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Anyone use the tweeter attenuation on Maggies?

Ok, I am in the process of demoing a pair of Magnepan 12QRs from local dealer and they are doing exactly what I hoped in the three-dimensional soundstage area but come across as too bright for my taste. My room is well damped so that shouldn't be the problem. The dealer said the speakers were broken is so not the problem either.
My question is, has anyone tried using a 1 ohm resistor in the tweeter path to soften it a bit. The manual mentions this method so it must have been brought to their attention many times. Any other suggestions?
My room is 11X13, maybe a bit small for the speakers but as I said, it is well treated so the only problem is visual.
Basic system is Resolution Audio CD-50 (very smooth), Bel Canto Pre3 and PS Audio A-100. Speakers that work best for me have been the Meadowlark Audio Kestrels. Thanks.
timrhu
wgallupe
19 posts
 
Toe in will increase treble response at the listening position. Parallel to front wall will calm the treble a little. Also, try swapping speakers left to right so you can compare sound with tweeters "outside" vs "inside".

It certainly won't hurt to try the resistors. Another approach is to replace the stock crossover parts with high quality botique parts. You can visit the Audio Asylum Planer Speaker board and find a ton of info about mods there.
drew_eckhardt
394 posts
 
Wgallupe writes
>Toe in will increase treble response at the listening position. Parallel to front wall will calm the treble a little. Also, try swapping speakers left to right so you can compare sound with tweeters "outside" vs "inside".

Toeing the speakers in past the listener will reduce both on-axis treble and higher frequency energy going into the side-wall reflections. "dipoles" with low enough frequencies they act as acoustic dipoles see reduced side and front-wall first reflections in that part of the spectrum too.

FWIW, an acoustic dipole has response -3dB compared to the direct sound at 45 degrees off-axis, -6dB at 60 degrees, and -12dB at 75 degrees. Additional toe-in moves the side-wall first reflection farther into the null on the outside of the speaker and front-wall first reflection farther into the inside null.
timrhu OP
2,778 posts
 
After installing the resistors (1.2 ohms) from the dealer and playing a bit more with the position the speakers are sounding very good. I plan on listening a bit more and then swapping my Kestrels back in. I have a feeling though that the Maggies will win this contest. They really do seem to disappear.
timrhu OP
2,778 posts
 
Thought I'd finish this thread off.
After careful evaluation the Magnepan 12s went back to the dealer. I tried all of the suggestions that were possible in the week that I auditioned them but they never got me there. I spent about two solid hours Wednesday evening listening to various music, some well recorded and some not so well recorded. On Thursday I swapped my Kestrels back in and listened to the same music. The Kestrels were truly better for me.
I won't spend time critiquing the Maggies but they just did not work in my small room. Thanks for all the suggestions.
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