Magico A3 replacement

What specific sound characteristics and improvements are you looking for, what’s your budget, and are you looking for new or used?

Have you ever heard the Magicos on a great tube amp?  

Driven by CAT amps/pre, the Magico S5MKII is at the top of the heap of systems I've had some longer term exposure to (not just a few minutes at a show).  Unbelievable clarity and dynamics.  

Without being able to try speakers in your room, there's significant risk of getting an unintentional downgrade.  What are you looking to improve upon?

Um, Magico A5, S3 or M3?

Given the cost of the speakers you are looking at. I would suggest a trip. Spend a weekend with your wife in a city where you can audition some higher level Magico and some competitors. Make appointments in advance… have them set up a system with similar sounding electronics.
 

In the evening go out to dinner, maybe the symphony… make it fun for both of you.
 

At this level making “blind” decisions seems totally avoidable. 

I have A3s as well, with Accuphase E800 integrated. Currently I'm leaning towards Stenheim for my next upgrade. Although Magico is not out of the picture either, most likely it would be S series.

Visit Seattle and hear next step in line w Constellation powering it at Audio Ultra or at least call Ed the proprietor…. awesome dude - fixed Fremer electrical nightmare… 

we would recommend looking at kef blade 2 metas

kharma db9

rahido

Dave and Troy

Audio intellect nj

kef and rahido dealer's

I find the Magico to be a little dry. Spendor D9.2 with a pair of REL S510 might be another more live route.

yes, dry may be my interpretation also. I wish I could get to a pair of Spendors to audition. Acouple others that have crossed my mind are Avalon and Verity. Wilson is also on my radar.

My budget is not much above 10-12 grand used.

You wanna big-boy upgrade here ya go.  

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650017479-joseph-audio-pearl-3-speakers/

@dpm2340 

A couple others that have crossed my mind are Avalon and Verity. Wilson is also on my radar.

Ironically, Avalons powered by Grant/Lumley tube amps and CAT SL-1 pre is one of the other best sounding systems I've spent some time with.  It's all very subjective, so YMMV, but I liked them. 😏

Your room isn’t very big, and yeah, I know Fremer has Chronosonics in his basement. But if Magico isn’t cutting it, maybe you might consider dropping your spend a little. Monitor Audio 300 Gold might surprise you. Subs optional. Kevin Deal at Upscale Audio might advise.

I was looking to buy the A3 but I felt the following speakers were better, more coherent driver integration:

• Vivid Kaya 90 (maybe Kaya 45 for your room)
• Yamaha NS5000 (they are classified as "bookshelf" speakers). I bought these and they are not going anywhere. Though I wonder if a 13 x 16 room is big enough for them. My room is bigger. The drivers on this speaker are ALL made with a new material called Zylon. Supposedly better than BE. Incredibly the 12’ woofer is made with Zylon.
• I have a Magnepan LRS+ in my office and it is a killer speaker. I planned on spending 10k on a monitor for the office. Not anymore. The LRS+ is powered by a very powerful Sanders Magtech amp, a great combo. I would look at a bigger Maggie for the 13 x 16 room.

I purchased the NS5000 new for $12k. The Kaya are pretty unique and fast sounding speakers.

BTW - I use the KEF KC62 sub with the LRS+. I also got the Magna Risers stands for the LRS+ recently and that just blew up the bass to much stronger levels. There was also a binding post tweak with the Magna Risers that may be the reason for the sonic improvements. 

You do not list a budget unless I missed it and your room is on the small side.  I recommend either the Vivid Kaya 90 or the better the Vivid Giya G3. I auditioned Wilson’s, Magico’s, Raidho’s, and Focal’s of equivalent price and chose Vivid G3s for their clarity, staging, uniformity from treble to bass, dynamics, and timbre.   Will mate well with the clarity of your Constellation amp that will have no issue driving them.  You need to warm up to their esthetic.  Read pro reviews on either model.  You have courage buying without audition.  Since this is a subjective hobby I always recommend auditioning. 

@jsalerno277 

My budget is not much above 10-12 grand used.

I'd treat the room and keep the current speakers. 

@grislybutter 

What a great list!

I plan on keeping it for future reference.

@dpm2340 

If you like the magic sound of Magico speakers, why not look at moving up the chain to the A5 or the S3?
 

