Trip To Magnepan

SteveFord · « **Reply #20 on:** 18 Jul 2014, 09:29 am »

Okay, who else has any questions that they would like me to ask?

jarcher · « **Reply #21 on:** 18 Jul 2014, 03:48 pm »

Quote from: harri009 on 18 Jul 2014, 09:26 am

Funny you should say that. I am 30/50 on products from B/M stores. Now on the second hand "Wild West" market I have been about 98% successful with only 1 situation out of about 30 where the person sent me a pushed in tweeter. Out of 5 dealer experiences 3 of them resulted in me being pissed with issues of, busted speaker yet crate with no damage and packaging intact, LED screen out on pre once again no shipping damage, integrated that would shutdown on its own, non shipping related. Out of these the manufacturer helped me with one, dealer refunded the cost of repair minus my shipping (bastard), and one the dealer didn't help at all. Why pay a dealer 40% for "service". I would much rather take my chances on the used market and pay what the manufacturer could be charging for new. Oh and the amount of this gear I was able to demo before buying, 0. Oh that's rights because while they exist in a B/M environment none of them are close to me to actually buy from. Even if they were a dealer normally carries what 3 speaker brands and 3 electronics brands. Wow that really opens up your options lol. The US dealer network is a joke

If I said that I've had no unresolved issues with new purchases with dealers vs 20% failure on the used market over the overall dozens of transactions over the last decade, that is still not likely to convince someone who may have had the opposite experience. Don't want to thread-jack here as it's about questions / comments to Magenpan - we could certainly open a new thread for that, running the risk that we would probably end up bumping on "no dirty laundry policy".

On the whole I'd say that I defend Magnepan's sales practices, including dealerships, presumably borne from the wisdom gathered from decades of sales experience. If I had any sales & marketing comments or questions to pass along, they would be to be more willing to can bad dealers - even long standing ones, improve their website, be more forthcoming with information, particularly at audio shows, and bury the hatchet with Stereophile so we can see some reviews of their excellent products there from time to time.

Steve : have a great trip - we Magnepan owners and fans envy you!

NIGHTFALL1970 · « **Reply #22 on:** 18 Jul 2014, 03:58 pm »

I think they need to improve their instruction manuals. I have thought about purchasing a DWM, but the manual was written for a rocket scientist. I have read more useful info on it here on AC than on Magnepans website.

Roger Gustavsson · « **Reply #23 on:** 18 Jul 2014, 05:39 pm »

Quote from: jarcher on 17 Jul 2014, 11:32 pm

This is where a good dealer needs to get involved and help you to resolve the problem to your reasonable satisfaction.

Bought my Tympani IVa from private person, no dealer involved. Shipping boxes were new from Magnepan, about $135. One of the boxes had damages and it was reported when I received them.

SteveFord · « **Reply #24 on:** 18 Jul 2014, 08:55 pm »

This thread is for questions you want asked, please.

Back on topic:
1) .7 delivery date/cost/type of feet
2) 1.7i? Cost?
3) What happens if I ditch the fuses and why do you use the fuse holders that you do?
4) Quality Assurance process
5) experiments with listening positions?
6) experiments with stands?
7) DMW set up tricks?

details of "I" modification - what do we get for the $$$
9) preferred subwoofers
10) what sets them apart sonically in their opinion
11) no model between the 1.7 and 3.7, no model between the 3.7 and 20.7?
12) larger Mini Maggie w/ two DMWs
13) crates for shipping? how much shipping damage do they see?
14) custom trim options?
15) why do you use the binding posts that you do?
16) new Tympani model?
17) improved instruction manuals, especially DMW
18) possibility of all direct sales in the future?
19) powered DMW?
20) recommended shipping practices
21) trends in voicing new models?
22) preferred set up for speakers?
23) why MDF?
24) why the dearth of information regarding what has changed from the older model to the newer model(s)?
25) are factory employees allowed to post on forums such as this?
26) who comprises the R&D team?
27) what do you see as the biggest challenge to planar speakers in the future other than a shrinking dealer network?
28) do you anticipate mounting a campaign to expand the dealer network?
29) where do you see the company being 10 years from now?
30) will we ever see a Magnepan headphone?
31) will we see the all foil MMG that was thrown out to the inmates on Audio Asylum?
32) what do the big 3 (two Winey, one Diller) use for their own personal stereo systems?
33) is the home theater market strong or has the pendulum swung strongly back to two channel?

Davey · « **Reply #25 on:** 19 Jul 2014, 01:42 am »

I think you better put some smilies on more of those than number 8.

Me thinks you won't get answers to the vast majority of those questions.

Might as well append question 19......."What is the meaning of life?"

Dave.

SteveFord · « **Reply #26 on:** 19 Jul 2014, 01:45 am »

I can answer a whole bunch of them just sitting here but in person I have the option of using duct tape and hot tongs so we'll see.

harri009 · « **Reply #27 on:** 19 Jul 2014, 03:58 am »

How are the dealers suppose to ship the 3.7's to customers? Are they suppose to ship on a pallet or just in the box? I have seen 2-3.7's shipped from dealers, 1 was shipped with no pallet and destroyed, the other was shipped on 8ft long pallet and perfect. Thanks

zuluwarrior0760 · « **Reply #28 on:** 19 Jul 2014, 09:46 pm »

According to Magnepan, they do not recommend that their dealers
ship the speakers via UPS. The only way that a dealer can ship
UPS is if they remove the box from the pallet.

Also, there are occasions when a dealer gets two pairs of speakers
at the same time from Magnepan strapped to a single pallet.

In that event, Magnepan STILL doesn't recommend that they
ship without a pallet. The dealer would need to keep a few
pallets around.

