Room Treatments for Maggies

I'm not sure that any special room treatment is really needed for Magnepans vs most other types of speaker... It is best however to set Magnepans 3 to 6 feet out from the front wall if you want to maximize the soundstage depth. The Rule of 'Thirds' is a good start; one third into the room from the front wall and one third into the rooms width. If your room is too square (or cubed) then some bass traps may well be needed. What are the dimensions of your room?

Use a reasonable balance of diffusion and absorption throughout the room; too much absorption and you suck-up all the detail. I personally like as much diffusion behind the listening position and on the ceiling as possible. You don't have to use fancy (expensive) RPG panels to get decent diffusion (though the real thing does work better), book shelfs loaded with records or CD's work well too.

I believe that Jim Smith addresses room treatments for the wall behind Maggies in his book and on his DVD. I can't remember what he said though because I don't have them, so it wasn't something I paid close attention to.

Chuck

I own Magnepan 3.6s
I have them at the 1/7 distance of full room depth. This is to avoid other even fractions of the distance. This is actual 42" out from wall behind speakers (for my room size) with the tweeter at the 42" (as the speaker is toed in) with the tweeter on the 'inside' rather than the outside of the speaker pair.
IMO 1/3 is impossible in the average room, so try 1/5 or 1/7... actually calculate the distances. 1/3 is only reasonable if the speakers are on the short dimension wall.
I use tall bookshelves on the rear sides, (right up to corner) then the back corners happen to already be heavy draw drapes, opened. Middle back is a very large window, just have stuff on sill, plants etc.
The speakers are toed in about 30 degrees. And are rather close to side walls, about 18" from side wall to outer edge of speaker.
Very similar to the picture of the recent audio show, in which a room the maggies are near the side walls. mine very similar position.
I sit out into the room so i am about 10 to 12 ft from speaker plane. With room to walk behind the listening chair.
Feet: if the feet are on hard ground, the speaker will be brighter. If the feet are in soft carpet, the speaker will sound more mellow. You can stick thin bits of thick nails etc at ends of speaker feet if sof carpet and the speakers will be brighter, and bass firmer, but it is a big change in sound for such a small addition.
tried just pins under the bass side, and not the tweeter side, and finally went back to nothing extra under the feet ends. (mine are on soft carpeting)

Elizabeth....

I just moved...the most practical room for my music has carpeting (and log walls) In this new environment my maggie 1.7's sound so bad, I can't enjoy...Are you saying that if I put a metal plate between the speakers and the carpeting they will get that brightness back?