Looking to join the planar club

Pryso · « **Reply #20 on:** 15 Mar 2013, 08:42 pm »

edn, my room is larger than yours but due to the configuration my right channel 1.6 is only 19" from the side wall. While many say the figure-8 dispersion pattern with dipoles allows close placement to sidewalls, I haven't found that in my room. Maybe if the left channel was an equal distance from its sidewall it would not be such a problem. That's a guess but I'm not sure. I caution you since you described a significant non-symmetrical set up not unlike mine.

I simply do not hear the size of soundstage I've heard with other planar systems. Also the bass is not as smooth as I'd like. I wonder if the right speaker being so close to the sidewall causes one or more bass nodes to build up in the corner behind it? Experimenting with distance from the front wall I've ended up 5' out and that helped somewhat but not as much as I hoped.

You will likely need to be prepared for lots of experimenting.

SteveFord · « **Reply #21 on:** 15 Mar 2013, 09:18 pm »

Pryso,
Do you have the tweeters on the outside with your 1.6s?

P.S.
Mr. Ford's my dad - I'm Steve.
A small sub would be the way I'd go with or without a DMW.
Those little RELs are pretty impressive.

edn4x4 · « **Reply #22 on:** 15 Mar 2013, 11:42 pm »

wow two pages already! Thanks for all the input so far.
Pryso
Thanks for the heads up on the non symmetric setup - I am hoping that planar's are easier that box speakers in this case - I guess I will have lots of adjustments to try once I get a set.
I also haven't ruled out bass traps if needed - or DWM to fix any bass issues.

So today I finally had time to give a set of planars a listen since I have never heard them before I wanted to hear what I was getting into and if I didn't like the sound, I could go plan
I went to my local BB (I know...) to see if they had any - I just had to know how the sound differed from box speakers. Well I was really surprised that they had a few pair of ML set up
with McIntosh pre/amp (yes with tubes!!!!) and source and AudioQuest cables - boy was I pleasantly surprised - no Monster cables here! This isn't the BB I last visited...
Now I get that sound - it is a massive soundstage with some serious impact - I am sold on planars. I don't think the price of the ML is for me though... They also had a pair of B&W in the same room. Doing a comparison was really interesting - I reallllllyyyy enjoyed the planar sound.

Now I need to get down to some serious room remodeling so I can start my project

josh358 · « **Reply #23 on:** 16 Mar 2013, 12:07 am »

Quote from: pansixt on 15 Mar 2013, 04:59 pm

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=94149.0

Yeah Josh, I was just reading Mr. Ford's Review of the bass panel. If I do go with MMG's, I'll probably go with a sub at first.

Other than Steve's, I haven't seen any comparisons yet (sub vs. DWM). It's all so new that people are feeling their way. I think I'd expect higher output/more extension with a sub, greater clarity, flatter bass, more coherence, and cleaner midrange with the DWM. But that's just what I'd guess, we need more people to try it out and report back (on the new version MMG's, too).

SteveFord · « **Reply #24 on:** 16 Mar 2013, 09:28 am »

Josh nailed it with his guess.
MMGs, DMW and a sub would be a really good combination, I would think.

Pryso · « **Reply #25 on:** 17 Mar 2013, 06:05 pm »

"Pryso,
Do you have the tweeters on the outside with your 1.6s?"

A valid question Steve I'm sure. Yes, they are on the outside. That is the main option I have not experimented with so far. Right now I have other priorities, including taxes, but will experiment with that soon. Thanks for the reminder.

SteveFord · « **Reply #26 on:** 17 Mar 2013, 06:18 pm »

Don't use H&R Block if you have any sort of student credits.
I'm with 660,000 people whose returns they screwed up.

Pryso · « **Reply #27 on:** 17 Mar 2013, 06:24 pm »

Steve, it was watching and paying the guy at H&R Block that convinced me to get TurboTax and do my own.

SteveFord · « **Reply #28 on:** 17 Mar 2013, 06:39 pm »

That will be us next year, for sure.
Lynda made them insert a $2500 deduction that they missed - both the girl preparing the return and her boss didn't catch it when he was called over.
We're going to try and get our filing fee back once we finally get the refund from the govt.

josh358 · « **Reply #29 on:** 17 Mar 2013, 07:13 pm »

I've always found that it pays to use a real accountant to do your taxes. They're the opposite of H&R Block: they can always find things that you missed. That more than makes up for their fee.

edn4x4 · « **Reply #30 on:** 17 Mar 2013, 10:08 pm »

+1 on the real accountant. Too many changes for me to keep up with. Over the years mine has more than paid for himself.

josh358 · « **Reply #31 on:** 17 Mar 2013, 10:32 pm »

Another thing about real accountants -- they can amend earlier returns to get you money back on them, as well.

edn4x4 · « **Reply #32 on:** 29 Mar 2013, 01:45 am »

Quote from: SteveFord on 16 Mar 2013, 09:28 am

Josh nailed it with his guess.
MMGs, DMW and a sub would be a really good combination, I would think.

