[Russell Dawkins]

With respect, I think that considerations of stereo width and out-of-speaker experiences as indicators of correct speaker placement and room conditioning require too much guessing on the part of the experimenter.

I believe the most effective (fastest and surest) and possibly only valid technique for improving speaker set up and room treatment, at least for two channel reproduction, is the quality of the phantom center image when producing mono. It is possible to do this without a mono button or Y-cord, too, since the best way to do it is through one channel of your power amp, since this eliminates the difference between amplifier channels, too. Just play music at low levels if you have any concerns regarding the ability of your amp to handle a low impedance load.

For conventional stereo, as well as the L and R channels of 5.1 and 7.1 surround, the center of the midrange or bass/mid driver should be at the ±30º positions and you might hear (for once) the advantage of toeing them in - even so far as to cross in front of the listeners' seat. Move your head back and forth laterally and see how stable the mono image is at various toe in angles.

If your set up cannot reproduce a mono signal as if coming from a very narrow slit down the center, it can not be trusted to reproduce stereo properly; at least that's my opinion.

[jk@home]

Magnepan MG1.7 review with Bryston 4B SST2 amp.

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue53/magnepan.htm

james

In the article it is stated that "Wendell used a pink noise track for position and tow-in."

Can that method be described in more detail?

Thanks
John

[James Tanner]

In the article it is stated that "Wendell used a pink noise track for position and tow-in."

Can that method be described in more detail?

Thanks
John

Hi John,

Wendell is away till Friday so I will ask him to expand.

james

[jk@home]

No hurry 

[James Tanner]

In the article it is stated that "Wendell used a pink noise track for position and tow-in."

Can that method be described in more detail?

Thanks
John

Hi John,

I often listen to pink noise to get an idea of whether there are any significant peaks or dips in the response.

This step just speeds up the tweaking process and is not essential.  I have listened to pink noise for decades and observed the results on the computer. So, I can listen to pink noise and know if there are major issues.

Wendell

[josh358]

Hi Josh,

I believe the recordinngs listed above were specifically recorded using phase manipulating to product a 'surround' effect from the use of only 2 speakers?  So if the speakers are set up correctly the images should extend well outside the edge of each speaker. 

I have heard the recording I mentioned above in very large rooms where first relection issues are not a concern and the images are still way beyond the edge of each speaker and extend far up the side wall.

I will agree though that some use a 'strong' side wall reflection to create phantom images not originally in the recording

james

Sorry if I misread, I thought the OP was referring to conventional recordings. Agree that out-of-phase information can sound like it's coming from beyond the arc subtended by the speakers. And crosstalk cancellation can be incorporated into a recording, though as I understand it, recording engineers don't use it much because of unpredictable results.

[Vangelis]

I'm new to Audio Circle and this is my first post.

I am happy to hear that the 3.7 can not be biamped, simpler is better, less jumper bars, better connection integrity and such but, does anyone know how the new 3.7 xover is configured? Is the new xover outboard? Is a extra set of short speaker cables required to to connect from the new xover to the speakers or does the connection go direct from the amplifier to the speaker?
Thanks,
Dave

[andyr]

Hi Dave

Welcome

The crossover (series style) is built into the speaker so just one set of connections.

james

I suspect that's why it uses 6dB slopes (well, that's what's been postulated but we haven't seen a schematic of the XO  ).  Higher order slopes for a 3-way would need too many components to fit into just the back of the frame.

Regards,

Andy

[James Tanner]

I'm new to Audio Circle and this is my first post.

I am happy to hear that the 3.7 can not be biamped, simpler is better, less jumper bars, better connection integrity and such but, does anyone know how the new 3.7 xover is configured? Is the new xover outboard? Is a extra set of short speaker cables required to to connect from the new xover to the speakers or does the connection go direct from the amplifier to the speaker?
Thanks,
Dave

Hi Dave,

All the 3.7 crossover components are internal.

The fact that the 3.7 can not be biwired or biamped will not be well-received by some audiophiles. However, it was not done for better connectivity, etc.  When you get a chance to hear the 3.7s, I hope they sound like what I heard in Harry Pearson's sound room. That was awesome!!!

Wendell

[BrysTony]

I got the opportunity to audition the 1.7 yesterday at an audio shop in Dallas.  The sound stage was really impressive as was the mid-range.  They handled several jazz selections beautifully but they came up short on bass when pushed with some Black Eyed Peas hip hop. For me to be satisfied with them I would have to add a sub or two. 

I am going to wait to hear the 3.7 which the shop should have sometime in March.  I was told that they are already backordered and there will likely be quite a wait for them.

Tony

[klao]

Hi Tony,

I'd like to suggest that you might want to wait until the new 3.7 you plan to audition have been broken in quite a bit. The bass panels of Maggies usually take a good while to go down deeper than when new. 

Cheers,
Klao

[BrysTony]

Hi Tony,

I'd like to suggest that you might want to wait until the new 3.7 you plan to audition have been broken in quite a bit. The bass panels of Maggies usually take a good while to go down deeper than when new. 

Cheers,
Klao

Good point!
Tony

[Elizabeth]

My 3.6's were new in April 2010. I play them all day every day. i would say the bass panels got be better after a few months.

[James Tanner]

Hi Folks,

The older wire style Magnepans would take a few months for the diaphragm to 'relax'.  The break-in time is much less for the new MG-1.7s and 3.7s. It is a non-linear curve and if I had guess, I would say about half the time or less.

Wendell

[James Tanner]

Well I have a pair of the new 3.7's on order - looking forward to it

james

[BrysTony]

Audio Concepts in Dallas has the 3.7s in and set up for listening.  I am going to get over there real soon to hear them.
Tony

[James Tanner]

Audio Concepts in Dallas has the 3.7s in and set up for listening.  I am going to get over there real soon to hear them.
Tony

Great - please report back your thoughts.

james

[James Tanner]

Just got my copy of The Absolute Sound magazine to day and read the review from Harry Pearson on the new 3.7's ..... I need to get a pair REAL BAD

James

[Zimmerman]

I understand that the new 3.7s are not set up for easy bi-amping, as the 3.5s and 3.6s are.  The bi-amping option has been an immensely attractive feature of the previous iterations of the 3 series Magnepans. (I currently bi-amp the 3.5s.)

Does anyone know the rationale for this decision on Magnepan's part?

[James Tanner]

I understand that the new 3.7s are not set up for easy bi-amping, as the 3.5s and 3.6s are.  The bi-amping option has been an immensely attractive feature of the previous iterations of the 3 series Magnepans. (I currently bi-amp the 3.5s.)

Does anyone know the rationale for this decision on Magnepan's part?

Hi Zimmerman,

The lack of bi-amping was not something that Magnepan intended when they started looking at ways to improve the performance of the MG3.6's.  But as the project evolved and the new crossover designs and drivers etc. were developed it became clear that a new 'series' crossover design using simple 6dB per octave slopes provided better overall performance than the previous designs.

james