Planar Speaker Asylum

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Planar Speaker Asylum

Tympani IVAs on the 'gon

24.136.69.95

Rarely come up and these have been improved upon; price seems quite good as well. No connection whatsoever to seller.

I really liked my 3.6Rs, but always wanted to try these out.

Illegitimus non carborundum.

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Follow Ups:

RE: Tympani IV - Satie 03:46:06 09/22/10 (0)
These are Tympani IV

The distinguishing characteristic is the shorter midrange vs the IVa.

I have the hinges from the Mid/Treble panel. They were in one of the accessory boxes that seemingly had not been opened by the original owner. The IV had no side panels, and only 2 feet - that I only use on the mid/tweet - they are woefully inadequate for the bass panels.

All the panels are drilled and have steel inserts to accept screw bolts for feet. I made big hardwood and steel L bracket feet and shims between the panel bottoms and the hardwood feet to the point of having the panel spring loaded against the feet. Easy vibration control and stability.

The 6X Neo8 array is slightly longer than the external slot. but the radiating area is a fit. So I just left it at that. The Neo8 assembly on hardwood rails fits into the mounting structure very well.
RE: Tympani IVAs on the 'gon - Peter Gunn 09:24:45 09/18/10 (0)
I am actually undertaking modding a pair of tymp IVa's right now (what was I thinking...?) and everyone is correct, these are not IVa's. The small midrange driver on the IVa is the same length as the ribbon and on this pair it is clearly shorter.

It's all about the music...
RE: Tympani IVAs on the 'gon - Norman M 07:45:15 09/18/10 (0)
They don't look like my stock IVas, which have no hinges attached to their bass panels. IVa B and M/T panels are separate entities. Additinaly these speakers have no 'wood' trim around their panels. IIRC both IVs and IVas have this wood-like trim. I don't think that they are either IVs or IVas, unless a lot of cosmetic alterations were done. If anything much remains of the original plate surrounding the speaker connections, I'd ask to see a picture. Perhaps also some serial #s followed by a call to Magnepan would be a good idea, before any additional consideration. Right now the only thing they look like is lost cash plus a big headache.
Yes, I agree - they appear to be IVs not IV-as, as my Frankenpans have ... - andyr 02:08:38 09/18/10 (0)
T-IVa mid panels & ribbons, and the mid panel is full length.

That said, my experience with the Frankenpans is that they are a significant upgrade from my IIIas because the mid/ribbon frame is separated from the bass panel (in the T-IVs case, 2 bass panels! :-)) ).

Yes, the mid panel is slightly smaller than the 3.6 and the ribbon is the earlier (wider) 2ohm model compared to the 3.6's 3ohm ribbon ... but you would have at least double the bass panel area of your 3.6s.

$1,200 is an absolute steal!! :-))

Go for it!! (Unless you will have WAF problems! :-)) )

Andy
RE: Tympani IVAs on the 'gon - roger.barbara@bredband.net 00:58:18 09/18/10 (17)
They look like Tympani IV not IVa. IVa has a taller midrange driver.

Roger Gustavsson
- RE: Tympani IVAs on the 'gon - josh358 14:54:53 09/18/10 (16)
  Yes, they do look like IV's:
  
  http://www.integracoustics.com/MUG/MUG/articles/T4.jpg
  - RE: Tympani IVAs on the 'gon - Norman M 15:32:17 09/18/10 (15)
    If those are IVs, then what are these?
    
    http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.mpl?forum=mug&n=130772&highlight=neolith
    - RE: Tympani IVAs on the 'gon - josh358 15:57:40 09/18/10 (13)
      IVA's?
      
      http://www.integracoustics.com/images/magnepan/T4A.jpg
      
      They look much better in black, don't they . . .
      - RE: Tympani IVAs on the 'gon - Norman M 08:47:07 09/19/10 (12)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Tympani IVAs on the 'gon posted by josh358 on September 18, 2010 at 15:57:40
        
