Planar Speaker Asylum

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Planar Speaker Asylum

Advice needed for Magneplanar 1.7

132.208.134.14

I'm considering buying these speakers based on all the positive reviews. I understand that they should be placed away from the side walls, but my listening room is only 12' wide (I cannot place them on the long wall). If the centers are 3' from the side walls, then the speaker centers will be only 6' apart. Is this adequate? Also, can anyone recommend a reasonably priced amp to drive them (my SET obviously will not do). I've heard good things about the Vincent 331 (150 wpc). How about a less powerfull PP tube amp that's reasonably priced? Any advice would be appreciated. Cheers.

Follow Ups:

Thanks for all the feedback. - driver8 05:22:40 09/03/10 (0)
I'll be visiting a local dealer this afternoon for an audition. I'll be able to compare various amps, both SS and tubed with these speakers. I'll report back on my findings. Cheers.
RE: No problem with side walls - gymwear5@hotmail.com 07:01:07 09/02/10 (0)
In my small room (10 feet wide) I run my MMG's with less than 9 inches from the wall, If you think about it, a dipole is much more ideal to place near a wall than a standard monopole speaker. The speaker is about 18 inches from the back wall. I'm using them in my sitting room in a small HT setup as shown. I've actually made a few tall square diffusers to go behind the MMG's that also serve at the subwoofers for the system. These 8 inch DYI bottom firing, 50 inch tall subs are brand new to the system. B4 just the mmg's were there and sounded ok, but measured a fairly nasty hump at a bit over 400 Hz that got much better when the tower subs were added - not even hooked up.

It didn't make much difference in the sound when I rotate he woofs 45 degrees, so they sit as shown. Both subs made from a single sheet of MDF.

TV infront of a window with shutter blinds centered between the speakers - not any other significant absorption - other that the w2w carpet. 8 foot cieling - the back right opens to my 12x20 master bedroom - the back left are doors leading to master bath. A small wooden table in front of the love seat is not shown
RE: Advice needed for Magneplanar 1.7 - slapshot 13:49:43 09/01/10 (2)
A small room can work fine if you position the speakers correctly AND effectively treat the room in terms of acoustics. This is easiest to do if it is a dedicated listening room.
- RE: Advice needed for Magneplanar 1.7 - cycletemp 11:15:52 09/02/10 (1)
  My room is reflective except for the corners behind the 1.7's-I have diffusers. They are DIY made from plastic plumbing tubing of various diameters with OSB caps glued on. They DO diffuse the sound. The difference is noticeable, less depth in the sound stage, clearer first arrival sound, and in my room less "harshness" around 1 khz. The other corner is the same except the color accents are blue.
  - RE: Advice needed for Magneplanar 1.7 - josh358 12:32:30 09/02/10 (0)
    You have the beginnings of a fine pipe organ . . .
RE: Advice needed for Magneplanar 1.7 - cycletemp 11:43:07 09/01/10 (0)
I have my 1.7's along the short wall in a 13.5' x 15' room. Measuring from the panel center they are about 3.5' from the side wall and 4' from the front wall. The listening position is 2' from the back wall. I'm delighted with the sound. I frequently move them a few inches in different directions and get a noticeable difference in the sound. They are VERY interactive with the room. While you don't hear what I hear, I'd bet you'd find the sound to be excellent/addictive in your room. Can't help with the amplifier, I use an Adcom GFA-555SE.
RE: Advice needed for Magneplanar 1.7 - JBen 07:34:53 09/01/10 (0)
For my MMGs, that works just fine. The room is as wide as yours and the separation is 2' from the sides, each. They have about 4' clear behind them. They do have a flat TV and equipment rack in between. It all works far better than I ever expected, given some comments early on.

I use the tweeter-out, most of the time, to take advantage of the wider soundstage. For more accuracy, particularly with things like violin concertos, chamber music and a few other, I moved them (they are light) to a tweeter-in position.
RE: Advice needed for Magneplanar 1.7 - sailor321 07:30:19 09/01/10 (0)
I am using IIIa's in a 12X18 room. right now I am running about 22 inches from side room and about 4ft from front wall. My ribbons are on the outside and panels are toed in quite a bit because my listening chair is about 6ft out from the panels. I have been moving them around a lot lately and it does not take much to make big changes. The present set up is giving me a pretty good sound stage, lots of depth but not much width beyond the panels. Less toe in gives bigger image but less definition of where instruments are. I briefly tried the ribbons on the inside and I did not like it for my room.
So it goes.........
RE: Advice needed for Magneplanar 1.7 - ahendler 07:07:00 09/01/10 (0)
You can place them 2' from side walls with the tweeters on the inside and this will be fine. They should also be at least 3' out from back wall. I drive my 1.6's with a VTL ST-85 I got on Audiogon for $780. Result is wonderful
Alan
RE: Advice needed for Magneplanar 1.7 - ocezam@comcast.net 06:00:39 09/01/10 (1)
I'll have to let someone with more experience with smaller rooms chime in on that issue, but I'll comment on the amps.
IMHO for $660 you'll be golden with these two mono blocks:
http://emotiva.com/upa1.shtm
Or go over board with this single amp:
http://emotiva.com/xpa2.shtm

Edits: 09/01/10 09/01/10
- RE: Or go over board with this single amp: - gentlegiantfan 09:34:36 09/01/10 (0)
  "http://emotiva.com/xpa2.shtm "
  
  I love mine! For a brand new amp, for the money, and 1kW to feed Maggies with, I don't see anything comparable. "Overboard" is right though ... if this thing ever does a complete melt-down it could be used as an effective anchor for an oil-tanker! Well over 75 Lbs without rack handles.

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