Why do you LOVE your planars?

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SteveFord

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Re: Why do you LOVE your planars?
« Reply #20 on: 31 Jan 2013, 10:47 pm »
Or drapes.

jhm731

Re: Why do you LOVE your planars?
« Reply #21 on: 31 Jan 2013, 11:05 pm »
Harbeth. Not knocking what the guy said, just his speakers. For how much they charge for those, they are fugly. Unrefined 70's style box, on a footstool.

Usually with a high priced speaker they put some effort into making it not look like puke. Usually, but not always. I'm never one to complain about aesthetics of gear but in this case Harbeth's baffle me.

I think most H40 owners use better looking stands than the crates REG has his on:



BTW, he listens while sitting on the footstool you see in the picture. The books on top of the stool are there
to get his ears at the same height as the H40's tweeters. 8)

SteveFord

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Re: Why do you LOVE your planars?
« Reply #22 on: 31 Jan 2013, 11:14 pm »
That does look like fun...

josh358

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Re: Why do you LOVE your planars?
« Reply #23 on: 31 Jan 2013, 11:55 pm »
I think most H40 owners use better looking stands than the crates REG has his on:
Maybe I'm missing something, but the spacing of the midrange and tweeter acoustical centers on those Harbeth's seems about the same as the midrange/tweeter spacing on these 20.1's:




jhm731

Re: Why do you LOVE your planars?
« Reply #24 on: 1 Feb 2013, 12:42 am »
Maybe I'm missing something, but the spacing of the midrange and tweeter acoustical centers on those Harbeth's seems about the same as the midrange/tweeter spacing on these 20.1's:

I suggest that you join REG's forum and ask him about the spacing.

josh358

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Re: Why do you LOVE your planars?
« Reply #25 on: 1 Feb 2013, 01:06 am »
I suggest that you join REG's forum and ask him about the spacing.
Thought about it, but if I take on one more audio group I'll never again get anything done!

kevin360

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Re: Why do you LOVE your planars?
« Reply #26 on: 1 Feb 2013, 03:03 am »
To return to the original question for a moment, along with a comment or two about the OP, 'I LOVE my planars' because they work very well. All designs are trade-offs; Magnepans are certainly no different. The point is that the trade-offs Magnepan chose are quite secondary to the absence of trade-offs in areas that apparently appeal more to me (let's face it; one can only talk in circles about the things he loves).

A point, by the way, is an ideal source (“tiny little tweeters” were called into question”) - it would emit sound evenly (without self-interference) in all directions. It is the ideal towards which high frequency radiators aim (at least, those with which the reduction of beaming is a design goal). It is part of what I LOVE about the 3.7s – the ribbon is pretty damn narrow and, being nearly floor to ceiling in length, the vertical beaming isn't an issue (and might actually confer a benefit). 

I have absolutely no complaints with regard to dynamics (a criticism found in this thread). In fact, I find the 3.7s to be capable of startling dynamic swings. It doesn't hurt that I have a large pair of subs (which, by virtue of their design, radiate more to each side than the front) to which the bottom end is directed, along with a growing forest of ASC traps.

I'll be the heretic here (a familiar role) and state that I've heard a number of non-planar speaker systems with which I could live happily ever after (and I do mean happily (case in point would be Scaena :drool: (I just cannot afford them (but I'm not complaining at all :D))).
« Last Edit: 2 Feb 2013, 03:21 pm by kevin360 »

medium jim

Re: Why do you LOVE your planars?
« Reply #27 on: 1 Feb 2013, 03:35 am »
To return to the original question for a moment, along with a comment or two about the OP, 'I LOVE my planars' because they work very well. All designs are trade-offs; Magnepans are certainly no different. The point is that the trade-offs Magnepan chose are quite secondary to the absence of trade-offs in areas that apparently appeal more to me (let's face it; one can only talk in circles about the things he loves).

A point, by the way, is an ideal source (“tiny little tweeters” were called into question”) - it would emit sound evenly (without self-interference) in all directions. It is the ideal towards which high frequency radiators aim (at least, those with which the reduction of beaming is a design goal). It is part of what I LOVE about the 3.7s – the ribbon is pretty damn narrow and, being nearly floor to ceiling in length, the vertical beaming isn't an issue (and might actually confer a benefit). 

I have absolutely no complaints with regard to dynamics (a criticism found in this thread). In fact, I find the 3.7s to be capable of startling dynamic swings. It doesn't hurt that I have a large pair of subs (which, by virtue of their design, radiate more to each side than the front) to which the bottom end is directed, along with a growing forest of ASC traps.

I'll be the heretic here (a familiar role) and state that I've heard a number of non-planar speaker systems with which I could live happily ever after (and I do mean happily (case in point would be Scaena :drool: (I just cannot afford them (but I'm not complaining at all) :D))).

Kevin:

If I had to force myself, I'm sure I could find an old pair Altec A7's that I could run with...

Jim

kevin360

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Re: Why do you LOVE your planars?
« Reply #28 on: 1 Feb 2013, 04:26 am »
Kevin:

If I had to force myself, I'm sure I could find an old pair Altec A7's that I could run with...

Jim

I came close to purchasing a large pair of Altecs many years ago, but I ended up with a pair of Klipsch Belles (also horns, but they had a much higher WAF), which I still regret selling. As it is, I have too many pairs of speakers - even a huge pair of JBL C50s (inherited) that I considered turning into subs. Both active and passive 18" drivers are fully restored and in separate boxes in a closet - there's a little more restoration work to do, but I haven't been motivated to finish that project for a few years. I honestly don't know where I'd use the things.