        Black or off-white isn't any deciding factor :-). My problem is that my (often mistaken) memory) based on one single dealer audition of the IV ~25 years ago tells me that all of the panels of a IV (like those of the IVa) where framed in "wood", and additionally that the T/M wasn't attached by hinges to the B panels in either model. I could very well be wrong and until an owner, or an individual with personal experience with the Tympani IV weighs in on the matter, I'm now really uncertain.
        Happy listening,
        Norman
        
        RE: Tympani IVAs on the 'gon - josh358 09:15:57 09/19/10 (11)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Tympani IVAs on the 'gon posted by Norman M on September 19, 2010 at 08:47:07
        
        All I know is that the photo of the IV on the Asylum Magnepan list looks like a 1D with a slit in it rather than like the IV.
        
        I did find a description of some of the changes between the IV and the IVA on the last page of the IVA manual. Essentially, the IVA has more efficient bass and midrange drivers, a 1 dB/octave warmer slope, better crossovers, and a longer midrange with better coupling and dispersion. But it doesn't mention the cosmetics.
        
        http://tinyurl.com/35twbug
        
        Really, none of these are show stoppers with today's high powered amplifiers, active crossovers, and Satie's Neo-8 midrange mod, though I guess you'd have to enlarge the midrange slot for that.
        
        BTW, my search also turned up a guy who bought a pair of IV's at a garage sale for $25. Read it and weep!
        
        http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/archive/index.php/t-78924.html
        
        RE: Tympani IVAs on the 'gon - gregmacknass2@netzero.com 10:53:13 09/19/10 (10)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Tympani IVAs on the 'gon posted by josh358 on September 19, 2010 at 09:15:57
        
        I am providing an image of the tympani 4a that clearly shows that all of the panels are attached with hinges. You can tell this by the feet. Many owners have modified them to use the bass panels apart from the mid tweet panel, because the optimal position for the bass is not always the optimal position for the mid tweet. The only appearance difference between the 4 and 4a was the wood stiles.
        -Greg
        
        RE: Tympani IVAs on the 'gon - josh358 14:04:36 09/19/10 (6)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Tympani IVAs on the 'gon posted by gregmacknass2@netzero.com on September 19, 2010 at 10:53:13
        
        Thanks for the info. The small room IVA separate woofer mod is an official one, it's in the manual. I looked at the manual again and do mention removing the hinges.
        
        RE: Tympani IVAs on the 'gon - Norman M 15:54:42 09/21/10 (5)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Tympani IVAs on the 'gon posted by josh358 on September 19, 2010 at 14:04:36
        
        Once again and for the last time (I promise) there are no hinges between the IVa's Bass panels and the T/M panel. Being the original owner, I also have the manual and can see mention of the alleged hinges. The only explanation that comes to mind is that it's a mistaken and unintended carry-over from the Tympani IV manual. Furthemore, I don't care what anyone from Magnepan told you over the phone, as I have had the actual product in my possession for over 25 years. Shown are the two T/M panels, one front side the other rear side. You can see that they come with two sets of feet (each), such they can stand free, with no modification whatsoever required. Furthermore, compare my IVa T/M panels with the T/M panels from the previous picture(s); those evidently require modification to stand free, mine do not and never did. (My side of the case, closed forever.)
        Happy and healthy listening to all,
        Norman
        
        RE: Tympani IVAs on the 'gon - josh358 16:10:43 09/21/10 (4)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Tympani IVAs on the 'gon posted by Norman M on September 21, 2010 at 15:54:42
        
        That's interesting, but I'm not sure why you're addressing this to me. I never spoke to Magnepan over the phone, and I was the one who originally said that the IV-A's had a separate mid/tweeter panel, only to be corrected by Greg. It was then that I looked at the IVA manual and conclude on the basis of what it said that I had been wrong.
        
