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In Reply to: RE: JL, I just got new MMG sweeps while preparing for tests -- R/L channels posted by JLindborg on March 30, 2014 at 02:13:29
Yes, I think that your are very correct in that many folks won't hear the resulting effect of such an approach.One wonders what would have happened if Magnepan had not chosen to do this. In other words, to not make them at all, or to make them "properly" & balanced but at a much higher price. For that matter, if Magnepan had not found similar engineering shortcuts for the other Maggies the planar speaker category would be much much smaller, LOL!
Handicapped as they are, MMGs do offer a low-cost entry point to the world of planars. Furthermore, within a range, the darn things do reproduce music better than other more expensive speakers. That they still serve not just as an introduction to higher-end Maggies but also provide a DIY gateway to very decent music playback is great.
For example, one surprising thing came up around the time I first measured my friend's 802D in 2009. I had just recently added "pseudo-frames" to my MMGs. (This was the prototype for what became my "Stixbees" frame reinforcemnt later on). With the P-F , when I compared distortion figures at the time, the MMGs were better or slightly better than the 802D (in the frequency range they share). I was so surprised, that I DID NOT believe it at first. As I remember it, even at 40hz the 802D were showing 8% distortion during a sweep (each speaker). Fainter as my MMGs were at 40hz they were at 8% (right) and <8% (left). This was dynamically, while doing sweeps. (I have not been able to do pure, single-tone, harmonic distortion tests on those 802D yet).
To be sure, the rooms themselves -- and the corresponding ambient noise -- may have imposed a toll on the accuracy of distortion figures. Nonetheless, by the time the sweeps had reached 1khz, the MMGs were delivering <0.5% where the 802D delivered >1% THD. Given that I could repeat the results, in those days I was mighty proud of the MMGs.
BTW, comparable distortion figures were depressingly high in my un-reinforced MMGs. The fact is that their original MDF frame is very THIN, about 1/2"; much thinner than current MMG models. Lower distortion, more clarity at higher SPL, and part of the deep bass improvements came from just the frame reinforcement.
Yet, frame reinforcement was just one of several tweaks, the totality of which can be done for low or very low investments.
I, for one, was not going to be able to get decent speakers at the time when my wife's illness was costing us so much money. These used MMGs allowed me to get a music system started again. Then they offered more...if I put the DIY work into it.
Thus, I'd like to nurture general awareness of this potential. It is available to others who may fall in my situation, or just for the fun of it. Those who may want to extract more juice from MMGs (and other Maggies) may find surprising how little money it really takes.
LOL, I am currently dreaming of the 20.7 or something similar! However, guess what? I now have to pay my own new huge medical expenses. Then I have to find even more money for a larger place to live in because setting large planars up in the patio simply won't do :-)).
I reckon that this will take time...quite a bit of time.
Edits: 03/30/14Follow Ups:
The MMG are my recommendation for the offhand affordable planar query. Despite the lack of balance in the lower freq limiting the potential of the speaker.
As you go on tweaking and increase the rigidity of the speaker and adjust your room treatments, the basic asymmetry becomes a more significant issue limiting performance.
For the vast majority of people considering MMGs their inherent design limits on performance will never be this asymmetrical tuning. They will never place them ideally nor treat the room, nor power them sufficiently.
Finally, they will stream 128bit MP3, and improve the performance with a single subwoofer placed on one side.
I understand the marketing aspect for the design decision as the target market is not perfectionist audio, just not in the context of the company's basic philosophy.
"For the vast majority of people considering MMGs their inherent design limits on performance will never be this asymmetrical tuning. They will never place them ideally nor treat the room, nor power them sufficiently."
Absolutely right, Satie. Let's tell the rest.
In addition, for those willing to do the right things, the MMGs can be tweaked to superb comparative performance. It will not be limited by the asymmetric tuning but it will (usually) be limited by the lack of a true-ribbon tweeter and the need for a larger bass driver for deeper down reach. (But do call Satie for good pointers on Neo drivers & ribbon tweeters!)
In addition, like most other Maggies the TWO REAL limitations -- a single magnetic side AND sharing the Mylar for two drivers-- will remain in your MMGs.
Luckily, even though this is not ideal for faithful reproduction these are no showstopper. In fact, some properly tweaked MMGs will outshine some of their larger monopole brothers in dynamic impact and textures replication (unless you go tweak the larger brothers, of course).
Still, if you want it ALL from Maggies, the 20.x series will be waiting for you when you are ready. In the meantime, Magnepan offers a solid & delightful lineup of speakers that -- despite their design compromises -- will wow true music connoisseurs all over the world, like few speakers can do.
So, treat/tweak any Maggies properly. With a little work, even the cheapest of them will not only delight with MP3s...it will show the true meaning of high resolution audio, from analog LP to DSD/SACD and Blu-ray.
I think You are right Satie!
The one who succeeded was the one who didn't know it was impossible.
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