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Binding posts - time for Magnepan to change the design ......

70.181.162.138
Posted on May 18, 2022 at 07:34:08
trioderob
Audiophile

Posts: 753
Joined: May 15, 2015
 look the LRS is an amazing speaker for the money - maybe the best ever - but the design of the binding posts is horrid.

I am sure nobody would complain if they raised the price of the speaker thirty dollars and did the posts correctly

they are too small - the quality of the construction is poor and there is no room to turn the allen keys

cant anyone talk to Wendall and get him to fix this ?

 

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The binding posts are designed for banana plugs, posted on May 18, 2022 at 09:12:17
Mike K
Audiophile

Posts: 13973
Location: 97701
Joined: September 23, 1999
 and yes it is hard to manipulate the allen screws.

I suggest you get speaker cables that are terminated with bananas and
your problem will be solved.

And if the bananas are tight enough you won't have to deal with the
allen screws.

You should also shitcan those steel jumpers and get some much better
ones from Anticables.

Lack of skill dictates economy of style. - Joey Ramone

 

RE: Binding posts - time for Magnepan to change the design ......, posted on May 18, 2022 at 10:00:46
Davey
 Well, the Magnepan speakers don't actually use "binding posts."

But, the connectors they do use are just fine for the purpose. Low profile, good connection for banana terminated cables, simple.

Plus, they probably have a stock of about 50,000 of those in the back room.

I don't see any compelling reason to change this part of the design.
The fuse-holders are another thing though. I have issues with those. :)

Dave.

 

thats the point , posted on May 18, 2022 at 10:46:09
trioderob
Audiophile

Posts: 753
Joined: May 15, 2015
 thats the point - there should be real binding posts where you can use spade lugs - no other hi end speaker uses connections like that - and I am not the only one who has noticed it - Maggy dealers they themselves have told me the speaker wire connections suck

 

RE: Binding posts - time for Magnepan to change the design ......, posted on May 18, 2022 at 11:22:41
tall ears
Audiophile

Posts: 29
Location: Atlanta
Joined: July 17, 2009
 I vote for SpeakOn. Easy and safe on and off!

I converted an earlier pair of MMG's to SpeakOn 4pole so it was ease to biamp!

The short SpeakOns are just an inch deep!

 

RE: thats the point , posted on May 18, 2022 at 12:14:27
Davey
 Maggie dealers just want the option of selling different types of expensive speaker cables. Good profit in those.

From a functional standpoint, there's nothing inherently wrong with the Magnepan speaker connectors. If you have cables with spade lugs, cut them off and install bananas or bare wires directly.

You're advocating for a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. :)

Dave.

 

Magnepans motto : , posted on May 18, 2022 at 12:49:05
mbnx01
Audiophile

Posts: 7956
Location: Eagle, Idaho
Joined: October 22, 2004

'Change is bad'.





'A lie is halfway around the world before the truth gets its boots on'. -Mark Twain

 

RE: Binding posts - time for Magnepan to change the design ......, posted on May 18, 2022 at 12:54:07
grantv
Manufacturer

Posts: 7724
Location: B.C.
Joined: January 15, 2002
 I will say, that they are horrid little things. But, the bottom line to Magnepan is, would "quality" (and more costly) connectors make the speakers sound better?
My rear plate looks factory, but is completely bypassed for wire to wire. I cut off the little internal spades, stripped the wires, and run them from inside to meet with the wires from the amp, crimping wire to wire.
But I do agree, something nicer would give a better feel about the product, allow larger wires and spades, and most (myself included) would likely have no problem paying for said pieces.
You can't see it in the pic, but the internal wires are slid from behind, running beside and crimped down with the factory unit.
Maybe I should make myself something nicer!


 

Nah., posted on May 18, 2022 at 12:58:47
grantv
Manufacturer

Posts: 7724
Location: B.C.
Joined: January 15, 2002
 They've modified crossovers, added aluminum and colored stiles, different grill cloth colors, push-pull design, added i and upgrade models, etc.
They might not be coming out with a new model designation every year (think of the duration from IIIA to 3.3, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7 and somewhat recently 3.7i, took some time), but that's a good thing.
Plus they've added models at the entry level (MMGC, LRS/+) and top end (30.7 replacing the Tympani series of yore)!

