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"Air, Extension, Resolution" Music or Hi Fi?

I have mentioned in other threads my efforts to tame the treble on my Tympani IV a's which has led to a number of upgrades:

tweaky resistors in line with the tweeters
MYE stands
a Musical Fidelity tube buffer
new tubes for the Audio Research SP11
new Signal Cable speaker cables and interconnects

Once in a while, with the right recording, late at night, the system sounds very, very good, and although not quite the midrange magic of my Apogess Stages with Jadis preamp and Aragon 4004 MK II, probably some of the best "sound" I have ever heard.

But to be honest, I dont find myself compelled to go and listen to the system and often, the system still sounds fatiguing.

Ever the audiophile, I have wondered if

Rives Audio room treatment and/or
Replacing the SCD-1 with a TURNTABLE

would really restore the passion that got me into this hobby nearly 30 years ago.

But reading an ad for Tympani 1-Ds on ebay a couple of days ago gave me a Eureka?! moment:

As much as the ribbon tweeters sound really impressive, with air, extension and detail that the non ribboned models clearly dont have...

...I am suddenly wondering if all of this comes at the expense of the MUSIC.

I cant ever remember, for example, listening to my Magneplanr MG-1Bs, for example, and saying:

"I stayed up all night listening to MUSIC, but sadly the experience was ruined by my craving for more "extension" "air" and/or "inner detail".

All of this is making me wonder if the evolutionary push for "transparency" "lifting veils" "inner detail" "resolution" is exactly what turns music into hi fi, and if I might enjoy a newly restored pair of Tympani 1D's more than my Tympani IVa's.

Just my latest thought.....thank you for listening.
cwlondon

Showing 2 responses by gmood1

gmood1
1,251 posts
 
Sogood51 nailed it very well me thinks. I also had a pair of the MG-1Bs and a pair of the 2.5Rs. The ribbon series had more resolution. But it wasn't as integrated as the basic panel of the older Maggie. Honestly when I think about it, I enjoyed the older model sooo much better. The treble is a tad bit tilted up on the older ribbons and it could be fatiguing at times.My first thought was HiFi sounding when I fired them up. It reminded me of what an S.S. amplifier sounds like with too much negative feedback.

So anyway your not crazy ...if you crave the one panel maggies, get you a pair and be happy.You can have good resolution and the system still be musical.It's more about tonal balance than anything else. Once you find tonal balance everything else will fall in place including the passion.

Good listening
gmood1
1,251 posts
 
Also one more thing, if you have an itch to try something a little radical but inexpensive. A pair of Visaton B200s in a open baffle should give you what your looking for. From communicating with a friend that also owned maggies.This speaker mated with a subwoofer, digital crossover and tubed amplifier is extremely musical and satisfying. Here's his post on the subject. WARNING this man knows how to write.LOL Visaton B200’s.
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