MMG Purchase?

[lewburgh]

Thanks for all the great info everybody!

I am weighing my options and thinking of maybe waiting a bit longer and saving some more cash for the MG12s or 1.6s. I am feeling that maybe the room maybe to large for the MMGs and I would like to avoid buying a new sub if possible. I'm not really a bass guy so I think I might be able to get by without a sub with the MG12s or 1.6s. I'll be sure to let you all know when I make my decision.

Any suggestions for speakers cables for the maggies?

[Florian]

Yep, DIY ribbon speaker cables :-)

[lewburgh]

I found a guy on Ebay selling a pair of Magnepan MG 1.4s
What do you guys think of these?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...0074&rd=1&rd=1

[Feanor]

Thanks for all the great info everybody!

I am weighing my options and thinking of maybe waiting a bit longer and saving some more cash for the MG12s or 1.6s. I am feeling that maybe the room maybe to large for the MMGs and I would like to avoid buying a new sub if possible. I'm not really a bass guy so I think I might be able to get by without a sub with the MG12s or 1.6s. I'll be sure to let you all know when I make my decision.

Any suggestions for speakers cables for the maggies?

The MG 1.6QR's are much more viable without a sub than the MMGs. Furthermore I advise that you ought to try them with your existing sub. For example, I use my 1.6's with a PSB Subsonic 5; I run the 1.6's full range and the PSB with a 50 Hz low-pass. The integration is remarkably good. In my case the sub is only providing the bottom octave.

[markw]

I may be repeating what others said and that's not to be taken as a slight to them.

If you've never experienced them before, then MMG's are a fine way to see if you like 'em or not. They are not everyone's cup of tea.

The MMG's are too small to fill that room with satisfying levels. But, they are excellent to see ifthe planar sound ids for you. Try 'the MMG.s and, if you like the planar sound and can live with their unique needs, trade 'em in for at least the 1.6's. If not, get your money back.

Maggies need room. A few feet away from all walls is recommended and it takes a few days of fiddling to find their sweet spot.

And, while you can get sound with a little power, the more the merrier, particularly when talking 1.6's and up. For MMG's, the receiver will most likely suffice, but for larger maggies, I'd suggest a hefty power amp.

Their bass is different from monkey coffins. You may think them lacking and a sub may be in order. I use the same method Feanor does with a Velo VA-1210

But, if you can live with' em, your tastes in music will be well represented, IMNSHO.

[lewburgh]

Thanks again everyone for your insight!

Would I be able to use my Velodyne DSP12 sub with the MMGs if I were to try them out for the trial period? I know that it may likely lag behind some with the music, but I plan on setting the low pass filter at 50HZ. I am currently using the sub for my HT set up and am using LFE. Do they make a switcher so that I can use the sub for my HT and two channel audio set up? Or should I run speaker cables throught the left and right channels of the sub from the Onkyo then out to the maggies. Can I use the LFE and sub cable for HT and at the same time run speaker cable for the left and right channels through the sub to the MMGs?

HT
Harman Kardon AVR525
Samsung DVD HD-850
Toshiba 51H84 HDTV
XBOX 360

Acoustech HT-75 fronts
Acoustech HT-65 center
Athena AS-R1 rears
Velodyne DPS-12

Music
Onkyo TX-8522
Marantz CD 5001
MMGs, MG-12s?

Canare 4S11 and Belden 5000 series speaker cables
Audioquest Copperhead interconnects
ATS Acoustic Sound Panels

[Carl Reid]

Thanks again everyone for your insight!

Would I be able to use my Velodyne DSP12 sub with the MMGs if I were to try them out for the trial period? I know that it may likely lag behind some with the music, but I plan on setting the low pass filter at 50HZ. I am currently using the sub for my HT set up and am using LFE. Do they make a switcher so that I can use the sub for my HT and two channel audio set up? Or should I run speaker cables throught the left and right channels of the sub from the Onkyo then out to the maggies. Can I use the LFE and sub cable for HT and at the same time run speaker cable for the left and right channels through the sub to the MMGs?

HT
Harman Kardon AVR525
Samsung DVD HD-850
Toshiba 51H84 HDTV
XBOX 360

Acoustech HT-75 fronts
Acoustech HT-65 center
Athena AS-R1 rears
Velodyne DPS-12

Music
Onkyo TX-8522
Marantz CD 5001
MMGs, MG-12s?

Canare 4S11 and Belden 5000 series speaker cables
Audioquest Copperhead interconnects
ATS Acoustic Sound Panels

First off let me give this little disclaimer: I am Not a Planar Guy....

But I did audition the MG-12s recently... and though they were not the right choice for my taste in music for various reasons.... Lack of bass response was not one the reasons.

I found the Bass from the MG12s to be clean and fast (better than bookshelves but not quite as deep as floorstanders, well large floorstanders anyway)... The bass would probably be satisfactory for most people who aren't obssessed with Bass...

So my point is that you may not even need a sub with the the MG12s..... No idea about the MMGs though...

[Florian]

Buy the subwoofer, cut the maggie off at 70Hz and watch its dynamic power grow. The Velodyne is better in the bass then Maggies, cleaner and will play much much lower. Its not about speed, its about the room interaction and distortion levels of the subwoofer which counts for integration. The Velodyne and a 1.6 that is cut off below 60Hz or so can be a giant killer.

[lewburgh]

Thanks Florian!
I own the Velodyne DSP12 if that is the Velodyne you are talking about. Keep watching Ebay for MG12s or MG1.6. Found the MMGs for 200. Tempting for that price but am hoping I will come across MG12s or MG1.6 somewhere. The Onkyo TX-8522 and Marantz CD5001 will integrate nicely with the maggies? Anything else I should be aware of or think about purchasing to make the maggies sing? Stands maybe?

[markw]

The Velodyne and a 1.6 that is cut off below 60Hz or so can be a giant killer.

That's exactly what I used when I had the sub on the stereo. Lately it's been transferred to full time HT use, and I rarely miss it with the 1.6's. Funny how that happens...

But remember, I feed the 1.6's a LOT more power than a receiver can deliver. Maggie like watts.