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flat speaker quandary

Hi folks...

I can't believe it, but after finaly getting the Martin Logans iv'e always wanted...i'm not satisfied.
I lack warmth, punch and musicality over what I upgraded from, which was Magnepan MMGs. I know, a much smaller speaker. I moved into a new house with a great big listening room so i figured it to be a good chance to buy the big ML's I had lusted over, which I did. Now that I have them...I'm scratching my head. Wost of all, its getting to the piont where I'm more focused on what i'm *not* hearing vs. what I am hearing.

I currently am using a nice tube preamp > mccormack dna1 > Martin logan SL3

this is an upgrade from a B&K st140 > MMG rig in a smaller room. THIS is the sound I need to re-capture. It just worked for me on so many levels.

I was thinking of maybe buying some larger maggies, like the 3.3r or 3.5r as they tend to pop up with some regularity and would be of equal value to what I could likely get for these SL3s I have.
I've never heard a big maggie before. How do the 3-way planars sound?

Should I just get a good sub instead? I know I need one, but If those larger maggies dont require one then that would be a + in their direction.
128x128nickspicks

Showing 3 responses by nickspicks

nickspicks's avatar
nickspicks OP
48 posts
 
d'oh !
nickspicks's avatar
nickspicks OP
48 posts
 
ok...the real details.
philips 963 as transport >
smART DIO boulder mod >
audio experience symponies pre >
McCormack DNA1 >
MIT term3 biwires
cheap monster and AR interconnects

Room is open concept living room/kitchen.
living room area is 17' wide and 24' deep.
I have the SL3s pulled 50" from the back wall and 4' in from each side wall. They are toe'd in approx. 2.5"
Lots of big bushy and tall plants in each corner behind speakers, and media racks / book cases on back wall center. TV in between.
Walls are new sheetrock.
Listening spot is center couch, 10' from dead center.

strengths: awesome holographic sounstage and imaging
weakness: not very musical, no punch or impact, always movign the speakers to tweak them "just right". Even a half inch makes a big impact w/thes SL3s.
nickspicks's avatar
nickspicks OP
48 posts
 
I see your points...

1. my amp
possible, but likely not. The McCormack DNA-1 is regarded as a very powerful, High Current amp (185wpc at 8ohm). I've been told that this is a great amp for ML's and Maggies alike.
However, it does not sound anything like the B&K ST-140 I upgraded from. I *loved* that sound. Very warm and punchy. Unfortunately for me, I upgraded both the amp and the speakers at the same time so I dont know who's to blame! I could easily get another old B&K amp w/that characteristic sound they had. Like a ST2140, for example. Those are relatively common and 1/2 the price of my McCormack.

2. Speakers too small for room
Probably, but sitting in front of them it doest appear so! They are pretty big....
I pulled them out into the room a little more, and that both helped and hurt my sound. Now I hear the room more. I can hear an echo of sound gathering behind the speakers. Bob Dylan sounds like he is hiding behind one of my plants!

3. Odyssey....I wish.
Why did I buy the SL3? I fell in love w/the ML sound after a tweeter demo of the Ascents (driven by B&K) and it was freaking monsterous. That demo sat in my head stewing until I scheemed a way to buy some of these marvelous speakers. I was hoping that the SL3 would be close in sound to what I heard from the Ascents. Not even close.....bummer.
So, trying to make due with what I ended up with

4. Interconnects...
I'm sure this is an issue, but I'd really like to borrow some modest cables first before I plunk down several hundred on the ones i've been spying (boulder cable M-80s). They will come eventualy, just for piece of mind.

Still, i'm tempted to go back to what I liked. Bigger Maggies and warmer amps.
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