Let me acknowledge that my system does not approach the performance level of many posts in this section. My experience dates from the 60's and '70s. My budget necessitates using components from the '70s such as my Thorens TD125 and Shure SME arm, and budget purchases such as a NAD 7000 receiver and T 550 DVD/CD player. My speaker cable is the DIY CAT5 design with 3 cables, 2 for base and 1 split for treble. With this in mind, your results might be better, or worse, depending on the particulars of your system. I hope to continue to improve the upstream sonics in respect to those achieved with the speakers.

My 1.6s were purchased 'as is' since the previous owner had attempted to rewire the crossovers with silver wire. He had cut the fabric in the rear and then on the side to access the speaker panel tab connectors and solder his wire to them. As he had made an error in his bass wiring the result was a disappointment. As he had more money than talent he sold them to me without investigating further. The project necessitated new socks and correcting the wiring the first speaker at a minimum.

The previous owner had done some positive things. He had taken the fuse out of the circuit and installed new Vampire binding posts in a bi-wire configuration. The top posts are occupied by the shunt wire bolts which are also disconnected. He did severely distort the plates themselves in accomplishing this. I flattened them as much as possible using clamps. After reading Paco's and Shum's projects I decided to proceed with an XO upgrade of the internal variety using Jensen capacitors and Sledgehammer inductors.

Being cost conscious and a neophyte I wanted to check the XO's performance by doing the damaged speaker first. With each step of the project I attempted to evaluate the improvement before proceeding with the second speaker and wiring variants. Paco's information and help led me to attempt to use the Goertz wire in the internal circuitry. This option add significantly to the project's time. I have a section on prepping and working with the Goertz wire.

After removing the first speaker's sock I discovered membrane damage as well. The speaker had been dropped or fallen on it's front face. This caused the membrane to deform around the restraint "buttons". The wires held the membrane in it's deformed shaped so the mylar couldn't return to a flat surface. This would have to be fixed as well.

I was not happy with the connectors using the Goertz. As the first owner's silver wire braids were available I tried them in the treble circuit. The result was positive. You can read my section on wiring for details. My final XO's are wired exclusively with Homegrown Audio's Super Silver 22 ga. 3-wire braids.

During this project I was given extensive information and help from Magnepan's Technical Representative for which I am very grateful. Paco's help was brief, to the point, and accurate. He has done such an extensive job in his posts that my project would have never materialized without reading them. S. Hum's involvement was helpful and rewarding in many aspects beyond the immediate project.

My future project will involved new frames and feet which I'll post. I plan on using getting them fabricated in steel from my own design.