Marcus, I eventually settled on a fourth order Linkwitz-Riley network, with 240hz for the low-mid and 1700hz for the mid-high. There were tradeoffs with every set of filters I tried, but I enjoy the clarity of the LR4 network immensely.

I would love to borrow a DEQX to see what a linear phase digital crossover would sound like!

nils November 28, 2011 23:32

Aswsome setup. I am also a 3.6R owner and about to bi-amp my babies. I'm also going to use the Marchand 44 active crossovers. Question: What did you set for your Low and High pass, as well as Medium Pass? I've found some references on the web but I'm curious what you found works best with your setup.

-Marcus

mjdconnyahoocom May 27, 2011 18:11

looks incredible! congrats on a great system-

jameskerry January 27, 2011 06:29

Pete, I really like my Marchand XM44, which I think is a great value and very transparent active crossover. IMO, the end-all of crossovers would be a DEQX, which is a digital crossover + eq that can implement a linear-phase crossover (impossible to do with an analog network).

nils October 30, 2010 20:22

Hello Very nice system. I have Tymp. 4's which I have rebuilt the crossovers with Sonic-caps inside and the external x-over I used Solen Caps. I got rid of fuses and went with the best for resist. ect. If tri-amped do you use any type of crossover?
I am using a BAT pre-amp and a Mark Levinson 333
p-amp. I always wanted to bi or tri amp.

If you have any other suggestions for tweeking the Maggie's I would be very interested in hearing about them.

Thanks Pete

prr October 27, 2010 17:27

Hi Nils,
Please try to hook the 3.6 bi-wire, it can improve transient response a lot.

digifan June 10, 2010 08:27

Nils, bravo. I too strive for constant improvement with the ultimate goal of making the system "disapear". It is a profound, long term journey and from the looks of it, you are nearing the end. During my journey, the single most incredible improvment I made was an 8 foot pair of Yamaurra, Millenium 500 speaker cables. The only way I was able to describe what these cables did for the system is that it literally "breathed life" into the music. It is these rare magical moments when all the thought, research and listening pays off. Again, well done. Your system is amazing and must have cost a few college degrees.

Keep up the good work, you are an inspiration.

Glen Passaretti

vmaxgmp February 18, 2010 06:28

Since I initially responded to this thread back in Dec 08, I have made my own jumpers with Kimber 4TC and listen in the bi-wire configuration as well. This stuff never stops.

xagwell February 09, 2010 00:07

Nils, I caught the Maggie bug a couple of weeks ago listening to the 1.6 at a dealer. Since then, I've bought a pair of 3.6R and am in the process of shopping for amp and preamp to run them. Based on the stellar reviews and lower cost points of Monarchy Audio electronics, I am seriously considering them. I'd love to have the Bryston and Quicksilver like yours but my budget ($300) doesn't allow me to have them. What are my options? Peter

petersinh January 25, 2010 22:40

System edited: uploaded picture of the Bent TAP-X

nils December 11, 2009 18:51

System edited: Now using a Bent TAP-X preamp. WOW.

nils December 02, 2009 05:53

System edited: System description slightly updated, and I added some details to the equipment descriptions.

nils November 05, 2009 18:01

Nils, do you continue to have your ribbons on the outside? I see the picture and the ribbons look to be on the inside. I have always been under the impression from other maggie users and dealers that ribbons to the inside were better for staging and detail.

srknutson November 05, 2009 15:34

Bbro, thank you for the kind words! I think the Marchand XM44 is hard to beat in terms of price/performance. If you're already using tubes, a tube-based analog crossover might be too much of a good thing, if you know what I mean. The DEQX is another very flexible option, and is especially awesome if you can feed it a digital signal.l

Definitely start with the biamping. If you like what you hear, you can take your system the extra mile with triamping. Good luck!

nils October 08, 2009 22:38

Nils,

Great system!!! I too started the Maggie journey back in 1986 with the MG IIIa (which I still have-now totally factory rebuilt a few years back and temporarily in storage) then MG 3.6s and now MG 20Rs'. I am currently driving the 20R via the factory passive crossovers with highly modified C J Premier 8A large tube amps using Svetlana winged C 6550 tubes (soon to be moidified to XS's with EL 34 triodes)to great effect. I have experimented with a Bryston 10B active crossover to biamp using various large SS amps for the bottom end. I was looking at getting a Marchand XM 126 but seems like the XM 44 works extremely well for you. I use a REL Storm III (or Stentor III) alongside from ~ 28Hz down and occasionaly an old Velodyne ULD-15. BUT seeing your setup you've got me inspired to consider triamping with active xovers. Again great looking system. I am sure it sounds awsome

bbro September 28, 2009 21:33

Chazz,

Mye Stands can be tilted upward and downward using the leveling spikes. They're great stands and can easily be filled with sand or lead/steel shot. As for treatment of asymmetrical rooms: The RealTraps portable stands work great for rooms like mine. I can easily move the trap into place for listening. Best of luck to your friend! This hobby is a continual journey.

