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Magnepan's new LRS?

A brief blurb in Stereophile online (by Herb Reichert reporting from AXPONA 2019) gave accolades to Magnepan's new LRS. The local authorized dealer is not carrying it for unclear reasons (at least, the decision to not offer that model wasn't explained to me when I asked directly about it). Have any Forum readers had an opportunity to audition these and, if so, what's your opinion?
Thanks,Keith
kacomess
kacomess OP
200 posts
 
I tried to read and understand the Audio Science Review analysis and the technical details of the original posting and most of the subsequent 28 pages were entirely opaque to me, but I've no background in engineering or acoustics. Allowing for that, the consensus there was that the LRS is seriously flawed. That conclusion (based apparently on the measurements) contradicts all other reviews I've read.
Anyway, I do agree that the LRS are seriously bass deficient, at least as far as I've been able to determine in my listening room. I think this problem has been aggravated by placing them on off-the-floor stands (as some of the comments on that forum suggest will be the case) and maybe tomorrow I'll remove the stands and re-install the manufacturer supplied ones and re-assess.

As for "virtually unlistenable", I don't agree with that conclusion. Allowing for the bass issue (without sub-woofers), I'm generally content with the LRS.
I'm interested in reading Audiogon comments from technically sophisticated reviewers on that Audio Science thread.

Keith
jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 
@kacomess

you own the speaker, enjoy it

as for ASR it is imo a poster child for seemingly intelligent and educated people missing the whole point

let me ask you this, does reading that report on the speaker make it sound worse now? :)
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,853 posts
 

Keith, planars are notorious for being difficult to measure (that's why Magnepan doesn't send Stereophile products to review). Those who measure them the same way they do drivers-in-a-box loudspeakers, and then listen to confirm their measurements, are bound to find fault.

The best things an LRS owner can do to maximize their sound is: 1- get them 5' in front of the wall behind them if possible, 3' minimum. 2- feed them as much power as is reasonably possible (200w/ch is good). 3- augment them with a sub or four. The Rythmik and GR Research subs are finding favour with Maggie owners: the OB/Dipole if you're a fanatic, the F12, F12G, or F15 if you're not.

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cleeds
5,967 posts
 
kacomess

I'm interested in reading Audiogon comments from technically sophisticated reviewers on that Audio Science thread.
That might be difficult. I get the sense that not many people here take ASR seriously. (And I'm trying to be kind about it.)
snapsc
676 posts
 
I’d have to say that having spent a few hours with the 1.7is at a dealer’s store... and 20 minutes with the .7s at the Florida Audio Show... there are some things they do that are really really good. In both cases, the bass down to maybe 50/60 hz was good... mid bass and midrange almost a hologram. 

 I didn’t particularly care for the very small listening window... but that is just my preference. 

It is unfortunate that ASR doesn’t take the approach of concluding with something like...”our measurements don’t correspond with what people are hearing so as a next step we will try to figure out what we are missing... what measurements we might be missing”.
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