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Finally my Magnepan 20.1

73.36.40.81

Posted on December 7, 2014 at 19:18:18

john65b
Audiophile

Posts: 326
Location: Chicago
Joined: July 19, 2005

So finally got a pair - in Cherry - they came up locally and they were at a great price point. Not a scratch on them. I did strip a connection in the back crossover that I now need to fix, duh!.

I am biamping them with homebrew Icepower 1000ASP for bass and Icepower 500A on Mid/Highs. Quite happy. I was initially quite disappoined that the bass is nothing like Tympani T-IVa (and don't let anyone convince you otherwise). But after the wife and kids were gone the other day, I had a chance to run her a bit harder. Very very nice. Mids like a great electrostatic. Shimmer on cymbals that only come from Magnepan ribbon tweeters.They really do need a little drive to come alive....

I have a DEQ2496 that I think I can equalize out the bass to be a little more like the Tympanis (Digital Domain only). Also never really realized how good the TDA1541A sounds in this setup. The old Adcom GCD-575 with the TDA1541A from early 90's sounds better than all the other DACs I have (CS4398, AK4393, TDA1543 stacked, etc)...checking out the Wolfson 8471 now...

These may be keepers...although I still have teh Scinnies in the back room to refurb (install new bass panels)...may end up just selling them..
I VOID WARRANTIES

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grantv

07:27:53 12/25/14

RE: Finally my Magnepan 20.1

computerman

12:44:52 12/16/14

RE: Finally my Magnepan 20.1

macmagman

07:50:56 12/10/14

...

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grantv

07:27:53 12/25/14

RE: Finally my Magnepan 20.1

computerman

12:44:52 12/16/14

RE: Finally my Magnepan 20.1

macmagman

07:50:56 12/10/14

RE: Finally my Magnepan 20.1

Norman M

18:04:36 12/08/14

That's what I like to see

audiozorro

12:34:52 12/08/14

RE: That's what I like to see

russ69

17:37:14 12/08/14

RE: That's what I like to see

slapshot

16:07:40 12/10/14

RE: That's what I like to see

john65b

20:32:16 12/11/14

RE: That's what I like to see

Satie

07:45:13 12/12/14

RE: That's what I like to see

john65b

09:57:48 12/12/14

RE: That's what I like to see

Satie

17:08:40 12/12/14

RE: That's what I like to see

russ69

13:10:08 12/16/14

mighty fine; yessir mighty damn fine

Green Lantern

10:47:02 12/08/14

Congrats on your Magnepan 20.1

Satie

20:41:06 12/07/14

Mark Man

20:43:04 12/07/14

mraudio

21:32:10 12/07/14

john65b

05:07:24 12/08/14

Satie

13:18:47 12/08/14

john65b

18:50:17 12/08/14

Satie

19:26:51 12/08/14

Mark Man

20:06:11 12/07/14

Congrats..., posted on December 7, 2014 at 20:06:11
Mark Man Audiophile Posts: 1079 Location: MN Joined: January 31, 2010	That is a whole bunch Maggie in that room... thanks for posting...they look great... Mark

Congrats on your Magnepan 20.1, posted on December 7, 2014 at 20:41:06

Satie
Audiophile

Posts: 5426
Joined: July 6, 2002

I see you have a new favorite in the family.

To get the most out of the bass you will want to load it with the sidewalls.

I don't know if you tried it with the Scintillas but the MG20.1 should respond quite well.

Flip them to tweeters inwards, pull them into the room just 1ft short of the middle, place them 10" or so from the sidewalls facing smack forwards and adjust the gap to the wall to get the degree of bass reinforcement you need, and adjust the position back and forth till the soundstage snaps together. It should be significantly deeper than you are used to and defy the edges of the room, not to speak of the tweeter distance.

You can even put the speakers right at the wall dead perpendicular to it to get subwoofer like bass. Though the speaker may end up being overwhelmingly warm that way.

+1, posted on December 7, 2014 at 20:43:04
Mark Man Audiophile Posts: 1079 Location: MN Joined: January 31, 2010	thanks Mark

RE: +1, posted on December 7, 2014 at 21:32:10
mraudio Audiophile Posts: 459 Location: Northern Colorado Joined: November 4, 2006	I agree. In a room that small, tweeters inboard will sound much better.

