jazzmans
Super Member
If you don't mind the $ difference, trust me, get the 1.7i. the 1.6qr sound AMAZING in a 10x10 room. I have them set up on the side walls pointing at the sides of my head instead of the front wall. It's phenomenal!
Damn these Magnepan SMGa's !!!!
- Thread starter onwardjames
- Start date
That's an interesting way to position them! Do you mean at 9 and 3 o'clock, or more the "W.A.S.P." method of making that triangle? (wide angle stereo positioning, I think it means?)
jazzmans
Super Member
In my 10x10 room they are at 3 and 9 oclock. totally NOT standard, but since they're dipoles, it sounds fabulous (actually between 9 and 10 oclock, adn between 2 and 3 oclock) and my desk is at 12 oclock.
it's just like 'dj speakers' set up on stage, you get the front wave directly to your ears, then the reflected (back) wave hits you after, with enough delay that it doesn't 'smear' the sound. Truly sounds fabulous. speakers are 3 feet from the side walls, bracketing the desk, pointing directly at ears
I've had maggies since my roommate in college had a pair of MGII's. I picked up a pair of MG1 at a garage sale, fixed the tweeter wires and used these for many years. I've since replaced them with the 1.6qr. These are great speakers.
I suggest fixing the SMGs (remove the socks, find the broken tweeter wire, ...). Magnepan sells a tweeter kit but I haven't looked in a long time. Listen to Blue if you plan to solder. packing tape for small mylar tears. Enjoy them until the LRS+ arrive. Sell them to fund the LRS+.
I suggest fixing the SMGs (remove the socks, find the broken tweeter wire, ...). Magnepan sells a tweeter kit but I haven't looked in a long time. Listen to Blue if you plan to solder. packing tape for small mylar tears. Enjoy them until the LRS+ arrive. Sell them to fund the LRS+.
jazzmans
Super Member
I know, but don't knock it until you try it.
Sounds amazing.
I did it because I had bookshelves on the front wall where the speakers would go normally, and didn't want to block access, but was completely surprised by how good they sounded.
Dave, er, @7.62 heard it, and said that the maggies finally sounded excellent to his ears like that.
Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
Magnepan supplies a chunk of solder with rewire kits to solder the aluminum wiring, so that part is not an issue. Since it does not mix with regular solders, requires a clean iron.
JoeESP9
ESL's & tubes since 83
No need. My purpose-built room has shoebox proportions.
Magnepan makes the Minnie Mag system. It's made for desktop and/or nearfield listening.
jazzmans
Super Member
Imma go on a limb and say the 1.6QR sounds better then the mini mag system. It also gets obscenely loud with them in this setup.
Like I've said before, it's an exact mirror of what we call 'dj headphones' for the music festivals I install. an array of speakers on both sides of the dj about four feet away from the dj and pointed right at his head. dj's for the big shows don't want to wear actual headphones so this mimics it.
I'll delve into it again once I obtain a meter with the beep feature. All the ones I have are cheapies.
I have to say, even being old and the low man on the Magnepan totem pole, the sound is just amazing to my tired ears.
a_retent
In memory of Trixie woo-woo
Agreed!
I bested my MMGs with a pair of 1.6QRs...glad I did, but still have the MMGs as I would like to see what they can do with the Peter Gunn mod.
I bi-wired the 1.6s at first with Kimber cables (cuz they was free) but now they're bi-amped using ARC vm220 tube monoblocks for the upper end, a solid state ARC D400mkII to support the 600Hz crossover point down to the lower roll off of the maggies. I fill in the bottom by way of a pair of sealed enclosure Carver Knightshadow subs crossed at 65Hz with a dbx 120x-ds subharmonic synthesizer.
(Edit) I live aprox. 4 miles from Magnepan.
Last edited:
avguytx
Lunatic Member
In a 10 X 10 room, there's definitely only so much that is going to work; like the proverbial fitting of a square peg in a round hole. Speakers need some space to "bloom", or whatever "fru fru" term a person wants to use. If whatever speakers have to be a certain distance from the back wall, by said manufacturers recommendation, then a person sits not directly on the back wall in their room, you're darn close into near field range. Then you factor whatever else is taking up space in the room....i.e. is the person a hoarder of gear, all sorts of stuff piled everywhere, etc. All factors have to be considered.
Hell, I have a 15 x 28 room and it's tough enough getting it to sound right with large speakers. Currently my speakers are on the short wall and I sit about 14 feet back. The bass is so-so in that setup but livable especially with a Sunfire sub and a good chunk of power. Now, when I had the speakers on the long wall, I sat about 11 feet from them, typically. The bass was way better but the room was a little more crowded feeling. It's always a trade off.
Hell, I have a 15 x 28 room and it's tough enough getting it to sound right with large speakers. Currently my speakers are on the short wall and I sit about 14 feet back. The bass is so-so in that setup but livable especially with a Sunfire sub and a good chunk of power. Now, when I had the speakers on the long wall, I sat about 11 feet from them, typically. The bass was way better but the room was a little more crowded feeling. It's always a trade off.
How close to home this hits. My only saving grace is that the back wall opens into the kitchen, so it doesn't sound too boxy.
I keep thinking that I should take every single thing out, and settle with a solid 2 way. But where is the fun in that?
avguytx
Lunatic Member
For me, it would equate to a non-cluttered room.
I'd love to have even bigger speakers upstairs but I know they won't a) physically fit and, b) won't sound any better. I got tired of the constant chase and enjoy being happy with what I have and enjoying the music with my decreasing hearing ability. Which sucks. I'm always on the hun for a good deal on something but, with how stupid prices are for vintage gear anymore, my interest in it has faded more and more and I look at newer gear.
Gunn your MMGs! I've read it really helps. I've moved my MG1s to my son's house but really like the 1.6s.
I'm a bit farther away but know a few of the people that work there. I've even spent many hours at Jim's music room listening to his music collection (mainly SCAD).
BTW, night fly is a great album!
a_retent
In memory of Trixie woo-woo
Never had the honor of Jim's music room but got tons of goodies from the production staff. And yes, I got the T-shirt...great group of down to earth people there.
The Nightfly 1step is THEE best recording I have of that album, a real treat to listen to on the maggies.