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Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan

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A friend/audio Nerd, gave me a heads up, on a youtube video with Danny Richie of GR Research promoting some changes to the Magnepan 1.6's & 1.7's. He wasn't a fan of the changes made but I thought posting this might create some interest and debate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8KnHHvARGk (Open in New Window)

Edits: 12/30/20

Follow Ups:

RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan - HappyTrails 09:14:23 01/14/21 (6)
Anyone know the difference in the 1.7i compared to the 1.7 for the x-over?

I did DR RP-600 x-over upgrade and it was a vast improvement to me. And I too am a noob in the x-over world.

I own a pair of 1.7i's and would consider the upgrade based on my results on the 600's
- RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan - skypop 09:40:10 01/14/21 (5)
  Email him, he might be able to help you out. Maybe he just meant for both versions.
  - RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan - HappyTrails 10:49:22 01/14/21 (4)
    I did, and without seeing the inside of a 1.7i or the schematic he would not comment.
    
    I posted earlier on this site if someone has the schematic, but read this thread and cancelled to post here.
    - RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan - skypop 14:23:25 01/14/21 (3)
      Ok gotcha, hopefully someone here can help you out. Keep us posted as your probably not the only one that might be looking to try this mod.
      - RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan - HappyTrails 04:06:44 01/15/21 (2)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan posted by skypop on January 14, 2021 at 14:23:25
        
        Think creating this question as a stand alone thread might help achieve a schematic or answer?
        
        RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan - skypop 08:28:28 01/15/21 (1)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan posted by HappyTrails on January 15, 2021 at 04:06:44
        
        Starting a thread about it would probably help, also check out the MUG section, might be a schematic in there.
        
        RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan - HappyTrails 09:34:42 01/15/21 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan posted by skypop on January 15, 2021 at 08:28:28
        
        I had checked there, nothing for 1.7 or 1.7i
RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan - Gforcegerry 08:54:57 01/07/21 (0)
So I am still debating as to trying Danny's (not really understanding what he has done) or buying new, better components to replace the existing x-over.
Has anyone spoken to him?
RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan - pictureguy 22:15:36 01/03/21 (0)
Not only does he work on Magnepan.....but KLIPSCH, as well. The claims for the FORTE III make me want to go give it a listen, all the more.
Too much is never enough
RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan - Angtrumpeter@gmail.com 11:40:36 01/03/21 (1)
I must say that I run a pair of the 1.6 in my small listening room and have pulled the bass down and boosted treble to make them sound right to me, YMMV.

I have been looking at a crossover upgrade for the Maggies as I need to tear into them since one of my speakers is out of phase with the other, (took me awhile to figure that one out after I brought them home and was underwhelmed coming from MMG's).

I did his Klipsch RPM600 crossover build as a pandemic project and really enjoyed it and it did make the speaker sound much better in my listening room. I was a total crossover noob, but it went well. I did the tube connectors, but have not tried them as I did not want to cut then off my MIT speaker cables.

I might give this a shot based on my previous positive experience.
- RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan - emailtim 21:17:48 01/03/21 (0)
  If you can measure your 1.6's before and after the upgrade, that would be great. Keep us informed as to your findings.
Hilarious - Jon L 18:16:54 01/02/21 (1)
since I just watched a Youtube video called "Magnepan 1.7i The Sweet Spot"
- Magnepan 1.7i The Sweet Spot (Open in New Window)
- RE: Hilarious - BDP24 19:19:44 01/02/21 (0)
  I'll bet those who have the 3.7 consider IT the sweet spot in the Magnepan line up. ;-)
RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan - Gforcegerry 02:47:09 01/02/21 (16)
I had seen this on YouTube a few days ago and was interested.
When you say..."He wasn't a fan of the changes made..." has your friend tried the modification/new x-over?
Or is this based on Danny's description, which is light on information.

Regards
Gerry
- RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan - TitaniumTroy 17:24:29 01/02/21 (15)
  Okay as and example he didn't like the flattening out of the bass hump, because Magnepan designed that to compensate for the speaker being open baffle. Hence bass frequencies cancel each other out when the back wave meets the front wave.
  - RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan - Davey 07:04:34 01/03/21 (11)
    How is it that Danny "flattened out the bass hump" by just altering the crossover configuration?????? I don't know what you're referring to there.
    That bass hump is inherent.....and can't be flattened out without electronic equalization and/or some very large value passive parts.
    Dave.
    
