Magnepan MG 20.7 - Manual (Page 4)

12.
Stereo Width and Imaging
Once you have located the best position for the speakers and your chair for bass performance, separate the
speakers by 50-60% of the distance from your chair to the speakers. For example, if your chair is 10 feet from the
speakers, move the speakers 5-6 feet apart. Now, move the speakers apart in increments of 3 or 4 inches at a
time, listening carefully at each position. At some point you will start to hear two separate speakers instead of a
stage effect or continuous image. When this occurs, your speakers are too far apart. Begin moving the speakers
back in small increments until you notice a point at which you achieve one cohesive sound stage.
Depending upon the acoustics of your room, the imaging and sound stage may be better with the tweeters on the
inside for listening only in the "sweet spot". For a larger audience or listening off to one side, tweeters on the outside
will keep the image centered for those listening off-axis.
13.
Phasing
The Magneplanar 20.7 has superior phase characteristics. We suggest you resist the tendency to place the
speakers so they are parallel to the front wall. Angle the speakers as shown in Figure 1.
Once you have located the ideal speaker position, a mark is helpful for quickly replacing the speakers. A small
tack, yarn woven into the carpet, or piece of tape can be placed on the carpet so your ideal listening spot can be
easily relocated when the speakers (or chair) are moved for cleaning, etc. In the event your ideal listening spot is
inconvenient from the standpoint of the room layout and decor, simply slide the speakers wherever they look best.
For background listening the speakers can be placed close to the wall and it will make little difference.
The entire placement procedure may seem like a great deal of work, but is necessary in the setup of any high
quality system. The time and effort expended should be necessary only once, and will repay the owner with
countless hours of musical enjoyment.
14.
Room Acoustics
The judicious use of damping material can improve the sound. Acoustical damping can be achieved with household
items or wall hangings. A word of caution--when audiophiles discover the effectiveness of damping material, they
sometimes overdo it (on the premise that if a little is good, more is better). Before making a permanent change to
your room, experiment with the positioning of the damping material. Usually a portion of one or two parallel walls
should have some damping. However, it is a trial-and-error process.
An over-damped room will provide very precise imaging, but the sound will seem "dead." An under-damped room
may heighten the illusion of being in a concert hall, but the imaging will seem imprecise with all the instruments
mixed together. "Hardness" or over-bright sound is usually the result of a room with hard surfaces (glass, hard
paneling,etc.). Moderation is the key.
Diffusers are also helpful to improve the acoustics of a room. Contact your Magnepan dealer for more information on
the proper use of diffusers.
Fig. 1