Magnapan 30.7 rear wave interference.

Addicted to hifi

VIP/Donor
Sep 8, 2020
4,610
2,039
265
52
Australia
Hello to all . I have a pair of magnapan 30.7 s and stacked horns behind them. I have the 30.7s well clear of the horns about 1.5 meters.I would like to know other peoples opinion if these horns behind the 30.7 s would interfere with the sound of the front Magnapan. When I bought the 30.7s I asked the dealer this question, his answer was no they would not. I have had a mate telling me that I should move the horns out of the room and the Maggie’s would sound better . Please any one I would appreciate feedback on this topic.thanks and cheers to all.
 

Attachments

  • 7448746E-0BF5-4A45-8D83-CA0AABD889F3.jpeg
    7448746E-0BF5-4A45-8D83-CA0AABD889F3.jpeg
    504 KB · Views: 71
  • Like
Reactions: Gregadd

Gregadd

WBF Founding Member
Apr 20, 2010
10,517
1,774
1,850
Metro DC
My best guess. Normally one would have only one pair of speakers in the room. That is because the passive speaker would tend to "sing" along along with the active one. I do not know ifl that is true with a compression driver It is more likely the maggies are "singing" along with the horns.
The maggies are dipolar. They can be affected by whatever is behind them.
 

Addicted to hifi

VIP/Donor
Sep 8, 2020
4,610
2,039
265
52
Australia
The horns are actually my favourite set up and reference. The Maggie’s are for a change in sound. the centre speakers on the horns are a pair of electrovoice mth1 speakers.this is were the dynamics come from. There mid and high drivers with a response down to only 120 hz. in between 2 pairs of lascalas they work very well.it’s a huge very efficient very dynamic sound that is especially suited for rock and pop music But every type of music sounds good.
 

Kingrex

Well-Known Member
Feb 3, 2019
2,807
2,315
350
I believe the horns are a mountainous impact. The Magi is dipole. Those horns have to be collecting the backwave, shaping it and sending it back with timing and frequency alterations.

I was at a store once to hear an amp. They had a smal bookshelf with a large horn behind it. I could hardly hear the bookshelf over the horn reflecting forward the music.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Addicted to hifi

Addicted to hifi

VIP/Donor
Sep 8, 2020
4,610
2,039
265
52
Australia
I believe the horns are a mountainous impact. The Magi is dipole. Those horns have to be collecting the backwave, shaping it and sending it back with timing and frequency alterations.

I was at a store once to hear an amp. They had a smal bookshelf with a large horn behind it. I could hardly hear the bookshelf over the horn reflecting forward the music.
if I cover the horns up with a blanket and see what happens? Might be a good idea.
 

Kingrex

Well-Known Member
Feb 3, 2019
2,807
2,315
350
Maybe try spinning the horn to face the wall. Push them up tight and use the blanket to form a gasket around the edge.

Let us know if you hear a difference.
 

MRJAZZ

Industry Expert
Jan 20, 2014
403
206
350
if I cover the horns up with a blanket and see what happens? Might be a good idea.
I would also connect a small wire across the + n - terminals of your Horns (multiple speakers in the same room, when they are not being used, can passively move (radiate), when your main speakers are being used....
Cheers...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Addicted to hifi

Duke LeJeune

[Industry Expert]/Member Sponsor
Jul 22, 2013
747
1,200
435
Princeton, Texas
I would walk back and stick my head in the horns when the Maggies are playing. If you hear coloration, then they are probably coloring the backwave accordingly. If not, then you can think of the horns as expensive diffusion.
 
Last edited:

Kingrex

Well-Known Member
Feb 3, 2019
2,807
2,315
350
Are you actually looking for a solution to ensure your getting the highest performance out of your 30.7. Or are the 30.7 a fleeting toy for short term entertainment.

If your not serious about the Magnepan, then don't worry about it.

If you want the magnepan to shine, I would blanket the horn, then place a sheet of cut particle board in front of the horn faces. Speakers definitely sing along. Even a bookshelf video speakers was seriously impacting my friends 2 channel system. I don't believe you can get the most from any speaker with others sitting in the room. I would think those 30.7 will also affect your horn performance.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Addicted to hifi

Addicted to hifi

VIP/Donor
Sep 8, 2020
4,610
2,039
265
52
Australia
Are you actually looking for a solution to ensure your getting the highest performance out of your 30.7. Or are the 30.7 a fleeting toy for short term entertainment.

