MAGNEPLANAR ® MMG MANUAL
QUICK SET-UP
1. Remove panels and feet from the carton. KEEP ALL PACKAGING! If you should ever return the speakers to
Magnepan, they must be returned in their original carton. There will be a charge if it is necessary to replace
packaging.
2. Install the feet on the back of the speakers and tighten the screws. If the little flippers on the ends of the feet do not
fall loosely b y their own weight, sp read their ends apart until the friction is eliminated.
3. The MMG uses a unique high-current connector (See Figure 1). Strip approximately 1/4-inch of insulation from the
speaker cable end and insert it into the connector and tighten the set screw with the Allen wrench provided. Special
spade lug adapters are available from Magnepan...call to order.
Magnepan encourages the use of large gauge speaker wire(preferably 16 gauge or larger).
TO INSURE PROPER PHASING OF THE SPEAKERS, MAKE SURE PLUS (+)IS TO PLUS AND MINUS (-) IS TO
MINUS.
4. Your sp eakers come in matched pairs and are mirror-imaged. The serial number for each speaker in the pair is the
same except a "1" or "2" follows each serial number. Place speaker "1" on the right and "2" on the left. This places
the tweeters nearest the inner edges of the speakers.
5. Locate the speakers 2 feet or more in front of a wall.
6. The distance between the speakers should b e approximately 60% of the distance you will be from the speakers
when you listen to them, for example: if you will be10 feet from the speakers, position them about 6 feet apart.
7. Aim your speakers at your listening position.
8. ENJOY!
CAUTION – CAUTION – CAUTION
1. FUSING: The sp eaker terminal plate indicates a maximum fuse value of 4 amps-- Type 3AG (“normal” or “fast
blow”). As a p recaution, your speakers have been ship ped with 3 amp fuses installed. Never bypass, increase the
value beyond 4amps, or use “slow blow” fuses in these speakers. O ur destruct tests indicate itis virtually
impossible to burn out the tweeters if the above precautions are observed.
NOTE: Burned out tweeters indicate abuse and are not covered by the warranty.
2. CAT O WNERS: It has b een reported that cats will sometimes use Magneplanars for scratching posts. Should you
have this p rob lem we suggest cat repellent from your local pet shop.
FINE TUNING
1. BASS RESPONSE: If you do not have access to test equipment play a record orCD with a repetitive bass line. Try
the speakers in several positions. Beginexp erimenting with the sp eakers approximately 3 feet from a back wall.
Whilelistening to the repetitive bass, move the speaker forward and backward inincrements of about 6 inches. You
should notice positions where the bass isstronger or weaker. Avoid positioning the speaker the same distance from
a sidewall as a back wall. This will sometimes result in “boomy” bass.
While trying different speaker placements, move around the listening area. You will notice the bass is stronger in
some locations than others. This is due to standing waves in the room. You should locate your listening position and
the speakers where the sound seems the most natural.
2. TILT FEATURE: When sitting in a low chair or when seated more than 10 or 12 feet from the speakers, the speakers
should be tilted forward for b est frequency balance. To tilt the speakers forward, pull the top of the speaker forward
to allow the flippers on the ends of the feet to drop down. To disengage the flippers simply pull the speaker forward
or reach down and rotate the flipper over the top of the foot.
3. STEREO IMAGING AND DEPTH: Once you have determined the best bassposition, separate the speakers by
60% of the distance from your listening chairto the sp eakers. For examp le, if your chair is 10 feet from the
speakers, movethe speakers apart in increments of 3 or 4 inches, listening carefully at eachposition. At some point
you will start to hear two separate sp eakers instead of a“stage effect.” If you have this “hole-in-the-middle” effect,
your sp eakers are toofar apart. Begin moving them back together in small increments until you noticea point at
which you achieve one cohesive “sound stage.” Orchestral music isgood for this adjustment.
Try reversing the speakers left to right, and right to left. You should notice a nicely focused sound with good depth
and imaging with the speakers set up according to the “Quick Set-Up” instructions (“1" on the right and “2" on left).
Try them reversed (“2" on right and “1" on left). You will probably prefer one over the other.
4. OPTIONAL TWEETER ATTENUATION: There are several reasons for p ossibly needing to attenuate the tweeters in
your MMG s:
1. Recordings typically in the “pop” or “rock” vein often exhibit a pronounced rise in the treble region.
2. The Magneplanar Quasi ribbon tweeter is very efficient in it’s total energy dispersion. If the surrounding walls
are exceptionally reflective, the overall perceived acoustical balance can be tipped toward a “hot” high end.
3. Put A and B together and it can be unbearable.
Attenuation is accomplished by placing a resistor in the attenuation p osition on the connection plate (see Figure 1 on
next page). Provided with your sp eakers are 1 and 2 ohm resistors for this p urpose. These resistors will provide 1 to
4dBof attenuation.
If you continue to have a brightness problem you should consider deadening your room (see below) or using
different electronics. Also try different interconnects and speaker cables.
5. ROO M ACOUSTICS: A room that is overly “bright” or “alive” will usually give thesound a “blurred” or “confused”
effect. It can also contribute to the brightnessproblem mentioned above. On the other hand an overly “dead” room
usuallyrobs the sound of the aliveness and inner detail that can make you “think you arethere.”
You can determine which type of room you have by doing what acousticalengineers do when they are without their
test equipment--they walk around aroom while making an occasional loud clap with their hands. If you do this
atdifferent locations in your room and listen to the sound that bounces back at youfrom the room boundaries, you can
get a pretty good idea of what your room islike. If you hear a tailing “zing” after the loud clap, you can be quite
certain youhave a “bright” room and you may need to consider some type of wall treatment.
The worst offenders in a “bright” room are bare glass windows and doors, andhard paneling. This is particularly true
if two opposite walls are parallel andmade of these materials. You can experiment by opening and closing drapes
orhanging a blanket over these areas. There are commercial materials availablethat your dealer can help you with.
One word of caution--don’t go overboard. Ifyou hear only a dull “thud” after the hand clap, you probably have a
“dead” room.About the only thing you can do, short of major construction, is to try leavingdrapes op en or removing
absorptive materials.
6. MARK YO UR POSITION: Now that you have sp ent time finding the “right”position for you and your sp eakers, you
don’t want to lose it. A small tack orinconspicuous piece of yarn can b e used to mark the spot(s). This will allow
youto move the speaker back against a wall for casual listening and facilitate quicklyfinding that “right” sp ot for
more serious listening.
SPECIFICATIONS
Description: Two-way Quasi Ribbon/Planar-Magnetic
Frequency Response: ± 3d, 50Hz to 26kHz
Sensitivity: 86dB, 2.83 Volts, 500 Hz @1 Meter
Recommended Power: 40 to 150W @8 Ohms. For further information, see FAQ
Impedance: 4 Ohms
Dimensions: 14-1/2" X 48" X 1-1/4"
Shipping Weight: 40 lbs./Pair
Loading...