ARRIVED!!! Pulled the trigger: Maggie 1.7's...

[rclark]

Aug 15, 2012 23:21:50 GMT -5 klinemj said:

Great point on setup, Ronnie.

And darn you guys...now you got me thinking of Rhythmik subs...OK, calm down Mark...you just spent $2K on speakers, $1500 on amps, going to spend ~$800 on an XSP, and a load on cables and such. I better take a break before the wife catches on. (Don't ANYONE tell her the total at Emofest..!!!)

Mark

In the same boat, but single. But ain't it fun? ;D

Just got out of a relationship (pre system, lol), so when I'm ready to date again the system will already be in place. Genius!

Although it will be nice when my sytem has reached a 99% done stage and I can just enjoy it and start up the next project (not stereo related). Getting closer, a few more months.

[rclark]

Aug 15, 2012 23:43:57 GMT -5 Entity said:

I love the Epik subs, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Thank you for that cause I am a little nervous. I hope it's good, I realize I may need to add a sub EQ but if it can blend generally ok at first, then I'm stoked.

[Entity]

Thank you for that cause I am a little nervous. I hope it's good, I realize I may need to add a sub EQ but if it can blend generally ok at first, then I'm stoked.

They get great reviews everywhere. One thing to note is that the Legend amp runs quite a bit hotter than the bigger brother. It's supposed to be normal for it, but I still run a small fan on the rear just to be safe and it really keeps it fairly cool.

I think they'll pair nicely with the Mag's.

[paintedklown]

Thanks for the kind words everyone.

For some reason, I find writing reviews/impressions to be a difficult proposition. Trying to put sounds into words that convey what you heard can get tricky, and I am not well versed in all of the audiophile terminology...I STILL have no idea of what a "chocolate" sounding mid range is. I generally prefer "midder mids" either way. ;D

I have talked to Peter Gunn some more, and he had actually read the review I posted here as it was posted on another forum he frequents. I was really happy to see that it was not only useful for members here, but it was useful for him as he addressed some of the concerns I had regarding the Magnepan's presentation of bass heavy material, electronic music, and so on.

He explained that the non-absorbing properties of the stock frames were sending sound waves back into the panel, causing the sound to be slurred, and distorted with such material, and that the modification would take care of that issue. That is very good news, and is reassuring to me as I go through this whole system overhaul process.

@ Rclark: Thanks for the "arm twist" and explaining your situation to me. It's nice to see that a risk like this can be taken without having to worry too much about the results.

Additionally, I went to the Epik website and checked out their subs. I was VERY impressed by their stats and price points. These certainly do look to be quality subs, and actually has me thinking that they could very well be the price friendly alternative to Rythmik subs. I will be looking forward to your impressions once you get them in and have had time to put them through their paces.

@ Roadrunner: It's interesting that you bring up the placement of the Maggies in relation to the outer walls. For both the 1.7s and the MMGs, the dealer set them up right against the side walls with the tweeters on the inside. They were pulled out from the back wall about 5 feet or so, with fake plastic trees behind them to beak up the sound waves.

@ Garbulky: Regarding the depth of the image, I apologize as I am not really good at knowing what to listen for when checking for a speakers' sound stage depth. I listen for how things are placed across the room, and if the speakers can create a "live stage" of musicians in font of me. Sorry, as I am honestly unable to provide you with any kind of useful information regarding depth.

@ Monkumonku: Thank you for the kind words. I try to be as objective as possible when reviewing gear. Some personal bias will always be present, that is for sure, but I like to observe both strengths and weaknesses when auditioning gear. Ultimately, I am auditioning the gear as a first step in the buying process. I want to be honest in my assessment to avoid buyers remorse after I have plunked down my cash. I also feel that for the review to be useful to others, then I must not leave out what I observed, even if I observed a "wart" or two when looking something over.

@ Jackfish: Thank you for the additional information and clarification regarding the design of the Magnepans as well as the specs of the Marantz receiver. The only reason I even mentioned the Marantz was because I was seriously impressed at that level of performance coming from a receiver. Certainly, external amplifiers will always be preferred, but the Marantz justifies its price tag, at the very minimum.

Ok guys, No more beating around the bush here. I decided today that I am FOR SURE going to order up a pair of Magnepan MMGs with the intention of later sending them off to get "Gunned".

I am SUPER excited to get them in and start listening (even in stock form, for now) and I didn't have all the cash on hand, so I went to the bank and took out a small signature loan today to consolidate some other stuff as well as order the MMGs from Magnepan tomorrow morning. YAAAAYYYY!!!!

I know that may sound a bit silly, but I did the same thing to get my XPA-1s and didn't regret it at all. I refuse to get a credit card, and I feel this method ultimately gives me a better interest rate as well (in the long run). Plus, once it's paid off, I do not have a continuous bill to deal with. It works for me, and allows me to do upgrades like this from time to time.

