Maggie update

#31

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3/7/05 at 8:20am

AlanZ
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Hey 'M'......don't tell Magnepan what you're doing.....from what I understand, they've worked hard to be able to get the frequency response of their center speakers down to where they are lol

"Come on you Fockers....CONGA!!!"
-Dustin Hoffman as 'Bernie Focker'

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#32

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3/7/05 at 1:40pm

Alan M
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Howdy Z,

Actually,Magnepan's the one that sort of ,maybe,almost ,gave me the idea.When I was talking to Wendall about the MMGC,he suggested I look into the ICBM made for Maggies.After doing some research on the Maggie version,I found that the xover values are doubled for Maggies.If,just to use a figure the ICBM is set to 100 for the center,its real xover is at 200,etc.etc.The ICBM sends Bass to the Mains rather then the sub until it reaches the Main's xover then gets sent to the sub.

This is what gave me the idea to try ,120 and 150 as a xover for the center.The ICBM,standard version starts at $250.Before I spent the money,I figured I'd try changing the xover,and woot,I'm a happy camper.

#33

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3/7/05 at 3:30pm

AlanZ
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'M': Well, in that case never mind lol. That guy is pretty cool....he seems like the workaholic type to me, though.....all business. I wsa talking to him about the MMG-Ws for surround and how Magnepan said they were horizontally mountable. I thought that this meant there ws some way to mount them horizontally on like a side wall as the side surrounds.....what they actually meant, though, was mounting them from the ceiling. So I told the guy that I was going to mount them about three feet down from the ceiling, horizontally, aiming slightly above the seating position. The only trick is how to secure it against gravity at the 30 degree angle. He said he'd never tried mounting them like that and to get back to him with the results. I actually put my Ws vertically in back for surrounds, but I'm going to grab another pair to go to 7.1.....and those I'll mount as I described. I have a pretty good idea how I'll do it using some industrial strength velcro squares. Anyway, I'm babbling away......sorry lol.

Nice catch on the crossover thing!

"Come on you Fockers....CONGA!!!"
-Dustin Hoffman as 'Bernie Focker'

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#34

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3/7/05 at 6:03pm

Alan M
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Hi Z,

Thanks,it sounds good to my ears and,I guess thats what counts.

Great idea for an extra pair of W's.Please let me know how it works for you.I'd be interested in doing this also.

#35

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3/7/05 at 6:36pm

Dean_M
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Z, I'm also mounting my surrounds horizontally from the ceiling. To keep them at a 30 degree angle, I'm using some small hooks that came with anchors for mounting into sheetrock that I got from Home Depot, some small Xmas tree ornament hooks that I had lying around, and some monofilament fishing line. I installed the hooks from HD into the ceiling, tied a length of monofilament to it (after measuring to see what I would need for 30 degrees), then tied the ornament hook to the other end which I hooked under the edge of the wood trim at the corners of the speaker. It works well for me, and I can barely notice the hooks and line.

#36

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3/8/05 at 6:47am

AlanZ
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Dean, here I was thinking I had this original idea, and there you are having already done it lol.......oh well....at least it works!

My plan is very similar to yours....I was just going to sew the fishing line into the top portion of a velcro square, one for each corner of the speaker to be supported. From there, I'd basically just secure it on the wall as you'd hang a picture, just with a little more slack in the line to get it to a 30 degree angle. I'm glad to know that a similar idea is workign for you.....now I'm excited to get it going

"Come on you Fockers....CONGA!!!"
-Dustin Hoffman as 'Bernie Focker'

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#37

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3/8/05 at 9:30am

Parker Clack
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I have always wanted to own Maggies. There is nothing that is quite like the almost etherial sound that they put out. They "breathe" music into a room. I am envious of all of you that own these fine speakers.

Other than not being able to afford them I wouldn't be able to change my name ot Alan either.

Can you imagine a 10.1 set up with Maggies all the way around the room with a 200 watt amp set up with each speaker? Talk about "being there".

Parker

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#38

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3/8/05 at 10:02am

AlanZ
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Parker:

That would definitely be a set up that I'd like to hear! The whole idea of 'being there' is the quality that has allowed me to really become fond of them with HT, just as it has for music. I truly think - now that I own a pair - that people who say they are not good for HT must prefer movies that tend to be more 'in your face' with special effects and such. I know this is a generalization, so forgive me......but a lot of folks seem to like their HTs to be massive SPL machines. There is nothing wrong with that....don't get me wrong. Obviously we all have differing tastes. But the appeal of the Maggies is just as you said.....being there. And what more important quality could a film possess, than to allow you to become involved in the film as if you are actually there?

