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Recommendations for using DEQX with Magnepans

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Hi all - I'm looking for recommendations for using a DEQX HDP-Express ii with my Maggie 1.7's and 2 subs, especially regarding measuring the panels...outside or inside, mic position, etc. I have searched the manual but can't find info specific to planars. I have also searched this forum and found some suggestions but not very detailed or recent. I COULD set up outside, but I live on a very busy road and traffic noise is high. If I measure inside (the room is 7.3m x 3.7m x 2.45m high), should I move the speaker to the centre of the room and elevate midway between floor and ceiling? Where should the mic be aimed, and what distance from the panel? Do I need to measure both panels? Suggestions gratefully received ;-)
Cheers
Steve

Edits: 04/21/21

Follow Ups:

RE: Recommendations for using DEQX with Magnepans - Steviewunda 20:52:51 05/04/21 (1)
I recently found the time, weather and motivation to measure my Maggie 1.7's outside at a semi-rural friend's property. I took measurements of both panels at .6m, 1.2m, and 1.8m at 1.75m height (vertical centre of the ribboned panel, on axis with the transition line between tweeter and mid ribbons). Initial calibration has been based on the .6m measurements - there was not much variation between the varying distances, but there was enought variation between the 2 speakers to make measuring both worthwhile. My first attempts at room eq with DEQX have been very pleasing, unlike my first attempts using earlier indoor measurements, but I think a lot of the improvement is down to becoming more familiar with the inner workings of the DEQX software, especially the subleties of the equalizer adjustments. I now have a baseline configuration that sounds good with lots of different music styles, recording variations, etc. I'm sure I will do a lot more refinement of these initial settings (lots of variables to play with ;-)), but I'm a tinkerer and I'll enjoy the process. I'm not planning to get DEQXpert help at this stage but who knows? You don't know what you don't know, and the temptation to see whether a DEQXpert could significantly improve my tinkerings might prove irresistible ;-)
- RE: Recommendations for using DEQX with Magnepans - emailtim 08:36:24 05/14/21 (0)
  Very cool !!!
  
  You literally went the distance. Not many people haul them outside.
RE: Recommendations for using DEQX with Magnepans - triamp 05:08:54 04/30/21 (0)
I've tri-amped my 3.6's with a DEQX for years. I recently bought another DEQX and built Rhythmik / GR Research open-baffle servo subs and will be using the additional DEQX for the subs. I may not do any measuring for the sub, I am not confident that the DEQX can get meaningful data under any conditions that I am amble to set up for such measurements. I think I will end up making settings by ear / OmniMic / SPL meter etc over many iterations until the sound is what I want. I plan to cross over at 45 Hz. In particular I want to be able to play the system pretty loud without slapping the bass diaphragms against the magnets, routing energy below 45 Hz to the subwoofer will really help with this.
The way I measured my 3.6's was to position the speaker in the middle of the longest axis of my apartment, but slightly off-square with the room. I placed pillows quilts and cushions on the floor between the speaker and my mic. I had the mic on a mic stand lined up with the tweeter, midway up from the floor, in other words pointed at the middle of the tweeter. Distance from mic to the speaker was about 2 meters. I played with different settings a bit, but once I got the curves for the low, mid and high drivers, I have stuck with those correction curves for something like 10 years and have been pleased. I used the parametric EQ to adjust for some things that sounded wrong to me - a few dB's here and there, nothing drastic. Then I used the EQ to try and counter my main room mode which is around 56 Hz. EQ helps with room acoustics a little but is not the complete answer to room problems which involve standing waves that build energy over time, reflections and other time-related issues. EQ can only correct an average amplitude problem, can't change problems found in the 3D volume of the room- bass modes vary through the room's volumes, the best you can do is reduce the amplitude of the major modes so the energy to excite them is reduced.
In the end, using OmniMic at my listening position to guide my final tweaking of the parametric EQ, I was able to get a repeatable response of In the end, using OmniMic at my listening position to guide my final tweaking of the parametric EQ, I was able to get a repeatable response of � 1.5 dB from 40 Hz to 17,000 Hz ( I can only hear to 12,000~13,000 Hz )
============================================
Science doesn't care what you believe.

