Bumping Spheda
Well-Known Member
But 'stats are arguably easier to "DIY" than planar magnetic speakers, if that's your thing. I'm assuming you're talking about 'stats.Maggies run < 4 ohms requiring gobs of power; 1000 watts to each bass panel + 500 to each ribbon. Super efficient speakers capable of providing similar sonic results are 4- 5Xs more expensive, as are their flea power amps to drive them, and neither does a good job with Pink Floyd & Roger Waters (Amused to Death), but my system will blow your mind. Well worth the swim (or ticket). Yes my electric bill is higher, but my net cost is way lower
I'll agree with you, though, Maggies do seem like the bargain of the century in speaker technology (before a voice coil rips!). Check out the Fostex T50RP (headphones) and Monsoon MM-701 (computer satellites) for cute little baby versions of the Magnepan. Beware of the Monsoon's, though, they used cheap-o neodymium magnets which have a high tendency to flake off their Nickel plating over time and cause a "buzzing" sound in high excursion frequencies. The Audeze LCD-2, Hifiman HE-6 (and other manufacturers/models) are around as well.
You know how some planar speakers are pleated and/or have scalene shaped frames supporting their diaphragms in order to reduce diaphragm resonances? Well some of the talk in this thread makes me wonder if light can be playing the same trick on the plant as diaphragm resonances do with our ears. Perhaps it's about finding the correct "harmonic" of light so as not to lock out any of the spectrum from our plants or induce "distortion."
I believe we don't like them in this thread because they are more expensive than cheap Chinese White LED's, we are striving to be "different" from other growers, they have a lower lm/w rating on average than most White LED's, and SDS had beef with them because he/she seemed to believe that 660nm Red's made his/her plants focus on roots as opposed to shoots which was, in his/her opinion, counterproductive. Possibly more, I don't recall.If the 660nm wavelength is so bad, why does Kessil, Illumitex, and every other big name LED manufacturer swear by them? This wavelength has been the magic bullet in my garden anyway, although it's been in addition to a 1000w Hortilux.
Also, we're attempting to make panels for as cheaply as possible in order to increase the number of LED's, in order to increase the number of panels used per sq. ft, in order to increase total coverage via the ability to manipulate the angle/proximity of individual panels to our plants. All of this, of course, is opposed to using a single, traditional, super bright spot light that looms over our canopies. My only gripe with this train of thought is that we also seem to be fighting for ScroG in this thread which is pretty much a method specifically designed to increase light coverage of a plant when using a single spot light. This was originally, of course, the Sun. Another gripe that I have with the thread in general is the reappearance of this idea that the Astir panels will only get better after a few generations of mj strain adaptation which could just as easily be said for 660nm+440nm panels, or some other combo so long as there was no fatal/severely stunting deficiency in the spectra. In my mind, the goal is to most closely replicate the Sun's relationship with plants and at the lowest kWh so that they can continue to do what they've done for thousands of years... but all year round... and in my closet...
Moral of the story: It's your choice. Use what works for you.