Hierarchy of Magneplanar bass

RE: Hierarchy of Magneplanar bass, posted on May 3, 2021 at 17:30:04
triode@earthlink.net Audiophile Posts: 20 Location: Florida Joined: June 5, 2013	My memory is still very clear, from 1974, hearing a set of Timpani IIIa set up in a 2-4-2 patern tri-amped with ARC Di50 and 2 D76. I was just 19 and snuck back into the building after closing time so my boss never knew that I abused the speakers with the Supertramp album LOL It took a few dollars and a lot of power but they had base, believe me!

RE: Hierarchy of Magneplanar bass, posted on March 31, 2021 at 22:29:21

corkatoa
Audiophile

Posts: 3
Location: British Columbia
Joined: March 31, 2021

Small room (13x17) with a set of mg3a with custom stands, razor mod and bass wings seem to have as much as is needed. I have had many other magneplanar speakers, these are the nicest ones all around...so far. Funny how when you have bass heavy speakers, even something bright like Klipsch to compare to (I have several sets) you realize that those speakers are actually adding too much to the bottom end. Something new and extremely thumpy, like my daughters music on vinyl (Billie Eilish) was just so much bass on klipsch. Then I switched to my maggies and wow! Totally different music. Actually listenable. With tight, defined bass and still lots of it. Or Daft Punk, which is maybe one of the best recordings ever made; same thing.

Quality bass reproduction is the best bass is what I am getting at with this backstory.

How much bass do you need or want?, posted on March 5, 2021 at 18:39:44
Mike K Audiophile Posts: 13975 Location: 97701 Joined: September 23, 1999	I listen strictly to acoustic music. My LRSes do fine with acoustic bass and the lower end of the piano. Or maybe my ears are just bad ... Lack of skill dictates economy of style. - Joey Ramone

RE: How much bass do you need or want?, posted on April 4, 2021 at 17:13:49
pictureguy Audiophile Posts: 22597 Location: SoCal Joined: October 19, 2008	Hearing failure TYPICALLY starts at the high end first. As for the bass? Your happy? I'm happy. But I might add that a mild applcaiotn of Sub on my 1.6s really opened things up without being over the top. Too much is never enough

RE: How much bass do you need or want?, posted on March 6, 2021 at 11:22:43

farfetched
Audiophile

Posts: 963
Location: Cleveland!
Joined: October 13, 2010

When I am in the mood to hear the distant sound of a lorry passing outside the studio, my subwoofer takes care of it fine.

If best bass on this board simply = extension, I'll refrain.

But best bass -- from a musical perspective -- simply does not often require the sound of a lorry passing outside the studio.

SOMETIMES it does. But I would not sacrifice the fleetness of my LRS's to relieve my ML Depth sub of those rare duties. And for those who are curious, no there is no such thing as "timing" when it comes to the sound a passing lorry outside the studio or hall makes.

As for ambient LF, yes it exists. But again, there is no "timing" in it, so just give it to a sub.

Organ enthusiasts will have to forgive I truly can live without being able to listen to "Organ Pedal Fiesta, Volume 12!" just using my maggies w/o a sub.

LRS's are tuneful to 40hz at ~70db listening levels. If you want the stones in your medieval keep to shudder, no, won't happen.

But my room is approx 12 x 17.

Best bass..... oh brother.

/ optimally proportioned triangles are our friends

RE: How much bass do you need or want?, posted on March 8, 2021 at 19:08:03

TitaniumTroy
Audiophile

Posts: 626
Location: Mishawaka, Indiana
Joined: October 14, 2006

My vote by a wide margin, would be the Condo/Mini 30.7 model. As it's dynamic driver's have an impact that I have not heard from the quasi ribbon, even in full 30.7 form. Not to mention I believe they play louder, not sure about lower in frequency vs 30.7s.

If you hear the Condo/Mini 30.7, at least in the room I heard them. The effect is immediate and not subtle, while having no negative side that I could discern.

RE: How much bass do you need or want?, posted on March 6, 2021 at 05:34:42
SteveJewels Audiophile Posts: 244 Location: OH Joined: August 11, 2018	The question was one of quality. I would like to hear LRS's.

