Bookshelves? Towers? Panels? Help me set up new living room :)

[arpod]

Update: went to a dealer to hear the Magnepans. They didn't have LRS so I listened the .7's - their room couldn't have been more different than the one where my speakers will go and I can't afford .7's but after reading so many comments about huge sound stage and zero dynamics I needed to have some sort of tactile experience for those words to be more than just words. I can say that my experience definitely lined up with everything I've read. Extremely clear and detailed, HUGE soundstage and zero impact. I didn't have a lot of time to listen so it's hard to really know how I feel about them. On the one hand I loved the big sound, the high end is extremely clear but not at all bright or fatiguing. I kept thinking "my mom would love these" - she doesn't like when it's too loud and she doesn't like the feeling of sound pressure hitting her. You really hear the music at the expense of feeling the music. Might be the only speakers I've listened to where I didn't really want to keep turning them up.

So it might sound like I didn't love them and for sure they're less fun to listen to than a big bookshelf or floorstanding speaker BUT I could totally imagine how they would FILL the whole room with sound and imagine that would be a really cool experience. In that regard they actually seem like the perfect speakers for social gatherings (remember those??) where the music fills the room but doesn't need to be very loud and doesn't trample all over your conversation. Obviously they'd be great for critical listening as well. I really want to hear these with a sub to see if that could supply some of the impact I was missing.

Long story short I'm going to get in line and order a pair of LRS. It's probably going to take a while to receive them. In the meantime I can listen to my plebeian box speakers. I plan on living with the Maggies for a while to see how they grow on me. If I end up not vibing with them they shouldn't be hard to sell.

 

[JoeESP9]

IME all Maggies lower than 20.7's benefit from the addition of a subwoofer. LRS's being the smallest Maggies, they need the most help in the deep bass area. They fit quite nicely on a lot of 12" powered subs.

Using an electronic crossover between them and the preamp allows for removing the task of producing deep bass. Maggies that are not being asked to produce deep bass will play louder and use less power doing so. They also do a lot better with that impact thing. I've always called it jump factor.

A perfect example is from Stravinsky's Firebird when the new Firebird is raised from the ashes of the old one.

 

[arpod]

IME all Maggies lower than 20.7's benefit from the addition of a subwoofer. LRS's being the smallest Maggies, they need the most help in the deep bass area. They fit quite nicely on a lot of 12" powered subs.

Using an electronic crossover between them and the preamp allows for removing the task of producing deep bass. Maggies that are not being asked to produce deep bass will play louder and use less power doing so. They also do a lot better with that impact thing. I've always called it jump factor.

A perfect example is from Stravinsky's Firebird when the new Firebird is raised from the ashes of the old one.

I love Firebird. I got to see Gustavo Dudamel conducting at Disney Hall last year. Talk about jump factor.

As for subs I’m definitely going to have to find a compromise. Not willing to place the Maggie’s on top of the subs - I’m sure it sounds great but it kind of defeats the visual elegance of the design for me. Hopefully I can find a spot that’s both visually unobtrusive and sounds good.

as for the crossover I think I’m going to put a Schiit Loki eq before the speakers to trim the low freq and send a separate out from the preamp to the sub’s rca in. Thanks for the tips!

 

[Old Guy8]

LRS are light enough to be easily moved out into a room for critical listening. And then back out of the way for casual use.

 

[FONSguy]

I second the 180 degree rotation. The other 'solutions' aren't so much. Been there, done that numerous times.

 

[arpod]

I put in my order for a pair of LRS (off-white with cherry trim). From what I've been told, Magnepans will really shine placed in the middle of the room. Also, from a design perspective I'm really excited about the off-white/cherry panel, it seems like a very unique and refined look. Dipoles having a "figure 8" pattern, proximity to the sidewalls is not so important so long as there is plenty of space behind the speakers. Conversely, a traditional bookshelf or floor-standing box speaker might not be ideal if placed in the middle of the room. The only thing is I listened to a pair of .7s not LRS. There's a pair of minty black/cherry .7s for sale in my area that are very tempting - only a couple hundred bucks more for better speakers. I think I'll hold off though, the smaller footprint of the LRS is probably more well suited to my room and I really like the off-white. Since I'll probably be adding a sub or two I don't really need to worry about the low end. I'll keep you updated when my LRS arrive (about 12-15 weeks).

 

[JoeESP9]

 

[jazzmans]

I put in my order for a pair of LRS (off-white with cherry trim). From what I've been told, Magnepans will really shine placed in the middle of the room. Also, from a design perspective I'm really excited about the off-white/cherry panel, it seems like a very unique and refined look. Dipoles having a "figure 8" pattern, proximity to the sidewalls is not so important so long as there is plenty of space behind the speakers. Conversely, a traditional bookshelf or floor-standing box speaker might not be ideal if placed in the middle of the room. The only thing is I listened to a pair of .7s not LRS. There's a pair of minty black/cherry .7s for sale in my area that are very tempting - only a couple hundred bucks more for better speakers. I think I'll hold off though, the smaller footprint of the LRS is probably more well suited to my room and I really like the off-white. Since I'll probably be adding a sub or two I don't really need to worry about the low end. I'll keep you updated when my LRS arrive (about 12-15 weeks).

to my ears, the ideal location for a pair of maggies is just under halfway into the room, but, obviously that isn't possible in most rooms. It isn't in mine either. in my office, I run my 1.6QRs in 'headphone' mode, which is, almost halfway into the room facing 90degrees inward, (pointed at the center of the room with the rear of the speakers facing the sidewalls) with my seating position between them. It sounds amazing, as @7.62 can attest, but it sure fills up the entire room.

I'm glad so many are buying the LRS, but I think y'all should be considering the bigger models.

