Firebug1 wrote:^Have Magneplanar's lost the battle against Doc mod speakers?
Firebug, thanks for this question. While thinking about how to reply I realised that in the short time I’ve been active here on HFS I have learnt/am learning a lot and the way in which I appreciate audio and music has changed (for the better).
The Maggies: When I managed to get my get my own little listening-space sorted out a few years ago I wanted a ‘real’ hifi speaker. With detail and imaging (lacking in tha Arcams (then)). First time with the MMG’s was a revelation for me, they were an ex-demo model at my friendly local HiFi dealer and I had to have them. The dealer is Arnold van Otterloo at Sowell HiFi in Gorinchem. He runs an independent, one-man operation and sells only products that he personally likes, gives great service and advice. Also just dropping in for a friendly chat and a cup of coffee is no problem. If only there were more like him.
Anyway, back to the MMG’s. Imaging and detail are stunning. The panels provide a glorious ‘picture’ in which sounds and instruments all have a separate and defined space. Acoustic instruments are very realistically portrayed. The sound is, in one word, Impressive.
But. Doing Doc-Mods on first the Mission 760 and then Audiolab Minax boxes in quick succession has altered my perceptions, changed the way I listen and what I look for in a speaker / audio system. The Maggies turn out to be rather ‘soulless’ and now I have the little Audiolabs running in my main system and they are so much more dynamic and vital. With them the music is alive. What more can I say?
The process of modding even the most humble cabinet (like the Mission) means you really, consciously listen to it, and to the way it changes as the mods progress. And then you get a gut feeling that it is ‘right’. Wish I could improve the Maggies by sticking metal plates all over them – but I don’t think that would be advisable!
Now into the process of carefully improving the ancient Arcam One’s – and enjoying that journey of discovery as well. The Maggies are in the attic, for now, and maybe they’ll be listened to again, but I will probably sell them later this year because the Doc wants all my money (and I want a BMU).
Try it – get a cheap pair of secondhand speakers (anything of a reasonable quality) and modding the cabinets really isn’t all that difficult. Once you get started it’s addictive.