New Magnepan "Concept Speaker" introduced at Audio Connection

Josh, what Danny Richie (GR Research) uses at shows is a pair of OB/Dipole subs at the front of the room (phase aligned with the loudspeakers), and a pair of sealed monopoles (his F12G model) at the rear, which their phase opposite the fronts. That system won him the "Best Bass At The Show " award at a number of RMAF.

The challenge in creating a swarm using all OB/Dipoles, is that the H-frame, like all dipoles, must be at least 3’ from all walls, and face the listening position. On each side of the sub there is of course the dipole null, so while the sub will pump bass energy into the room, it will do so only out of it’s front and rear, not it’s sides. Could be tricky!

Another way to go, is to use a pair of OB/Dipoles as woofers/subs for the speakers, and augment them, as does Danny Richie, with a pair of sealed subs, positioned in the room ala a swarm, to deal with room modes, etc.

Yup, I’ve heard the DWM panels. They were never offered as a subwoofer, but rather as additional woofers, to help bring up the level of the Magnepan speaker’s bottom end as it dropped off (due to a couple reasons, including dipole cancellation). I’ve always considered them over-priced for the little bass reinforcement they afford.

It was here on an Audiogon post that I read of Duke telling an interested party that he recommended a dipole sub for use with dipole loudspeakers over a distributed bass array. I wouldn’t know how to find it now, but perhaps someone remembers it.

Tim, if you hear no discontinuity between your Maggies and your subs, congratulations, your search has ended successfully! Since there are far more monopole loudspeakers out there than dipoles, there is a huge market for the distributed bass array sub systems now available. We agree that everyone should check them out. When I hear live electronically-created music (as opposed to purely acoustic), one of the main things I am aware of is the weight of the sound. I will never forget the sound Of John Entwistle’s electric bass/amp! The most massive thing I've ever heard, and I've been on a stage with a Hammond B-3 with a Leslie!

Most hi-fi systems sound bass-shy to me: all upper bass, midrange, and highs, lacking the heft, the weight of the live experience. Some of that is of course a result of live SPL, not all of it. Most speakers can’t play the bottom octave (16-32Hz, or 20-40Hz) AT ALL. Everything down there is doubling and distortion. You don’t have to put up with that, people!

Tim, Duke of Audio Kinesis was asked by the owner of a planar loudspeaker if his Swarm or an OB/Dipole woofer system would meld better with the planar loudspeaker. Duke recommended the OB/Dipole. The monopole characteristics of sealed and ported subs is a major factor in making the seamless integration of planars and subs as unsuccessful as so many have found it to be. Magnepan chose to go with an OB/Dipole woofer system in the proposed new model for exactly that reason.

The distributed array bass system addresses the problem of bass/room interaction, but does nothing to address the issue of the difference between monopole and dipole propagation. OB/Dipole woofers eliminate that difference. 

The open baffle servo-feedback bass system used in the GT Audio Works magnetic-planar loudspeaker mentioned by faxer above is the GR Research/Rythmik sub. It is available separately from both GR Research and Rythmik, and can be used with any loudspeaker. It is THE ultimate sub for all planar loudspeakers, as it’s dipole characteristics make it possible to blend seamlessly with them as no monopole woofer can (even in swarm fashion). It also features the Rythmik servo-feedback system, which when combined with the virtues of ob bass, creates the best bass reproduction you’re ever likely to hear. It has found favour with owners of Maggies, Quads, Eminent Technology LFT’s, Acoustats, and of course GR Research speaker owners.

But the Magnepan "Project" loudspeaker is a complete package, including the "midbass coupler" used in the 30.7, as well as the fantastic Maggie ribbon tweeter used in the 3.7i/20.71/30.7. It will be interesting to compare the Magnepan OB woofer system with that of GR Research/Rythmik. The GRR/R uses 2 or 3 (or more!) 12" woofers per side, the Magnepan eight 6.5" per. The GRR/R uses servo-feedback woofers, the Magnepan DSP. Should be interesting!