The Maggie website talks about how their speakers have a seductive quality when it comes to HT......it's very, very true

The funny thing is that I used to bounce from speaker to speaker every few months thinking I was getting closer and closer to what I was looking for. In reality, I was getting closer.....but what I really wanted was for the audio to make the experience more real. I could never really put my finger on it until I got these things fired up in my HT.

"Come on you Fockers....CONGA!!!"
-Dustin Hoffman as 'Bernie Focker'

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#39

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3/8/05 at 11:12am

Alan Pummill
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Packy and the "OTHER" Alans,

I am so torn between going to the hilt with a state of the art 2 channel music only system that will eventually have MG3.6R maggies, or using my existing MG1.6Q/R's, MGMC1's, and MGCC3 speakers in an above average HT system. I can't afford both!!

Before we moved in to the new house, those maggies along with my PC-Ultra and PRO-620HD Elite made for one hell of a HT experience. I now have the SVS and Elite in the family room along with 5 new 600 series B&W speakers and it makes for a very nice HT experience. My 1.6's are downstairs in what will soon become a music and/or HT room that will probably be built within a month or so. I have added a MartinLogan Depth sub to my 2 big maggies for a very nice 2 channel experience!! The rest of my maggies are packed away and not being used. In fact, I have them for sale.

Someone needs to help decide what is my next step!! High end 2 channel or above average HT....and the high end 2 channel can come later?? I want it all, and I want it now, but, I have champagne taste on a beer budget!!

Parker...welcome to the Alan club!!

SLEEPY AL
MAGGIE MAGIC!!

#40

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3/8/05 at 12:59pm

AlanZ
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Hey 'P'......."beer budget" my ass lol YOu've got more gear in your place right now than I've ever owned total!

Seriously, I'm interested to see what you end up doing.....I imagine those 3.6s with the true ribbon tweeter probably sound pretty amazing with music. I know you aren't thinking of them for HT, but I do remember reading a professional review recently (I'm sure it can easily be found at ecousitcs.com) where he had 3.6s, 1.6s, and a CC3 in a 5.1 configuration and he was pretty excited about it. Not trying to make your decision any harder, but MAN would an HT with 3.6s as the anchor sound SWEET! lol

"Come on you Fockers....CONGA!!!"
-Dustin Hoffman as 'Bernie Focker'

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#41

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3/8/05 at 4:12pm

Alan M
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I guess, I'm the last of the Alan's to respond,lol.O,and BTW,I think your an honorary Alan member Parker

I would agree,theres a "you are there" quality to Maggies that I just havent been able to achieve in my HT with any other speaker.The openness or airy quality of Maggies adds so much to surround,It truly enhances the effect.

Hey P,
Tough decision you have,but I'm sure ,you'll be thrilled either way you go(wished I had the same problem

)

#42

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3/8/05 at 4:25pm

AlanZ
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Do you other Alans ever use your Maggies with television? I was so damn excited during the superbowl, because I SWEAR these things bring new life to tv programming. Honestly, with my old Paradigms I hardly ever ran them with tv......sure, it sounded better, but nothing really special. With Fox especially, if there is some sort of live show like spor ts or even American Idol (:b), it really turns it into a live experience. I was so excited about how the superbowl sounded that I was actually posting on the Maggie forum like an idiot during halftime lol. Maybe I'm just easily amused, but to me the Maggies do for tv audio what my HDTV cable box and tv do for video, baby!

"Come on you Fockers....CONGA!!!"
-Dustin Hoffman as 'Bernie Focker'

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#43

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3/8/05 at 4:36pm

Alan M
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HI Z,
Do I use my Maggies for TV? Thats the only way I watch TV.Although I dont watch TV often,shows like csi,as an example are broadcast here locally in HD and DD 5.1.
The switch in back of my rptv to turn off its speakers has never been in the on position.Its going on 2 years now.

#44

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3/8/05 at 6:27pm

Alan Pummill
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AlanZ,

Don't feel :b all by yourself. The wife and I watch each and every American Idol show!!

SLEEPY AL
MAGGIE MAGIC!!

