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Magnepan vs B&W: Same specs, different bass?

Hey everyone,

I recently acquired a set of Magnepan 3.7 speakers which are rated down to 35 Hz, and I've been comparing them to my B&W 803S speakers (also rated to 35 Hz).  While I enjoy the big sound and clarity of the Magnepans, the B&W's blow the Magnepans away in the bass department in an A-B comparison test.

I figured this would be the case, but I can't explain why there's such a big difference in bass when the speakers have the same specs.  Can anyone explain?

B&W 803S specs:
35Hz – 22kHz ±3dB

Magnepan 3.7 specs:
35Hz- 40 kHz

Thanks,
Chris
128x128cjwessing
cjwessing's avatar
cjwessing OP
32 posts
 
I just followed the setup instructions from the Cardas website, here are my room measurements:
http://www.socalhifi.com/Magnepan_Room_Setup.jpg

Here's the Maggie's in their 'optimal' position, something tells me my wife won't allow this... =)
http://socalhifi.com/Maggie_vs_B&W_3.JPG

Here's the B&W's in a similar position:
http://socalhifi.com/Maggie_vs_B&W_4.JPG

Here's the measurement comparison:
http://www.socalhifi.com/Maggie_3.7_vs_803S_take2.png

Looks like moving the Maggie's definitely helped in the 40-80 Hz range, but now I've got a significant room mode around 100 Hz.  Also they still don't have the low end punch of the B&W's, maybe it's that sub-40 Hz performance of the B&W that I'm feeling?
bluesy41
211 posts
 
They’re way too close together and did you move them out 40 percent of the overall length of your room?
cjwessing's avatar
cjwessing OP
32 posts
 
Moved them out 40% of the room width per the instruction, seems crazy to me that these speakers need to basically be in the middle of the room to sound good?
bluesy41
211 posts
 
@cjwessing 


What are your room dimensions? Remember every room is different so you may have to tweak it a little. The Limage placement methodology for Planar have yielded great success. Please read this post 
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?cspkr&1279867740&read&keyw&zzcoupling+planar

Cheers
cjwessing's avatar
cjwessing OP
32 posts
 
Interesting article on placements, I'd love to mess around with it but I'm afraid I don't have the space to have the speakers 40% out into the room.  My room is also not a rectangle but more L shaped with a large opening to a dining room off to the right of the speakers which may be throwing things off.

For now I'm thinking I may have to live with the sub-optimal placement and supplement the bass with a subwoofer.
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