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Post by Boomzilla on Jun 18, 2020 2:42:42 GMT -5
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Post by audiobill on Jun 18, 2020 5:37:39 GMT -5
Nice job, Glenn, very well done.
Bill
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Post by tropicallutefisk on Jun 18, 2020 5:43:06 GMT -5
Well done review. I don't need another pair of speakers, but your thorough review had me considering a pair for my office. Alas, I plan on staying married so I quickly pushed that thought out of my head.
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Post by willcycle on Jun 18, 2020 7:34:20 GMT -5
I have the LRS's predecessors the MMGs, which are very similar as they use the same qusi-ribbon tweeter but the MMGs have planar magnetic bass (wires instead of foil). We are in agreement about the treble sounding a little elevated in level and using a resistor to tame it. You can experiment with .66 ohms by paralleling the one and two ohm resistors. I found this value best.
The included sand resistors are terrible. I recommend doing what i did and replace them with non-inductive wire wounds.
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Post by jackfish on Jun 18, 2020 9:55:31 GMT -5
There is a fourth option for bass extension with Magnepan speakers: Rythmik Direct Servo subwoofers. The only subwoofer for $1000 or less that can keep up with Magnepans.
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Post by Boomzilla on Feb 28, 2022 7:56:36 GMT -5
There is a fourth option for bass extension with Magnepan speakers: Rythmik Direct Servo subwoofers. The only subwoofer for $1000 or less that can keep up with Magnepans. "The only"? Really? I'd say that there are probably more than one company's subs that can "keep up with" Maggies in terms of speed (not to disparage the Rythmik products). |
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Post by audiosyndrome on Feb 28, 2022 10:26:58 GMT -5
Very nice review Boom. Good job.
Russ
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Post by fbczar on Feb 28, 2022 15:10:42 GMT -5
There is a fourth option for bass extension with Magnepan speakers: Rythmik Direct Servo subwoofers. The only subwoofer for $1000 or less that can keep up with Magnepans. "The only"? Really? I'd say that there are probably more than one company's subs that can "keep up with" Maggies in terms of speed (not to disparage the Rythmik products). I think it is fair to say an open baffle sub has more in common with a Magneplanar that other types of subs so mating them may be easier. Of course, they probably cannot play as low as a top notch sealed sub. I doubt ported subs are a good choice for Maggie’s, but some sealed subs can definitely do the job. Not all sealed subs have equal transient response, distortion levels, etc. so some are obviously a better choice to use with Maggies than others. By the way, nice review of the LRS. |
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Post by Boomzilla on Feb 28, 2022 16:19:33 GMT -5
First, thanks to you all for the kudos on the Maggie review.
Second, in my experience it isn't predictive to break subwoofers into "ported / sealed / passive radiator / or any of the previous with servo." I think, instead, that subs can be designed in any combination of those choices to provide very fast response.
But the thing is, there's no free lunch. Every design is a compromise between a lot of factors including:
Cost
Size
Ultimate decibel output
Distortion
Bandwidth
Perceived speed & control
Flatness of frequency response
Efficiency of the driver
Power available from the amp
Oh, and did I mention Cost?
I generally find it more productive (and predictive) to break subwoofers up by their intended use. My two (very broad) categories are: Home theater subs and music subs.
Generally, HT subs (and I'm REALLY generalizing here, so give me some rope) are:
* Less expensive
* Designed to play more loudly
* Less flat (they use cabinet resonances and/or passive radiator resonances mostly to provide more decibel output)
* They're more likely to ring after the signal stops and can sound "slower"
* And they often go less deep in frequency response
This is a VERY popular combination for movies - Almost every sub by a major speaker manufacturer (Klipsch, JBL, etc.) follows this recipe.
Music subs are far, far fewer in number, often cost more, and usually don't play as (ultimately) loudly as HT subs. But in exchange, you often get:
* More articulate (faster) bass with less distortion
* A smoother frequency response
* Sometimes lower frequency extension
Now this is painting with a BROAD brush, and there are exceptions to both categories, but I've seen sealed HT subs and ported music subs before. And unfortunately, most manufacturers are quite sly about not quite giving the consumer enough information to really tell what kind of sub they're actually offering. Subs are, more often than not, the proverbial "pig in a poke."
