Planar Speaker Asylum

Welcome! Need support, you got it. Or share your ideas and experiences.

Return to Planar Speaker Asylum

Message Sort: Post Order or Asylum Reverse Threaded

Bi-Amping Magnepan Tympani 1D

172.58.41.94
Posted on July 13, 2016 at 15:39:02
pdxduckfan
Audiophile

Posts: 8
Location: Oregon, USA
Joined: July 13, 2016






I recently purchased the Tympani 1D's and would like to bi-amp them but don't know how. Can anyone please explain? I have a Denon surround receiver which can be bi-amped. Do I need an external crossover? I thought I could pull some jumpers out of the panel and plug the speaker wire in....guess it isn't so simple.

Thanks in advance!

 

Hide full thread outline!
    ...
RE: Bi-Amping Magnepan Tympani 1D, posted on July 13, 2016 at 16:08:43
Satie
Audiophile

Posts: 5426
Joined: July 6, 2002
 The speaker is designed to be run either one of 3 ways.
Integrated, as it is now, for one amp.

Second is to be biamped with the original tweeter crossover using one amp for tweeter hooked up between jacks 4 and 2 and the jumper 7-8 in place, The bass amp is connected at 3 and 5 and all the other jumpers are taken out. The bass section will then need to be crossed over with a line level low pass filter before the bass power amp. That consists of a resistor and a small capacitor in parallel or shunt position.

Third, You can also run the speaker with a line level crossover for both bass and tweeter, which is likely to perform best. The tweeter amp is connected at jacks 4 and 8, The bass amp is connected at jacks 3 and 5, all the jumpers are taken out.
The crossover at line level consists of a small series capacitor between the preamp and the tweeter amp for the high pass filter. The low pass filter consists of a resistor and a small capacitor in parallel/shunt position.
You can also use a line level active crossover like the First Watt B4 if you need more gain than the preamp provides.

 

RE: Bi-Amping Magnepan Tympani 1D, posted on August 10, 2019 at 11:40:44
pdxduckfan
Audiophile

Posts: 8
Location: Oregon, USA
Joined: July 13, 2016
 I'd appreciate some advice, if anyone could assist. I'm an audiofile on a budget. My tweeter went out on one Tympani 1D panel. I believe it's the crossover because when I run the signal through the bi-amping plugs, the tweeter won't work. I don't have the amps to bi-amp, and I'd like a simple/cheap solution. My thought is to get an external crossover that I would run between the amp and speakers, separating the highs/lows, then plugging the signal into the bi-amp inputs of the speaker. this seems cheaper than sending the speaker to Magnepan for repair. Can anyone recommend an external crossover that I can just plug the signals out of my amp, that would separate the highs/lows, so I can plug the speaker wire into the bi-amp inputs? Seems simple to just bypass the internal crossovers of the speakers. Thanks in advance!

 

RE: Bi-Amping Magnepan Tympani 1D, posted on August 10, 2019 at 11:53:23
MarcL
Audiophile

Posts: 425
Location: PA
Joined: February 26, 2019
 Highly recommend the active crossover. When I bought my 1D's in '77 I listened at the store both integrated and bi-amped and the difference was so distinct even my dad heard it. Back then I used Crown amps and active crossover. Lots of crossover options these days, but seems a MiniDSP would work just fine for not a lot of money. I talked to Wendell years ago and he suggested 1kHz as the crossover frequency.
Agilist, Musician, Photographer, Audiophile
Magneplanar: 3.7, CCR, MC1,LRS, MMGW, DWM; Outlaw: UltraX12, LFM-1C; Emotiva: XMC-2; Nord: Nord One NC500DM, Nord Three 1ET7040SA; Outlaw: Model 7500; OPPO 205

 

RE: Bi-Amping Magnepan Tympani 1D, posted on August 10, 2019 at 15:12:57
BDP24
Audiophile

Posts: 1070
Location: Vancouver, Washington
Joined: September 12, 2013
 And while you're at it, see if you can obtain a copy of the owners manual, which I assume contains info on bi-amping the T-ID.

