Magnepan Sound

[rnatalli]

Hi all,

I decided to give Magnepan a listen as they give you up to 60 days to return the speakers (minus a 20% restocking fee ). I don't know what it is, but they sound like the speakers in my laptop. I tried moving them into different places, changing angles, and anything else I could think of, but they still sound like laptop speakers. My amp pushes 225 watts into 4 Ohms so they played without the amp breaking a sweat. Could it be the long break-in period for Magnepans or am I just not a fan of planar sound?

 

[avaserfi]

While I don't know too much about planar speakers, as I heard my first pair a couple weeks ago, I do know they need to be at least three feet, a little more is better as the owner of the store said his are seven feet, from a back wall to allow for proper reflections as they play both forward and backward due to design.

When I heard them I thought they were crystal clear and had very natural sounding mids while I felt the highs were a bit harsh, although no one else in the room felt that way so I attributed it to my young age and the fact that my hearing might be more intact than the rest of the group (I was 12 years younger than the next person in the group). Another thing I noticed was these speakers are definitely not designed for HT applications without a woofer. They did pretty well with my musical bass test but left something to be desired in my opinion as they played the notes but it just didn't have the impact I look for.

What do you mean by them sounding like your computer speakers exactly?

 

[rnatalli]

What I mean by computer speakers is that they sounded mono. Similar to how my VoIP phone sounds. I tried moving them forward from the back wall, up, down, and every other possible position and no noticeable improvement. They did play clear. I'm guessing it's the room or planar sound just isn't for me. I was just curious if anyone else had similar results.

 

[avaserfi]

I didn't feel that the Mag's sounded mono, but I did notice that while they had a massive soundstage that didn't seem to be as precise as many other speakers. I could see how that could be perceived as mono sound. Since you have them in your home I would suggest playing with them more, but from the sounds of it Mags just aren't for you.

 

[rnatalli]

I'll give them another try to be sure, but I'm guessing planar sound just isn't for me. Too bad as I love how these speakers look. Thanks!

 

[mtrycrafts]

Hi all,

I decided to give Magnepan a listen as they give you up to 60 days to return the speakers (minus a 20% restocking fee ). I don't know what it is, but they sound like the speakers in my laptop. I tried moving them into different places, changing angles, and anything else I could think of, but they still sound like laptop speakers. My amp pushes 225 watts into 4 Ohms so they played without the amp breaking a sweat. Could it be the long break-in period for Magnepans or am I just not a fan of planar sound?

Aren't the backs of those also open to the back and you get that soundfield too? If so, it is certainly different from only front firing speakers and that is what you may be experiencing. I don't like those types.

 

[chris92346]

I am a proud new owner of some maggie 12s. First off there is a very definite break in period. You will need a least a week of solid play before the bass starts coming out. Also you praised your amp but be aware Maggies are VERY revealing of upstream electronics. Another thing to check... are your tweeters on the inside or the outside? Consider changing this. One last consideration some genres of music just don't sound good on them. I guess there is always compromises in Hi-Fi.

I have had them about two months. I liked them when I bought them and have learned to really love them. Give them some time in your home. Listen to them as long as possible before you send them back. They might grow on you. Good luck finding audio bliss!

 

[dem beats]

One thing I can say is they image so much better than most speakers... but they #1 need lots of room. I don't know why.

 

[avaserfi]

One thing I can say is they image so much better than most speakers... but they #1 need lots of room. I don't know why.

They need a lot of room because they are massive and are designed to use the walls as reflection points to get a fuller sound. They are a very different breed of speaker.

 

[rnatalli]

I'm going to hold them for a little while longer. Heck, I've got 60 days anyways so I'll let them break-in and see if the sound better to my ears.

 

[gmichael]

Planners can have a fantastic sound if done right. But doing it right takes a lot more effort than it does with box speakers. They need room to breath. A nudge here, a nudge there.
They love a lot of Amps.
Also, they do need some break in time. I have hybrids (only the mids and tweeters are planner types). I had to put about 20 hours on them before I really liked their sound. Each day they seem to open up more and more. I have about 70 hours on them so far. A full planner may take even longer to sound their best.
What model did you get?

 

[The13thGryphon]

rnatalli,

What model Maggies are you trying? The MMG's can do bass down to about 50 hz., which is enough to round out musical instruments, but not truly low bass. Think of them as more of a large bookshelf speaker.

If you're trying one of the MC-1 or MMG-W then they are cutting off between 80 hz (MC-1) and 100 hz (MMG-W). In either case they will most likely sound 'thin' and 'tinny', and possibly 'mono' as you describe without a woofer or sub.

