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Weird problem noticed today...

This has never happened before but in my Bluesound Node 2i today there is - I can it descrbe is as - bass slap or pop, I think just coming from the left Maggie. I pretty much only play loud. My subs are right behind the Maggie (16" or so) and it's definitely coming from the Maggie. Now the DAC on the Bluesound has a lot more boomy bass than the CD player DAC - Yamaha Aventage BD-A1060. So I am thinks my it's signal-related but perhaps it's the Maggies only they are not being driven hard in those frequencies enough to make that horrible sound. BluOs just did an update that is only major change to system today. I probably hadn't played music on a couple weeks and BluOs asked me to do update then I noticed problem - could be coincidental though could this be an amp or preamp issue?
Thoughts?
Cheers
John
jkf011

Showing 8 responses by mofimadness

mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,933 posts
 
Magnepans don't have stators.  Stators are part of an electrostatic speaker.  Maggies are planar magnetic.
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,933 posts
 
I was a Magnepan dealer for many years. Without really seeing/hearing the problem, my best guess is that you’re simply over-driving the panel.

This is known as "panel slap". Especially in the bass region. The panel can only move so far. If it’s over driven it will cause this to happen.

You will really need to isolate the problem. Could be with the electronics. Troubleshooting it all the way through is best. Isolate each piece and follow the clues...

Also, the BluOS has a tone control setting. Make sure it is "off" or that the level is at zero. Could be you're pushing extra bass, (or treble) through the Node 2i.


mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,933 posts
 
What model of Magnepans do you have?

You might want to do a reboot/reset on the Node2i, just to make sure it didn't get "stuck" when updated.  I just updated mine and didn't notice any anomalies. 
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,933 posts
 
When you asked "if the ribbon "slapping" is fatal"?  I assumed you had a separate ribbon tweeter, (like a 3.6/3.7/20.7) which would be weird if that was slapping.

The 1.7i is a quasi ribbon panel, not a full separate driver, so no, Maggies will slap if over driven.  You really should try to avoid that, but it's not fatal.
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,933 posts
 
Also weird is you said that it doesn't do it with CD, right?  Do you have any other source to try?  I'm sure the Node2i and the CD don't have the exact same output voltage, but they should be close.

If you have a sound pressure meter, maybe measure the output with both sources to make sure they are matched.  You might just be over driving the speaker with the Node2i as the source or maybe with the update, they somehow increased the output a little?

Logic tells us, (thanks Spock) that if the only source that is causing this to happen is the Node2i, the issue's gotta be with that source...
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,933 posts
 
I never heard, in 50 yrs being a budget audiophile of a out-of-phase speaker having a bass slap.

Correct.  Usually an out-of-phase speaker will have less bass, not more.
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,933 posts
 
You can do a "reboot" and not lose anything.  Just unplug it for a few minutes or you can reboot it from the BluOS app.

Menu>Help>Diagnostic>Reboot

A Factory reset will lose all the info.  If you saved the 3000 songs on Tidal or Spotify or Qobuz, or etc.  They will all still be there.  Where did you save the songs?
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,933 posts
 
SWEET!  Glad it was something other than a defective component.
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