OK, I done it. One of the three MG1.6 is completed, so I can evaluate (by comparison) what I get for about $200 per speaker.
First: the design. I decided to use a 10AWG air core inductor and Hovland capacitors. I chose to modify the crossover frequencies slightly. A 3.0 mH inductor gives me a 205 Hz LF break frequency (vs 3.5mH/180 Hz) and the capacitor is 3X7mfd = 21mfd (instead of 22mfd) which raises the HF break frequency from 1800Hz to 1900 Hz. My reasons for these changes are that I use a subwoofer (so the LF panel can play higher), and I wish to slightly reduce the midrange "gap" of the original design. The air coil was selected over foil because: (1) Magnepan does not recommend foil, and (2) foil was available only to 12AWG. The Hovland capacitors were selected because their diameter is about one inch, and they fit easily inside the original crossover cavity (after all the original stuff is removed).
I decided not to replace the original binding posts. They work well with bare wire connections which is what I use.
I did rewire the inputs in a way that gives the modified speakers a very "stock" appearance. There are three sets of posts: LF, HF, BOTH. I rewired the BOTH terminals so that they serve as the connection point for the externally mounted inductor. The inductor is mounted in a oak cover for the crossover cavity, and its wires are connected to what was originally the BOTH input terminals. This makes it real easy to "plug in" any different value or type of inductor. A jumper between these terminals would provide direct connection to the LF panel should I want to biamp.
Oh yes, how does it sound. Well it was immediately clear that something had changed, a lot, and for the good. Investigation revealed that the mod speaker is 6 dB louder. I would not have expected so great a change. After readjusting relative speaker volumes for proper balance further listening indicates that the sonic character is, to my ear, significantly improved. Of course, there has been no break-in as yet. I don't believe in break-in. But then it was not so long ago that I didn't believe that different types of capacitor affect sound. We shall see.
First: the design. I decided to use a 10AWG air core inductor and Hovland capacitors. I chose to modify the crossover frequencies slightly. A 3.0 mH inductor gives me a 205 Hz LF break frequency (vs 3.5mH/180 Hz) and the capacitor is 3X7mfd = 21mfd (instead of 22mfd) which raises the HF break frequency from 1800Hz to 1900 Hz. My reasons for these changes are that I use a subwoofer (so the LF panel can play higher), and I wish to slightly reduce the midrange "gap" of the original design. The air coil was selected over foil because: (1) Magnepan does not recommend foil, and (2) foil was available only to 12AWG. The Hovland capacitors were selected because their diameter is about one inch, and they fit easily inside the original crossover cavity (after all the original stuff is removed).
I decided not to replace the original binding posts. They work well with bare wire connections which is what I use.
I did rewire the inputs in a way that gives the modified speakers a very "stock" appearance. There are three sets of posts: LF, HF, BOTH. I rewired the BOTH terminals so that they serve as the connection point for the externally mounted inductor. The inductor is mounted in a oak cover for the crossover cavity, and its wires are connected to what was originally the BOTH input terminals. This makes it real easy to "plug in" any different value or type of inductor. A jumper between these terminals would provide direct connection to the LF panel should I want to biamp.
Oh yes, how does it sound. Well it was immediately clear that something had changed, a lot, and for the good. Investigation revealed that the mod speaker is 6 dB louder. I would not have expected so great a change. After readjusting relative speaker volumes for proper balance further listening indicates that the sonic character is, to my ear, significantly improved. Of course, there has been no break-in as yet. I don't believe in break-in. But then it was not so long ago that I didn't believe that different types of capacitor affect sound. We shall see.