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Magnepan DWM problem

Just got off the phone with Wendell Diller at Magnepan. I was hearing a rattle/distortion/resonance from my DWM Bass panel in my nearly new MMG Super system. With particularly strong bass notes (Cut Chemist-The Audience's Listening CD-track 2 & 3)at a robust (but not as loud as I might one day choose) volume.The problem only occurs with this type of bass note at this very healthy volume. I was concerned that my panel was defective or that my 110 watt Odyssey Khartago monoblocks were clipping. What Wendell told me was a bit surprising-he stated that this is pretty much a problem with all Maggies!! Apparently the film was slapping against the magnet(if I recall correctly)-I was more than a little shocked. I could not recall in the research I did before purchase or the good deal of Maggie related research that I did since the purchase(or the 2 local Maggie owners I know) did I ever hear this issue mentioned. It is certainly possible that this shortcoming has been mentioned in the literature and perhaps every speaker may have a similar problem but I am still a bit unsure. So please weigh in with your opinions and experience. Can a true Audiophile quality speaker have such an issue? Was Wendell just trying to get me off the phone? Should I be worried about an issue that will not reoccur in 99% of my listening? Many thanks. LS
trytone
7 responses Add your response
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,984 posts
 
I was a Magnepan dealer for many years. This is called "panel slap" and indeed does happen if the panel is overdriven or if the source material has really, really deep bass and played loudly. I've heard this happen numerous times.

Electrostatic speakers are also prone to this. Actually any panel type speaker will occasionally do this.

I don't think you have a problem, (well with your speaker anyway), but maybe with your choice of music material...just kidding.
tls49's avatar
tls49
1,351 posts
 
Trytone
With particularly strong bass notes (Cut Chemist-The Audience's Listening CD-track 2 & 3)at a robust (but not as loud as I might one day choose) volume.The problem only occurs with this type of bass note at this very healthy volume.

03-28-14: Mofimadness
I was a Magnepan dealer for many years. This is called "panel slap" and indeed does happen if the panel is overdriven or if the source material has really, really deep bass and played loudly. I've heard this happen numerous times.

It appears the solution to the problem is to be satisfied with a little lower volume, or replace the 86db Maggie with a speaker that has a higher sensitivity.
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,218 posts
 
The Magnepans are true audiophile loudspeakers, but they are not designed for loud bass heavy music.
Post removed 
kjweisner's avatar
kjweisner
293 posts
 
A good subwoofer solution is a Vandersteen 2Wq which uses a crossover between your pre-amp and power amp. This rolls off the bass starting at 80Hz, and the sub has a complementary response curve. With three 8" drivers in a slot loaded configuration, the 2Wq is known to be a "fast" sub and a nice complement to planars. I used one with my 1.6s and loved the combination. All the vitrues of the Maggie with extended and tuneful bass.
trytone OP
113 posts
 
Many thanks. Just did not recall this caveat in the glowing reviews or in the many years of TAS reading (my faulty memory perhaps). Still greatly enjoy the Maggies and am now actively looking for a better turntable. All the best. Ls
labtec
189 posts
 
I'm willing to bet that the "slap" occurs around 200hz which is at the crossover point of the DWM.

There isn't much you can do about it and a sub is not going to help it at that frequency.

There's no reason Magnepan shouldn't be able to address this issue, but they are somewhat eccentric and unconventional about a lot of things. Just look at their weird speaker connection with an atypical allen wrench size.

It's just a trade-off for buying what otherwise is a great speaker value and technology.
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