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Magnepan ribbons problems

I've been using a pair of MG3.5 since 9 years, and though they've been performing superbly, I keep getting ribbon rupture problems. Due to the lack of local dealership, I've been doing the repairs myself, using their repair kit, but has anyone else encountered such problems ? I need to change 2-3 ribbons every year.

One of the speakers I'm considering upgrading to is the MG20.1, but I'm concerned about the tweeter. It's a right pain in the neck to change it.
cemil
shopsmartjazz
10 posts
 
Can you show me how to repair the ribbons? I have the 6 feet tall panel magneplar 3.3r. The volume has gone very very very low. I am not sure what the problem is so I have to bring them to a repaire shop 80 miles away(from Philadelphia to New York City). This is the first problem I have had in many years of use. Thanks
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
When I was considering purchase of Magnepans recently I was concerned about the ribbon reliability. I was told that Magnepan does not deny that these units can and do fail, but they provide repair service at very reasonable cost. In the end I bought MG 1.6 which don't have the ribbon, but not because of concern about ribbon reliability.

My suggestion...Let Magnepan do it.
kkm
123 posts
 
Cemil,
That is highly unusual to be replacing 2-3x/yr. Check your fuse value, better to just change with new ones, you might also post at the maggie users group:

http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/MUG/bbs.html
jvogt
212 posts
 
I used to own a pair of MG-IIIa speakers, and in
about 4 years of ownership, I NEVER replaced the
ribbons. I had them biamped with a Dynaco 400
amp on top and a Threshold 400a on the bottom...
and I played them LOUD at times.I think more damage
will occur by underpowering them than by using a
large, clean amp.
cytocycle
1,034 posts
 
I had MGIIIa also and only replaced one tweeter in 7 years, and that was because of a movie soundtrack clipping my 255watt a channel amplifier. Movies would melt the fuse adhesive and the fuse would appear good, but wasn't. Make sure the fuses you are using are fast blow, not slow blow and the correct size.

Also are you bi-amping the 3.5's without the external crossover? This can cause problems.

Low line voltage might be starving your amplifier when it craves the current.

My guess is you are popping tweaters because you don't have enough current. Think 4ohm and get as much power as you can afford. I used my ARC D400MkII to moderately loud without any issues and my EAD PowerMaster 2000 (800watts into 4ohm) was even better.

Look at Bryston, EAD, or some other high current 4ohm stable load amplifier and check those fuses.
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