Magnapan LRS placement

I think I’ve reached two general conclusions. (1) If I didn’t already have the KEF Reference 1s I'd be happy with the LRSs, and (2) the LRSs are not quite the Reference 1s. I most noticed the second when I played a bit of Mahler’s 2nd symphony and Gould’s ’81 recording of the Brandenburg concerto The mid-range of the Mahler with the LRSs sounds a bit anemic compared to the Reference 1s; Gould’s piano is not as believably in the room. I’ve yet to find anything the LRSs do better than the Reference 1s, but they seem too similar given the large price discrepancy. Both generate a nice soundstage with good depth and both reproduce timbre well. I’ll listen more, but it may be time to put the LRSs in the carton.

I'm using a pair of LRS I bought used, not LRS+.  I'm expecting adapters to arrive tomorrow that I hope will provide a tighter fit in the LRS receptors, then I plan to do more listening.  I'm a bit concerned about one of the cables pulling out and shorting the amp.  I may replace the LRSs with new LRS+s and Magna stands, although my LRSs are handsome in white with oak trim.  I bought the LRSs on a lark, but I've been impressed with them.  The LRS+ is said to be an improvement.  

Wait until the speakers have a few hundred hours on it. 

Last night I was listening to Kind of Blue with the Magtech and the LRS+. For the first time I felt like I was listening to a live performance of this album. 

The LRS+ is incredible. I do think my LS50 Meta was a bit sharper focus (not imaging). Whatever, the case, the LRS+ is the lowest in the Magnepan lineup so likely going up the range gets the sharper sound I heard with the LS50 Meta.

I think the LRS+ is better than the LS50 Meta. My criticism was just some very minor issue. I have no plans of going up the range of Maggies (for my office) since the LRS+ fits so perfectly in my 12x11x9 room (with 4 additional feet of closet space with a desk).

I hope you can pair the LRS+ with your JC1's and give a comparison.

I set up the LRSs in front of the Reference 1s today, and was astonished that the speakers sound so similar I had to put my ear to the membrane of an LRS to be convinced I was listening to it not the KEF.

You may want to adjust the sub crossover to 50 Hz or 60 Hz with the LRS+. A few people had it at 80 Hz and later adjusted it down. I did the same myself. 

My understanding is the Ayre amps are aimed at sounding a bit tube like without the PITA of tubes. I really like their sound, but I also like the sound of the JC-1s. I’ll start with the Ayre then may switch to the JC-1s. I play music at moderate levels and stuff below 80 Hz goes to the subs, so that mitigates power requirement a bit.

The room is 14 X 19, not 13 X 19.

When I say this thing gobbles up power I refer to the 4 amps I tried on it. These 4 all sounded really good, but it was the CODA and Magtech that made me realize there is more in the speaker. I think the LRS+ will give your Reference 1 a good run. I love the Ref 1.

- Peachtree GAN1 (200 watts @ 8 and 4)

- Peachtree GAN400 (400 watts @ 8 and 4)

- Coda #16 (150 | 300 | 600 watts @ 8 | 4 2)

- Magtech ( 500 | 900 watts @ 8 | 4 )

The CODA has a lot of current and the lowest watts. You can hear that current with the bass. The Magtech is even better. I will have to adjust the speaker placement since the bass can be very strong.

That is why I am predicting the JC1 will be your best amp on the LRS+

mijostyn, I think I’ll start with the setup I propose: the LRSs 4’ from the wall behind them with the KEF Reference 1s interposed between them and the wall. The KEFs with their stands are a heavy lift for an 87 year old guy, but I might get the gardener to move them aside. The speakers flank an 85" Sony. The room's 13 X 19 x 8 with framed posters, bookcases, a pair of stressless chairs, and a desk and computer at the end opposite the speakers. If I use acoustic tile it will be on removable boards.

Given how satisfied I am with the sound using the Reference 1s I don’t want to disrupt the room too much just to try the LRSs.

@dbphd 

Not a good idea. they should be 3-4 feet from a wall in a symmetrical situation. The wall directly behind should be deadened with acoustic foam tile. The Ayre will drive them beautifully. That amp should be driving 3.7i or 20.7s Any dipole speaker benefits greatly from the use of subwoofers using a digital 2 way crossover crossing at 100 Hz 48 dB/oct L-R. You will get as much as another 10 dB headroom and much lower distortion levels.

The Ayre VX-5 Twenty is rated at 350 watts into 4 ohms with zero negative feedback.  The rated sensitivity of the LRS is 86 dB, 85 for the Reference 1.  Sources are Roon from a Nucleus and Ayre QX-5 Twenty and Blue-rays from an Ayre DX-5 DSD disc player, both through an Ayre KX-5 Twenty preamp.  I prefer a moderate listening level.  If I really like the sound I'll consider a pair of LRS+ with stands. 

Those JC1’s would likely be the winner for my ears. This thing gobbles up power.

You may want to consider 50 or 60 for the cut off. The LRS+ can play low. I also have read other LRS+ owners doing the same.

Good news, yyzsantabarbara. Ayre tells me the VX-5 Twenty amp I propose to use will drive the LRS nicely, but I also have a pair of Parasound JC-1s sitting next to the Ayre amp if needed. As with the Reference 1 the LRS will be high passed at 80 Hz by a passive balanced Marchand filter and low-passed at 80 Hz by a Velodyne SMS-1 bass manager to a pair of HGS-15s. I use two speaker cables to each Reference 1, and propose to concatenate those cables for each LRS.

I had the same issue with the KEF LS50 Meta. Whenever I played the Meta I moved the LRS+ totally away. When I played the LRS+ I kept the Meta in place. I did not have an issue with the sound, but it bugged me that 2 speakers were so close.

I eventually decided that the LRS+ and KEF KC62 sub was better and sent the Meta to my nephew.

I tried a few amps with the LRS+, CODA #16, PeachTree GAN400 (for sale), PeachTree GAN1 (modded), Sander Sound Magtech. The takeaway was that give the LRS+ as much power as possible.

The CODA #16 sounded great with the LRS+ but the Magtech is even better with the LRS+. I have not tried the Magtech with anything else. I was discussing the Magtech with Roger Sanders and he said the amp was made initially for Magnepans, thus the name, Mag Tech.