Heck, I like my old JBL L112s and the AR 91s, but I like the Maggies more. :)
« Last Edit: 1 Feb 2013, 12:13 pm by kevin360 »

medium jim

Re: Why do you LOVE your planars?
« Reply #29 on: 1 Feb 2013, 05:32 am »
Kevin:

I hear you...nothing like the A7's for in your face dynamics.  I almost bought a pair if Klipsch's a while back, but you're right, nothing better than a good pair of Maggie's.

Jim

GT Audio Works

Re: Why do you LOVE your planars?
« Reply #30 on: 1 Feb 2013, 01:04 pm »
I have loved dipole planars since I heard my first pair of Acoustats. The presentation of the recording space in height, width ,depth and transparency was a revelation. They were not the speaker of choice for slam or high spl's  or many of the other things on the audiophile checklist...but what they did was so good,  I knew they would not be my last. They were followed by a variety of others , Maggies, Quads, Sound Labs. All had their own attributes and I should have gotten off the audiophile merry go round a few times.. namely my Quads driven by a pair of McIntosh 40's with 6l6 tubes. People talk about being fooled by a pair of loudspeakers,, for me it was with that Quad setup ..I was in the next room when a male speaking voice came on...I turned around quickly wondering ..who was in my house ?! That was spooky.
Since contracting the audiophile bug,  I have been an avid speaker builder and subjected any speakers I have owned to varying degrees of prodding, modification or hybridization. It has been a lot of fun. My latest effort has produced a speaker I believe has all the things I love about dipoles and what I love about box speakers, namely deep bass and dynamics .  Greg

josh358

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Re: Why do you LOVE your planars?
« Reply #31 on: 1 Feb 2013, 01:10 pm »
Kevin:

If I had to force myself, I'm sure I could find an old pair Altec A7's that I could run with...

Jim
I have a friend who still has a pair. They had to have been the best party speakers ever made!

Now, of course, we're too old to have parties . . .

josh358

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Re: Why do you LOVE your planars?
« Reply #32 on: 1 Feb 2013, 01:17 pm »
I have loved dipole planars since I heard my first pair of Acoustats. The presentation of the recording space in height, width ,depth and transparency was a revelation. They were not the speaker of choice for slam or high spl's  or many of the other things on the audiophile checklist...but what they did was so good,  I knew they would not be my last. They were followed by a variety of others , Maggies, Quads, Sound Labs. All had their own attributes and I should have gotten off the audiophile merry go round a few times.. namely my Quads driven by a pair of McIntosh 40's with 6l6 tubes. People talk about being fooled by a pair of loudspeakers,, for me it was with that Quad setup ..I was in the next room when a male speaking voice came on...I turned around quickly wondering ..who was in my house ?! That was spooky.
Since contracting the audiophile bug,  I have been an avid speaker builder and subjected any speakers I have owned to varying degrees of prodding, modification or hybridization. It has been a lot of fun. My latest effort has produced a speaker I believe has all the things I love about dipoles and what I love about box speakers, namely deep bass and dynamics .  Greg
Those look nice. And quite a bargain, too!

jimdgoulding

Re: Why do you LOVE your planars?
« Reply #33 on: 1 Feb 2013, 08:23 pm »
Those look nice. And quite a bargain, too!
They look like quite the whole package.  Way to go, GT.

http://www.gtaudioworks.com/Reports-from-Capital-AF.html

jimdgoulding

Re: Why do you LOVE your planars?
« Reply #34 on: 1 Feb 2013, 08:39 pm »
Perused REG's forum today.  Having done so, I'm wondering if anyone has installed or is familiar with a 1.7 with a 1 Ohm resistor in the line?

SteveFord

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Re: Why do you LOVE your planars?
« Reply #35 on: 1 Feb 2013, 09:51 pm »
I tried the resistor, didn't like it, took it out.
They always seem to make the speakers sound weird to me but I guess people like them as every model is equipped with some to try out.

josh358

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Re: Why do you LOVE your planars?
« Reply #36 on: 1 Feb 2013, 09:54 pm »
The resistors are provided in case you have a bright room, e.g., lots of bare surfaces, not much by way of stuffed furniture/carpeting/drapes. Wendell recommends that if you need more than a 1 ohm resistor to tame the highs, you add some high frequency absorption to the room rather than upping the resistor.

medium jim

Re: Why do you LOVE your planars?
« Reply #37 on: 2 Feb 2013, 06:05 am »
To this day I'm still astounded that a speaker that is thinner than a slice of bread can do what they (Magnepan) do.  Their only fault is they are so revealing which can be a buzz kill on good music that is recorded/mastered poorly.

Jim

jimdgoulding

Re: Why do you LOVE your planars?
« Reply #38 on: 2 Feb 2013, 06:33 am »
The resistors are provided in case you have a bright room, e.g., lots of bare surfaces, not much by way of stuffed furniture/carpeting/drapes. Wendell recommends that if you need more than a 1 ohm resistor to tame the highs, you add some high frequency absorption to the room rather than upping the resistor.
Understood. Thanks.

jhm731

Re: Why do you LOVE your planars?
« Reply #39 on: 2 Feb 2013, 06:58 am »
Perused REG's forum today.  Having done so, I'm wondering if anyone has installed or is familiar with a 1.7 with a 1 Ohm resistor in the line?

It's a great forum, 334 groupies in 7 years, all hoping that REG will someday agree with them.

If you're looking for good advise on Magnepan products, this is a much better place.
« Last Edit: 2 Feb 2013, 01:27 pm by jhm731 »