 

RE: Bi-Amping Magnepan Tympani 1D, posted on August 10, 2019 at 15:23:39
Satie
Audiophile

Posts: 5426
Joined: July 6, 2002
 First check the fuse for continuity with a multimeter. That is the most common culprit.

If it isn't the fuse that is the problem, then disconnect all the jumpers and the speaker cables and measure resistance between terminals 4 and 8. If it is a disconnect then you probably fried your tweeter. You can send the detached tweeter on its own to Magnepan for repair. They normally just send you a new one. Not the cheapest repair but not horribly expensive. You can also just send the tweeter panel if you don't feel up to taking the tweeter out.


 

RE: Bi-Amping Magnepan Tympani 1D, posted on August 10, 2019 at 17:09:36
josh358
Industry Professional

Posts: 12332
Joined: February 9, 2010
 Just to add to what Satie and BDP24 said, the tweeter very rarely blows, I was told by the head of Magnepan's service department that they've only seen it happen a couple of times. of course, if you bypass the fuses, it's anybody's guess. But the 1D is a very robust speaker, more robust than the true ribbon speakers. Of course, the voice coil wires might deteriorate with time.

Here's the manual:

 

RE: Bi-Amping Magnepan Tympani 1D, posted on August 11, 2019 at 02:42:40
Roger Gustavsson
Audiophile

Posts: 2058
Location: Huskvarna
Joined: February 12, 2010
 The ID I have are 42 years old or and the tweeters still work but there is a noise in one of them while running measurements. It could be that the wires on the diaphragm is coming lose. The basses wires were all gone...- Still waiting for repair. While going for an active crossover, I think trying out some steeper crossover slopes could bring out some improvements, maybe even at 750-800 Hz or so. I hope I will be able to do that after repairing the basses.

 

RE: Bi-Amping Magnepan Tympani 1D, posted on August 11, 2019 at 04:13:39
josh358
Industry Professional

Posts: 12332
Joined: February 9, 2010
 Who was it who fixed his 1D tweeter? Not easy, but he was able to open it up.

 

RE: Bi-Amping Magnepan Tympani 1D, posted on August 11, 2019 at 05:27:46
Roger Gustavsson
Audiophile

Posts: 2058
Location: Huskvarna
Joined: February 12, 2010
 It is possible to open them up and replace the wiring. To replace the diphragm (Mylar) it is tricky but not impossibble. You can use a thinner Mylar and foil conductors too.

This is a Tympani IIIA tweeter opened up. ID is similar.



 

RE: Bi-Amping Magnepan Tympani 1D, posted on August 11, 2019 at 08:47:22
MarcL
Audiophile

Posts: 425
Location: PA
Joined: February 26, 2019
 My left tweeter opened up a few years ago. I bought 3.7's and gave the 1D's to my friend's kid. He opened them up and the repair looked too tough. Magnepan sold him a similar (not identical) replacement tweeter that apparently works fine.
Agilist, Musician, Photographer, Audiophile
Magneplanar: 3.7, CCR, MC1,LRS, MMGW, DWM; Outlaw: UltraX12, LFM-1C; Emotiva: XMC-2; Nord: Nord One NC500DM, Nord Three 1ET7040SA; Outlaw: Model 7500; OPPO 205

 

RE: Bi-Amping Magnepan Tympani 1D, posted on August 13, 2019 at 13:59:51
pdxduckfan
Audiophile

Posts: 8
Location: Oregon, USA
Joined: July 13, 2016
 thanks Satie! the tweeter is checking out ok, but I can't find the problem. I assume there is a wire broken or disconnected which is prohibiting the tweeter from functioning when using the 1 & 2 terminals (one amp setup)

Question: Do you (or anyone else) know of a good (& inexpensive) active crossover to use with the Tympani 1D's? thanks.

 

RE: Bi-Amping Magnepan Tympani 1D, posted on August 13, 2019 at 14:08:26
66mgb
Audiophile

Posts: 252
Location: Neskowin Oregon
Joined: November 8, 2009
 I don;t know about inexpensive, but it is very good. I use a First Watt B4 crossover to bi-amp my 3.6's and I have been very happy with it.

