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Am I damaging my Mini Maggies?

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Recently, I purchased Mini Maggies on Ebay ($400; I was the only bidder). Visually, they're in great shape, and sonically, they're wonderful. I have the satellites set 5' apart on a 30" x 72" table I use as my computer desk. The base unit is centered under the table. It is positioned parallel with and 15" out from a wall.
The problem. The base is very weak. Even with the satellites playing at ear bleeding levels, the base volume is inadequate. I have tried turning the base unit 180 degrees; switching the + and - speaker cables; placing baffles on either side of the unit. Nothing works. Any ideas as to what might be the problem?
My solution. My preamp allows me to send its output via two separate pairs of jacks. I disconnected the satellites from the base unit. Now, one output is connected to an amplifier which drives the base unit, only. The other output is connected to an active 2-way crossover. The crossover's "high level" output (around 125Hz and above) is connected to another amp which drives the satellites, only. I adjust the crossover's high level volume to balance the base unit and the satellites. It works.
Second question. Is my set up a cause for concern? Might it harm the speakers? Might it harm the crossover in the base unit?

Edits: 08/24/16 08/24/16 08/24/16

Follow Ups:

RE: Am I damaging my Mini Maggies? - josh358 18:10:27 08/24/16 (3)
Amazing deal! I looked and they seem to go used for about $1000 bucks.

It's possible that the unit was defective, e.g., an issue with the crossover. But it seems to be working nicely in your current configuration. I don't think there will be any harm, as long as it's properly fused when biamped -- you could ask Wendell for confirmation on that. The fuses should prevent most damage.
- +1 - Satie 13:56:21 08/25/16 (2)
  Don't worry, be happy.
  
  You solved the problem very well
  - RE: +1 - TitaniumTroy 15:19:01 08/29/16 (1)
    If you ever get tired of you Mini Mag's, I will swap you my Monsoon 2000's planer hybrids, plus whatever change you want me to sweeten the pot.
    
    I have too much bass and am considering buying Mini Mag's. The bass from my subwoofer transfers to much bass to a shared wall with my duplex neigbor. I'm thinking the planer bass of will not have this problem.
    - RE: +1 - Satie 23:37:41 08/29/16 (0)
      http://audiophilereview.com/subwoofers/svs-soundpath-subwoofer-isolation-system.html
      
      http://www.frontendaudio.com/Auralex-SubDude-II-Subwoofer-Isolation-Pad-p/9999-01441.htm
      
      These and others will solve your sub isolation problem and get you a silent floor.
RE: Am I damaging my Mini Maggies? - neolith 12:42:46 08/24/16 (0)
Click here for a copy of the MiniMag Manual -- I don't know if you got it with your great purchase.
Bottom line -- be sure the 2ohm-25W attenuation resistor(s) is(are) removed from the woofer and a jumper installed instead. The mini-panels are connected to the "high" output of the woofer. The 1 ohm resistors are used to balance the upper level and can be installed if the sound is too bright or left off if you are happy with the sound (again replace with jumpers).
Your present setup will NOT damage anything. It just isn't optimmal.

I married the perfect woman. The downside is everything that goes wrong is my fault.

Edits: 08/24/16 08/24/16
RE: Am I damaging my Mini Maggies? - Tubo 11:05:49 08/24/16 (7)
Congratulations on your Mini Maggies! You paid about one-fourth of the new purchase price!

First, the DWM bass panel is NOT a subwoofer. It is simply a woofer. This means it does not go down as far as a subwoofer; down to 20 or 30 Hz, for example. It also means it plays much higher than subwoofers; up to 5KHz according to the Absolute Sound review of these speakers. While Magnepan doesn't say what the crossover point is (a state secret!), it's almost certainly much higher than the 125Hz you are using in your setup.

In other words, there is a lot of overlap between the satellites and the bass panel. You are almost certainly altering that overlap in your set-up, even as it allows you to boost the bass response.

Check and see if the two bass attenuation jumpers have been replaced by resistors. If so, the resistors are attenuating the bass. Replace them with the original jumpers or a short piece of speaker wire. (On the back of the bass panel the jumper connections are labeled "BASS ATTEN.")

Or perhaps there are no jumpers at all, in which case only part of the speaker is working (I think), which would explain the weak bass. Again, join the connectors with a short piece of speaker wire. If the tightening screws are missing you will have to get those from Magnepan.

