What happens if an MMG doesn't have a wall directly behind it?


Just acquired new MMGs today. Sold my last set of maggies (3.6s) in 2007.

The rectangular room I am in (13’ x 22’ x 9’) has some challenges. One of the 13 foot walls is a slider to a balcony with plastic vertical blinds. The other 13’ wall has a hallway in the left corner (43" wide) and a huge cutout to the kitchen above 44" (69" wide by 48" tall). Floors are laminate with a 6’ x 9’ area rug just in front of the speakers. Walls are currently untreated.

My listening position is in the corner opposite the hallway near the slider.

The MMGs are currently positioned on the wall with the hallway and cutout, 39" off the side and back walls. Tweeters are to the outside to broaden the sound stage.

Right now, the amp and other gear are on a horizontal bookcase in front of the cutout. I will be able to clear some furniture out to bring the speakers further into the room as necessary and can move the amp and other gear to the 22’ side wall.

Could the MMGs be positioned off the 22’ side wall or will the right speaker be dominant given my listening position?

As expected with new MMGs, they are currently very bright and should mellow as they break in. I am open to suggestions to warm the sound. Was planning on adding Anti-Cables to the speakers, but am concerned they will add to the brightness.

What other under $1000 speakers could provide the detail and sound stage of maggies and better deal with the uniqueness of the room? I have listened to the .7s in the local store, but am not sure if they are sufficiently better to justify the $1400 price.

Longer term plans include adding a digital library running off my PC into a wireless DAC.

My system is:

Adcom GTP-500 and GFA-555 (checked out and functioning as designed)
Onix XCD-88 CD player
MMGs

Musical preferences are folk, bluegrass, jazz, classical and rock and roll (60s and 70s) and female vocals.

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.
kythyn
Going back and forth between the 2, I couldn't come up with 1 thing the 1.7's did as well or better than the Vandersteen. I was using a current pair Model 2's. Its possible that you had an older version.
sounds good

I am a big fan of Vandersteen and they can do things the Maggies cannot.

But... vice versa is also true.  I compared 2c's with maggie 1.5QR's for several months, listening every night.  I finally sold the 2c's and still have the 1.5QR (tho an upgrade to 1.7i is very possible).
For the moment, I have rearranged the room to position the MMGs on the long wall, with TV and stand in between and listening chair opposite TV.  Speakers are standing on an area rug, 3 feet from wall and  9 feet to listening position.  As they burn in, will see how the sound changes.
" As expected with new MMGs, they are currently very bright and should mellow as they break in. I am open to suggestions to warm the sound. Was planning on adding Anti-Cables to the speakers, but am concerned they will add to the brightness."

If you call Magnepan, they'll send you some resistors that go on the binding posts. They roll the highs off a bit. This is an issue they are aware of. 

" What other under $1000 speakers could provide the detail and sound stage of maggies and better deal with the uniqueness of the room?"

Vandersteen Model 1's would be better by a substantial margin. I had both speakers in my listening room at the same time and was able to compare them directly. The only difference was, I didn't have the MMG's. I had the 1.7's.
I’m not giving up my Maggies either.

There is a related web site if you use the home button where you can post that pic and a diagram. Then you could link to it from here (Agon seems to have a very poor bulletin software system).
https://systems.audiogon.com/

You may be spending some time with GIK and ASC or be looking at a DEQX or other device.

The bass panels might be a good addition to the MMCs.
I have pictures of the room unfurnished if someone can tell me how to post them in this thread please
The 3.6s were sold before moving to this location.

I would prefer to keep the Maggies specifically for their attributes.  They were played for six hours last night and I can't see giving them up.
did you use the 3.6s in that room?

cone drivers may be easier to 'fit' into the room but you will give up the sterling qualities of the Maggies

I have 1.5QRs and am having to make them work in an asymmetric room with large picture windows...