I'm never going to hear a megaspeaker in a good room am I?

     Thank you Erik and Duke for a good discussion about speaker radiation patterns,direct sound, early reflections, RT60 reverberation times and room acoustics in general.  I feel like I'm in school, in a good way.  You guys have got me reevaluating my acoustic strategy and making sure I'm comprehending everything correctly.  
     In my recent systems, Magnepan dipole speakers with their figure-8 radiation patterns have been a constant, previously with a pair of 2.7QR and currently a pair of 3.7i.  I've always sort of forged my own path, based mainly on research and experimentation, with how to set up and handle room acoustics and reflections with the somewhat unique challenges of dipole planar-magnetic panel speakers.  I've settled on relying on the rudimental guideline that it's important for the direct sound waves from the front of the panels to reach the listening position first, with any reflected sound waves not reaching the LP for at least a half a second later, in order to maintain good tonal accuracy and stereo imaging. 
    Fortunately, I have no doubts about my system and room having the very difficult and very important bass frequency response levels performing at an extremely high level.  This is due to the Audio Kinesis Debra 4-sub DBA system I utilize, which provides a near sota solid bass foundation, either with or without acoustic bass room treatment assistance.
     Then there's the eternal question of how to handle the out of phase sound waves constantly being emitted from the rear of both Magnepan panels.   Is it best to absorb this back wave, diffuse it or a combination of both?  After extensive research, professional advice and experimentation, I decided to deploy a combination of absorbing and diffusing acoustic panels along my front wall behind the Magnepans, with very good results.
     Overall, I was heavily influenced in my room acoustics treatment decisions and strategy by Anthony Grimani based on these videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bbmWd00HYM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFbqJkjfABQ&t=285s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raAyF5ksbkk

     I agree that the preferred starting point of a system is the loudspeakers chosen, and I definitely prefer the presentation characteristics of Magnepans thus far as my starting point.  My current preferred strategy on room acoustic treatment is to control the early reflections through absorption, don't over absorb anywhere and use a general combination of absorption and sufficient diffusion elsewhere to strike a beneficial balance between them, especially at the front and back of the room to keep things lively.   
     Most importantly, I'm very pleased with my perceptions of my current room treatment efforts and my system and room's overall sound quality.  I'm just curious, based on both of your recent very relevant discussion topics on this thread, how you two would evaluate my room treatment efforts?
      I understand we don't typically know what we don't know. I welcome all constructive criticism and utilitarian advice.

Thanks,
  Tim

Hello Erik,

     I don’t understand why you would want to waste your time listening to $40K plus speakers in a good room if you have no intention of purchasing them.
     But I actually did attend a private audition, presented by Mr. Diller at a local high end shop, of the $30K Magnepan 30.7 speaker system which consisted of a pair of 7’ midrange/treble panels combined with a pair of some sort of rather large subs. This system sounded spectacular in the shop’s well treated room but I still had no intention of spending that much dough.
     It sounded so incredibly good, however, that it caused me to try and replicate a mini version of it in my room and system. I already had a very high quality Audio Kinesis Debra 4-sub distributed bass array (DBA) bass system that was flat down to 20 Hz in my room. I then replaced my aging Magnepan 2.7Qr main speakers with a used pair of much newer 3.7i speakers, with the true-ribbon treble section and in like new condition, for about $4K.  Voila, a  mini Magnepan $30K 30.7 system for a total price of $6,800.
     The result? The overall sound quality of my custom mini 30.7 system in my well treated room is much closer to the actual 30.7 system’s sq than I ever expected. I would describe both systems as having the typical qualities of upper level Magnepan panels, a fast, smooth, open, natural, highly detailed, palpable and dimensional presentation, along with the added qualities of a very deep and powerful bass foundation combined with powerful full range dynamics, which are not typical Magnepan qualities.
     I completely understand your desire to experience the overall sq level of a pair of mega-speakers in a high quality room. I would love to experience that, too. If you can’t afford or don’t plan on purchasing them, however, it kind of reminds me of imagining making love to an extremely attractive woman; it’s great while the experience lasts but inevitably just disappointing, and a bit sad, when it’s over and you realize once again that it’s pure fantasy.
     Don’t get me wrong, I highly recommend both experiences. It’s just that I prefer to be more practical, constructive and realistic with both the women and audio systems I choose to spend time with.
     Your world’s what you make it, go ahead and take it.

Tim

Erik:
"Half a second?? Delay between direct and reflected? That's 550' long! :) How do you accomplish that? That's no longer going to be a reflection but a distinct echo.

Like duke was suggesting, most think a 10-20 millisecond delay is ideal."

Hello Erik.

RED ALERT!  RED ALERT!  RED ALERT!
QUICK!  QUICK! 
STOP THE PRESSES! 

noble100/Tim  made a mistake! And it's a HUGE one!
COLLOSSAL EVEN!   
He typed half a second when he meant 10 milliseconds!

WHAT A DOPE!!!
QUICK, JUMP ALL OVER THAT IDIOT!
BIGGEST MISTAKE SINCE THAT ORANGE DOPEY BABY GUY!!
QUICK, CALL CHIEF O'HARA! HAVE HIM SEND UP THAT BIG BLACK BAT SILHOUETTEY THING IN THE SKY! 
OH MY! NOW I'M CLUTCHING MY PEARLS!
OOPS!  I WET'EM!

Geez, C'mon Man,
  Tim       

Hello Erik,

     Thank you but there's no need to apologize.  No harm, no foul.  No big deal, I was just having a little fun.
     The truth is it was my mistake, not yours, and I do appreciate your attentiveness.  I also try to pay close attention to posts, especially on posts about room acoustics and room treatments.  Not only because the subject seems to merit close attention to details, but also because I'm relatively new to its practical application.
     Everything's cool.

Thanks,
  Tim