Planar Speaker Asylum

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Planar Speaker Asylum

Thanks for the explanation. Seems to be even more reason, then, to...

75.177.35.201

In Reply to: RE: "Hooking"- I've never quite understood the effectiveness... posted by MarcL on February 01, 2025 at 06:35:30

use a (high-quality, transparent) high-pass on the Maggies when using a subwoofer, to avoid the possible necessity of such a procedure. I'm currently using a passive line-level filter on mine for such. Of course, that's not an option when the problem is in a DWM and you want maximum bass extension.

Mark in NC
"The thought that life could be better is woven indelibly into our hearts and our brains" -Paul Simon

Edits: 02/01/25 02/01/25

Follow Ups:

RE: Thanks for the explanation. Seems to be even more reason, then, to... - MarcL 11:02:44 02/01/25 (5)
In the past I've used the Harrison Labs High Pass Filter ... XLR connectors on both sides, in line from the preamp to the amp.

Agilist, Musician, Photographer, Audiophile
7.1.4 Magneplanar: 3.7, CCR, LRS, MC1(4), DWM(2); Emotiva B1+; GR Research OB Dipole Subs (2x3); Emotiva XMC-2; Nord One NC500DM; Nord Three 1ET7040SA; VTV NC502MP; Crown XLi800;OPPO 205
- RE: Thanks for the explanation. Seems to be even more reason, then, to... - UncleMeat 12:15:12 02/01/25 (4)
  Yes the problem arises on low frequency music notes, probably below the 40Hz range. In addition, my room EQ is boosting the lows and I don't have a high-pass filter running. So it appears that I am doing the opposite and expecting the DWM to keep up when it is being asked to do more than it's capable of.
  
  I guess I was thinking that this low/bass panel was more like a non-powered subwoofer, but clearly it's not as many here have described. It makes sense to me now that even though it's also designed to support the bass of full size Magnepans it still has the limitations of frequency/excursion that are inherit to the design of planar speakers.
  
  Thank you all for the feedback on this, I'll make some adjustments to the room EQ, and add the 40Hz high pass into the output of the active EQ/crossover.
  - RE: Thanks for the explanation. Seems to be even more reason, then, to... - MarcL 12:17:34 02/01/25 (3)
    DWM ... the most misunderstood speaker in Magnepan history, alas.
    
    It plays down to 50Hz but don't expect much dynamics below 60Hz. But ... with a good sealed sub under it? Awesome system!
    
    Agilist, Musician, Photographer, Audiophile
    7.1.4 Magneplanar: 3.7, CCR, LRS, MC1(4), DWM(2); Emotiva B1+; GR Research OB Dipole Subs (2x3); Emotiva XMC-2; Nord One NC500DM; Nord Three 1ET7040SA; VTV NC502MP; Crown XLi800;OPPO 205
    - RE: Thanks for the explanation. Seems to be even more reason, then, to... - UncleMeat 16:12:43 02/01/25 (2)
      Yeah, but when they put it into a packaged 2.1 set with the Mini-Maggies, it seems like it -should- be a fully capable subwoofer, not strictly a mid/low driver. It's fine as-is I just didn't realize I was over-driving the lows, and it doesn't seem to be a problem driving it unless the volume is too high for it to handle those low notes without the 'slap'.
      
      It's just good to know that the panel probably isn't damaged in some way. I bought them used but shipped in original packaging. Magnepan did something really strange with the shipping box for the 3 speakers. The DWM panel isn't very well protected because it's not in the center of the box, it's on one side of the box making the weight distribution lopsided, and there isn't any protection along two corners of the box which the DWM sits right inside of. Needless to say the package was dropped onto the edge of the box, and the DWM panel took a blow without anything crushable protecting it. There's no visible damage to the panel but the issue with the 'barking' had me concerned that something was amiss internally.
      
      I suspect lots of the DWM units may have gotten damaged in shipping if sent with this packaging method, hopefully Magnepan has changed it.
      - You seem to misunderstand their role - E-Stat 07:04:11 02/04/25 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Thanks for the explanation. Seems to be even more reason, then, to... posted by UncleMeat on February 01, 2025 at 16:12:43
        
        In Magnepan's words:
        
        " The Magneplanar Bass Panel (DWM) is a dipole, thin-film, planar/magnetic bass panel. It is two bass drivers in one panel. Two "voice coil" grids drive one bass diaphragm. The Bass Panel is essentially a small section out of the 20.1 and 20.7 bass drivers. But, please don't call it a "subwoofer". Subwoofers are a separate category from woofers. Subwoofers are intended for below 40 Hz and are known as "slow" and "muddy" when used above 40 Hz. "
      - RE: Thanks for the explanation. Seems to be even more reason, then, to... - MarcL 04:37:21 02/02/25 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Thanks for the explanation. Seems to be even more reason, then, to... posted by UncleMeat on February 01, 2025 at 16:12:43
        
        When the DWM ships by itself the packing is okay.
        
        The Mini Maggie spec says 40-40KHz. The DWM spec says 40-200Hz. In practical terms none of these numbers are true. The DWM will play down to 40Hz but usable bass is only down to 50-60Hz, with the caveat as you found that they will bark if fed <40Hz at high amplitude. But the DWM does play quite a bit above 200 ... actually 300. The ribbon tweeters will play to 20KHz (not that most of us would hears that) and specing 40KHz is irrelevant hyperbole.
        
        The other misunderstanding of the DWM is that there is mention of using them to augment larger Maggies. This incorrectly implies that they will extend the bass lower. This is impossible and it does not happen. What they do very well, is augment the bass in their operating range. And more significantly - lucky for me - they can be strategically placed to fill in resonance cancellations in the 70-180Hz range.
        
        Agilist, Musician, Photographer, Audiophile
        7.1.4 Magneplanar: 3.7, CCR, LRS, MC1(4), DWM(2); Emotiva B1+; GR Research OB Dipole Subs (2x3); Emotiva XMC-2; Nord One NC500DM; Nord Three 1ET7040SA; VTV NC502MP; Crown XLi800;OPPO 205

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