 

first post I googled ......, posted on May 18, 2022 at 13:41:34
trioderob
Audiophile

Posts: 753
Joined: May 15, 2015
 I googled " Magnepan speaker wire posts " and here is the very first one I read - someone posted it 6 years ago :

"They still use those dumb speaker terminals that will not accept a higher end banana plug, (possibly a twisted up spade lug)... Therefore, does anyone know if there is an adapter that works with their terminals and allows larger banana plugs to be used, or simple spade lugs? "

 

Magnepans motto: Don't put in $$$ Boutique parts most will not appreciate, posted on May 18, 2022 at 14:05:33
kff
Audiophile

Posts: 1033
Location: SE PA
Joined: October 19, 2006
 Keep the costs down so many folks can enjoy them.

Be easy to throw another couple hundred in parts quality into the speakers, costing the consumer another few or more hundred for a minimal change and a resultant lose of sales due to the increased price.

 

RE: first post I googled ......, posted on May 18, 2022 at 14:12:23
Davey
 Yeah, so what? Some guy who had too large of banana plugs that wouldn't fit.
Jacks like these were standardized to a 4mm nominal diameter many many many years ago. Measure the Magnepan jacks and you'll find they're right on that dimension.

It could be the consensus of members here the connectors are sub-standard and/or dumb. But just because it's a consensus doesn't make it correct.
As a simple connector on a simple speaker they're perfectly fine. It's the deep $$$ audiophile rabbit hole that has changed the perception through the years, not the actual product functionality.

Some of the best consumer products in the world have characteristics that some people would complain about. It doesn't necessarily prove anything.

Dave.

 

engineer with 30 years in industry ,,,,, posted on May 18, 2022 at 14:16:39
trioderob
Audiophile

Posts: 753
Joined: May 15, 2015
 I have 30 years in the mechanical engineering field - you ?

Had I designed something that bad I would have been hung by my thumbs

 

RE: engineer with 30 years in industry ,,,,, posted on May 18, 2022 at 15:04:31
Davey
 You know, these connectors well pre-date Magnepan as a company. I've got some old radio gear from the 50's which has these (nearly) same jacks.
Do you think the engineer that designed them ~100 years ago was hung by the thumbs?? I suspect not. :)

Fortunately, people can change them out easily. Much like guys customize Harley-Davidsons, audiophiles can customize their speaker connections to their preference.

Dave.

 

If I've seen it once I've seen it a hundred times, posted on May 18, 2022 at 16:05:18
mbnx01
Audiophile

Posts: 7956
Location: Eagle, Idaho
Joined: October 22, 2004
The comment 'I wish Magnepan would improve the parts quality and increase the price, I'd pay it for better speakers'.





'A lie is halfway around the world before the truth gets its boots on'. -Mark Twain

 

RE: If I've seen it once I've seen it a hundred times, posted on May 18, 2022 at 20:56:58
Shoey
Audiophile

Posts: 62
Location: NW
Joined: October 30, 2004



I got tired using the Allen wench on my .7. I bought Cardas cheapest terminals. They sound so "much the same". But I am glad I did it. Sam

 

I've always been told NOT to use ferrous speaker connectors NT, posted on May 19, 2022 at 02:18:10
Stephen 300
Audiophile

Posts: 78
Location: Ohio
Joined: February 17, 2018
 nt

 

RE: I've always been told NOT to use ferrous speaker connectors NT, posted on May 19, 2022 at 07:25:41
Davey
 Yeah, I understand. But it's not the end of the world if your electrons pass through a little bit of iron.
If you feel inclined to change them out, then change them out.

Remember, in the goofy audiophile world, product recommendations generally come from people who are selling products.

Dave.

 

RE: Binding posts - time for Magnepan to change the design ......, posted on May 19, 2022 at 07:56:47
ABliss
Audiophile

Posts: 1482
Joined: March 16, 2001
Contributor
  Since: August 3, 2002
 Hundred percent agreed, but on the other hand, they are very easy to change for the binding post of your choice. I am on my third set of Maggie's, and it's always the first thing I do, change the binding post and bypass the tweeter resister block.

 

RE: thats the point , posted on May 19, 2022 at 14:00:21
Utley1
Audiophile

Posts: 1609
Location: NYC
Joined: July 30, 2010
 You are always clear and no nonsense. Cheers!

 

RE: The binding posts are designed for banana plugs, posted on May 19, 2022 at 18:58:13
TitaniumTroy
Audiophile

Posts: 626
Location: Mishawaka, Indiana
Joined: October 14, 2006
 Well I for one see a lot of changes going on over at Magnepan right now, and more coming down the pike. So I would be willing to bet changing the terminals is high the list, as an example they are Finally coming around to selling better stands. This has to be at the top of customer complaints, as it's a frustrating pain in the ass.

