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Has anyone measured the MMG or other Maggies for nonlinear distortion? The current DIY speaker trend is toward low distortion drivers and I am curious how the MMGs would compare. I would think that distortion would increase at higher volumes, but does this apply to the MMGs?I am wondering if I can build a set of DIY speakers using low distortion Dayton RS drivers that would sound better than a set of MMGs at the $550 price point. I know that the DIY would have more extended bass, but I am most concerned with "nonlinear" distortion.
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In terms of evaluating non-linear distortion, it is really only usable in comparing like-size drivers. The emphasis on low linear distortion is the result of trying to get large amounts of displacement out of smaller drivers (like a Sunfire sub). On a MMG, you have the surface area of 9 8" drivers and 72 1" domes. Therefore, to create the same of dispaced volume of air, the woofer driver only needs to move 1/9th the distance of a 8" driver. So you could have 9 times the linear distortion spread out over nine times the surface area for the same amount of total distortion per unit of volume (1/9th of the linear excursion is needed). An 8" with 9mm of excursion is the equivalent of an MMG with 1mm of excursion.But beyond linear distortion, you have issues of doppler distortion. This is the distortion caused by linear motion of one frequency causing the wavelengths of a different frequency to lengthen or shorten. Their are two ways to combat this- an acoustic transformer (horn loading) or large surface area.
You also neet to take into consideration room issues. Magnepans are line source di-poles, which have very controlled vertical dispersion, but wide horizontal dispersion. This characteristic limits floor and ceiling reflections.
You could make a line array that would give you the same surface area with conventional drivers and a similar dispersion (9 8" woofers and 72 1" domes per side- 160 drivers total per pair)- but then you would have to consider comb filtering and it definitely would cost more than $550. I'm sure they could play louder, but would they sound better?
While not the perfect match for everyone's music habits, rooms or equitptment, IMHO MMG's are pretty hard to beat for the money.
MMG's amd all less that MG20 models have various degrees of non linear distortion. this is because the magnetic field is comparitavely non-linear compaired to a coil driver - But on the other side - low cost Dayton RS drivers ( and all cone speakers - will have a cone breakup modes that produces linear and non-linear distortion products. The planar diaphrams do not have the modal breakup charateristics.You can think of the MMG as a nice SET amp, limit output levels and distorts at higher levels but sound good when it does. A dynamic cone driver forces you to listen to its linear and nonlinear components - as well at the cabinet's linear and nonlinear distortions - A bad 70's rice amp at best - ok, I exagerate a bit with the last...
That part's pretty subjective. Even if you build a speaker with lower levels of non-linear distortion, that's no guarantee it'll sound better. The two designs will sound different. Which sounds better is up to the "ear" of the beholder.
I vcan't directly answer your question.I can say I've owned various DIY speakers over the last 20 years, and MMGs sound better to me than any of the DIYs. They used various Dayton, Vifa, Dynaudio, and Focal drivers. None of the DIYs were dipole however....
Let me understand this. Your asking us to compare a theorectical DIY box speaker of unknown dimensions, volume, material, bracing, crossovers, wiring, terminals, driver alignment, etc, except for the drivers; with an existing boxless speaker based on a totally different design concept. Let me check my crystal ball :)
I know, I know. It is very difficult to compare the MMGs with conventional speaker technologies, but at least there is the objective value of distortion that can be measured. FR is a main characteristic that has been well evaluated on the MMGs, but how about harmonic distortion at various levels? This would be a starting point when evaluating planars vs. dynamic systems.
As I said, there are lots of things other the the driver distortion that contribute to the end result. Irregardless of the amount of distortion you hope you're eliminating, the end result could still be a really poor loudspeaker. Even if you use a tried and true design and execute it well, the speakers you create may still not be able to achieve a presentation that is more satisfying then the Maggies. To ask us to suggest whether it might, is pure guesswork.
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