Planar Speaker Asylum

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

Return to Planar Speaker Asylum

Planar Speaker Asylum

MC-1 and DWM

157.131.153.169

Hi all, first post to this forum, but I've been lurking for a long time. I just purchased a pair of MC-1s which I intend for a 2.1 system in a small room 11' wide, 14' long, 11' ceiling.

Key nerd point: I like my old school electronics. I plan to drive these with a Mac1900 receiver that's about 45 years old. I've been using a pair of Sequerra Met7's and an M&K Volkswoofer since I first heard them together in 1981.

First question, do you all prefer the wall hanging Maggies on the sidewalls 2' in from the front wall or hanging on the front wall about 21" from the sidewall?

Second question, I'm not sure how the M&K will integrate with the MC1. The M&K is a nice sounding unit, but it has no adjustable crossover and no line level input. I'm wondering if I'd be well served to get a DWM for the 40-160 octaves and leave the M&K in place for the 20-40 octave? Of course, this would be a nightmare of wiring and crossovers, which brings me to my next question which is taking me off the planar asylum ...

I'm not sure if the McIntosh receiver will power the MC1 well particularly if it needs to power a DWM as well. We'll see, but if it does, I'll have no room correction options to speak of. I could use a MiniDSP HD as a DAC and processor to create four channels, but then I'd need two new amplifiers (not a big deal) and I'd lose my volume control (that's a big deal). Has anyone here used the MiniDSP SHD with the Maggies? It has a master volume control and functions as a preamp. Does the Dirac software work well with Maggies?

That got complex. Thanks in advance for your advice.

G
-- Yes, my stereo equipment is younger than I am by a few months --

Follow Ups:

RE: MC-1 and DWM - Graphical 10:06:41 01/22/21 (0)
Status update -- I haven't bought the Rythmik subwoofer (yet) that GSquared suggested. Still playing with REW. The Maggies sound okay, but there's a few clear issues.

I'm still using the M&K Subwoofer. The NHT passive sounds great, but the efficiency mismatch is major and with no way to adjust, that won't work. The M&K actually sounds quite nice, but I have to adjust the gain way down, almost to zero so that it doesn't overpower the Maggies. #ExpectedBehavior.

I'm moving the Maggies around to sample different locations. I have them on the sidewalls now. Some music sounds great. I tried two Lincoln Center Jazz albums (Democracy Now! and the salute to Coltrane). Wow, the Maggies really put you in the room. U2's Joshua Tree sounded great and bad. Funny how the vocals can be breathtaking and then disappear. Michael Feinstein sounded nasal and raspy. A Qobuz suggested Bach harpsichord conccerto sounded distorted.

So, I think I've got some room modes going on.

Questions for the fellow inmates: the old M&K subwoofer begins to clip when the mic reaches about 60dB at the listening position. This is quite loud, but REW suggests cranking the volume to 90dB at the listening station. That's not going to happen. Will I get decent readings from REW at a reduced volume? The noise floor is around 50dB.

Also, I haven't found in the doc yet, but I'm sure it is there: what weighting does REW assume? Are they dBA, dBC? And fast or slow response? And, will REW actually give me data that will improve the sound without getting a DSP? The tools I'd have are placement, tone controls, and sub gain.

Have any of your run Dirac on a PC to see what a difference it will make in a two channel setup?

Thanks, Graphical
G
-- Yes, my stereo equipment is younger than I am by a few months --
RE: MC-1 and DWM - emailtim 14:09:43 11/19/20 (1)
As for placement, you can make some crude/quick/temporary test stands and judge best placement for yourself before drilling any holes in your walls.
I have mine on each side of my flat panel approximating the locations in Magenpan's test room in the following picture.

Edits: 11/19/20
- RE: MC-1 and DWM - Graphical 18:30:58 11/19/20 (0)
  Glad I'm not drilling holes in the cinder blocks. I'll definitely try them in different spots before I mount them for good. Thanks.
  G
  -- Yes, my stereo equipment is younger than I am by a few months --
I'd consider this sub - G Squared 08:32:12 11/19/20 (2)
It is intended to fill in the mid bass, will go low so you can drop the M&K from the set up, is self powered and will integrate very well.
Gsquared
- http://www.rythmikaudio.com/FM8.html (Open in New Window)
- RE: I'd consider this sub - Graphical 12:36:57 11/19/20 (1)
  Hi Gsquared,
  
  That's an awfully rational suggestion for an asylum. Thank you.
  
  Does the Rythmik hardware provide enough equalization that one can use REW and do what you need? It would appear so, but this is my first foray into actually tuning the system.
  
  G
  -- Yes, my stereo equipment is younger than I am by a few months --
  - RE: I'd consider this sub - G Squared 17:51:46 11/19/20 (0)
    Yes
    
    I have a Schiit Loki EQ to roll off my mains, but I don't think you'll need it. Call the folks at Rythmic they are helpful. The subs are very Maggie friendly.
    Gsquared

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:

Signature Sound

[ Signature Sound Lounge ]