OMG - have you seen those Magnepans !?

josh358

Member
Jan 25, 2012
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27
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Yes, I also get the attraction of running ribbons with just loads of current and power. That sense of effortless headroom when music scales up is a fantastic free in flight sonic vibe that is such a great part of what makes full range ribbons so pleasurable.

I was however thinking that part of the allure of the neodymium’s higher sensitivity leads to the amps sitting in their first watts much more of the time

Great point. I'm not sure what sets the limit on the output of the ribbon, though. I find they start to get hard sounding when you really push them, so higher output might not be that useful.
 

Zero000

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Jul 28, 2014
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I've discussed neodynium magnets with Wendell. The problem is that the cost of neodynium is sky high. Their feeling is that it's less expensive to get a bigger amp than it would be to buy a Maggie with neodynium magnets.

I worked out the cost of neodymium magnets for Duettas to be about £4K. Duettas use a lot more magnets than Maggies.

The restorer didn't want to work with them. They aren't easy to work with.
 

josh358

Member
Jan 25, 2012
91
27
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Do they use more magnets? I didn't know that.

I've heard some horror stories about working with neodynium magnets! I remember Wendell saying once (not to me -- in print?) that they'd have to place them by machine.

In any case, while he says they'd love to have stronger magnets, it seems that the economics don't work. They're all about value engineering and mass production, rather than selling a few super expensive speakers to the carriage trade.
 

Zero000

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2014
2,985
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Do they use more magnets? I didn't know that.

I've heard some horror stories about working with neodynium magnets! I remember Wendell saying once (not to me -- in print?) that they'd have to place them by machine.

In any case, while he says they'd love to have stronger magnets, it seems that the economics don't work. They're all about value engineering and mass production, rather than selling a few super expensive speakers to the carriage trade.

Yup one hell of a lot more magnets in a much more substantial frame. Consequently they weigh a lot more. And if you build them way above original factory spec, they weigh even more again. Not a practical advantage:D

I once mentioned it to a Maggie rep, basically saying I think they'd be much better with more substantial magnet arrays. His response was that they didn't like to I overload their speakers.

Hm.

Anyway, yes, Maggies are made to a budget.
 

the sound of Tao

Well-Known Member
Jul 18, 2014
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Lovely work bibo, very elegant.

Did the additional metal on the frame make any differences in performance and are there any mods done on the internals as well.

Cheers
Tao
 

LL21

Well-Known Member
Dec 26, 2010
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Hi Guys!
those were my speakers, if you have any questions i'm here

View attachment 61291
Are you kidding?...YES! TONS of questions!!!
Did you customize yourself?
Did you have someone do it? Who?
Are these a custom upgrade of an existing commercially available panel speaker or ground up brand new speaker?
If a custom upgrade...what did you do...and to what original speaker?
If a ground up new speaker...can you tell us the key elements?
How do you feel they compare with the original speaker...or what do you think would be an appropriate 'rival' that is commercially available if this is a ground up new speaker?
Are these full range and how best did you end up driving them?
How are they on set up...comparable to other panels?
I see you now have Maggie 20.1s...did you do the same to your current Maggies?
What happened to these speakers?
 

Tango

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Mar 12, 2017
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bibo

Well-Known Member
Feb 5, 2020
9
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Lovely work bibo, very elegant.

Did the additional metal on the frame make any differences in performance and are there any mods done on the internals as well.

