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RE: Maggie madness

I know that this is a frustration to Wendell, e.g., the fact that some people say Maggies are no more dynamic than stats. Of course, it depends on the size of the panels, but the figure I've seen is that planars can produce 10 times the output per unit area than electrostatics, which are limited by practical and theoretical constraints on voltage. So to get high output from stats, you either need immense panels like the Sound Labs, or limited bass response.

Here are measurements showing the MMG's doing 110 dB on peaks, at the listening position:

http://db.audioasylum.com/mhtml/m.html?forum=mug&n=164807

So even the MMG's are in the lower end of dynamic territory, though they do start to sound veiled and intermodulate when you push them that hard. And at the other extreme of Maggie size, Satie recently clocked his IV's at 120 dB, C weighted, with a Radio Shack meter -- that's typically about 130 dB on true peaks.

That's not to say that the biggest dynamics can't have more bass extension or play louder. They can, particularly horns and big studio monitors. People who are into pedal notes or dinosaurs or more dynamics may want a sub (my Tympanis used to bottom on the cannon shots on the Telarc 1812). But rumors of limitations on the dynamics or bass of planars I think have to do either with people going by the smaller models, or hearing them with smaller amps. (Or, as a friend said of my 1-D's back in the day, "Hey, Maggies with bass!")


Edits: 03/23/12
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