 

RE: Bi-Amping Magnepan Tympani 1D, posted on August 13, 2019 at 14:13:20
pdxduckfan
Audiophile

Posts: 8
Location: Oregon, USA
Joined: July 13, 2016
 Thanks 66mgb. That fit the "good" requirement, but failed the "inexpensive" requirement miserably! I'd seen that one before.

 

RE: Bi-Amping Magnepan Tympani 1D, posted on August 13, 2019 at 14:49:35
Satie
Audiophile

Posts: 5426
Joined: July 6, 2002
 Since it is a 1st order you can go with a passive line level crossover - the high pass is just a capacitor in series with the tweeter amp, and the bass low pass is a shunt capacitor and a series resistor. If you are using different amps then you need to add a level control on the one with the higher gain. Schiit have a simple cheap and reasonably good level control you can use.

 

RE: Bi-Amping Magnepan Tympani 1D, posted on August 13, 2019 at 15:04:50
pdxduckfan
Audiophile

Posts: 8
Location: Oregon, USA
Joined: July 13, 2016
 Thank you....I will check them out!

 

RE: Bi-Amping Magnepan Tympani 1D, posted on August 13, 2019 at 16:38:12
pdxduckfan
Audiophile

Posts: 8
Location: Oregon, USA
Joined: July 13, 2016
 Sell Satie, I appreciate your help, but Schiit couldn't really offer much. I sent them your comments, and their reply was

"I believe the level control they refer too is the sys. Other than that we're not really crossover experts, so with regards to cap selection and all that, you're on your own."

Back to the drawing board!

 

RE: Bi-Amping Magnepan Tympani 1D, posted on August 14, 2019 at 04:38:05
MarcL
Audiophile

Posts: 425
Location: PA
Joined: February 26, 2019
 Satie, would a MiniDSP do the job?
Agilist, Musician, Photographer, Audiophile
Magneplanar: 3.7, CCR, MC1,LRS, MMGW, DWM; Outlaw: UltraX12, LFM-1C; Emotiva: XMC-2; Nord: Nord One NC500DM, Nord Three 1ET7040SA; Outlaw: Model 7500; OPPO 205

 

RE: Bi-Amping Magnepan Tympani 1D, posted on August 14, 2019 at 09:19:35
Roger Gustavsson
Audiophile

Posts: 2058
Location: Huskvarna
Joined: February 12, 2010
 I am not Saite but a miniDSP can do the job. I am using one myself. It will let you experiment with a lot of things too. Like steeper slopes, different ways of eq and time delay etc. You should go for the miniDSP 2x4 HD, it offer a digital input so you can skip the ADC. The entry level miniDSP 2x4 operates at a rather low line level and does not offer as many features.

The passive line level crossover is possible but it will not be a large improvement over the standard hockup.

An active analog crossover is really not that complicated. DIY is possible if you have the skills and it will not be very complicated.

 

RE: Bi-Amping Magnepan Tympani 1D, posted on August 14, 2019 at 19:29:37
BDP24
Audiophile

Posts: 1070
Location: Vancouver, Washington
Joined: September 12, 2013
 For anyone who can read a schematic and can solder, the First watt B4 x/o is now available as a DIY kit. Nice little unit, analog and all discrete---no opamps or IC's. 1st/2nd/3rd/4th-order high-pass and low-pass filters, 25 to 3200 Hz in 25Hz increments, level control for one of the two filters (switchable).

 

RE: Bi-Amping Magnepan Tympani 1D, posted on August 14, 2019 at 22:59:45
Roger Gustavsson
Audiophile

Posts: 2058
Location: Huskvarna
Joined: February 12, 2010
 I have not seen the B4 available in the diyaudiostore. The original ready built B4 is very rare and probably out of production.

The B4 in kit form is not identical to the ready built First Watt B4 Active crossover available earlier. The kit is a simplified version with single ended power supply and with trim pots for setting crossover frequencies etc.

 

Page processed in 0.052 seconds.

[ Top Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]