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My Magnepan 1.6QR DIY Upgrade Story

Posted by dumpingground (A) on March 21, 2011 at 10:48:18

Standing on the backs of giants like paco, green lantern, PG, pturn, ed, pictureguy and others on this forum, I have completed my own Magnepan 1.6QR upgrade. This first post will be a description and pictures of my DIY project. I will follow up with listening impressions next.

Upgrade#1. DIY Maggie Stands with granite slab base weight. I followed a modified version of Green Lantern's stands posted in the tweaks section. However, I used wood instead of metal conduit rods. I also had some leftover granite from a recent kitchen update. The cutouts from the sinks in the counter tops luckily fit nicely onto the base of the stands to act as a significant anchor. Big kudos to Green Lantern for the suggestion of 2” 1 hole metal straps that fit exactly to the side of the maggie panels.

Upgrade#2. Upgraded crossover network. Again following on past footsteps I elected to replace all of the stock Magnepan crossover components with higher quality but similar/same value components. Here are the parts I used (all purchased from Madisound):

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Woofer network:
2 x Steel Laminate Sledgehammer 3.7 mH 15 AWG Inductors (SL3.7) = $33.60**
2 x ClarityCap 25 mfd SA Range Polypropylene Caps (SA25) = $57.80

Tweeter network:
2 x ClarityCap 22.0 mfd ESA Range Polypropylene Caps (ESA22) = $100.80
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Sub-Total: $192.20

**Note: Rewind Inductor to 3.5mH.

Madisound will rewind Inductors to lessor values if you need a size in between what is commonly available.

I selected ClairtyCap ESA capacitors for the tweeter circuit. I have been following the claritycap research on why different capacitors sound better. I thought based on the work that they had done that the ESA (the MR variety capacitors are a bit pricy so I skipped those) would be worth a try. See the claritycap research info here:

http://www.madisound.com/pdf/claritycap/MRWhitePaper.pdf

I used feed-thru clamping terminal blocks to join the wires in the circuit together. I also used banana speaker binding posts removed from a 5.1 speaker wall box outlet cover plate for my connections.

I mounted the crossover components with cable ties to a piece of hardboard particle board from homedepot cut to 6” x 6”. I then placed the crossover assembly into a craft doll display box part number ACP501 purchased from www.peddlerpusher.net

Products
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2 x MEMORY BOX 6IN X 8IN X 3IN (ACP501) = $31.98
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Sub-Total: $31.98
Shipping: $0.00
Total: $31.98


As others have mentioned, the actual install is pretty easy. However, staples, staples, staples. The magnepan speaker socks are attached on the bottom with two rows of many many staples. Removing them is slow and methodical work. I elected to go with an approach that was completely reversible. So I left the original crossover network intact and in place inside the magnepan speakers. A key finding was to use a drop or two of deoxit contact cleaner solution on the speaker push tabs to aid in getting the quick connects back on with my new speaker leads.

And now here are some pictures to complete the story:

1. Removing the trim, staples and lifting the socks.

2. Looking over the existing crossover network and push tabs before I start surgery.

3. Surgery Begins. I needed to attach new leads to the speaker push tabs to bypass the existing crossover network, fuse and speaker connections.

4. External Crossover boxes, assembled and stained. Note that the boxes have a slide out plexiglass cover so that you can see the components thru the window lid.

5. Better pictures of the stands. Also note the QRD diffusor panels behind the speakers to treat the rear wave.

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Parts Connexion

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