Cheers - Boom
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Post by jackfish on Mar 1, 2022 9:12:06 GMT -5
There is a fourth option for bass extension with Magnepan speakers: Rythmik Direct Servo subwoofers. The only subwoofer for $1000 or less that can keep up with Magnepans. "The only"? Really? I'd say that there are probably more than one company's subs that can "keep up with" Maggies in terms of speed (not to disparage the Rythmik products). Wow, I’m surprised that went unchallenged for so long! However, with the price condition, I think it was true at the time. Alas, the Rythmik F12 is now over $1000, but the budget L12 is still $629 and is an amazing performer with Maggies. Heck, buy two! |
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Post by aldebaran on Mar 1, 2022 9:15:54 GMT -5
Nice review! I owned a MMG from 2001 to 2021. When I first got it, I didn't like how it sounded and was thinking about returning them. But after the break in period, it sounded better and better. I had to relearn to listen to music.
After twenty years with the MMG, I finally purchased my 'dream' speakers, 3.7i's. Again, didn't like how they sounded at first, but after the break in period, they sounded so much better.
I supplement the low-end with a pair of sealed SVS subs. They do a very good job of keeping up with the Maggies.
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cawgijoe
Emo VIPs 
"When you come to a fork in the road, take it." - Yogi Berra
Posts: 5,033
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Post by cawgijoe on Mar 1, 2022 9:25:38 GMT -5
"The only"? Really? I'd say that there are probably more than one company's subs that can "keep up with" Maggies in terms of speed (not to disparage the Rythmik products). Wow, I’m surprised that went unchallenged for so long! However, with the price condition, I think it was true at the time. Alas, the Rythmik F12 is now over $1000, but the budget L12 is still $629 and is an amazing performer with Maggies. Heck, buy two! Yep...prices on audio gear are going up it seems across the board. Heck, everything is going up except my salary! |
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Post by pallpoul on Mar 1, 2022 9:33:45 GMT -5
So, I received a pair the other day. I really forgot I ordered it back in the summer of last year.
I am experimenting with powering them; Any particular recommendations you guys have to power them? I'd appreciate any input.
So far, I've tried it with Rotel 1572, Yamaha A-S2100, and was wondering about the XPA-2, any thoughts?
Whap specifics in an amplifier should I be looking for; I saw on UT a reviewer recommending a " high current" amplifier.
ty
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Post by aldebaran on Mar 1, 2022 10:24:59 GMT -5
So, I received a pair the other day. I really forgot I ordered it back in the summer of last year. I am experimenting with powering them; Any particular recommendations you guys have to power them? I'd appreciate any input. So far, I've tried it with Rotel 1572, Yamaha A-S2100, and was wondering about the XPA-2, any thoughts? Whap specifics in an amplifier should I be looking for; I saw on UT a reviewer recommending a " high current" amplifier. ty The XPA-2 should be good enough. I had a XPA-2 Gen 3 powering my Maggies and they were adequate. My interpretation of 'high current' amp is how the Wattage should double when the Impedance is halved. That would be my indication that the amp is 'high current'. P = I*I*R, There is no current restriction in the circuitry. |
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Post by tropicallutefisk on Mar 1, 2022 10:29:04 GMT -5
Nice review! I owned a MMG from 2001 to 2021. When I first got it, I didn't like how it sounded and was thinking about returning them. But after the break in period, it sounded better and better. I had to relearn to listen to music. After twenty years with the MMG, I finally purchased my 'dream' speakers, 3.7i's. Again, didn't like how they sounded at first, but after the break in period, they sounded so much better. I supplement the low-end with a pair of sealed SVS subs. They do a very good job of keeping up with the Maggies. Yep, maggies sound like ss till they break in. I first listened to maggies in a dealer show room and was blown away. I could not believe what I was hearing for the price, so I promptly ordered the 1.6QRs. They were two weeks out and I was anxiously awaiting the call to come pick them up. When the day came I rushed down to the dealer to get them. The dealer was an hour and half away, so three hours plus round trip. It was late but I absolutely had to set them up. What a disappointment. I went to bed wondering if I had made a mistake. Then even the next day I noticed an improvement. I'd say it took almost 100 hours for full break in though. |
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Post by pallpoul on Mar 5, 2022 0:50:09 GMT -5
My experience so far with the LRS's.