I also considered that going about it this way I get to keep my B&Ws as well. Just in case I end up getting "cold feet" or not being able to get them gunned at a later date (financial restrictions or whatnot). I could sell the MMGs at a loss, instead of selling my B&Ws at a loss, and the MMGs at a loss. On the other hand, if I decide that this is 100% the way to go, I can sell my B&Ws to pay off my new bank loan. I see it as a win/win!!!

Anyway, I sincerely appreciate everyone's input, positive words, and encouragement through these beginning steps. I feel like I am about to embark on an audio journey that will be satisfying in a way that I too can say I have reached my audio nirvana. In the end, that's why we are all here. For the love of music. You can't put a monetary value on the joy that quality music brings to your life. Sometimes, you just need to "go for it" and in this case, I couldn't be more excited to see where the music journey takes me.

-Dave

[klinemj]

so when I'm ready to date again the system will already be in place. Genius!

Genius indeed, rclark!

And paintedklown...congrats...I am sure you will love your Maggies!

Mark

[GreenKiwi]

paintedklown congrats and exciting. I'd definitely look around at least a bit for some used MMGs. I don't know if you have an active Craigslist around you or not, but I see a pair every week or two. There are probably some on agin and eBay. Figure it's at least worth seeing in the used prices make it worth trying to find used. Particularly if you are planning on gunning them.

[paintedklown]

Thanks Mark.

Well sir, you and I are (kind of) in the same boat as we speak. I just got off the phone with Magnepan, and ordered a set of MMGs with the natural trim and black socks. I went with the natural trim as I like the idea of having all black components, but contrasted by "wood" colored speakers. I also went online to look at images of the MMG with natural trim and black cloth and liked the light/dark contrasting color look of the speakers. I am interested to see what they look like in person.

The lady wasn't sure if they had any with that configuration in stock as her computer was down today. If they do not, she said it would be 2-3 weeks for them to manufacture the new speakers and get them sent out to me.

I am hoping there are some ready to go, so the anticipation doesn't torture me in the meantime. ;D

[rclark]

Oh mine were black socks with oak trim and I loved how they looked before the mod too. Very handsome.

To get max performance out of mine (I did this shamelessly as I knew they'd be modded), I proceed them up on some cardboard boxes to elevate them and then I put shims under the boxes to tilt them forward as far to 90 degrees upright as I could. I bungee corded them to the boxes. In stock form they sound best totally vertical.

I'll post up a pic here of that setup when I get home. I called it the tie fighter because that's what it looked like with a ported 10 smack dab between them. Haha!

Welcome aboard PK!

[paintedklown]

Thanks RClark.

I am trying to imagine your tie fighter MMGs, sounds interesting.

I was under the impression that the little metal "props" on the back of the legs were sufficient to put the Maggies in a vertical position. I find it odd that Magnepan builds them with the stands slanting them back, and then has the built in "props'" to hold them up vertically.

Why wouldn't they just build the stands straight up and down? It doesn't make sense, IMO. Are there any users that actually lave theirs slanted while in use? Are there any benefits to this?

I apologize for all of the noob questions but these are the silly things I contemplate.

Also, while the odds are low, I do know that sometimes things can come from the factory with a flaw or defect, or even shipping damage. Are there any things I should be on the lookout for?

Thanks again guys.

[GreenKiwi]

I love their black with oak and cherry.

Damn... these are tempting...
sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/ele/3208855415.html
3.6s for $1200, just need new socks. (Anyone live around here and need some? )

[jackfish]

I disagree with putting MMGs vertical. Leave 'em alone until you Gunn them.

This helps more than trying to raise them or make them vertical. www.cardas.com/pdf/roomsetup.pdf

[rclark]

well at least try it, it won't hurt anything, in my room, this arrangement was particularly rockin'



ignore the blankets, I was experienting with them to see if I could tame the reflections a bit.

[rclark]

;D

[klinemj]

Paintedklown,

I think Tom Petty wrote this for guys like us (skip the intro add and get to Tom!):

www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMyCa35_mOg

Mark

[rclark]

HAHA , the waiting is also pretty awesome though. You have something awesome to look forward to.

I love buying a piece of audio gear, watching the tracker for all the stops on the way, and then googling that town to learn about it.


btw PK the reason they made them tilt back a bit was to reduce the beaminess, but in the stock model you WANT THAT. I found that aiming them vertical, and having them elevated, increased the fidelty, and knowing that you probably enjoy the same music as me, you might enjoy the greater intensity of the sound.

The Magnestand mod has them tilted back, and it will make sense when you hear it. I don't have any desire to tilt them forward in this state.

[paintedklown]

Uh oh, guys. I had a horrible OCD moment of realization today.

