Upgrade MMG to 1.6qr?

[Mike Anderson]

OK, I've had my MMGs for a coupla months now, and I really, really love them! Music sounds so lush and gorgeous, it's really made music a central part of my life again.

So now I'm bitten by the bug. And I'm wondering, when my 6-month period is up, should I trade them up for the big boys, the 1.6qr's?

I've read most of the reviews and they're all glowing, so I'm really tempted. But the thing is this: I don't really have a lot of flexibility in terms of positioning the speakers.

Everybody says positioning is critical. But my room is only about 15' wide (20' deep), and it doubles as my living room (as well as an entranceway), so the speakers can't really sit several feet away from the walls. It would just be way way too awkward and my wife wouldn't put up with it.

With my MMGs, I compensate for this by putting some high grade 4" Auralex acoustic foam (I happened to have some sitting around from my recording days) on the walls behind and next to the speaker. That makes the sound very tight, and I really like the way this sounds. Even so, I know the room has some "issues" on the bass end (there's a node at 65 hz that I'm having a hard time getting rid of).

The amp is a Musical Fidelity A3.2 dual mono integrated amp. I'm also using a Dayton 10" Titanic subwoofer from the kit, which I like very much.

So, would I be wasting my money on the 1.6qr's without the ability to position them optimally, in a dedicated listening room? Should I just stick with my MMGs and wait for another day to buy the 1.6qr's, when I can give them the space they require?

Or am I going to be just as blown away as I was when I first got the MMGs?

[Mike Anderson]

BTW, here's what one of the MMGs looks like, parked in the corner with the acoustic foam:

[GMichael]

Very nice Mike.

I'm sure a few planner experts will be along soon to answer your questions. Keep us updated.

[Feanor]

There is a very substantial improvement with the 1.6 over the MMG. The 1.6 is a bit smoother and more resolved, (thanks to a lower cross-over point), but the big improvement is the ability to move the air for things like rock music or classical orchestral crescendos.

Your room is big enough to handle the 1.6. Mine is slightly smaller than yours: maybe 14' x 20' which handles them quite well. I do use a baffle behind the speakers because I have to keep them only about 2.5' from the wall behind.

[GMichael]

By the way, nice choice in reading material also.

[Mike Anderson]

^^^ Thanks.

Yes I think I'm going to upgrade, just need to save my pennies until the 6-month deadline forces my hand.

[E-Stat]

And I'm wondering, when my 6-month period is up, should I trade them up for the big boys, the 1.6qr's?

The 1.6s are one of the all time best speaker buys. I would think the top is better than the MMGs as well. Bigger is most always better with planars.

Here's a hint: Harry Pearson's exotic systems are almost exclusively on loan from the manufacturers. While they're not currently set up, he bought a pair of 1.6s for himself.

One of these days, you need to find a way to let them breathe with some more wall clearance.

rw

[muziekfreak]

I've got the MMG for rears...great sounding speakers especially with a jadis tubeamp or something similar. GREAT....congrats with the bigger one great speakers for a very low price!

[Florian]

During my Maggie times i also had the 1.6, needless to say they are a giant killer and better then the MMG's in all ways. But we need to talk more about placment in your room! I'll be back in a few hrs and will type some more. Please read my small post about planar speaker placment (which is still not a sticky!) in the planar section.

[Geoffcin]

The amp is a Musical Fidelity A3.2 dual mono integrated amp. I'm also using a Dayton 10" Titanic subwoofer from the kit, which I like very much.

So, would I be wasting my money on the 1.6qr's without the ability to position them optimally, in a dedicated listening room? Should I just stick with my MMGs and wait for another day to buy the 1.6qr's, when I can give them the space they require?

Or am I going to be just as blown away as I was when I first got the MMGs?

From the looks of things your going to have placement issues. Your room size is fine, but unless you can get the speakers out into the room more your not going to get the full effect from them. With the setup you have your effectively damping out the rear wave, and using the MMG as a direct firing tweeter/midrange with bass supplied from the titanic sub. I like this idea a lot, as I also use a sub to suppliment my maggies bass output. However, I think that your not going to see much of an improvement if you use the same setup with the 1.6qr. You WILL get a taller soundstage, and slightly better dynamics, but unless you get the speakers out into the room the additional dipole bass will not be there, and the amazing dipole "entire wall of sound" that large planars can produce will also be lost. So;

My advice is to wait on upgrading for now and enjoy your setup as it is. My guess is it probably sounds as good as nearly any planar you can put in the space you have. Save your $$$ for a time when you can get the larger speakers into a better location.

[Florian]

Hello Mike and Geof.

To Geof. Can you please make the placment guide a sticky. This would help people who got into planar speakers.

To Mike. Can you please make a drawing of your room with the dimensions. I can advise you on the speaker placment and tell you if it will work with the 1.6 or maybe a MG12.

Cheers

Flo

[Mike Anderson]

Florian,

I've read your piece on speaker placement. The problem isn't a lack of knowledge or understanding, it is dealing with practical reality.

I live in an apartment with my wife, and we have only one living room in which to place a stereo. The same room has to hold all kinds of other stuff, like a couch, chairs, coffee table, etc. If I place the speakers where you tell me, they'll pretty much dominate the room. People would have to walk around them, and I have no idea where everything else would go.

[Florian]

This may sound odd but i have had the 100% same problem as you. If you draw me a plan i can make some suggestions, even living room friendly ones

[Feanor]

Geof's advice is sound as usual, but a bit conservative. If you can manage 2 feet from the wall, you'll be OK especially with the wall treatment.

My setup has the MG 1.6's only 2.5' from the back wall and just under 2' from the sides ...


Note the ceiling tile baffles just visible behind the speaker. It placed at about 400 with respect to the speaker; it serves to absorb a bit of the back wave and reflect the rest somewhat to the side.

The arrangement works very well indeed.

[Mike Anderson]

OK Florian, just for you!