RE: +1, posted on December 8, 2014 at 05:07:24
john65b Audiophile Posts: 326 Location: Chicago Joined: July 19, 2005	14' x 20'. Although the one side extends another 3'. I thought of just getting the 3.6, but these came up.... hard to imagine I had Tympani T-IVa in this room for a few years...and 2+2 (poking thru ceiling tile), Model 3, Apogee Duetta Sigs, Sanders 10C... I VOID WARRANTIES

mighty fine; yessir mighty damn fine, posted on December 8, 2014 at 10:47:02
Green Lantern Audiophile Posts: 16952 Location: San Diego, Ca Joined: November 12, 2002 Contributor Since: June 17, 2003	20.1's in the front room, Scinnys in the back; I get wood just thinking of such. Good deal ;)

That's what I like to see, posted on December 8, 2014 at 12:34:52
audiozorro Audiophile Posts: 628 Location: VA-MD-DC Joined: January 9, 2007	A man who knows that a great speaker sounds great even in a less than ideal room.

RE: +1, posted on December 8, 2014 at 13:18:47
Satie Audiophile Posts: 5426 Joined: July 6, 2002	Why did you leave the Tympani? The room is a good fit for them in the split config.

RE: That's what I like to see, posted on December 8, 2014 at 17:37:14
russ69 Audiophile Posts: 951 Joined: December 13, 2009	For sure a great speaker in a small room is always better than a good speaker in the same room. Hey, John, pull them out some more and you'll get your bass that you want. The rear wave has to match the front wave to get all the bass. It may look weird but it will work.

RE: Finally my Magnepan 20.1, posted on December 8, 2014 at 18:04:36
Norman M	My congrats on the big Maggie, enjoy it for many years of healthy an happy listening. And if it be your thing, the Adcom GCD-575 lets you invert absolute phase. And hoping that I didn't mix-up 'absolute' and 'relative' phase.)

RE: +1, posted on December 8, 2014 at 18:50:17

john65b
Audiophile

Posts: 326
Location: Chicago
Joined: July 19, 2005

Satie, I much preferred the the T-IVa all together, and didn't care for them split...I actually had two pairs - the first set I bought locally in 2010 and seller did not disclose that the tweeters were shot... replaced them and this setup was completely awesome (albeit cramped in my room). A friend gave me an offer I could not refuse, and agreed...I found another identical set locally within 6 months (not bad eh?)

Tweeters In? I had tweeters out on Tympanis...I will try tweeters in...
I VOID WARRANTIES

RE: +1, posted on December 8, 2014 at 19:26:51
Satie Audiophile Posts: 5426 Joined: July 6, 2002	Pull them forward, get rid of the thing on the right (rack?) and place the speakers with the bass side edge near the sidewalls. Yes, tweeters in. I will say that you need to cut off the woofers more steeply in the split config than the stock XO allows.

RE: Finally my Magnepan 20.1, posted on December 10, 2014 at 07:50:56
macmagman Audiophile Posts: 501 Location: NW Indiana Joined: October 17, 2010	Congrats !!! Bi-amping my 20.1's too huge difference when I upgraded. I see your in the Chicago area more 20.1 owners in the hood, enjoy, as far as the bass I have a sub but really don't need it much I don't know anything about the Tympani T-IVa never heard them but you may need some tweaking to get the 20.1's to the same level.

RE: That's what I like to see, posted on December 10, 2014 at 16:07:40
slapshot Audiophile Posts: 2248 Joined: January 9, 2006	Beautiful setup, but I agree that the room is much too small for the speakers. Any plans to move to a larger listening room?

RE: That's what I like to see, posted on December 11, 2014 at 20:32:16

john65b
Audiophile

Posts: 326
Location: Chicago
Joined: July 19, 2005

Yeah, I am now thinking these 20.1 are just too big for my room. As long as I have kids in the house (11 and 9 year old boys) I cannot move these to any other room. They will stay with me in this room until I sell them or they move out...

