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Magnepan DWM - Power handling

75.238.188.11

I'm running a recently acquired Magnepan DWM/Mini-Maggie combo, and I'm trying to figure out how much power it can handle. It's running 2-channel with a 375 WPC (at 8 Ohms) amplifier, and the DWM begins to rattle badly when the volume of the system is at higher levels (not anywhere near a max level for the amp).

These units were designed to run in parallel with Magnepan's full range speakers so I would suspect that they can take a fair bit of power before any sort of 'maggie slap' occurs.

I'm trying to determine if the DWM was damaged in shipping. I'm looking inside of it with a flashlight and it appears to have magnet screens on both sides of the mylar panel, so apparently it's a push-pull design?

When it rattles I've also heard some strange noises almost like a static discharge, would that be a sound associated with wires de-laminating from the mylar?

Magnepan's website doesn't list a spec for DWM maximum input power. They link to a FAQ that says 'buyer's choice' on how powerful of an amp to use, not very helpful in knowing what their 'you'll blow them up' rating is...

Follow Ups:

RE: Magnepan DWM - Power handling - MarcL 05:56:14 02/01/25 (9)
Is the noise associated with very low frequencies, like lower than 40Hz? I have found that the DWM and even my 3.7 will rattle .... diaphragm slapping the magnet plate ... at very low frequencies. I use two DWMs with my 3.7s and run them with a separate 500W/ch Hypex amp. But I high pass them at 60Hz.

If the problem is the diaphragm hitting the magnet plate, it's possible that it can be fixed by "hooking". It's a method of using a metal hook to grab the magnet plate and pull it away from the diaphragm allowing more clearance.

Talk to Mick at Magnepan ... or Michael Hoatson at The Listening Room.

Agilist, Musician, Photographer, Audiophile
7.1.4 Magneplanar: 3.7, CCR, LRS, MC1(4), DWM(2); Emotiva B1+; GR Research OB Dipole Subs (2x3); Emotiva XMC-2; Nord One NC500DM; Nord Three 1ET7040SA; VTV NC502MP; Crown XLi800;OPPO 205
- "Hooking"- I've never quite understood the effectiveness... - MWE 06:29:23 02/01/25 (8)
  of this procedure. Seems like increasing the distance between magnets and diaphragm would decrease the efficiency, which would mean having to increase the amplifier volume to make up for it, thereby increasing excursion, which would presumably put you right back where you were. Maybe there's something involved in the process that I don't understand.
  
  Mark in NC
  "The thought that life could be better is woven indelibly into our hearts and our brains" -Paul Simon
  - RE: "Hooking"- I've never quite understood the effectiveness... - MarcL 06:35:30 02/01/25 (7)
    It's a small adjustment. Just enough to get the magnet beyond the maximum excursion of the diaphragm. I believe they actually adjust every speaker to some tolerance at the factory this way.
    
    But as it was noted, the DWM is push-pull with magnets on both sides. So might require a double-hooker.
    
    Agilist, Musician, Photographer, Audiophile
    7.1.4 Magneplanar: 3.7, CCR, LRS, MC1(4), DWM(2); Emotiva B1+; GR Research OB Dipole Subs (2x3); Emotiva XMC-2; Nord One NC500DM; Nord Three 1ET7040SA; VTV NC502MP; Crown XLi800;OPPO 205
    - Thanks for the explanation. Seems to be even more reason, then, to... - MWE 08:23:36 02/01/25 (6)
      use a (high-quality, transparent) high-pass on the Maggies when using a subwoofer, to avoid the possible necessity of such a procedure. I'm currently using a passive line-level filter on mine for such. Of course, that's not an option when the problem is in a DWM and you want maximum bass extension.
      
      Mark in NC
      "The thought that life could be better is woven indelibly into our hearts and our brains" -Paul Simon
      
      Edits: 02/01/25 02/01/25
      - RE: Thanks for the explanation. Seems to be even more reason, then, to... - MarcL 11:02:44 02/01/25 (5)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Thanks for the explanation. Seems to be even more reason, then, to... posted by MWE on February 01, 2025 at 08:23:36
        
        In the past I've used the Harrison Labs High Pass Filter ... XLR connectors on both sides, in line from the preamp to the amp.
        
        Agilist, Musician, Photographer, Audiophile
        7.1.4 Magneplanar: 3.7, CCR, LRS, MC1(4), DWM(2); Emotiva B1+; GR Research OB Dipole Subs (2x3); Emotiva XMC-2; Nord One NC500DM; Nord Three 1ET7040SA; VTV NC502MP; Crown XLi800;OPPO 205
        
        RE: Thanks for the explanation. Seems to be even more reason, then, to... - UncleMeat 12:15:12 02/01/25 (4)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Thanks for the explanation. Seems to be even more reason, then, to... posted by MarcL on February 01, 2025 at 11:02:44
        
        Yes the problem arises on low frequency music notes, probably below the 40Hz range. In addition, my room EQ is boosting the lows and I don't have a high-pass filter running. So it appears that I am doing the opposite and expecting the DWM to keep up when it is being asked to do more than it's capable of.
        
        I guess I was thinking that this low/bass panel was more like a non-powered subwoofer, but clearly it's not as many here have described. It makes sense to me now that even though it's also designed to support the bass of full size Magnepans it still has the limitations of frequency/excursion that are inherit to the design of planar speakers.
        
        Thank you all for the feedback on this, I'll make some adjustments to the room EQ, and add the 40Hz high pass into the output of the active EQ/crossover.
        