Edits: 04/30/21 04/30/21 04/30/21 04/30/21 05/01/21 05/01/21 05/01/21 05/01/21
RE: Recommendations for using DEQX with Magnepans - owkone 09:01:58 04/23/21 (3)
I'd set up the speakers exactly as you would in that room and run the room calibration. This will correct for everything including external noise for traffic. If DEQX really needs an initial calibration data for input perhaps Magnepan has an anechoic chamber calibration curve they can share. Alternatively, Maggies are known to be relatively flat between 40-20K Hz, you can input that as default.
- RE: Recommendations for using DEQX with Magnepans - emailtim 10:40:40 04/23/21 (2)
  "... Maggies are known to be relatively flat between 40-20K Hz, you can input that as default. ..."
  Here are Danny's gated measurements of the 1.7's using a CLIO system.
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8KnHHvARGk
  Timecode: 3:00
  
  Edits: 04/23/21
  - RE: Recommendations for using DEQX with Magnepans - owkone 13:15:12 04/23/21 (1)
    The conditions of the measurements are close mic not anechoic/open air. DEQX folks told him to first calibrate in open air.
    - RE: Recommendations for using DEQX with Magnepans - emailtim 18:01:42 04/23/21 (0)
      If you listen to his videos, Danny states he takes a variety of measurements near and far field as well as on and off axis in the attempt to address the a more complete picture.
RE: Recommendations for using DEQX with Magnepans - 13th Duke of Wymbourne 15:31:39 04/22/21 (0)
I met the DEQX guys at a show once and asked them about using their system with Quads. They said the calibration is a two-step process, first the speaker itself is calibrated then the speaker in the room. They recommended doing the speaker only calibration outdoors. Give them a call or an email, I am sure they can advise.

Regards,
13DoW
RE: Recommendations for using DEQX with Magnepans - andyr 14:41:18 04/22/21 (4)
What I do with my miniDSP setup is put my Maggies in their normal position, with the mic where my ears are.

After all, you want to do any EQ so it improves what your ears are hearing.

Andy
- RE: Recommendations for using DEQX with Magnepans - Steviewunda 17:36:04 04/22/21 (3)
  Thanks Andyr and Duke - DEQX recommend measuring the speakers individually, fairly nearfield and preferably outside if possible, before taking room measurements from the listening position in comination with the subs - but they don't make any planar-specific recommendations. In reply to my query they told me to follow the instructions in the manual - which was why I contacted them because the manual doesn't elaborate regarding planars ;-) I guess it's time to suck it and see ;-)
  
  Edits: 04/22/21
  - RE: Recommendations for using DEQX with Magnepans - 13th Duke of Wymbourne 14:53:53 04/23/21 (1)
    IIRC, he said that placing a dipole in an open door way might work as an alternative to outdoors so the rear waves fires into another room.
    - RE: Mmmm, given ... - andyr 04:56:18 04/24/21 (0)
      Maggies are dipoles - and when you listen to them in-room, you get the rear wave as well as the direct, front-firing wave ... so WTF is the point of putting them in an open doorway, to measure them?
      
      I suggest - as others have posted - that DEQX only know about measuring monkey-coffins and their recommendations do not apply to dipoles.
      
      Andy
  - RE: Recommendations for using DEQX with Magnepans - emailtim 20:32:05 04/22/21 (0)
    I think their instructions are more suited for point sources, not line arrays.
RE: Recommendations for using DEQX with Magnepans - pictureguy 23:27:42 04/21/21 (3)
What is your goal? Curiousity or later modifications and remeasure?
Too much is never enough
- RE: Recommendations for using DEQX with Magnepans - Steviewunda 10:26:19 04/22/21 (2)
  My main goal is to make my system sound as good as it can (within my financial limits ;-)). The DEQX's role is primarily room correction, crossover (to limit the amount of bass work done by the Maggies),and EQ to taste - so for modifications and remeasure.
  
  Edits: 04/22/21
  - RE: Recommendations for using DEQX with Magnepans - pictureguy 11:11:36 04/22/21 (1)
    I get you on limiting bass TO the panels. I low-cut my mains using crossover IN the preamp......
    Than allow the sub to 'do its thing'.....
    
    Have fun!
    Too much is never enough
    - RE: Recommendations for using DEQX with Magnepans - Steviewunda 17:25:40 04/22/21 (0)
      Thanks pictureguy ;-)

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