Cheers
Tao
thanks for the compliments Tao!.... :)
I didn't notice any difference in sound, I didn't do anything on the internals...
ciao
 

bibo

Well-Known Member
Feb 5, 2020
9
20
70
67
Are you kidding?...YES! TONS of questions!!!
Did you customize yourself?
Did you have someone do it? Who?
Are these a custom upgrade of an existing commercially available panel speaker or ground up brand new speaker?
If a custom upgrade...what did you do...and to what original speaker?
If a ground up new speaker...can you tell us the key elements?
How do you feel they compare with the original speaker...or what do you think would be an appropriate 'rival' that is commercially available if this is a ground up new speaker?
Are these full range and how best did you end up driving them?
How are they on set up...comparable to other panels?
I see you now have Maggie 20.1s...did you do the same to your current Maggies?
What happened to these speakers?

thanks a lot L!.... :)......
here are the answers

i made all the plans and CAD drawings, the work was done by professionals in the workshops
yes, these are a custom upgrade of an existing commercially available panel speaker, in this case on photo MG3.7
everything is made so that within half an hour it is replaced with the existing ones, everything is easy to make and vice versa, nothing is remade on the original speakers.
these speakers were sold as a kit, and I bought the 20.1
I plan to do the same on 20.1, in fact I have already started, purchased veneer, rubber bands and made a stand that you can see in the picture. This will be a black variant for several reasons.
hope you are happy with the answers
crn.jpg
 

the sound of Tao

Well-Known Member
Jul 18, 2014
3,620
4,838
940
thanks a lot L!.... :)......
here are the answers

i made all the plans and CAD drawings, the work was done by professionals in the workshops
yes, these are a custom upgrade of an existing commercially available panel speaker, in this case on photo MG3.7
everything is made so that within half an hour it is replaced with the existing ones, everything is easy to make and vice versa, nothing is remade on the original speakers.
these speakers were sold as a kit, and I bought the 20.1
I plan to do the same on 20.1, in fact I have already started, purchased veneer, rubber bands and made a stand that you can see in the picture. This will be a black variant for several reasons.
hope you are happy with the answers
View attachment 61302
I’m tempted to have a go at upspeccing my 20.7s, very slick bibo. Great stuff.
 

bibo

Well-Known Member
Feb 5, 2020
9
20
70
67
I’m tempted to have a go at upspeccing my 20.7s, very slick bibo. Great stuff.
thaanks a lot Tao..... :)......
appearance is the only thing I don't like about Magneplanar, my wife especially, She is also the main reason for this venture :)
cheers....
 
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Uk Paul

Member Sponsor
Sep 27, 2012
516
183
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UK
Lovely work bibo, very well executed, this raises a good speaker to a very classy looking speaker!
If you do some more and fancy using some very special Zirocote instead of Macassar let me know, I have huge stocks! (also of Macassar)
Rgds,
Paul
 

LL21

Well-Known Member
Dec 26, 2010
14,411
2,509
1,448
thanks a lot L!.... :)......
here are the answers

i made all the plans and CAD drawings, the work was done by professionals in the workshops
yes, these are a custom upgrade of an existing commercially available panel speaker, in this case on photo MG3.7
everything is made so that within half an hour it is replaced with the existing ones, everything is easy to make and vice versa, nothing is remade on the original speakers.
these speakers were sold as a kit, and I bought the 20.1
I plan to do the same on 20.1, in fact I have already started, purchased veneer, rubber bands and made a stand that you can see in the picture. This will be a black variant for several reasons.
hope you are happy with the answers
View attachment 61302
Wow...that is fantastic! Is there an improvement in sound?
 

LL21

Well-Known Member
Dec 26, 2010
14,411
2,509
1,448
Wow...that is fantastic! Is there an improvement in sound?
Actually...you already answered the question...no change in sound. Thanks! Enjoy!
 

bibo

Well-Known Member
Feb 5, 2020
9
20
70
67
Lovely work bibo, very well executed, this raises a good speaker to a very classy looking speaker!
If you do some more and fancy using some very special Zirocote instead of Macassar let me know, I have huge stocks! (also of Macassar)
Rgds,
Paul

Thaanks a lot Paul.... :)
and thanks for You kind offer, I will let U know.........
cheers
bibo....
 

bibo

Well-Known Member
Feb 5, 2020
9
20
70
67
Actually...you already answered the question...no change in sound. Thanks! Enjoy!
no prob L!...... :)
thanks to U
ciao........
 

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