Swo2601
I am still experimenting, but here are a few thoughts:
I have owned Magneplanars off and on since 1980, and historically thought I achieved the most spacious imaging by keeping the panels on a horizontal line and not canting the panels.
With the Tympanis, however, you can see in my photos that I have canted the mid/tweeter panels in somewhat agressively, while listening about 8 feet away.
To my ear, the imaging is not as wide or spacious, but sounds more focused, more solid, less diffuse, where vocals in particular have a dead center, uncanny presence.
When I was having them restored, circa 2000, the factory suggested the placement of the bass panels was not very critical.
In my experience, you can boost the bass a bit with Magnepans by moving the panels closer to the rear wall and/or corners, which was the main variable that informed my current set up. There is a significant difference in +/- only 6 inches.
I have folded them slightly to mainly make the room feel just a bit more spacious. This doesn't seem to make a huge difference.
I have experimented with all three panels on one continuous line which perhaps sounded a bit better, but is a bit harder to live with.
cwlondon