So, I powered my new LRS using my Rotel 1572 MKII (200 WPC at 4 Ohms), for a few days... Not the sound I was expecting from multiple reviewers including our one and only Boom's excellent review.
Yet I kept playing music, hoping that "they will eventually open up with time" which never happened despite playing nonstop at moderate level for few days.
Then I hooked up my Yamaha A-S2100, and they sounded much better, so great I thought, and kept on listening.
Today, I hooked them up to my PS Audio M-700 mono blocks, and just like that, WOW.... I was really shocked by the sound That the LRS delivered (w/o subwoofer). Wow. just wow. I am only using my PT-100 as dac/pre.
It took 700 WPC into 4 ohms, mono blocks costing 3 times the speaker's price, to make those babies live up to the hype & to my expectations, but the sound is really, really breathtaking.
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Post by selind40 on Mar 5, 2022 1:27:36 GMT -5
My experience so far with the LRS's. So, I powered my new LRS using my Rotel 1572 MKII (200 WPC at 4 Ohms), for a few days... Not the sound I was expecting from multiple reviewers including our one and only Boom's excellent review. Yet I kept playing music, hoping that "they will eventually open up with time" which never happened despite playing nonstop at moderate level for few days. Then I hooked up my Yamaha A-S2100, and they sounded much better, so great I thought, and kept on listening. Today, I hooked them up to my PS Audio M-700 mono blocks, and just like that, WOW.... I was really shocked by the sound That the LRS delivered (w/o subwoofer). Wow. just wow. I am only using my PT-100 as dac/pre. It took 700 WPC into 4 ohms, mono blocks costing 3 times the speaker's price, to make those babies live up to the hype & to my expectations, but the sound is really, really breathtaking. So the amp was the thing....I wonder what they would sound like PA-1's or my old crusty XPA-2 gen1?  Is it worth a few bucks to find out.......stay tuned  |
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Post by audiobill on Mar 5, 2022 6:17:47 GMT -5
Paul - some observations on placement:
Optimal is 5' out from front wall for optimal bass and front wall reflection (10ms round trip), but you can start at 3'.
As to toe in,
Think of it this way - with tweeters in or out, start by describing an arc from your listening position across the panels for equidistance across their faces. (you can do this with a string or laser measurer). And you do have to measure for this exercise.
At this point, you will have some toe-in.
Then, "pivot" each speaker on its center to bring the bass side of the panel about 2" closer to you than the tweeter side.
Visualized this way, you'll see that if the tweeters were on the inside to start with, they would need more "toe-in" from their starting position, and if the tweeters were on the outside the speakers would need to be "toed-out" from their starting position, hence almost parallel to the front wall .
The trick is to first establish the equidistant starting position to each end of a speaker. When done, remeasure to confirm the 2" difference - it matters.
I have a 1-ohm resistor in line with my maggie 3.6r- better in my room, but also increases the apparent level of the bass relative to treble of course. And with the 3.6/Rs I feel no need to supplement the bass.
Wendell Diller of Magnepan and Audio Classics swear by them, and feel that without them the tweeter is too hot - but again your room dictates.
Bill
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Post by Boomzilla on Mar 5, 2022 15:05:16 GMT -5
Magnepan, more than any other brand, IMHO, seems to respond very positively to amplifier headroom. A sensitive Tekton Pendragon, for instance, will sing with less than 10 watts. Even the LRS Maggie, however, won't come out and jump without 10x more available power.
From what I've read, the Maggie line responds very well to lots of TUBE watts (expensive, by definition). High powered solid-state stuff can suffice (particularly when paired with a tube preamp). In fact, if I DID have Maggies, I'd even consider throwing an inexpensive "tube buffer" into the signal chain. A cheap experiment, and one that might offer that elusive "Maggie Magic" that so many reviewers crow about.
Cheers - Boom
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Post by audiobill on Mar 5, 2022 15:57:29 GMT -5
IMO, the room and placement are key. High volume rock need not apply; acoustic jazz is sweet….and great with tubes.
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Is it worth a few bucks to find out.......stay tuned 