I run subs with my 1.6QR and my 2.5R

 

[arpod]

Update: tried a couple different speakers in my new space. Mainly my JBL L112s. they sounded bright and harsh and as much bass as they should have. my room is definitely bright and can't take big drivers. I got a pair of Wharfedale Denton 80th (they have the smaller 5" drivers) and combined with REL t5i sounds great. plugged in my rp600s and way too bright. still waiting for my LRS to arrive but i have a feeling they'll work great

 

[JoeESP9]

 

[Yamaki]

Seems like some room treatments are in order here.

 

[arpod]

UPDATE

Just got tracking info from Magnepan - LRS should arrive in a couple of days!

I moved into my new place and with curtains and furniture, I find the sound of the room to be pretty good. The speakers are pretty much in the middle of the room so there is zero low end buildup (but a lot of low end BEHIND the speakers) I have a pile of Schiit (Modius DAC, Saga+ pre, Vidar amp) driving my dad's old JBL L112's (had them serviced years ago) and it sounds great. Can't wait to hear the LRS but I'm expecting to be disappointed with the bass. Maybe not disappointed as I'm not expecting much low end but worried it might not be dynamic enough. I have a REL t5i I'm prepared to add to the mix but right now the look of the JBLs and no sub is just so right. Subs are great but if you don't have a place to hide them they can be really ugly.

All that said I'm super excited to get that big sound from these little panels.

 

[E-Stat]

The speakers are pretty much in the middle of the room so there is zero low end buildup...

Ideally, they would be at roughly room thirds with your listening area at the other third. Indeed, the middle of a room is a bass null.

 

[arpod]

Ideally, they would be at roughly room thirds with your listening area at the other third. Indeed, the middle of a room is a bass null.

yes, I can definitely hear that there's a bit of a null but life is about compromises. It's not a dedicated listening room. The speakers aren't in the middle they're a slightly behind the middle and I can easily move a chair fairly close to the speakers for active listening. This gets me pretty close to the rule of thirds. Sounds pretty decent to me. When you sit in the right spot the soundstage really opens up and gets more 3D. I generally prefer the sound of larger speakers but stand mounts definitely have a bigger sound stage. my last place I had a bump in the bass and I'm much preferring having a leaner sound vs a boomier sound in this new room. I'll post pics soon.

 

[E-Stat]

This gets me pretty close to the rule of thirds. Sounds pretty decent to me. When you sit in the right spot the soundstage really opens up and gets more 3D. my last place I had a bump in the bass and I'm much preferring having a leaner sound vs a boomier sound in this new room. I'll post pics soon.

Work with what you've got - I'm observing the ideal. Agree on avoiding boom.

I generally prefer the sound of larger speakers but stand mounts definitely have a bigger sound stage.

Interesting. They always sound small and distant to me.

 

[arpod]

Here's some pics for you.

I usually spread the speakers a little further for listening.

I'm not done decorating so this is a work in progress. The JBLs look a little rough but they sound great.

I'm waiting on a media console that will fit all the components and some records so no comments necessary on my flimsy coffee acting as a media stand.

Also, the Technics is there for now but just got my Dual TT serviced (Grado Bronze cart) and that will be the record player.

IMG_3771

• arpod
• Feb 16, 2021

Critical listening position

IMG_3772

• arpod
• Feb 16, 2021

Wide angle

IMG_3774

• arpod
• Feb 16, 2021

Pile of Schiit

IMG_3775

• arpod
• Feb 16, 2021

JBL L112

IMG_3773

• arpod
• Feb 16, 2021

From behind

 

[Hobie1dog]

Maggies with a sub

 

[JoeESP9]

With the useable space the OP has a pair of Magnepan LRS's and a 12"-15" sub would IMO work very well.

I would suggest larger Maggies but they tend to visually over power a room. IMO Magnepan .7's and a 15" sub would be ideal audibly and visually.

I generally prefer the sound of larger speakers but stand mounts definitely have a bigger sound stage. my last place I had a bump in the bass and I'm much preferring having a leaner sound vs a boomier sound in this new room. I'll post pics soon.

They always sound small and distant to me.

As a fellow panel user I agree with E-Stat. Because of the size of the radiating area panels have always sounded to me like a larger window to the sound than conventional speakers. IME floor standers have a smaller image size and bookshelf's are even smaller.

 

[arpod]

With the useable space the OP has a pair of Magnepan LRS's and a 12"-15" sub would IMO work very well.

I would suggest larger Maggies but they tend to visually over power a room. IMO Magnepan .7's and a 15" sub would be ideal audibly and visually.





As a fellow panel user I agree with E-Stat. Because of the size of the radiating area panels have always sounded to me like a larger window to the sound than conventional speakers. IME floor standers have a smaller image size and bookshelf's are even smaller.

Perhaps I should clarify what I meant by bookshelves sounding bigger. They don't, but especially when used with a sub, they give me a greater sense of the speakers disappearing and more of that wide and deep soundstage.

I agree that .7s would be a better fit sonically but they would be visually overpowering. Same with a 15" sub. That new KEF sub looks pretty cool though.

 

[JoeESP9]

In that case; the Magnepan LRS's and a powered 10" or 12" sub. One good thing about Magnepans is they are easy to move in and out of position. Try close to the front wall for casual and background listening and away from the wall for serious listening.

You can get them from a dealer and pay sales tax or order from the factory and pay for shipping. You have 30 days to decide to keep them or not. If you decide to keep them Magnepan will credit the full purchase price within a year if you want larger Maggies.

FWIW: Panels in general tend to do very well with producing a soundstage. Of course it has to be in the recording. Sadly most rock and pop recordings don't have one because there isn't one to reproduce.