I doubt whether you are damaging your Mini Maggies with your set-up, but perhaps somebody with more electrical knowledge can chime in.

The important thing is to get them to work as intended before going to a more complex set-up.

If none of what I discussed applies, let us know. Good luck and happy listening!
- RE: Am I damaging my Mini Maggies? - Ellen1910 16:12:36 08/24/16 (6)
  Thanks for your suggestions. The bass attenuators (2) are the original steel ones. I, too, would like to use the system per its design. But I'm not prepared to send it back to White Bear Lake to figure out what's wrong, if anything.
  
  Crossover frequency. I, also, originally thought the frequency should be much higher than where I have it set, now -- that is, at 125Hz. I can't recall what I had it set for originally, but when I spoke with Wendell, he was adamant that my setting was much, much too high. He didn't answer my question re what did Magnapan set it at. But I got the distinct impression that it was in the 100s.
  
  I must say 125Hz sounds very good. That may be because the mid range panel isn't putting much out below some higher number, anyway. So, then, it might not be an issue in my set up.
  - RE: Am I damaging my Mini Maggies? - gracky 01:12:04 09/06/16 (4)
    Ellen1910, I'm also considering biamping the mini maggies. Would you inform me the slope of your active crossover setting?
    - RE: Am I damaging my Mini Maggies? - Ellen1910 02:09:45 09/06/16 (3)
      @gracky (A)
      
      My jury-rigged system has an awful lot of variables -- frequency but also, volume. From the preamp the identical volume (xxV RMS) is sent to one amp (75W) and to the Rane MX 22 active crossover.
      
      That amp drives the bass panel. I presume that the passive crossover in that panel cuts the higher frequencies off.
      
      I've set the Rane active crossover to accept whatever volume the preamp is generating. I only use the high level side of the crossover. To balance the bass panel and the satellites I use the crossover's high frequency volume control -- cut way back. I'm at 2 on a scale of 10 (Nigel Tufnel would surely be dissatisfied). That reduced volume is sent to a 50W amp which drives the satellites.
      
      I've set the Rane crossover's LOW/HIGH FREQUENCY at 200Hz. I like it there but I'm not sure the exact setting is critical for the reason that I'm not using the active crossover to send the bass signal on. I have no idea at what frequency the mid-level panels in the satellites begin to contribute. It may be a good deal higher than 200Hz.
      
      As to slope. The published slope of the MX 22 is "24 dB per Octave." But for my setup the crossover's roll-off is probably not just irrelevant but at 200Hz probably unheard.
      - RE: Am I damaging my Mini Maggies? - Satie 02:43:27 09/06/16 (2)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Am I damaging my Mini Maggies? posted by Ellen1910 on September 06, 2016 at 02:09:45
        
        You are probably going to be fine with the high pass at anything over 100 hz since the slope is very steep. Feel free to experiment with other settings.
        
        How does the sound through the Rane come off in the mids and treble vs without or via the crossover in the DWM?
        
        RE: Am I damaging my Mini Maggies? - Ellen1910 03:03:35 09/06/16 (1)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Am I damaging my Mini Maggies? posted by Satie on September 06, 2016 at 02:43:27
        
        @ Satie (A)
        
        Since I can't A/B the two setups (Magnepan/Ellen), it's hard to answer the question.
        
        I can say that I don't think the Rane adds any color, and I am confident it isn't distorting the sound. I don't think satellites connected via the bass panel were any smoother than via the Rane, and to my ear hi-hats' shimmer is just as clean, smooth, and airy.
        
        RE: Am I damaging my Mini Maggies? - Satie 06:50:47 09/06/16 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Am I damaging my Mini Maggies? posted by Ellen1910 on September 06, 2016 at 03:03:35
        
        My Rane sounded very transparent and just a tad thin. But better resolving than stock speaker level parts. You just need to take the HP as low as it can go to keep the phasey part of the XO transition out of the critical portion of the spectrum. Hopefully below 150hz
  - RE: Am I damaging my Mini Maggies? - Tubo 20:03:04 08/24/16 (0)
    It's good that you ruled out the bass attenuators as the culprit. And, if you spoke to Wendell, you have Magnepan's official advice. It's interesting that he would not tell you what the crossover frequency is. It's a state secret!
    
    My guess is that there is something wrong with the set you got and that is perhaps why they were so inexpensive. If you are happy with the way they sound in the setup you've devised for them, that's what counts. Happy listening!

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