Crap, they could at offer them as upgrade option like they are doing with the stands. Can you imagine buying a 30.7 and having to dink around with that tiny Allen wrench. I'm sorry but for that kind of money, that is totally unacceptable 1950 was over seventy years ago. Time to move on and forward.

 

RE: Binding posts - time for Magnepan to change the design ......, posted on May 20, 2022 at 05:44:33
Green Lantern
Audiophile

Posts: 16952
Location: San Diego, Ca
Joined: November 12, 2002
Contributor
  Since: June 17, 2003
 I cringe when I see their early Tympani binding post were simply (tin?) screws in place (in all fairness that was the norm during that time period).

Conversely I drool when I see some of the upgraded XO boxes with the donk'd out binding post.









 

RE: Binding posts - time for Magnepan to change the design ......, posted on May 20, 2022 at 14:34:16
Flemke
Audiophile

Posts: 93
Location: Chicago
Joined: December 20, 2005


Fixed mine.

 

RE: "Maybe I should make myself something nicer!" ..., posted on May 21, 2022 at 05:30:20
andyr
Manufacturer

Posts: 12548
Location: Melbourne
Joined: September 2, 2000
 Grant, if that pic is of the back of your 3.6s ... then what you certainly should do is swap the steel link in the tweeter attenuator connectors for some decent spkr wire!

Andy

 

My last sentences. , posted on May 21, 2022 at 07:31:46
grantv
Manufacturer

Posts: 7724
Location: B.C.
Joined: January 15, 2002
 My internal wires have been stripped and passed into the wire holders from inside. The wires from the amp go in from the outside. So it is a wire to wire connection entirely. Nothing on the panel is used other than the set screws to tighten the wires together.

 

And currently..., posted on May 21, 2022 at 08:07:19
grantv
Manufacturer

Posts: 7724
Location: B.C.
Joined: January 15, 2002
 Can't recall why I changed, but this is how it's hooked up right now. I think the wires were a bit too big.
Same idea, wire to wire.




 

RE: Binding posts - time for Magnepan to change the design ......, posted on May 21, 2022 at 17:51:31
Green Lantern
Audiophile

Posts: 16952
Location: San Diego, Ca
Joined: November 12, 2002
Contributor
  Since: June 17, 2003
 Here's an example taken from the FB Maggie page (looks like a PGunn mod):














 

My guess is a simple one, posted on May 22, 2022 at 05:49:14
Green Lantern
Audiophile

Posts: 16952
Location: San Diego, Ca
Joined: November 12, 2002
Contributor
  Since: June 17, 2003
 Magnepans are an American speaker and it would be difficult to find an American company that manufactures quality binding post on a wide scale distribution at a 'friendly' cost.









 

RE: Nah., posted on May 25, 2022 at 12:52:24
Lynxo
Audiophile

Posts: 247
Location: CA
Joined: April 16, 2009
 So does Magnepan kind of prove cheap wires and metals connectors sounds just fine if not great?

The pro and customer reviews are based on stock parts?

 

I'd say yes, with a caveat., posted on May 25, 2022 at 14:07:18
grantv
Manufacturer

Posts: 7724
Location: B.C.
Joined: January 15, 2002
 They sound great with cheap connectors, steel jumpers, etc., reviewers back that up.
But, as with almost anything out there, there are ways to improve on something great.

 

RE: Binding posts - time for Magnepan to change the design ......, posted on May 26, 2022 at 10:46:20
josh358
Industry Professional

Posts: 12332
Joined: February 9, 2010
 I couldn't agree more, but I've spoken to Wendell about this a couple of times and right now, they have so many things going on that they can't focus on it.

 

RE: first post I googled ......, posted on May 26, 2022 at 22:39:00
Norman M
 $30? Doesn't Magnepan have essentially the same posts on their $37,995 speaker? Should they raise their price to $38,295?

 

RE: Binding posts - time for Magnepan to change the design ......, posted on June 7, 2022 at 13:53:42
KillerB808
Audiophile

Posts: 9
Location: Hawaii
Joined: May 17, 2022
 Very slick mod. Hope it sounds as good as it looks.
KillerB808

 

RE: If I've seen it once I've seen it a hundred times, posted on June 11, 2022 at 09:04:03
RickeyM
Audiophile

Posts: 2208
Location: East Coast
Joined: March 15, 2003
 Back when I first started my Magnepan journey with a pair of MMG's the first thing I did was replace the speaker terminals. After crawling behind the speakers and fiddling around with that little allen wrench to secure wires just once I knew the stock setup had to go. Can't say if it sounded any different but not having to fool around with that allen wrench was well worth it.

 

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