subwoofers and panels don't mix


i have yet to experience a subwoofer that mated well with a panel speaker--ribbon, stat and planar magnetic.

each time i have heard a combination of a cone driver with a panel it sounds like two speakers. the blend is not seamless.

can anything be done to make the transition from cone to panel sound like a one speaker system, rather than reveal 2 different driver types ?
mrtennis
Thanks for the information, Mrtennis. I appreciate your taking the time to call Magnepan. You know, maybe just maybe having a reviewer interested enough to call 'em up will help push the project forward.

If you'll be at RMAF, it would be nice to see you. I'm in room 1100. Not expecting to win you over, needless to say!

Duke
hi duke:

hearing is believing. if someone can demonstrate a stereo system with panel speakers and cone woofers which blend seamlessly, i'll change my opinion on the subject.

i will not be at the rmaf. i will be in las vegas in january. might i see you there, again ?
Mrtennis,

I will not be exhibiting in Las Vegas in January, though I plan to ogle & schmooze so we might bump into one another in the hallway. That show is geared towards manufacturers and dealers finding one another, and frankly I'm not looking for dealers. Besides RMAF is less expensive and imho a better show.

Duke

Mr Tennis - from your post 2 above - can you give me a specific track to listen to and what exactly should one listen for to identify that the woofer and panels don't blend seamlessly? I know when they sound really bad together - but when a system is pretty tuned (and has verifiable flat response at the couch from 20 to 200 Hz) - what exactly do you listen for?

The one thing I am aware of is some localization of the bass - which is obviously undesirable - I'm still trying to dial that in. I have a 20 ft cord and need a 25 to move it an inch from where it is, so I can't play with it too much right now.
the issue is not localization of bass but rather the timbre.

i would suggest that you listen to dave grusin, "keep your eye on the shadow", on sheffield. i have a cd called PRIME CUTS, and it is track 8.

panel bass and cone bass sounds different, just midrange reproduced by a cone and a planar driver also sounds different.