        I am beginning to think that there are three versions here: the IV, which looked like the 1-D's (no wood trim), the IVA which looked like yours and had trim, no hinges, and extra feet, and a mystery speaker which had wood trim and hinges -- perhaps an early version of the IVA? That would explain why the manual mentions removing the hinges. Or maybe a late or wood trim option version of the IV.
        
        RE: Tympani IVAs on the 'gon - gregmacknass2@netzero.com 20:15:35 09/21/10 (1)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Tympani IVAs on the 'gon posted by josh358 on September 21, 2010 at 16:10:43
        
        Or it could very well be that many dealers performed the separate mid tweet mod at their business. Or it could very well be that magnepan changed the 4a mid production and did this mod from the factory because of demand. I cannot say for certain which is correct (as I did not buy a set from the factory). All I know is that there are sets of tympani 4a's floating around out there that do have the mid tweet panels attached by hinges, proof in the picture I provided and as well I have seen it elsewhere (Ebay). It is pretty hard to dismiss that picture as anything but a 4a, as no other tympani had more than 2 feet. So they did at least make some, if not all of them with hinges.
        -Greg
        
        RE: Tympani IVAs on the 'gon - josh358 05:50:22 09/22/10 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Tympani IVAs on the 'gon posted by gregmacknass2@netzero.com on September 21, 2010 at 20:15:35
        
        This (alleged) Tympani IV looks like it has four feet:
        
        http://www.integracoustics.com/MUG/MUG/articles/T4.jpg
        
        I'm guessing though that they changed the IVA in mid-production, as you suggest. It just makes too much sense, given that the separate mid-tweet mod was an official one, mentioned in the manual and the original Stereophile review, and that Norman bought his separate M-T IVA's new.
        
        RE: Tympani IVAs on the 'gon - Norman M 17:27:54 09/21/10 (1)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Tympani IVAs on the 'gon posted by josh358 on September 21, 2010 at 16:10:43
        
        "josh 358"
        Please accept my aplology for attributing the phone incident to you. Someone else in the thread brought it forth and it stuck in my mind. (Actually that's a good sign for me because at my age very little stays in my mind. Short term memory is one of the first things to go :-( .)
        Regards,
        Norman
        
        RE: Tympani IVAs on the 'gon - josh358 20:10:03 09/21/10 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Tympani IVAs on the 'gon posted by Norman M on September 21, 2010 at 17:27:54
        
        No problemo
        
        My memory, of course, is still perfect -- I'd forgotten that someone had called Magnepan until you mentioned it, LOL.
        
        RE: Tympani IVAs on the 'gon - Norman M 11:16:39 09/19/10 (1)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Tympani IVAs on the 'gon posted by gregmacknass2@netzero.com on September 19, 2010 at 10:53:13
        
        Senator, that's no IVa.
        
        RE: Tympani IVAs on the 'gon - gregmacknass2@netzero.com 12:26:03 09/19/10 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Tympani IVAs on the 'gon posted by Norman M on September 19, 2010 at 11:16:39
        
        This link that I am providing is a link to the post from here that I retrieved this picture from. They are in fact 4a's, and you were in fact involved in the thread. The tympani 4a's came from the factory hinged, a simple call to magnepan will reveal this. Your system is great by the way.
        -Greg
        http://www.audioasylum.com/cgi/t.mpl?f=mug&m=121579 (Open in New Window)
        
        RE: Tympani IVAs on the 'gon - Norman M 11:10:02 09/19/10 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Tympani IVAs on the 'gon posted by gregmacknass2@netzero.com on September 19, 2010 at 10:53:13
        
        I own and am using IVas. Right now, using the IVa bass panels in conjunction with the 3.6. My T/M panel WAS NOT hinged to the bass panels and was free standing. That free standing option is one of the big advantages of a IVa as owners could place them anywhere in their listening rooms regardless of other considerations.
    - RE: Tympani IVAs on the 'gon - roycej 15:51:58 09/18/10 (0)
      IVA's?
      
      Edits: 09/18/10

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