Unique system
September 20, 2004
I have been fine-tuning my audio setup for nearly 12 years.
By no means do I consider myself an audio expert, but I am enthusiastic about listening to
quality systems. I would like to share my setup with you and see what kind of feedback I
can get to make it even better.
I am using a Pioneer VSX-D906S receiver with an old Sony
Pro Logic preamp. The setup is a sort of "hybrid" 7.1 system in that the Pioneer
hosts the five surround speakers pumping out the DTS and the preamp is hooked-up to twin
Tinsel 10" subwoofers with two surround front speakers (also Tinsel). My Pioneer has
two front mid-sized Mission speakers, a Pioneer center speaker, and two rear Tinsel
speakers.
There are a slew of add-ons to this system such as an Xbox
(digital/S-video), PRISMQ MediaCenter (Analog/S-video), 300-disc Sony carrousel (RCA), and
Sony MiniDisk player (RCA), all plugged into the Pioneer.
I know my idea of having two sets of front speakers may be
questionable but I do enjoy the spatial dynamics that it brings to a live concert. Any
suggestions you would have to the configuration of the preamp/speaker setup would be more
than welcome.
Paul
Enjoying yourself is what this hobby is all about,
and it sounds as if you're doing just that. You do have a unique setup. And no, I've never
heard of two sets of front speakers running simultaneously. Here's a shot in the dark to
improve it Instead of having two sets of speakers running full range from up front try
moving one set to the ceiling, directly above the main front stereo pair. Point them
directly out into the room so that they are not playing right at you. This quasi-height
channel might just help with the "spatial" aspect even more, yet give the main
speakers a chance to image properly. Oh, and turn down the level for the height speakers,
too, so that you're just hearing them. Height channels can work surprisingly well; I've
heard a number of systems with them that really floated my boat.
Make sure you secure the ceiling speakers properly so
that the setup is safe. And please let me know how it works out.
Magnetic shielding
September 16, 2004
I am in the market for loudspeakers and had
almost decided on a pair that I recently noticed are not magnetically
shielded. This could pose a problem because they will be positioned about
18" from a CRT television (I do not currently have other options for
placement). My system is a two-channel stereo and not multichannel surround;
therefore, I will not be using the television and loudspeakers
simultaneously.
Do the non-shielded speakers affect the television's
picture even when they are not in use? Can the television affect the sound of
the speakers when it is not in use?
Keith Milligan
Your speakers will pose a problem for your CRT
regardless of whether or not they are playing. The interference is caused by the magnets
on the speakers' drivers creating a magnetic field between them and your monitor, which
produces EMI (electro-magnetic interference). Your speakers' performance will not be
affected, but your video performance will. So, you must either move the speakers further
away from the CRT or purchase shielded speakers.
There is also the possibility of having your speakers
shielded after purchase, but you'll likely void the warranty. It would be easier to buy
shielded speakers to begin with, as most manufacturers make them. For
more information online regarding magnetic shielding, Google "mumetal" (the material used for shielding) and
you'll get lots of information.
Building a Maggie-based system
September 13, 2004
I count myself among the growing number of readers who were
intrigued by the reviews of the MMG W/C system. In my case, I believe the wall-mount
feature could be a huge WAF benefit over my current speakers (a pair of aging Dahlquist
DQ20s, or the "ironing boards" as my wife calls them). With that being
said, I have a couple of questions regarding their use for two-channel music reproduction,
especially in my situation.
The listening/living room is 12' x 20' and, by necessity,
the speaker placement is along the long wall flanking a fireplace. Because of
windows, the MMG Ws would be at most 8' apart and the "prime" listening position
about 10.5' from the fireplace wall.
Given these locations, would the Maggies give the
soundstage/imaging performance that you would expect them to? Given the associated
equipment, would I be able to run a subwoofer with them? How would it be hooked into
the system?
Given the Maggies' stated lower-frequency
limit, which subwoofer(s) would provide a good match (without looking like a big
ottoman-type piece of furniture)? Thanks for the great site and any help/insight to the
above!
Greg Kudlac
I think you're a prime candidate for a system like
you're proposing. The 8' distance apart is perhaps a bit close together for ideal
imaging (based on an equilateral triangle to provide the widest soundstage), but would
result in a more focused center image. So no real worries there. Regarding your
subwoofer connection, you'd simply run a second set of main outputs from your preamplifier
into the subwoofer's RCA inputs. If your preamp does not have such facilities (two sets of
outputs), you can use a Y-adapter to accomplish the same configuration. A Y-adapter
will basically turn one output into two. As for subwoofer brands, our reviewers have
found the Rocket UFW-10 and the Hsu Research models to mate well with Magnepans. I've
also heard good things about the newer Velodyne, Mirage, and SVS units, too. Good
luck, and let us know how it works out.
Active crossovers
September 10, 2004
Can you suggest a quality active crossover for biamping my
passive subwoofer and monitor speakers? Can a PA crossover like Behringer CX or Rane be
used in home audio?
Pavan
There are some excellent values to be had from companies
like Rane and Behringer, so it wouldn't surprise me if you were to find exactly what you
are looking for in the pro audio realm. One thing to check before you buy is the connector
type used on the crossover itself. Many pro components use XLR, while some use 1/4",
so you may need adapters for your system. Another company that has been making audiophile
crossovers for many years is Marchand, which you can find at www.marchandelec.com. They even
make tube crossovers!
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