Planar Speaker Asylum

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

Return to Planar Speaker Asylum

Planar Speaker Asylum

Old Maggies - MG I

107.4.63.148

mgdaoust99@gmail.com

I am new to this site so please bare with me if I am showing my ignorance. I have a pair of MG I's that I bought several years ago. They did not work when I purchased them and I put them in storage for several years. I knew about Magnepan and have always wanted a pair. I digress. I have read about replacing the coils and have dismantled one in preparation of rewiring it. I have read the principal of how they work with the wires glued to the Mylar surface and the Mylar is pressed against the magnets on the other side. My question is this, shouldn't I be able to detect the magnets/magnetic surface the Mylar is against. I have used several different approaches and I cannot detect any magnets in this speaker.
Am I missing something or doing something wrong. All input is greatly appreciated.

Follow Ups:

RE: Old Maggies - MG I - louie3 06:09:47 11/25/15 (0)
If you are getting no sound at all there is very likely a break in the panel wire.

Sometimes these are hard to find, you will have to go over every inch of wire on the panel with a flashlight and a magnifier of some kind.

The tweeter wire on these speakers is aluminum and is prone to corrode itself apart.

With no sound at all, the most likely suspect is a break in the wire somewhere...start at the crossover and work you way, slowly, up.
RE: Old Maggies - MG I - ejman 16:59:45 11/24/15 (10)
Well, interesting question. The magnets are on the other side of the Mylar. Long strips of magnets, sort of like refrigerator magnets. Get thee a metal washer, place it on top of the wires, if it sticks, thee got magnets.
- RE: Old Maggies - MG I - mgdaoust99@gmail.com 17:27:22 11/24/15 (9)
  Thank you! There is a magnetic draw there. It does seem somewhat weak. On the other hand I would not imagine that it requires a powerful magnet considering it is operating for a single wire.
  I really appreciate you responding. Without this input I would not have moved forward with the rewire.
  - RE: Old Maggies - MG I - j beede 19:20:51 11/24/15 (8)
    Your voice coil wires look pretty good to me. Why are you rewiring your Magneplanars versus re-attaching as required? Have you purchased rewiring kits from Magnepan? This is a difficult time of year for ordering those kits I think. I re-did my tweeters with AWG32 magnet wire and am very pleased with the slight shelving of the high frequencies that resulted.
    - RE: Old Maggies - MG I - mgdaoust 06:03:43 11/25/15 (7)
      Thanks for looking at them. The reason I thought I would need to rewire is when I hooked up the speakers there was zero output, as if they were dead. I don't know much about the Magenapans. If the wire has pulled away from the Mylar would it cause them to not work at all?
      I appreciate the insight from someone like yourself that is well versed in Maggies. If I don't need to rewire the woofer/midrange that would be great.
      Thanks again.
      - RE: Old Maggies - MG I - j beede 08:32:01 11/25/15 (6)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Old Maggies - MG I posted by mgdaoust on November 25, 2015 at 06:03:43
        
        The tweeter wire is very easy to replace. The woofer not so much.
        
        Assuming that you have soldering tools and a DVM... I disconnect the voice coil wires from the crossover and use an ohmmeter to locate the break. Clip one ohmmeter lead to one end of the tweeter wire near the crossover. Use the other probe to prove continuity near the first probe then start moving the second probe further and further along the serpentine tweeter voice coil until you lose continuity. Voila, you have located a break. There may be more than one.
        
        As you speakers are 35+ years old, you may find that the wire is fragile and no longer useable. You options are:
        
        -purchase rewire kits and "socks" from Sheila @ Magnepan ($$$)
        -replace the aluminum tweeter wire with copper magnet wire (cheap and fun)
        -replace the MG-1 with a lightly used pair of MMG for ~$300-400
        
        RE: Old Maggies - MG I - mgdaoust 09:11:08 11/25/15 (5)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Old Maggies - MG I posted by j beede on November 25, 2015 at 08:32:01
        
        Thank you very much! I will go over the woofer/midrange wire with a flashlight and magnifying glass like suggested. If I find a break, is it repairable?
        The tweeter wire has disintegrated and will need to be replaced.
        The copper magnet wire you speak of, is it coated/insulated? Or does it need to be?
        I really appreciate all this help. Its kind of nice knowing that I am not the only one that is fanatic about audio equipment.
        
        RE: Old Maggies - MG I - j beede 19:19:17 12/04/15 (3)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Old Maggies - MG I posted by mgdaoust on November 25, 2015 at 09:11:08
        
        I used AWG32 enameled copper magnet wire for my tweeters. It was easy to work with and easy to solder. I considered the slightly attenuated highs to be an improvement over stock.
        
        The tweeters in my speakers featured single wire runs so it wouldn't matter if the wire was insulated or not. I suspect that insulated tweeter wire may be easier to bond to the tweeter diaphragm.
        
        The woofer voice coils must be insulated to properly reproduce the factory serpentine patterns that utilize multiple runs of isolated wire.
        
        Foil option - Satie 20:48:54 12/04/15 (2)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Old Maggies - MG I posted by j beede on December 04, 2015 at 19:19:17
        
        You can get a foil rewiring kit from magnepan and have better performance.
        
        The copper wire is much heavier than the same gauge of aluminum so will lose high end extension and fine detail. Of course, that may be something you want. Like J Beede
        
        RE: Foil option - j beede 09:17:05 12/05/15 (1)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Foil option posted by Satie on December 04, 2015 at 20:48:54
        
        A crafty reply... That's why I used a smaller gauge copper wire than the the stock aluminum. I think I went through the calculations here a while back.
        
        Um, I don't think j beede is the only person inserting inductors and/or resistors to tame hot wire/foil tweeters.
        
        Magneplanars play loud (HT), no dispute there. But when it comes to fine detail (music) I don't think an ancient pair of MG-1 being driven by class D amps are the standard in that regard--regardless of Cu or Al voice coils.
        
        The tweeters are easy to do... and redo. Build them up multiple ways to see what you like. That's how I selected the adhesive process I used.
        
        RE: Foil option - mgdaoust 17:19:40 12/08/15 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Foil option posted by j beede on December 05, 2015 at 09:17:05
        
        I want to thank each and every one of you that replied with suggestions.
        
        I really appreciate your experience and am grateful.
        
        I will do my best and will be posting additional questions or comments.
        
        Thanks again,
        Mark
        
        RE: Old Maggies - MG I - rickl 11:05:23 12/04/15 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Old Maggies - MG I posted by mgdaoust on November 25, 2015 at 09:11:08
        
        I've repaired the tweeter wires on a pair of MG1 from write ups on this forum. Look at Alex's mylar and wire repair guide in the tweaks page.
        
        looking for some jazz and a little libations - joe strummer
        Tweaks (Open in New Window)

Post a Followup:

FAQ

Post a Message!

Forgot Password?

Moniker (Username):
Password (Optional):
	Remember my Moniker & Password (What's this?) Eat Me
E-Mail (Optional):
Subject:

Message:	(Posts are subject to Content Rules)

Optional Link URL:
Optional Link Title:
Optional Image URL:
Upload Image:
E-mail Replies:	Automagically notify you when someone responds.

To view your new posting or follow-up, click on the RELOAD or REFRESH button on your browser.

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Michael Percy Audio