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In Reply to: RE: Tympani T-IV owners manual? posted by Roger Gustavsson on June 29, 2016 at 04:14:04
I'll do that Roger, and report back. Hopefully tomorrow.
Follow Ups:
Well, Magnepan is emailing me the T-IV manual, and the total number of Tympani T-IV's (both versions) produced is approximately 1900. The fella on the phone didn't have available the number of each version, only the total. Does that number surprise anyone, either as low or high?
That would qualify as a very successful speaker model considering its price point and relatively short stay on the market (compared to the 3.x series or now the 20.x that is longer lived by over a decade).
Sheila said they made 452 T-IVa.
http://www.audioasylum.com/cgi/vt.mpl?f=mug&m=221355
So that comes to 1450 TIVs. Much more of those then. Explains why they show up more often than the IVz.
I was surprised by the number, finding it high considering it's price at the time.
I am surprised they made more IV than IVa. Is this really true?
Weren't the a's available longer than the originals? Doing a Google Images search brings up many more T-IVa's than T-IV's, for what that's worth.
Yes, I think the a's were produced for six years (85-91). The non-a's not even three (82/83-85). Can any of you confirm it?
If Sheila's figure of 452 a's is correct, 1900 total doesn't sound right. Either the guy I had on the phone yesterday was mistaken, or Sheila was. 900 total seems more believable, which would make each version around 450.
I don't think we appreciate today what the TIV was to the high end audio community when it came out. Harry Pearson was gluing CLSs to Tympani bass panels, Infinity was making their QLS and other odds and ends planar drivers that ultimately became the EMIT and EMIM. Levinson was stacking Quad ESL 57s and adding on decca ribbons and hartley subs Wilson was making gigantic contraptions of multiple boxes with weird multidirectional electrostatic tweeters, Apogee had just shocked the world with its Full Range planar and these legendary speaker systems were selling at just short of a house.
Then came Magnepan and hit everyone with a resounding smack with the TIV and its ribbon tweeter for the price of an economy car and performance nearing that of the best high resolution speakers. The value proposition was unheard of and people piled up to buy them. Reviewers who were in top ESLs from Soundlabs and Acoustat grumbling about the missing bottom octave and lack of SPL and dynamics or waiting to save up for the big Apogee and one of the new gigantic class A amps that could drive them got a TIV instead.
ARC and Cardas are just a couple of component and electronics makers who used the TIV for their reference system in developing an entire generation of products.. .
I would not be surprised if the initial wave of TIVs did sell 1450 units as it had no competition at all at its price point.
And the situation hasn't changed all that much. The price of a pair of 3.7 or even 20.7 pales in comparison to the competition. As good as some of them are, they don't lead me to a "suspension of disbelief" (a term used in film meaning you forget you're watching actor(s), not a real-life event) the way big panels do.
Edits: 07/01/16
Have you received the "IV" manual yet? Do you mind sharing it?
Roger, sorry for the long delay. Had some deaths in the family, some other life stuff. Anyway, I printed out the Tympani T-IV manual, making an extra copy for you. PM me your address if you would like it, and I'll send it to you---Eric.
I figured out how to send Roger the Tympani T-IV manual Magnepan emailed me as an attachment in an email to him. Anyone else wanting it, just let me know.
I forwarded the Tympani IV manual to the MUG Master. I hope it will be added to the files.
Good thinkin'!
No Roger, it never reached me. I'll give them a call after the 4th, maybe he got my email address wrong.
I gave Magnepan a call this morning and it went straight to their voice mail, so rather than leave a message I sent an email, requesting a Tympani T-IV manual. I'll let you know (if and) when it arrives.
Mick at Magnepan emailed me the Tympani T-IV manual. Roger, I'll be happy to send it to you, as soon as I learn how to get the attachment (containing the manual) from Rick's email onto one I can send to you. No, I'm not too computer savvy!
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