Read of this over at A.A. site in MUG users group. But I cannot post there due to issues with A.A. for myself. So I thought I would bring it here to also get some comments.
There is an ad in TAS for the new idea. I stole the pic from MUG.
My concern is if this is for condos, that is a living arrangement something like: "folks (strangers) living in close proximity" which means the giant bass they seem to be offering is anathema to condo and apartment living. Anyone with a proximate neighbors wall adjoining this bass monster is going to have serious problems with their neighbors as soon as the thumping hits them where they reside.
I live in a building with close (adjacent) strangers living on the other side of my wall, and above and below my listening area.. where my Magnepan 20.7s reside.
I am particularly careful to not allow the bass to get too loud. When I bought the 20.7s to replace the previous 3.6 Maggies I had, I was concerned about the bass being 'too much' for my living quarters. This has been a small challenge, and I really feel I cannot play some Rock material, due to the excessive bass.
With my experimenting with exotic wood, I have now and then increased the bass out of proportion, and really had to go back and find a solution. (Primarily I found African Blackwood to really be a big booster of the bass, under nearly any equipment)
If Magnepan is looking for comments and advice about a new design to offer "30.7 capabilities in a condo size" this problem of 'too much bass' going through adjoining walls should also be addressed.
One of the greatest ASSETS of the current Magnepan bass is it does not go through walls nearly as much as cone woofer bass! When I was auditioning 20.7s to consider them.. I cranked up some hard rocking music, went outside the showroom and CLOSED THE DOOR... to listen to what happened to the bass leaking from the room... And was pleasantly surprised almost nothing was thumping outside the room.
So the guys at Magnepan should realize this.. If they go big on a cone woofer design, they may be throwing the baby out with the bathwater.. Though I know a LOT of guys just love gut massage bass... Most Women have no real use for it (other than a possible ego massaging their significant other...)
I write this so Josh might pass my concern along to the 'powers that be' at Magnepan.
Plus the fact there are great dipole woofer designs around Audio Circle. hint hint.
Anyway, that is my two cents on a cone bass driver wedded to Magnepans, to be for 'smaller spaces' (My 20.7s are at the short wall end of a room only 11' 8" wide. and are just fine.)
I had some issues with going too lean over constantly seeking out greater clarity, but my experiments with butcher blocks and exotic wood has totally alleviated that, to the point I am tring to lessen the bass a little, so I can play some Rock I find has too much bass to be comfortable.
Other companies are moving to a quasi magnepan style mid drivers, with a dipole cone woofer, So I can see Magnepan wanting some of the action to stay in their camp.
Anyway, thoughts?
