the Gunn MMG is actually leaning back)

I've since flipped the orientation of the room and they are on the other side now. Much more room to move.

I leve the closet door open on each side, and the rear wave fires into the substantial basstrap of a closet.

Anyway, all a work in progess. As I said, Omnimic, new subs, and room treatments are next. Hopefully I can also get them into a better space next Sept.