nils September 23, 2009 22:30

Nils
Will show my friend who has one glass door and open space on other how much tuning your room has (he has 4 BST and 3.6's).Am intrigued by MYE stands.I have always like heavy iron (especially on wood floors) from Sound Anchor.Can MYE's be tilted?The SA's Bob Warzalla told me that with dipole it's opposite of normal speaker that you want them tilted forward as opposed to tilted back a bit like standard speaks.He admits this is only sound improvement feature other than being non-resonant because it's not speaker where high mass base would help with a box.Seems like you have taken the 3.6 as far as they can go.Good work.Going to watch to see if you use DEQX.Seems like has amazing potential in terms of control though if you speak to guys at much pricier system systems like TacT or Rives bag on them for this reason or that but they would wouldn't they?
Cheers
Chazz

chazzbo August 19, 2009 01:28

Jallen (fellow asylum inmate), The only alternative to the XM44 I've considered is going with a DEQX pre+xover unit. If I'm going to spend that much more for a crossover, I think it makes sense to go with something that can implement a linear phase crossover.

nils August 17, 2009 14:36

Nils, Have you considered the Pass EQ/Crossover? I hear great things about it. I too have the XM44 with my 3.6, and had V4 in the past. Now I have modified Silver monos, they were benched at 112wpc so I kept them for the mid-high. They are very good with the 3.6. Great looking system you have by the way. I am getting in the JC-1's hopefully this weekend, and the 1090 Rotel amp, and a Parasound to compare. I will borrow a friends 7Bst and also throw that in the mix. All Ears, Jallen

jallen May 22, 2009 00:00

sir,
i have been a magneplanar owner for the past 28 years ( i think) and i live in india.
i was an airline steward. india was totally devoid of hifi then.so i had to shop in newyork.
i bought 2 pairs of maggies from newyork, one around 1975. then in 1995, and now the 3rd pair in 2009 bought locally. OBVIOUSLY they r amazing. but never could lay my hands on ur model, as they are much too big to import, sizewise and not sold locally.
what i admire about u is ur taste in sound. but even more, i respect ur knowledge, courage and guts to do modifications ( obviously all warranties would become void). if u lived in India, u would be the hifi GURU of India.
i am happy for you. i cannot even fathom what ur sound would be like.
some time in the future i would appreciate ur advice on cables. i own nordost blue heaven for spkrs, synergestic research for interconnects. i have got into home theater, so i went in for maggie rears and center. i am happy, but not convinced that i have the right cables for the subwoofer (psb 6i).
ur advice would be INVALUABLE to me.
pls wrte to me, i'm sure u r busy,even if you need a lot of time, i will wait patiently.but please please write.
thanking u in anticipation
suresh lalwani

skljesus May 18, 2009 06:55

Hi Barry,

I assume you want to actually remove the inner sock. The outer sock is attached to the wood trim and preserves the stock appearance of the Maggies.

To be frank, removing the socks is quite a pain. You'll want a few workhorses to lay your speaker (sans stands) upon. To remove the trim and outer sock, you remove the screws that attach the trim to the speaker frame. Be careful lifting the trim off -- the sock is loosely connected, and the entire assembly is rather unwieldy.

The inner sock is even more fun. You'll want a flathead screwdriver and lots of perseverance. The inner socks are attached with hundreds of staples (literally) found at the bottom of the speaker and underneath the ribbon chassis. Yes, you need to remove the ribbon to pull off the inner sock.

Once you're done removing the staples, the inner sock will slide right off. Now you can replace the ribbon chassis and re-attach the outer sock + trim.

Hope that helps!
-- Nils

nils March 09, 2009 17:14

Hi Nils,

Great system, try listening to the speakers spine on with the panels facing the wall. Seems weird but it's pretty cool, kind of like giant headphones. You can always put them back if you don't like it.
I still think you should check out Stereo Unlimited in Walnut Creek if you get the chance. They rewire the whole speaker plus the crossover with their panted wire called Supernal. Plus they have this supertweeter mod[new version of the Linaeum that plays to 75khz]the only mod covered by the factory warranty. You should try listening to Your 3.6 with something other then Bryston. The Viva, Jolida jd3000 mono, and Audio Research, mbl combos are pretty amazing.

The Hares have been modifying these speakers now for about 16 years now, they are the largest dealer of Maggies in the country, plus it's cool place to hang out and listen to music. Amps their include Audio Research, Jolida, mbl 9011's, Primaluna, Wright Sound, Viva to name a few. Speakers include Atohm, Avantgarde, BG, Beveridge, Final, Magnepan, mbl, Quad, Opera. This store is a tweakers paradise, they'll even modify your own amps speakers.

The 3.6's will be my next speaker if I get that WAF and man that's a BIG if!

Have fun listening,

Vinyl9

vinyl9 March 09, 2009 08:25

Listener614,

I experimented with several crossover points and slopes for the Magnepans and found 24dB/oct to work best for both crossover networks. It is critical, however, to use matching amps with the midrange and ribbon with such a steep slope.

I suspect that Magnepan's recommendation stems from their use of Bryston 10B-SUB crossovers. Seeing as Magnepan uses Bryston electronics in-house, I'm almost positive this is the crossover they use, and it doesn't have the option to use fourth-order slopes.

Hope that helps!

nils March 09, 2009 03:02

System edited: Added some component pictures.

nils March 09, 2009 02:58

Nils - Great system.

I'm thinking about taking off the "inner socks" too. I'm sure there's a nice sonic benefit.

How long does it take to get them off? Any issues? Send me an e-mail please? Thanks!

Regards, Barry

barrysandy March 01, 2009 04:09