    Edits: 01/03/21
    - RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan - BDP24 16:55:43 01/03/21 (10)
      Davey, DR explains what he did in the video. It's pretty simple, not many parts. He changes the tweeter high-pass filter slope from 1st-order to 2nd, which he claims lowers the sense of "strain" the driver exhibits when pushed. I don't remember how he brings the lower and higher frequencies into more even response, I'll have to watch the video again.
      
      He also suggests discarding the rear plate and the speaker binding "posts" (suggesting his Tube Connectors for use in their place) and fuse parts (they contain numerous ferrous elements), and making a new plate out of perhaps MDF. He sells the Mod Kit for a couple hundred bucks (per pair) iirc, but not using the Tube Connectors (some Maggie owners have installed Cardas binding posts in place of the stock) will save you $59/pr.
      - RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan - Davey 17:33:06 01/03/21 (9)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan posted by BDP24 on January 03, 2021 at 16:55:43
        
        I watched the video. He doesn't explain anything regarding the bottom end of the speaker. Which would be very difficult to address anyway....as I said.
        Nor whether he changed the crossover from series to parallel....which I assume he did.
        There's a lot of hand-waving in Danny's video's, but very little specific information. I don't understand what some folks see in them, but he appears to be impressing the beginner type audiophiles.
        Dave.
        
        Edits: 01/03/21
        
        RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan - BDP24 00:56:04 01/04/21 (6)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan posted by Davey on January 03, 2021 at 17:33:06
        
        I just rewatched the video. DR states he brought the low end down with an inductor on the bass/midrange driver. I don't know how anyone could miss that ;-) .
        The 1.6 comes from the factory with a parallel x/o, the 1.7 with a series, correct? DR says the 1.7 has two elements in parallel on the tweeter---sort of a dual voice coil, he says---with a resulting 1.9 ohms impedance at high frequencies. To raise that impedance, he suggests rewiring the two elements in series.
        I know some prefer the 3.6 to the 3.7 because the .6 Maggies have a parallel x/o, which allows bi-amping with an electronic x/o, unlike the series x/o .7 Maggies. Given the price of the 1.6, that may not be as common with them.
        
        Edits: 01/04/21
        
        RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan - Davey 04:57:47 01/04/21 (5)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan posted by BDP24 on January 04, 2021 at 00:56:04
        
        His plots don't show the "low end." (Everything is 200Hz and above.)
        The only way to bring the low end down would be to use an inductor with much increased DCR. If he did that, I don't see the wisdom in that approach. The system is already very low in efficiency.
        Also, in my opinion, the top end of the stock 1.7 is actually a bit too bright without the resistor in. I think Danny's hearing might be going if wonders where the highs are. :)
        
        I'm well aware of how the 1.7 tweeter is wired and works. But Danny chose to reconfigure it. It's actually very easy to do by clipping one leg of the 10uF capacitor. But he made it sound like a complicated process and probably confused some folks. :)
        
        Dave.
        
        RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan - BDP24 11:43:47 01/04/21 (4)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan posted by Davey on January 04, 2021 at 04:57:47
        
        The pair of 1.7's I heard didn't sound bright, but they did sound somewhat "wispy": thin, un-fleshed out, no color or body to instruments.
        I'm not aware of a general consensus that the 1.7 sounds bright. in fact, quite the opposite: soft. Davey, you found the ET LFT-8b to be bright too, choosing to use the lowest output tap on the tweeter. Perhaps you are more sensitive to very high frequencies (the LFT-8b tweeter high-pass filter is at 10kHz) than average?
        Brightness in a loudspeaker is located at a far lower frequency than 10kHz of course, but the LFT-8b tweeter filter is 1st-order, so that driver is still putting out a lot of sound at 5kHz (6dB down relative to 10k), even 2.5kHz (12dB down).
        
        Edits: 01/04/21
        
        RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan - Davey 13:31:40 01/04/21 (3)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan posted by BDP24 on January 04, 2021 at 11:43:47
        
        I'd still like to know how Danny "brought the low end down" on these speakers without using an inductor with significant DCR. That info is not in his video.
        If you can explain that one to me (without speculating) it would be appreciated.
        
        Dave.
        
        RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan - emailtim 13:59:07 01/04/21 (1)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan posted by Davey on January 04, 2021 at 13:31:40
        
        Dave,
        
        If you look at the plots, the 1.7 bass is down by @ 3dB @ 200Hz and @ 5dB @ 300Hz, but the rolloff at 65Hz is still @ 2.5KHz suggesting the bass panel's slope rolloff is shallower after the mod.
        
        Is it possible he also changed the bass panel's XO ?
        
        RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan - BDP24 20:13:57 01/04/21 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan posted by emailtim on January 04, 2021 at 13:59:07
        
        Tim, in the video DR states he left the bass/midrange driver filter slope stock. A call to him may answer every question one has.
        
        RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan - BDP24 13:51:12 01/04/21 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan posted by Davey on January 04, 2021 at 13:31:40
        
        Like everyone else here, I know only what's in the video. Anyone who buys DR's mod kit for the 1.6 and 1.7 will get a pair inductors, and be free to provide it's value to any interested party, assuming DR doesn't remove any value designation on the part, as do many other modifiers. For that same reason, a call to DR asking for that value may have his request denied. ;-)
        
        Edits: 01/04/21
        
        RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan - emailtim 21:35:42 01/03/21 (1)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan posted by Davey on January 03, 2021 at 17:33:06
        
        Here are the plots from the video. I would have to watch it again, but I think the first 2 are the 1.6 before and after and the second 2 are the 1.7 before and after.
        He did say he put the 1.7 tweeters in series.
        He also said he raised the impedence on the Maggies so they didn't dip so low. I didn't grab those plots, but you can scan the video for them.
        It looks like he lowered the 1.7 hump by @ 5dB. Part comes from the faster tweeter rolloff.
        Would like to see what the rest of the plot below 200Hz looks like both before and after.
        
        Edits: 01/03/21
        
        RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan - Davey 05:00:53 01/04/21 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan posted by emailtim on January 03, 2021 at 21:35:42
        
        Danny never posts measurements below 200Hz.
        He doesn't have the facility to effectively do that, I guess. And certainly not with a large/dipole speaker like a Magnepan.
        
        Dave.
  - RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan - BDP24 17:46:13 01/02/21 (2)
    Where dipoles exhibit cancellation is at either side of the loudspeaker/sub. The back wave meeting the front wave CAN create out-of-phase cancellation, but also in-phase reinforcement. That is true for all dipoles. It is a function of frequency and the distance of the dipole from the wall behind it, so designing in a "bass hump" to combat that phenomenon is not possible unless a mandatory dipole/wall distance is specified by the designer.
    And you know, Danny Richie designs dipole loudspeakers and subs (though not in a manner that satisfies Davey---see above), and is well aware of all the above. DR has not found the skewed bass response exhibited by the MG1.6 and 1.7 in other dipoles he has tested (not to mention designed).
    
    Edits: 01/02/21
    - RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan - emailtim 23:00:45 01/02/21 (1)
      FWIW, Danny said he measured them (using a CLIO system) out in the room and not near field because they are large panels.
      
      That being said, he didn't give the dimensions of his room, nor how far the speakers were from the walls, nor the gating settings so we don't know the specifics of his room's influence on the measurements.
      
      I had 1.6's a long time ago, but never took measurements of them when I had them.
      - RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan - BDP24 23:43:37 01/02/21 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan posted by emailtim on January 02, 2021 at 23:00:45
        
        All true Tim, and valid points. But DR has measured many other dipoles in exactly the same manner, and not found the frequency response "problems" exhibited by the MG1.6 and 1.7.
        I have heard the 1.7 (at the same dealer in Portland who demoed the 30.7, but in a different room), and didn't care for it. I much prefer the Eminent Technology LFT-8b, and the various Tympani's (I've owned three pair: T-I, T-ID, and my current T-IVa.). Still gotta hear the 3.7!
        
        Edits: 01/02/21 01/02/21
RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan - Davey 10:23:16 01/01/21 (0)
I think it's more about availability of speaker drivers for Danny. His source in India is not able to keep up with the demand and Danny has turned his attention to projects utilizing parts he can get.....like inductor/capacitors/connectors/etc for speaker "upgrades."

Danny's an enigma. If you gave him a 7" woofer and tweeter in a box and asked him to design a crossover he'd do just fine. But anything else and he's out of his depth. You can see that with some of the silly video's and comments he's posted on YT.

Dave.
RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan - HiOnFi 08:54:11 01/01/21 (1)
Easier and IMHO better would be to bypass the OEM XO with an active XO which can be adjusted by turning knobs
- RE: "an active XO which can be adjusted by turning knobs" ... - andyr 23:11:42 01/03/21 (0)
  Very hard to achieve, I suggest.
  
  Much easier to use a computer to change filter characteristics using a computer - eg. with a miniDSP.
  
  Andy
RE: Danny Richie of GR Research VS Magnepan - emailtim 18:35:51 12/30/20 (0)
Danny has been making/selling a lot of various speaker mod kits as well as making a lot of YouTube videos since the pandemic hit.

There are a lot of people sequestered at home with a lot of DIY time on their hands which has been great for his DIY business.

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