Room likely too small for the Scinnies too...probably the best setup would be modified Acoustat Model 3...or the Duetta Sigs I had (damn they worked perfect in this room too)

Well, I ended up selling the two pairs of T-Id, two pairs of T-IVa, Duetta Sigs, and my Sanders 10C, so never say never... At least I can now say I have a solid opinion on all them in my setup...
I VOID WARRANTIES

RE: That's what I like to see, posted on December 12, 2014 at 07:45:13

Satie
Audiophile

Posts: 5426
Joined: July 6, 2002

Care to share these pinions?

Did you try pulling the speakers into the room as we suggested?

RE: That's what I like to see, posted on December 12, 2014 at 09:57:48

john65b
Audiophile

Posts: 326
Location: Chicago
Joined: July 19, 2005

Satie, I fear my opinions will not be received well, and I will be challenged on my competency to judge in the first place, so I should just keep them to myself....

Oh Hell, from what I notice, it is when one indicates their disappointment with a particular piece of gear, the attacks come from all directions, but when one indicates they are happy with something, the stone-throwers somehow become more acceptive.... I can say my first pair of T-IVa (with brand new tweets), my modified Acoustat 2+2, and the stock MG20.1 pretty much round out my list! How's that?

I had a little accident with my scinnies before I really had any time to form an opinion....but after I repair / restore them I will post....

I have not yet been able to test them by bringing them in more into the room...which brings up another point.

I have a DEQ2496 that I was planning to use RTA to equalize / adjust my source (digitally via optical) to the aesthetically preferred placement of the speakers in my room, rather than the other way around of moving the speakers to suite modes of the room.

From my listening position, curve fit and balance the bass from 25hz to 500hz....all other frequencies are left as is...

Wishful thinking? Wasting my time?
I VOID WARRANTIES

RE: That's what I like to see, posted on December 12, 2014 at 17:08:40

Satie
Audiophile

Posts: 5426
Joined: July 6, 2002

I understand that you have compunctions about stating a preference. But it is only someone like you who has lived with these who can provide the description of comparative strengths and weaknesses.

There are other things besides the room modes that you are adjusting for in placement. First is the balance of reflected vs direct radiation, then there is the delay of reflections which is the distance to the front wall and somewhat affected by the distance of the tweeter to the side wall, which for a reason unknown to me appears to be ideal at just short of 3 ft. Then there is the issue of the oblique wave that has the lowest freq of all room modes and only gets excited when the speakers are setup near the center of the room near the sidewalls, the boundary effect from the sidewall loading of the bass and restriction of dipole cancellation has a big effect on the lower bass output - and how much audible bass is generated before the onset of distortion.

None of these things can be corrected or balanced by post facto EQ and time correction. If it isn't there to start the DEQ won't solve it.

You can tune out pesky modes and rebalance the speaker's tone and perhaps fix time alignment issues, but you can't fix everything and the better the starting point the better will be the final outcome.

RE: Finally my Magnepan 20.1, posted on December 16, 2014 at 12:44:52

computerman
Audiophile

Posts: 491
Location: Northeast
Joined: August 31, 2011

Awesome set of speakers! Congrats on the purchase. I have a pair of Tympani 1-D's which I don't think are as good as the IV's but I have never heard the IV"s so I cannot judge, but I do love the bass that they issue. I have some placement problems as well, and after I move will sort them out. I just wanted to drool a bit over your 20's and wish you well. Very Nice! And for my money Satie knows what he is talking about when he talks about placement, and of course just about anything else that affects a Maggie. Not to swell anyone's head, or get into any comparisons, just a statement of experience on this site with his comments.

RE: That's what I like to see, posted on December 16, 2014 at 13:10:08
russ69 Audiophile Posts: 951 Joined: December 13, 2009	You'll have no clue how good the bass is until you get them out in the room. No need for a subwoofer on these.

Nice, posted on December 25, 2014 at 07:27:53
grantv Manufacturer Posts: 7728 Location: B.C. Joined: January 15, 2002	When I bought my new 3.6's I was actually hoping to find used 20.1's. After quite some waiting period 3.6's were it. No regrets, just a bit of envy. :) Enjoy.

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