#45

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3/8/05 at 6:32pm

AlanZ
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Well good, I feel better then lol......I admit, that show is one of my guilty pleasures

"Come on you Fockers....CONGA!!!"
-Dustin Hoffman as 'Bernie Focker'

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#46

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3/9/05 at 4:37am

Dean_M
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Quote:
"Dean, here I was thinking I had this original idea, and there you are having already done it lol.......oh well....at least it works! My plan is very similar to yours...."

Great minds think alike!

#47

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3/9/05 at 4:50am

Dean_M
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Z, I use my Maggies for everything, but I don't watch a lot of television, and only if it's HD.
I find myself listening to the Maggies more than I ever listened to my old speakers. It seems to me that I'm hearing things that I never heard on my old set-up, and I'm hearing everything in a new way. To me, the light, airy quality of these speakers makes listening so much more pleasurable than my old cones. Before I bought them, I was somewhat concerned because of what I've read of planars lacking the dynamics of cone speakers. For all I know that may be true, but my old ears can't tell the difference. Pink Floyd and Zappa sound amazing to me on these things.

#48

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3/9/05 at 5:15am

Dean_M
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AlanP, I am probably committing heresy by suggesting this

, but how about a high end HT system that you can also use for high end two channel? If I had a large enough room to use, I would definitely go with the 3.6s, 1.6s, and CC3 for HT.
How do you like the ML sub? Do you think it would do well serving double duty for music and HT? I'm using the SVS PB12-Plus/2, but it's overkill for the size of the room that it's in and for the volumes that I listen to things. In hindsight, I'm wishing that I had gone with a single like the PB12-Ultra instead. But sometimes it's just impossible for me not to succumb to the idea that bigger is better.

#49

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3/9/05 at 5:28am

AlanZ
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Dean:

I know what you mean about the Maggies for tv......I've only been using them for HD/DD broadcasts, too......it's quite spectacular

As far as the dynamics of the Maggies vs. other speakers, I honestly can't really tell either since I don't have them side by side. All I know is that the other day I put my MMGs through the Saving Private Ryan test (which is basically the first 25 mins, in addition to the tank scene at the end of the film) and it passed with flying colors. I had to keep checking myself to make sure I hadn't taken a bullet

I think everything is a trade-off when it comes to speakers. And at least for me, I'll take the 'presence' of the Maggies over whatever I'm losing by not having a cone speaker in its place.

"Come on you Fockers....CONGA!!!"
-Dustin Hoffman as 'Bernie Focker'

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#50

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3/9/05 at 7:20am

DaveHo
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I know this goes against the Maggie philosophy, but just how loud can you get a pair of MMGs to go if using a sub? I can't help it, but I like to crank it up now and then, and with my Paradigm V2 100's & SVS PB12-Plus/2 on 2-ch material, I have no problem hitting 105-110 Db peaks at my seat. Will the Maggies play that loud? My amp is an Acurus A200x3 which is rated at 350W/ch into a 4 ohm load.

-Dave

#51

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3/9/05 at 7:40am

AlanZ
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Dave:

Nice system, bro......I had v.2 100s and a PB12-ISD/2 in my house for about a year and a half.....loved it!

I can't answer your question in terms of output, but I can say that 1) even these MMGs play pretty damn loud with both music and HT, but 2) if you're wanting a system that is primarily geared toward pumping out the decibels, you're probably better off with the v.2s. This is only my opinion, of course.....but Maggies are going to impress more with their 'presence' and detail than they will their overall output. That said, I have only run my Maggies w/out a sub, so I'm sure that makes a difference - especially with that absolute beast of a sub that is the SVS PB12-plus/2

Anyway, Magnepan does have an in-home trial on their MMGs.....and you definitely have the right kind of amp in your system already. But if I had to guess, I'd say that in terms of SPL, the v.2 Paradigms are going to best the Maggies.

"Come on you Fockers....CONGA!!!"
-Dustin Hoffman as 'Bernie Focker'

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#52

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3/9/05 at 8:08am

Alan M
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Howdy Dave,

I'd have to agree with "Z".I would think your V.2's will out spl the Maggies.With that said ,I'll also say the MMG's will play loud enough in my 18x12x8 HT to damage my hearing if that was my goal,lol..I'm only pushing 165w/c@4ohms with my amp.