I drug one of my Emotiva Ulrta 12s out of storage in anticipation of getting the MMGs shortly. Man, was it nice to hear bass again, and in the super small room I am currently in, even one of them fills the room with clean, enveloping bass.

Anyway, I was playing around with the settings and decided to engage the "pure direct" mode for music listening, as I always have with my B&W towers...and I realized that the sub is disengaged when running my Yamaha pure direct mode. CRAP!

Now what? My OCD is now kicking into high gear. I have always enjoyed the sound of the Yamaha in pure direct mode, over stereo mode with the tone controls set to 0, and the EQ turned off. Believe it or not, I find that there is indeed audible differences between the two. IMO the pure direct mode sounds a bit fuller, and smoother with pure direct engaged. I did many, many, a/b tests, trying to convince myself that it was only placebo effect, but in the end, it wasn't.

Since Maggies will have to have a subwoofer (especially pre-mod) I am worried about listening to a "tainted" audio signal, and thus perhaps reducing some of the joy I would otherwise have enjoyed. Additionally, the apples to apples comparison to my B&Ws will be invalid.

Anyway, I am just "whining out loud" here, and i am sure once the Maggies arrive, and I get them up and running, I will end up enjoying the maggies regardless.

The XSP-1 cannot get here quick enough.

[Deleted]

PK wrote: "I haven't decided 100% that I am going to do it, the un-involving sound of the maggies with certain genres (that I listen to a lot) are my biggest "sticking point". However, I believe that these negatives can be overcome with the Magnestand mod and adding a couple of Rythmik subs....I am not sure though..."

And there you have it, laddie. Are ya gonna buy the speakers that you don't *really* like in the hopes that you can tweak the sound with add-ons to make it acceptable? Or are you gonna find the speakers that really do it for you and go home satisfied at-once with those?

-RW- I know what I did...

[monkumonku]

Aug 16, 2012 17:42:11 GMT -5 paintedklown said:

Uh oh, guys. I had a horrible OCD moment of realization today.

I drug one of my Emotiva Ulrta 12s out of storage in anticipation of getting the MMGs shortly. Man, was it nice to hear bass again, and in the super small room I am currently in, even one of them fills the room with clean, enveloping bass.

Anyway, I was playing around with the settings and decided to engage the "pure direct" mode for music listening, as I always have with my B&W towers...and I realized that the sub is disengaged when running my Yamaha pure direct mode. CRAP!

Now what? My OCD is now kicking into high gear. I have always enjoyed the sound of the Yamaha in pure direct mode, over stereo mode with the tone controls set to 0, and the EQ turned off. Believe it or not, I find that there is indeed audible differences between the two. IMO the pure direct mode sounds a bit fuller, and smoother with pure direct engaged. I did many, many, a/b tests, trying to convince myself that it was only placebo effect, but in the end, it wasn't.

Since Maggies will have to have a subwoofer (especially pre-mod) I am worried about listening to a "tainted" audio signal, and thus perhaps reducing some of the joy I would otherwise have enjoyed. Additionally, the apples to apples comparison to my B&Ws will be invalid.

Anyway, I am just "whining out loud" here, and i am sure once the Maggies arrive, and I get them up and running, I will end up enjoying the maggies regardless.

The XSP-1 cannot get here quick enough.

Maybe you just need to dial in your sub more... the adjustments are not optimal and that's what is causing your displeasure? It's probably not balanced with the main speakers.

[paintedklown]

@ RLW: I have already ordered the MMGs, and I do plan to get the Magnestand modification done, when the finances allow.

I did keep my B&Ws as a "fail safe" however, so if I ultimately decide that the Maggie sound isn't for me, then I can skip getting the mod done, sell them at a small loss to go back to my 684s, and not be too worse for the wear.

I felt that the $600 investment was worth the risk, as the things they do well, they do in a way that I found to be purely "intoxicating". I felt that I at least owed it to myself to give the stock MMGs a real shot after the audition I had the other day.

If their shortcomings can be lessened (or removed) by the mod, then I may just find my audio nirvana. On the other hand, if I find myself really annoyed by their shortcomings after living with them, I will accept that is a limitation of the planar technology. I don't expect the mod to be a night and day difference, I expect the mod to make their shortcomings not so glaring.

With all things audio, there are compromises, unless you have the funds to get what you want regardless of cost...I don't have the funds.

@ Monkumonku: It's not the bass performance, or the blending that I am worried about. It's the fact that I cannot run my Yamaha in Pure Direct mode and still use a subwoofer. I don't even have the Maggies yet, I was just playing around, came to this realization, and had a "bummer" moment.

Regardless, the XSP-1 will solve the issue, and I have already been planning on getting it either way. This is just even more motivation to do so.

[GreenKiwi]

Couldn't you use pure direct mode and just hook the sub up to the LR pre-outs?