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Placement of Magnepan 1.6's or 3.6's

I'm rearranging my living room which is 18.5' X 11.5'. I'm getting ready to buy new Maggies, (I've had Tympani 1D's for 20 years.) I planned to get 1.6's and have them facing the short width of the room. A friend suggested that I might have them face the longer length, in which case I could fit the 3.6's. I didn't consider that before because I have a Steinway B grand piano that is 7' long and will sit across the short width of the room. If the speakers are basically a couple of feet from the corners of the room, the body of the piano will partially obstruct the listening V between the speakers and the listener. Is that a problem? Does that listening space need to be completely unobstructed? The Magnepan brochure has them pictured in a corner directly against the wall with a couch a couple of feet out. What do you think? It would be great if they could fit and sound at their best facing the large length of the room. If the piano is not a problem, would the 1.6's be enough or do I need to get the 3'6's?
Thanks.
Tony
tconny
bigshutterbug
383 posts
 
Hi Tony! From my experience with Maggies, they will usually sound best against the longer wall, but the 11 foot depth of the room is just as big a problem, especially with the piano you have. Having them on the short wall is not the best setup either, due to the lack of width with your soundstage. The 3.6 is so wide that the two side by side take up almost half the width of the room! It would be best to try another room, or remove the piano if you plan on enjoying either of these speakers in the proper context.
Good luck!
travis's avatar
travis
239 posts
 
I have to think that whoever set up the photo-op on the Magnepan website didn't know anything about these speakers. I have my 3.6s on the short wall firing down the long dimension (18.5' X 11.5). I prefer nothing between me and my speakers, not even, unfortunately, a table to hold beverages/snacks/CDs. IMO, it looks like the 1.6s on the long wall firing the shorter distance for you. The further out from the back wall you can pull the speakers, the better the sound will get. A good sub-woofer can make a good difference.
charker's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
charker
20 posts
 
I think you should set them up in my living room!!!
newbee
4,767 posts
 
You can use the Thiel speakers on the short wall (firing down the length of the room if you can place them well out from the back wall and close to the side wall with your listening position triangulated and with the axis of the speaker crossing well in front of the listening position (which will eliminate most problems associated with side wall reflections). Since Thiel usuall recommends firing the speaker straight ahead you can keep toeing them in until the reach the corresponding angle. Don't let the crosseyed effect bug you, it can really work. If it does you will also find that someone sitting next to you will also get a good stereo image even though they may be sitting right in front of one of the speakers. I wouldn't try to use Maggies in your room - Travis is right on about the photos.
tconny OP
3 posts
 
Thanks Guys.
Sounds like I should go with the 1.6's and place them along the long wall. Never heard of Cardas website before. Great information. How much should I try to sell my old Tympani 1-D's for? They're biege, 20 years old, used in a no children, smoke or pet environment.
Thanks,
Tony
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