[jlafrenz]

I have a pair of MMG's and been contemplating upgrading them for quite some time. I know there are lots of upgrades and resources, but I was curious what upgrades everyone felt made the biggest improvement. I would be interested to hear what is the best DIY improvment not taking cost into consideration and what the best bang for the buck upgrade can be done. Let's hear your thoughts.

[Letitroll98]

Two bang for the buck upgrades are, wait, you didn't want that.  Sorry, knee jerk reaction to the usual question.  Anyway, the two improvements I made were taking the fuses out of the circuit and building diy stands that lifted the speakers 5" off the floor.  Unfortunately these are both bftb options so will be cast side from consideration post haste.  More involved would be getting them Gunned, or doing a razor, or both.

[*Scotty*]

Speaking from past experience with maggies, unless there have been vast changes to the sonic quality of capacitors used by Magnepan, swapping them out for much better caps is very cost effective. The coil should also be looked at, a Goertz AlphaCore coil might be a good thing to do. It depends on the gauge of the wire used in the existing air core coil as to whether or not an improvement will be heard. Large gauge round wire air-core coils, 12ga. and larger will darken the mid-range compared to the same gauge flat foil inductor. 14ga. round wire air-cores are the tipping point, sometimes an improvement will be heard with a Goertz type inductor and sometime no.
I would also jack them up somehow. I have used concrete patio paving stones for this as well as cinder or concrete blocks, ugly but effective. I also agree with the 5in. height off the floor recommendation however you do it.
Scotty

[brooklyn]

The only improvement I made with the MMG’s were DIY spiked platforms to get them
off the rug, I then added 12 pounds of weight to add mass to the platforms behind the
MMG’s. The end result was better focus and sound stage. I thought it was a worth while
project for the money spent which was about $25.00 for the pair (most of the stuff I had
lying around my basement) plus around 3 hour total time to make.

[SteveFord]

The only thing I did with mine was to get them so the center was at ear height when I'm sitting.
Not much of a modification but the price was right.

[Rclark]

Best diy MMG upgrade? Ncores. 

[timind]

"Best diy MMG upgrade? Ncores.  "

Didn't see that coming.

I see in the pics above the home made stands which look very nice. The problem I have with the stands is the MMGs are vertical. I had a pair of MG12s with the optional Sound Anchor stands which put them vertical. I never felt the vertical position worked well. Especially if I stood up (where'd the sound go?).

[Davey]

Generally, you'd want you ears on a perpendicular (height-wise) to the center of the MMG panel.  If they're on the floor most likely they should slanted, if raised above the floor most likely they should be vertical.

MG12's are a bit higher than MMG's and when your ears move above the top-most portion of the transducer you would expect the sound (highs first) to diminish.  That's an inherent advantage (not a disadvantage) of this type of radiation.  If you want something that sounds the same wherever you are in the room, you're using the wrong speakers. 

Dave.

[SteveFord]

Much more bigger ones! 
Where's the Sound-Lab guy when you need him?  Slackers. 
http://www.soundlab-speakers.com/

[sfdoddsy]

Subwoofers.

[MarvinTheMartian]

Open baffle sub's from another Circle. GR Research
Two or three 8" woofers per side would compliment the MMG's perfectly.

Size comparison of the 12" vs 8" Super easy to build, and sounds great.

Shawn

[Rclark]

Jokes aside, before you tweak them and try to improve them that way, make sure you have gobs of power to give them, I have 500+ watts per side and they will drink it all if you give it. Power is your biggest improvement,  then 2nd, some sealed subs, then 3rd would be modifying the MMG frame and crossover.