#53

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3/9/05 at 8:12am

AlanZ
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You know, 'M', the three of us aren't only Alans, we're also all three of us Outlaws

"Come on you Fockers....CONGA!!!"
-Dustin Hoffman as 'Bernie Focker'

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#54

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3/9/05 at 8:24am

Parker Clack
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Hey. I am an Outlaw too. My 950 and 770 kick some serious ass.

I will remember to this day sitting in a high end electronics shop that had a pair of Maggies (sorry I don't remember the model number it was about 10 years ago) dialed in with a chair in the middle of the room.

I had them put on Karajan conducting the Berlin Philharmonic with his cover of Beethoven's Ninth. I closed my eyes and suddenly I was in that concert hall. I literally cried it was so beautiful. I also remember that the speakers seemed to be taking a breath every once in awhile to put own more. Every note covered from the woodwinds to the stings to the chorus was as the music was talking just to you. Isn't that what you come away with when you go to a concert or a play?

What I also took away from that experience is that while conventional speakers sound fantastic with the volume turned up the maggies were a huge impact at a volume that you could actually talk to the person next to you.

There are few things in our world of speakers, amp, preamps, etc. that make the hair on the back of your hair stand up when you audition them. Those Maggies did just that.

Thanks for the honorany membership. So it P and the 3 Alan's. I like it!

Parker

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#55

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3/9/05 at 8:25am

Dean_M
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Quote:
"You know, 'M', the three of us aren't only Alans, we're also all three of us Outlaws"

I was enjoying this thread until the bigotry of name-ism reared its ugly head. I'm being unfairly discriminated against, so I'm calling Al Sharpt... Oh crap, nevermind.

#56

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3/9/05 at 8:31am

AlanZ
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Damn, listening to Parker talk about Magnepans is making me want to go out and buy a pair right now! Wait a minute......

Dean, sorry about the discrimination thing......we'll have to incorporate some sort of additional recognition for the non-Alan minorities

Though we have to give Parker whatever he wants, since he's the boss

"Come on you Fockers....CONGA!!!"
-Dustin Hoffman as 'Bernie Focker'

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#57

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3/9/05 at 9:50am

Dean_M
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Yes, we must all be nice to Peter.
Although I'm not an Alan, I am an Outlaw.

#58

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3/9/05 at 9:56am

AlanZ
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Wow, look at all the OUtlaws

You have to admit, they make a pretty solid product. I know the 950 is already outdated to a degree because of the newer processing formats, but there's no way I'm going to part with mine any time soon. I love my M200s, but that 300wpc multi-channel amp they have coming out is going to be very tempting if I get bigger Maggies.

"Come on you Fockers....CONGA!!!"
-Dustin Hoffman as 'Bernie Focker'

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#59

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3/9/05 at 10:28am

Alan Pummill
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My Outlaw 950 and Earthquake Cinenova Grande 5 amp does a descent job with the maggies, but I have been hanging around a hi-end shop here in Cincinnati, and I know there is much better to be had!! If I go hi-end 2 channel, which is where I'm leaning, I will be selling my 950 and Cinenova. There is already people in our local HTF group that have dibs on both of these items.

Right now, I am using 4 channels of my amp to biamp the 1.6's. (5 x 300wpc @ 8 ohms, 5 x 600wpc @ 4 ohms = maggies) But I think the weakest link in my system right now is the 950. Now don't get me wrong, it does what it does well, but it isn't the greatest 2 channel processor.

If I go all the way up to the MG3.6R's, which is where I want to go, I will want a more refined preamp and amp!! But first on the list is to get my room built so that I have a descent place to listen to music!! Boy is my mouth watering to get a truly hi-end sound system in my house!!

SLEEPY AL
MAGGIE MAGIC!!

#60

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3/9/05 at 10:36am

AlanZ
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'P':

No doubt, if I were moving up to the 3.6s, I'd upgrade the pre-amp too. As much as I love the 950, it would not suffice for a strictly 2-channel setup. On the other hand, if I were going to use my 3.6s for HT (!!), there's no way I'd part with it. I'd just add a nice stereo preamp with an HT bypass for 2-channel use. I've seen that idea thrown around here a lot, and now that I have Maggies I've been tempted to pick up a nice used piece on audiogon or something. I honestly would see little point in upgrading the 950 if you were primarily an HT person, though......unless you were going to spend some serious cash.

Just my $.02

"Come on you Fockers....CONGA!!!"
-Dustin Hoffman as 'Bernie Focker'

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