Steve - I thought I read you were going to review the DWM with the MMGs - but your dog got the them first. Did you ever try the MMG and DWM?

Today I placed my order for the MMG home trial. I called up the factory and had a couple questions and I was put through to Wendell himself - I felt like such a noob

.... He was very nice to speak with, but I felt like I was kind of wasting his time because my questions were very basic and I got the "it depends" - I agree. Anyway, I am going there next week to pick them up and spoke with the production manager and will get a factory tour! I didn't even ask - they are really a nice group to deal with. I can't wait to get them in my house.

I.Greyhound Fan · « **Reply #33 on:** 29 Mar 2013, 03:09 am »

Quote from: edn4x4 on 13 Mar 2013, 02:23 am

I am in the process of converting my home office space into a dedicated 2ch/HT space. Mostly I would use for 2ch (80%) and the other 20% to HT(2ch). My room is 13'x14'x8'.
I have been looking to audition the MMGs to see if I like them. Hopefully the offer is still available. One on my questions is that I think I could put 12s or even 1.7 in my room.
Would the 1.7 be to much for the space? I figured once they are off the rear wall and I am seated in the listening position they would be about 6' away. Would this be overkill or sonic bliss (vs sonic blast!)
I found out that I am only 15 minutes from the Magnepan factory - much to my surprise! I would like to give them a call and see if I can stop by. I am open to suggestions on size selection and any other considerations I should be planning for.
BTW - I am the new owner of 2 NCORE monoblocks to feed them!
Thanks for reading,
Eric

Eric,

I live about 20 min from the factory in WBL as well. I actually bought my MMG's from the factory. They have a pair of MMG's in the entrance. It use to be hooked up to a Sony Walkman CDP and a Proton receiver. Give it a listen and talk to the people there. They are very helpful.

I have a pair of 1.6's in a 17 x 17 room with 9' ceilings. You could get by with the 1.7's. Bass will depend upon your placement, amp and preamp. The MG 12's may be a better fit. If you would like to come over and hear the 1.6's in a moderate sized room with a subwoofer, you are welcome to come over. I live in Woodbury about 3 minutes from Frank Van Alstine with avahifi.com MN is a mecca for audio companies. Magnepan, ARC, Bel Canto, Atma-Sphere, AVAHiFi and Anticables are here in the Twin Cities.

SteveFord · « **Reply #34 on:** 29 Mar 2013, 05:33 am »

Yes, I did try the DMW with the MMGs and I drove Wendell crazy but using it as a center channel instead of for bass reinforcement and just sitting it on a bar stool instead of coming up with something attractive.
I really liked the results!
Have fun picking up your speakers.

edn4x4 · « **Reply #35 on:** 30 Mar 2013, 01:46 am »

Quote from: SteveFord on 29 Mar 2013, 05:33 am

Yes, I did try the DMW with the MMGs and I drove Wendell crazy but using it as a center channel instead of for bass reinforcement and just sitting it on a bar stool instead of coming up with something attractive.
I really liked the results!
Have fun picking up your speakers.

Steve - thanks for the info - once i get mine in I will wait a while before seeking any bass advice from the forum.

Quote from: I.Greyhound Fan on 29 Mar 2013, 03:09 am

Eric,

I live about 20 min from the factory in WBL as well. I actually bought my MMG's from the factory. They have a pair of MMG's in the entrance. It use to be hooked up to a Sony Walkman CDP and a Proton receiver. Give it a listen and talk to the people there. They are very helpful.
...

IGF - That is a very kind offer and I will take you up on that within the month - after I take delivery of my MMGs - I'll bring the beer.
BTW - I live in Stillwater and work in Oakdale so it shouldn't be a problem for me.

edn4x4 · « **Reply #36 on:** 30 Mar 2013, 01:48 am »

So I was all hyped up for the factory tour next Friday until my wife told me we had a prior commitment at that time

I will have to ask if I can reschedule the tour when I pick them up.

edn4x4 · « **Reply #37 on:** 2 Apr 2013, 02:32 am »

Today I got the call from Magnepan saying that my MMGs were ready for pickup - at first I thought it was an April fools joke...
So I am happy to report they are up and running

So far so good - nothing blew up - nothing smoked.

What is a good way to break them in? I know it takes a long time.
Eric

medium jim · « **Reply #38 on:** 2 Apr 2013, 03:05 am »

The best way is with white noise, which is FM radio tuned in between stations. Doesn't have to be loud, leave it on overnight(s). It takes about 100 hours for the bass to open up, as well as, the highs. The mid's are usually good from the get go.

Congratulations on your new Maggie's!

Jim

edn4x4 · « **Reply #39 on:** 2 Apr 2013, 03:26 am »

Thanks Jim,
Right now DSOM is sounding good. I will leave music on overnight and give it another listen tomorrow. I will also look for a white noise loop tomorrow.
Eric