These speakers make good surrounds, when the Pre-Pro can route all bass below 80 hz to the main channels or a sub... but they don't do well on their own... at least in my opinion. They can make outstanding main speakers as long as you treat them like a sub-satellite system... but you definately need that dedicated woofer/sub.

 

[mtrycrafts]

You will need a least a week of solid play before the bass starts coming out.

Are these not regular cone drivers for the bass? If so, break in is just one of those audio myths among many.

 

[avaserfi]

Are these not regular cone drivers for the bass? If so, break in is just one of those audio myths among many.

While I don't know how break-in affects these. They are not cone drivers....
Check it out.

 

[chris92346]

I have read much about "break-in" most research that I read says it is non existent... but also it is based on traditional drivers. I know what I have heard with my maggies... it wasn't even subtle. There was almost NO bass for the first few days. I kept thinking... damn I am gonna have to by a sub. Now after two months with them the only way I think I would "need" a sub is if I wanted to do some serious home theater.

 

[dem beats]

AV, thanks for that, I thought it may have something to do with that. It's just something I didn't want to comment on without knowing.

I auditioned Maggies loooong and hard for quite some time before deciding to go anouther route. I can say this much, they can make for the best sounds in acoustic music, but extremely punchy music leaves something behind. Bassy rock, electronic(asuming it's bass heavey), R & B sometimes leave you wanting something more usualy. As before mentioned they need a sub to complement them.

I would love a pair in a dedicated listening room with proper acoustics and a nice sub, but otherwise, if I plan to watch movies.... it's just not what I am looking for. The stage is huge though.

On speaker break in... well I think it exists. My speakers sound quite different from day 1. It could be ear break in.. or me sitting better when listening.. adding that 1/8 degree of toe whatever it is... I doubt it though. Speakers use flexable materials, i.e. surrounds. New rubber is stiffer than worked in rubber. A car engine has break in. My crotch rocket really had break in. Anything with mechanical moving parts... I would say has break in. for better or worse. I can't defend my position with more than speculation and heresay, and inductive reasoning, nothing through deduction.

 

[fmw]

On speaker break in... well I think it exists. My speakers sound quite different from day 1. It could be ear break in.. or me sitting better when listening.. adding that 1/8 degree of toe whatever it is... I doubt it though. Speakers use flexable materials, i.e. surrounds. New rubber is stiffer than worked in rubber. A car engine has break in. My crotch rocket really had break in. Anything with mechanical moving parts... I would say has break in. for better or worse. I can't defend my position with more than speculation and heresay, and inductive reasoning, nothing through deduction.

Your position is pretty weak. Actually, what breaks in is your ears and brain. You simply get accustomed to the sound and we all tend to prefer sound with which we are familiar.

In my experience the planars have strong mid range (a bulge in the frequency response curve) normal highs and very poor bass response. If you combine them with a properly adjusted sub woofer they can sound really good.

 

[avaserfi]

Here is a very well written article addressing the subject on break in showing that there is such a thing, but it is generally dealt with before the consumer gets their hands on it and it is an extremely short process, not one that takes hours.

http://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/speaker-break-in-fact-or-fiction?searchterm=speaker+break

 

[dem beats]

Your position is pretty weak. Actually, what breaks in is your ears and brain. You simply get accustomed to the sound and we all tend to prefer sound with which we are familiar.

In my experience the planars have strong mid range (a bulge in the frequency response curve) normal highs and very poor bass response. If you combine them with a properly adjusted sub woofer they can sound really good.

Hey slick,
Listen your post has about the same merit as mine, only you came off as if it's pure truth given to you by the audio gods. If you have technical evidence, support your statement. I said I didn't AVAS has posted the article and there is a great deal of information here that says it does change. Not to any extent the human ear would probably notice........

Don't come at me with proof positive, by way of your word being truth and chastise me for saying I have no evidence, and that it probably is just me feeling a change. You're arguement didn't even have anything but anecdotal evidence assuming that we all like what we are used to.....

If you want a flame war take it elsewhere. I know my argument had little to stand on, it took you to prove you actualy COULD find less to stand on and be more confident in it.

 

[gmichael]

Your position is pretty weak. Actually, what breaks in is your ears and brain. You simply get accustomed to the sound and we all tend to prefer sound with which we are familiar.

When I first got my speakers, I didn't like their sound. I had heard that planners needed a break in period so I left them on while I went out. When I got home they sounded much better. Are you saying that I got used to them while I was out?