        RE: Thanks for the explanation. Seems to be even more reason, then, to... - MarcL 12:17:34 02/01/25 (3)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Thanks for the explanation. Seems to be even more reason, then, to... posted by UncleMeat on February 01, 2025 at 12:15:12
        
        DWM ... the most misunderstood speaker in Magnepan history, alas.
        
        It plays down to 50Hz but don't expect much dynamics below 60Hz. But ... with a good sealed sub under it? Awesome system!
        
        Agilist, Musician, Photographer, Audiophile
        7.1.4 Magneplanar: 3.7, CCR, LRS, MC1(4), DWM(2); Emotiva B1+; GR Research OB Dipole Subs (2x3); Emotiva XMC-2; Nord One NC500DM; Nord Three 1ET7040SA; VTV NC502MP; Crown XLi800;OPPO 205
        
        RE: Thanks for the explanation. Seems to be even more reason, then, to... - UncleMeat 16:12:43 02/01/25 (2)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Thanks for the explanation. Seems to be even more reason, then, to... posted by MarcL on February 01, 2025 at 12:17:34
        
        Yeah, but when they put it into a packaged 2.1 set with the Mini-Maggies, it seems like it -should- be a fully capable subwoofer, not strictly a mid/low driver. It's fine as-is I just didn't realize I was over-driving the lows, and it doesn't seem to be a problem driving it unless the volume is too high for it to handle those low notes without the 'slap'.
        
        It's just good to know that the panel probably isn't damaged in some way. I bought them used but shipped in original packaging. Magnepan did something really strange with the shipping box for the 3 speakers. The DWM panel isn't very well protected because it's not in the center of the box, it's on one side of the box making the weight distribution lopsided, and there isn't any protection along two corners of the box which the DWM sits right inside of. Needless to say the package was dropped onto the edge of the box, and the DWM panel took a blow without anything crushable protecting it. There's no visible damage to the panel but the issue with the 'barking' had me concerned that something was amiss internally.
        
        I suspect lots of the DWM units may have gotten damaged in shipping if sent with this packaging method, hopefully Magnepan has changed it.
        
        You seem to misunderstand their role - E-Stat 07:04:11 02/04/25 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Thanks for the explanation. Seems to be even more reason, then, to... posted by UncleMeat on February 01, 2025 at 16:12:43
        
        In Magnepan's words:
        
        " The Magneplanar Bass Panel (DWM) is a dipole, thin-film, planar/magnetic bass panel. It is two bass drivers in one panel. Two "voice coil" grids drive one bass diaphragm. The Bass Panel is essentially a small section out of the 20.1 and 20.7 bass drivers. But, please don't call it a "subwoofer". Subwoofers are a separate category from woofers. Subwoofers are intended for below 40 Hz and are known as "slow" and "muddy" when used above 40 Hz. "
        
        RE: Thanks for the explanation. Seems to be even more reason, then, to... - MarcL 04:37:21 02/02/25 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Thanks for the explanation. Seems to be even more reason, then, to... posted by UncleMeat on February 01, 2025 at 16:12:43
        
        When the DWM ships by itself the packing is okay.
        
        The Mini Maggie spec says 40-40KHz. The DWM spec says 40-200Hz. In practical terms none of these numbers are true. The DWM will play down to 40Hz but usable bass is only down to 50-60Hz, with the caveat as you found that they will bark if fed <40Hz at high amplitude. But the DWM does play quite a bit above 200 ... actually 300. The ribbon tweeters will play to 20KHz (not that most of us would hears that) and specing 40KHz is irrelevant hyperbole.
        
        The other misunderstanding of the DWM is that there is mention of using them to augment larger Maggies. This incorrectly implies that they will extend the bass lower. This is impossible and it does not happen. What they do very well, is augment the bass in their operating range. And more significantly - lucky for me - they can be strategically placed to fill in resonance cancellations in the 70-180Hz range.
        
        Agilist, Musician, Photographer, Audiophile
        7.1.4 Magneplanar: 3.7, CCR, LRS, MC1(4), DWM(2); Emotiva B1+; GR Research OB Dipole Subs (2x3); Emotiva XMC-2; Nord One NC500DM; Nord Three 1ET7040SA; VTV NC502MP; Crown XLi800;OPPO 205
The DWM is small. - grantv 18:56:21 01/31/25 (2)
It will have limited loudness ability. If you push it you will find out it's limitations.
It may have reasonable extension but only so loud.
- RE: The DWM is small. - UncleMeat 20:13:20 01/31/25 (1)
  Agreed, but I'm confused about why it's running out of 'headroom' much earlier than the bookshelf sized mini-maggies do. I am doing a bit of boost to the low-end to balance/flatten the room response, so that could have an effect on the power going more towards the DWM than the mid/tweeter drivers.
  - RE: The DWM is small. - grantv 22:08:47 01/31/25 (0)
    Low frequencies demand a large surface area. I'm guessing you're hoping for more than it's capable of...? Maybe get another or a sub?
RE: Magnepan DWM - Power handling - G Squared 17:24:16 01/31/25 (1)
You might consider high passing the minis. Small Maggie's benefit from relieving them of the bottom end. I high pass the amp to my LRS at 50 Hz.
Gsquared
- RE: Magnepan DWM - Power handling - UncleMeat 18:07:36 01/31/25 (0)
  Yeah, thanks and I would agree. The DWM has high-pass outputs, it's a packaged 2.1 setup from Magnepan so the 'load' should be OK on both the bass panel and the mini mags out of the box. The DWM is running into a problem before the mini mags come anywhere close to distorting so that's why I'm scratching my head about these rattles/noises.

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