RE: Hierarchy of Magneplanar bass, posted on March 5, 2021 at 18:29:29
Green Lantern Audiophile Posts: 16952 Location: San Diego, Ca Joined: November 12, 2002 Contributor Since: June 17, 2003	Folks hear 'Magnepan' and automatically assume little to no bass but when you get to the big boys it's just the opposite. On my MG20s I've got two Emotiva XPA-1's, 1k watt, high current mono's feeding just bass panels and they 'WILL' shake the walls with no problem!

RE: Hierarchy of Magneplanar bass, posted on March 6, 2021 at 05:35:34
SteveJewels Audiophile Posts: 244 Location: OH Joined: August 11, 2018	Current seems to be key to obtaining the best performance from Maggies.

RE: "little to no bass" ..., posted on March 6, 2021 at 02:53:31

andyr
Manufacturer

Posts: 12550
Location: Melbourne
Joined: September 2, 2000

... can mean (at least!) two different things:

1. it's not loud - ie. it doesn't shake the walls, or

2. it can't reproduce a 16Hz organ note (from a 64' pipe).

I have no doubt that your 20s - with those XPA-1s on your bass panels - can shake your walls. However - alas - they certainly can't do #2. :-((

Of course, if you don't make a habit of listening to Bach organ music ... then all is good! :-))

Andy

RE: "little to no bass" ..., posted on March 13, 2021 at 14:39:22
josh358 Industry Professional Posts: 12332 Joined: February 9, 2010	I do listen to Bach organ music and it's the one thing the IVA panels won't do. :-( (They're good to a bit below 30 Hz.)

I do listen to Bach organ music, posted on March 17, 2021 at 01:07:38
SteveJewels Audiophile Posts: 244 Location: OH Joined: August 11, 2018	Are you familiar with Simone Stella?

RE: I do listen to Bach organ music, posted on April 6, 2021 at 20:21:15
josh358 Industry Professional Posts: 12332 Joined: February 9, 2010	Nope, had to look him up.

RE: "a bit below 30Hz" ..., posted on March 13, 2021 at 16:00:09
andyr Manufacturer Posts: 12550 Location: Melbourne Joined: September 2, 2000	Great, Josh! :-)) Before I added a pair of 15" sealed subs, I reckon my Frankenpan bass panels (from a pair of 2.6s) only reached down to ~35Hz. So organ (and Yello!) was sadly lacking. :-(( Andy

RE: "a bit below 30Hz" ..., posted on March 13, 2021 at 18:10:46
josh358 Industry Professional Posts: 12332 Joined: February 9, 2010	I think having them in a room the size of a postage stamp helps. :-) (Actually, a new room the size of a postage stamp, since I moved my sound room to the other side of the house.)

RE: "little to no bass" ..., posted on March 6, 2021 at 19:09:56
Green Lantern Audiophile Posts: 16952 Location: San Diego, Ca Joined: November 12, 2002 Contributor Since: June 17, 2003	no they certainly will NOT get that deep but then again 90% of my music is acoustic jazz and the panels present kick drums and upright basses 'fantastically' thank you very much~

RE: "little to no bass" ..., posted on April 6, 2021 at 20:49:03
pictureguy Audiophile Posts: 22597 Location: SoCal Joined: October 19, 2008	And the number of tunes requiring that 64' tube can be counted on your fingers..... I know of ONE but have never done an exhaustive search.... Too much is never enough

RE: I would say ..., posted on March 5, 2021 at 03:29:59
andyr Manufacturer Posts: 12550 Location: Melbourne Joined: September 2, 2000	30.7 T-IVa 20.7 Andy

RE: I would say ..., posted on March 13, 2021 at 14:33:24
josh358 Industry Professional Posts: 12332 Joined: February 9, 2010	The bass on my IVA's is awesome. You're right about the 30.7, of course, but my IVA's are in a room the size of a phone booth. :-)

I would think the same., posted on March 5, 2021 at 07:01:22
grantv Manufacturer Posts: 7728 Location: B.C. Joined: January 15, 2002	I haven't heard all those models to back that up, never mind in similar rooms, systems, etc. But that would simply make sense. The only fly in that ointment might be the apartment 30.7

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Hierarchy of Magneplanar bass

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