If your not serious about the Magnepan, then don't worry about it.

If you want the magnepan to shine, I would blanket the horn, then place a sheet of cut particle board in front of the horn faces. Speakers definitely sing along. Even a bookshelf video speakers was seriously impacting my friends 2 channel system. I don't believe you can get the most from any speaker with others sitting in the room. I would think those 30.7 will also affect your horn performance.
I am definitely series in getting the best out of the 30.7s.when I use the horns I push the Maggie’s to the sides of the wall so no problem with the horns.it’s the 30.7s I am worried about.would it be enough do you think if I cover the horns with a blanket?what would the difference be . How much better do you think they will sound? Thanks for your help.
 

Kingrex

Well-Known Member
Feb 3, 2019
2,807
2,315
350
I honestly don't know. I don't own a speaker store. I specialize in providing power to audio racks. But I have heard the effects of other speakers in the room. I was especialy shocked at the impact of a large open horn speaker such as you have behind a speaker.

My guess would be a heavy moving blanket will stop higher frequencies, while letting lower throught. However, stuffing the hole with a heavy blanket could do an excelent job of stopping most all frequency due to its depth. Try that. Stuff the horn openings with blankets. Let us know if you hear a more even and balanced tone from the 30.7. I personally like the Magnepan. I heard the 20.7 with ARC Ref 260 and loved them. I heard the 30.7 with SS. I like the tube magic, but the balance was very even and flat with the SS.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Addicted to hifi

Addicted to hifi

VIP/Donor
Sep 8, 2020
4,610
2,039
265
52
Australia
Thanks very much. I really think they sound excellent as it is. It’s a friend of mine who said move the horns out and the 30.7s will sound better.I am a horn enthusiast but bought the Maggie’s to have a different type of sound because I really liked them.I have some thick fabric I will place over the horns.it’s like wool on the front and rubber on the back so should stop most if not all frequencies from getting to the horns.this fabric is used by car mechanics to absorb oil up When it leaks from cars on to the ground.
 
Last edited:

christoph

Well-Known Member
Dec 11, 2015
4,660
4,058
825
Principality of Liechtenstein
I am definitely series in getting the best out of the 30.7s.when I use the horns I push the Maggie’s to the sides of the wall so no problem with the horns.it’s the 30.7s I am worried about.would it be enough do you think if I cover the horns with a blanket?what would the difference be . How much better do you think they will sound? Thanks for your help.
Is your room long enough to have the Maggies on one side and the Horns on the other side, vis-a-vis?
 

Tim Link

Well-Known Member
Feb 12, 2019
271
182
128
55
This is an interesting thread. I have a stack of bass horns in each corner of my room and I'm pretty sure I could hear the high dispersion tweeter I originally used bouncing into the bass horn mouths. Putting my ear into the horns really didn't reveal anything but getting back a ways the collective reflected sound adds considerably to the direct sound from the tweeter. At one time I placed a pillow in each bass mouth. The overall effect on the room was noticeably deadening. It really surprised me how unacceptable it was. I've now solved the problem by using a much larger, less diffractive tweeter horn and pushing it forward so it's mouth is clear by a couple inches of the bass horns mouths. From my experience it seems that with the dipoles firing right into those bass horn mouths there might be trouble. The blanket experiment is worth trying.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Addicted to hifi

christoph

Well-Known Member
Dec 11, 2015
4,660
4,058
825
Principality of Liechtenstein
My room is 8 meters long but I already have a pair of klipschorns on the other Side.
Why not all the Horns to one side and the Maggies to the other side?
 

About us

  • What’s Best Forum is THE forum for high end audio, product reviews, advice and sharing experiences on the best of everything else. This is THE place where audiophiles and audio companies discuss vintage, contemporary and new audio products, music servers, music streamers, computer audio, digital-to-analog converters, turntables, phono stages, cartridges, reel-to-reel tape machines, speakers, headphones and tube and solid-state amplification. Founded in 2010 What’s Best Forum invites intelligent and courteous people of all interests and backgrounds to describe and discuss the best of everything. From beginners to life-long hobbyists to industry professionals, we enjoy learning about new things and meeting new people, and participating in spirited debates.

Quick Navigation

User Menu

Steve Williams
Site Founder | Site Owner | Administrator
Ron Resnick
Site Co-Owner | Administrator
Julian (The Fixer)
Website Build | Marketing Managersing