Thread: Magnepan 3.7s

Posts: 16
Page: prev 1 2

Post by Oakland July 5, 2011 (11 of 16)
There is a current Magnepan thread at the Planar Speaker Asylum


http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/MUG/messages/17/175762.html

The first line of the OP post is: *****I am considering putting together a hi-fi surround system using magneplanars.*****

His genre (heavy metal) is polar opposite of yours but there are about 30 responses (none that I have read) that collectively may be useful to you.

Other than that my first compelling experience with SACD mulyi-channel was a Magneplaner demonstration at CES. The rears, for sure, were heavily modified by Magnepan for optimal use in a SACD multi-channel system. Specifically the rears were modified to attenuate the rear wave and purposefully placed flat up against the rear walls.

Sounded fabulous.

Robert C. Lang

Post by hifirene July 6, 2011 (12 of 16)
I would be interested in hearing about Magnepan based multichannel systems.
Hi, for years I listened to my Maggie’s (Modified 1.6 , MGSS (surround) and MMGC(center) with my Primare amp, and I am still very happy with my Surround set.
A good friend of my, ownes MG 3,1, CC2 and MC1 and is also very pleased with the sound.
Of cause both systems are supported with subs, but the sound of the Maggie’s is very clear and homogene.

Post by 51surr July 6, 2011 (13 of 16)
I have a system of 3.6R fronts, CC3 center, MC1 rears, and Phase Tech sub. They sound great. I like the speed of the 3.6R which is why I have them for the front. I had started with a pair of MC1 for the front but changed to the 3.6. I like rock music and fusion jazz in a surround format using all speakers. I found the Audyssey DSX application very helpful and can definetly hear sonic improvements.

Post by Fitzcaraldo215 July 7, 2011 (14 of 16)
junchoon said:

i have not heard the 3.7 either, but i will agree that for mch, maggies may not be a good choice as there is no dedicate center channel speaker for larger models like the 1.7, 3.7, etc.

of course you can - assuming magnepan allows that - buy three units of the maggies, and flip one of the units and make it flat instead of up-right. some might argue otherwise for this configuration:

http://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/vertical-vs-horizontal-speaker-designs

cheers,
wps

I would not have high hopes for laying a full sized Maggie on its side either for the center. Aside from space considerations, I would also be concerned about the sheer width of the sound source in that configuration and the imaging problems that might cause in "smearing" the sound horizontally over a wide area. I believe that the reason Maggie centers are curved in a convex shape is for imaging quality as well as space considerations.

The only solution in the Magnepan offerings I feel would be ideal is to use one of their DW-1 or DWM woofers front dead center to handle the center signal crossed over from one of their CCR or CC5 centers. The only reeson we have had to reject that solution is because we cannot physically fit the woofer where it should be together with video monitor and other components. Additional amp power issues and cost also come into play.

Of course, my arguments are based purely on what I think are theoretical considerations. I have not actually heard any Maggie Mch setups and the real world results may be better than I think.

I myself use Martin-Logan 'stat hybrids with excellent results that are comparable to the best Mch systems I have heard. So, I think that, with proper attention to detail, the use of line-souce dipoles can give very good results. This is in spite of the no-no about this type of setup in the ITU spec, which strongly urges monopole, "point source" speakers.

Post by Windsurfer July 7, 2011 (15 of 16)
I would never turn a full range Maggie on its side. That seems inane to me. One 3.7 standing in a normal position should give excellent results despite the speaker's asymmetry. I sit 9 ft from my center channel in which I have two 2.6s side by side with the tweeter in the center. Nine feet away all treble sounds from the pair have well integrated and I have very fine sound.

The idea of turning center channel speakers on their sides derives from the desire to have a TV in the center. Maybe what Magnepan suggested many years ago, placing a pair on either side of the TV and angled to cross in front of the listener will produce the desired mono source apparent at the TV set.

This is a somewhat more costly way to go about it however.

It also sort of implies a pretty big room...

Post by Fitzcaraldo215 July 8, 2011 (16 of 16)
Windsurfer said:

I would never turn a full range Maggie on its side. That seems inane to me. One 3.7 standing in a normal position should give excellent results despite the speaker's asymmetry. I sit 9 ft from my center channel in which I have two 2.6s side by side with the tweeter in the center. Nine feet away all treble sounds from the pair have well integrated and I have very fine sound.

The idea of turning center channel speakers on their sides derives from the desire to have a TV in the center. Maybe what Magnepan suggested many years ago, placing a pair on either side of the TV and angled to cross in front of the listener will produce the desired mono source apparent at the TV set.

This is a somewhat more costly way to go about it however.

It also sort of implies a pretty big room...

Bruce - Hopefully, that asymetry would not be bothersome with a 3.7 or 1.7 in the center position. It might even be necessary to place it a wee bit off center to get a compromise that suits both the mid and tweeter panel at the sweet spot. Yes, absolutely, that would be far better than laying one on its side. But, what about a pair of 1.7's side by side, almost touching each other, as a center? If you have got something like Audyssey, blend with 3.7's would likely be seamless.

But, I would seriously consider mating their woofer panel at a front center position to one of their curved centers. I still think that might be a very good solution, particularly if video is involved and if the vertical space is available.

I just do not think that their recommendation of two more widely spaced panels as a center on either side of a monitor will work properly, except at one very narrow sweet spot, suitable for only one listener. But, even there, imaging might be compromised as one adjusts one's head position slightly. That's my guess from never having heard it.

Page: prev 1 2

Closed