Swo2601
To clarify, the factory did suggest the placement of the bass panels was not that critical.
This was good news to me, to the extent it makes this huge speaker system potentially easier to place in the room.
In my experience, however, although this may be true with respect to imaging, which for me as been more a function of the placement of the mid tweeter panels. But it has not been true for me with respect to bass response.
In my room, I have had very good results with imaging, with the mid/tweeter panels canted in, and also when the mid/tweeter panels are about 8 feet apart - as far apart as possible without creating an obvious hole in the middle. This is in part what led me to setting them up along the long wall of the room and firing across the shorter dimension of the room.
Not sure why you are having problems with imaging.
I would say depth is good to very good, pinpoint localization of vocals and instruments excellent, and of course the height, scale and 3D palpability that Maggies are known for. I have not yet gotten them to image much beyond the physical boundaries of the panels, but I wouldnt expect that from most speakers outside of mini monitors.
For bass response, however, the placement of the bass panels has been more critical.
A well set up pair of Tympanis has fast, tight, marvelous bass that is really something special, but with the wrong room or wrong placement they can sound a bit thin.
If you think you need a sub with these speakers, they are not set up correctly.
As little as 6" closer or farther away from either the side or rear wall has made significant differences for me. The bass also seems to improve when the bass panels are straight and not folded in a V configuration, although this is not a huge difference so I tend to keep them folded for aesthetic reasons.
Whether or not separating the bass panels from the mid tweeter panels in this way creates different or more diffuse imaging, I don't know.
Perhaps with a REALLY big room, having all the panels on one continuous line, one might be able to find a configuration with optimal bass, and even better imaging.
Taking all of these things into consideration, you can better appreciate how these speakers can consume and take advantage of monstrous amounts of power, the original question for the thread.
In an ideal world, I would biamp with huge solid state monoblocks on the low end, and perhaps use tubes on top.