In my case, the dealers excuse was that the pallet did not
fit throught his back door, so he removed it. I believe he did so
because shipping UPS was inherently more convenient for him
and he could have turned the pallet to enter the door......

Magnepan agreed....

I think it would be good if Magnepan could share with Steve
a general best practices guide for shipping Magnepan speakers
whether it be from a dealer or from an individual to and from
Magnepan (For I modification for instance)......

For me, I have a custom made crate with foam on every side
to contain one pair of 3.7s in their box and anytime my speaker
is shipped it will be shipped in that (cost me only 100.00)

NIGHTFALL1970 · « **Reply #29 on:** 20 Jul 2014, 12:52 am »

How about a "powered" DWM?

berni · « **Reply #30 on:** 20 Jul 2014, 05:22 am »

When are they going to follow the way of Jim Winey, going completly new and inovative and not sticking to old stuff just because it doesnt pay off. To kepp with the rest, they could change a lot of stuff and a lot of them doesn't cost the world. All of the stuff is the almost the same like Jim invented it, it was awesome but it needs this inovative approach again in this time.
I would love to thank Jim for his great work at this oportunity.

brooklyn · « **Reply #31 on:** 20 Jul 2014, 07:19 am »

Someone mentioned (Magnepan) factory direct. I think with the limited number of dealers in the US, factory direct would be great.
I live in Oklahoma and there are no Magnepan dealers here............... heck, there aren't any high end audio stores to be found in my area.

What's an audiophile to do?

jarcher · « **Reply #32 on:** 20 Jul 2014, 01:35 pm »

You can have either mmg's or 1.7s shipped directly to your house for a 60 day trial. If your going to spend over $5k for a speaker such as a 3.7 or better and have never heard one, it would be unwise not to spend a few hundred to fly to Magnepan Minnesota or the nearest Magnepan dealer to hear one. I really think we protest to much about the dealer thing.

jarcher · « **Reply #33 on:** 20 Jul 2014, 01:42 pm »

Quote from: berni on 20 Jul 2014, 05:22 am

When are they going to follow the way of Jim Winey, going completly new and inovative and not sticking to old stuff just because it doesnt pay off. To kepp with the rest, they could change a lot of stuff and a lot of them doesn't cost the world. All of the stuff is the almost the same like Jim invented it, it was awesome but it needs this inovative approach again in this time.
I would love to thank Jim for his great work at this oportunity.

Seems to me the recent all quasi ribbon design is a pretty big evolution in the design / technology of the magnetic planar speaker. And on the other hand you have speakers such as quads that are still basically being made as a minor revision of a +50 year old design and still considered one of the all time greats. Some stuff really does stand the test of time.

SwamisCat · « **Reply #34 on:** 20 Jul 2014, 04:04 pm »

One more question...

In comparing my late 1980s version of the three series to my latest 3.7i, despite massive similarities, they are clearly voiced differently. The most dramatic voicing difference seems to be less upper midrange energy in the newest speakers. Does Magnepan agree that the evolution of the three series has gone in the direction of a smoother upper midrange? (And for the record, I view it as a totally favorable evolution).

By the way, on many of the questions, we need to be careful not to paint a Magnepan into a PR corner. They can't be quoted as saying their speakers need a sub or need to be set up seven feet plus into a room. This type of comment would discourage buyers for obvious reasons. What they may be able to say is something along the lines of "our speakers are designed to sound fantastic in normal listening rooms preferably three feet or more from the front wall, but we know that some listeners get great results with substantially larger distances. Our research shows that the best results in these types of setups comes from..."

In other words, try to get setup suggestions in a way which doesn't backfire. They have dedicated listening panels and decades of experience with dealers and research. It would be awesome if you could get them to share the knowledge they have amassed over the years with us.

Thanks in advance for your help!

berni · « **Reply #35 on:** 20 Jul 2014, 04:34 pm »

Quote from: jarcher on 20 Jul 2014, 01:42 pm

Seems to me the recent all quasi ribbon design is a pretty big evolution in the design / technology of the magnetic planar speaker. And on the other hand you have speakers such as quads that are still basically being made as a minor revision of a +50 year old design and still considered one of the all time greats. Some stuff really does stand the test of time.

One thing?
The mdf frames are the same, terminals dont mention the glimpsy feet, same socks...
The limits of Magnepan speakers stayed the same in dynamics .

SwamisCat · « **Reply #36 on:** 12 Aug 2014, 04:45 pm »

How did your trip go?

SteveFord · « **Reply #37 on:** 12 Aug 2014, 08:51 pm »

It hasn't happened yet, it looks like they're waiting for air fares to drop.
That probably coincides with the mercury in the thermometer dropping as well.

Roger Gustavsson · « **Reply #38 on:** 13 Aug 2014, 07:35 pm »

"They"? Are Magnepan paying your trip?

SteveFord · « **Reply #39 on:** 14 Aug 2014, 12:30 am »

Yes, "they" are buying a plane ticket sooner or later.
I get to drive them crazy and I hope to visit with Dean Rosenthal (fellow ACer with mutual interests in guitars and motorcycles) and then maybe see what Frank Van Alstine is up to while I'm in the neighborhood.
I believe that Audio Research might be fairly close by, too.
Might as well make the most use of my time up there if at all possible.

What would be better is Eminent Technologies buying me a ticket to Florida in the Winter. I'm thinking mid-February when I'm just about totally crazed from cabin fever and need to relax on the beach for a week or two. Maybe throw in Daytona Bike Week and a deep sea fishing trip to round things off.

What I think is going to happen is I'll go up to Magnepan when it's about 14 degrees below zero, Dean will be in NYC and I'll get snowed in for 3 days on my way home in Chicago. I'd better bring a couple of books along just in case.