Magnepan 3.7 attenuator resistors?

[audiot servant]

Originally Posted by Rayooo

Thanks for the jumper suggestion as well!!

So I guess my current plan is to get the Cast resistors and a set of jumpers from Empirical. once everything is here I can do a few tests etc. definitely will try attenuator-less as well.

Next I'll have to look into stands/feet improvements.

Given how sweet and smooth I guess the ET5/JC1s would be I wouldn't think you'd be needing resistors on the mids or tweeters once the panels are freed up... unless the room is an issue... and yes, the stands are great... don't use the words 'must have' very often but a definite with the stands.

Also as much as I've always sworn by 100% tubes maybe a good hybrid approach seems to work with the 3.7's... ie a musical tube pre paired up with a good transparent (but none too analytical) SS amp... sounds good anyways and noticing a bit of a trend with these :-)

Graham

[bzr]

Well isn't that a doozy. Graham, I was about to suggest the Sanders Magtech until I looked at your signature & I see you are an educated man too. From Bill Mclean is it?

[Rayooo]

Originally Posted by audiot servant

Given how sweet and smooth I guess the ET5/JC1s would be I wouldn't think you'd be needing resistors on the mids or tweeters once the panels are freed up... unless the room is an issue... and yes, the stands are great... don't use the words 'must have' very often but a definite with the stands.

Also as much as I've always sworn by 100% tubes maybe a good hybrid approach seems to work with the 3.7's... ie a musical tube pre paired up with a good transparent (but none too analytical) SS amp... sounds good anyways and noticing a bit of a trend with these :-)

Graham

speaking of the resistors.. I popped them in right off on day one as I think was even suggested in the Maggy manual. I left the mid range alone. at this point I guess 7 or so months later, I really should take them out and try it. .. I'm so happy overall, I didn't want to mess with things. The "smart" thing to do would have been to do some listening without any tweeter attenuation prior to ordering the Cast Resistors, yea, makes sense, 'guess that's why I didn't do it that way!

I've for whatever reason, as a long time owner of Apogee's, then 1.6s then 3.6s, now 3.7's, gotten hooked on using big SS amps that are as neutral sounding as possible for driving the planars. Then I tailor the sound with the preamp, cables, etc.etc...in my case an ET5, which seems to have just the right amount of detail with still preserving a bit of that tube "mellowness". is to my sense at least, just right.

Looking back, the JC-1s absolutely blow my old Primare A32 away. I never thought I'd say that, as it took me months to realize it. Still though I would like to try a big nasty set of tube pwr amps at some point!

[audiot servant]

Originally Posted by bzr

Well isn't that a doozy. Graham, I was about to suggest the Sanders Magtech until I looked at your signature & I see you are an educated man too. From Bill Mclean is it?

Yes Bill is a lovely bloke as well as a long time champion for Magnepan...

Originally Posted by Rayooo

Looking back, the JC-1s absolutely blow my old Primare A32 away. I never thought I'd say that, as it took me months to realize it. Still though I would like to try a big nasty set of tube pwr amps at some point!

+ 250 (ARC REF that is)... good to have a dream as a bit of a fallback.

[Rayooo]

Well the cast resistors are in, have been for a week now.. and I've been fighting making this comment for just about that long.

Every ounce of logic or reason would tell me that replacing a 1ohm Mills resistor with a 1 ohm Duelund CAST resistor would result in a difference unmeasurable and undetectable in this universe.

Unfortunately, I can't say that. I would swear, after a week of listening, that I could absolutely detect a difference. On top of that admission, I'd be tempted to leave it at that and not make a judgement to whether the difference is in fact an improvement. Well, it is, at least in my opinion. As was stated in an earlier post, the next level of transparency was achieved.

Originally Posted by Rayooo

Well the cast resistors are in, have been for a week now.. and I've been fighting making this comment for just about that long.

Every ounce of logic or reason would tell me that replacing a 1ohm Mills resistor with a 1 ohm Duelund CAST resistor would result in a difference unmeasurable and undetectable in this universe.

Unfortunately, I can't say that. I would swear, after a week of listening, that I could absolutely detect a difference. On top of that admission, I'd be tempted to leave it at that and not make a judgement to whether the difference is in fact an improvement. Well, it is, at least in my opinion. As was stated in an earlier post, the next level of transparency was achieved.

Great to hear. I'm pleased with mine as well.

[Face]

Glad you're enjoying them.

[salmtpa]

Originally Posted by audiot servant

Sound Anchors made a substantial leap in tranparency in my 3.7s... most importantly in bass depth, texture and pitch... and they have a cleaner look than the Mye (which do look a bit more obvious with the angled upright) even if the Mye are likely even more rigid because of it... think you can't go wrong with either for SQ... big step up.

Also thanks kindly for the tip on Empirical Designs jumpers... will give them a go .

On attenuators: Best day for me was the one when I was able to take the attenuators out all together... felt really freeing though it took a complete WW cable upgrade and also making sure the digital source was good enough especially since my room is still a touch on on the live side... but then going just irresistable really makes the mids and tops beautiful, lively and airy and gets rid of that hemmed in feel of the attenuators.

cheers
Graham

I'm running my 3.7s naked also, very transparent and dynamic with no sense of veiling or constriction.

[Masterlu]

Happy Holiday Sal

[klao]

Interesting and informative posts, gentlemen. Thank you.

I bypasssed the tweeter attenuators on my 3.6's and bi-wired them, so never care about the resistors/jumpers that came with. Since the 3.7's got different design, your info will be useful because I've placed an order for them (almost 6 months) already.