All the best.

@curiousjim I can send you my list of 300 speakers from 80 brands with all the spec fields. :)

I was very lucky to get the G3 used for $13,500.  A used pair of Vivid K45s would be in your range and be a good fit for your room size. 

@grislybutter 

Thanks!

I’ll keep that in mind.😀

16,500 for Cornwalls? 

If it was me, I would stay put. 

good catch, Cornwalls are 6K

@dpm2340 Verity would definitely be a great choice if you are looking for musicality.

A friend of mine has the Verity Otello driven by Ypsilon Phaethon.

I find the Magico to be a little dry. Spendor D9.2 with a pair of REL S510 might be another more live route.

I owned Magico S1s (original version) for 3 years and liked them but never loved them.   A little dry with the potential for fatigue on certain recordings were the main reasons I sold them.   I replaced them with the original D9 and loved the change (I've kept the Spendors for 5+ years), so yea an A3 to D9.2 would certainly be an option.

Hmmmm, dry isn't how I'd would describe Magico, not that I'm a huge fanboy.  Chesty, cool, jusssst enough bass.

Maybe you need a serious change to something that presents as very dynamic.  Klipsch Heresy or the new JBLs?

Thanks for all the suggestions. Ultimately I'd like to have a speaker without needing a sub. It seems a lot of guys like the vivid. I will have to check them out. Also, thanks for the list.

Recomend you listen to Borresen speakers... they just came out with a more affordable line in your price range.  They make an awesome speaker. 

Are you keeping the A3s?  Does the 10-12 grand include monies gained from their sale?

Regards,

barts

@pfreix Børresen? Really?

They are sold for more than their weight in the price of gold

The Borresen X3 speakers are 11K and use alot of the technology as the more expensive lines...  less than the Magico A3... set for sale at $7,000 below

Borresen X3 For Sale | Audiogon

@steakster

I have no idea what you are talking about. I am not mocking or disparaging members, at least I am not trying to. All I said was the Borresens are very expensive for what they do.

I especially don’t see your "same members" point.

I am a grown man, if you were just lecturing and disciplining me, I read it, understood it, (confused about it) let’s move on.

@pfreix I listened to both X3 and A3 (admittedly different rooms/dealers) and much preferred the A3 that the OP has.  Clearly could have lived with X3 and been happy though.  They did make the cut, but the A3 jumped out at me.  

@dpm2340 I think you own one of the very best speakers already in the budget window you mentioned. Unless you are trading those and adding $10K.
Nonetheless I’d say Joseph Audio is maybe one of the few that would rival the A3.

What about trading in or selling your current speakers for the A5?   If I was ever changing speakers, they would be the ones.  

the X5 would definitely be an upgrade from the X3, but you are right the A3 is an awesome speaker.  I have the Borresen 05 Silver Edition and they are the best speaker i have ever heard.  Good Luck my friend 

@steakster I did however screw up. I confused this with another post where the budget was lower. For 16K, I assume the Borresens are reasonable

I am literally in this same situation - looking to replace my Magico A3s with something that does a little more for my heart than the Magicos can manage. After a visit to AXPONA in 2022, I was taken with two similarly-sized speakers which I’m keeping an eye out for on the used market. Those being the Piega Coax 711 (now replaced with the 811) and the very difficult-to-find Stenheim Alumine 3s.

The Piega 711s have come up for sale a few times within your price range. I’d highly, highly recommend you have a listen. Have not had a chance to listen to the 811s, though am holding out hope they’ll be at AXPONA this year.
 

The Stenheims appear next to impossible to find used, and might still be out of  your target price range. But they’re very well reviewed and might be worth a listen if you can find them.

I never recommend anything I haven’t heard. So I can only proffer TAS' recommendation for the "finest reference speaker," the PS Audio FR30.

I upgraded from the A3's to the A5's almost three years ago and have been enjoying them tremendously. The A5 is a great speaker that plays above its class.

I run them with Mac tube pre and power and have added two B&W DB3D's. I am a solid Phil zone guy and the subs come with their own power. That is my rationalization and I am sticking to it.

I netted $9k for the A3's and added another $12k for the upgrade. Not cheap, but they got me off the speaker merry go round and in a place where I carve out time to spin vinyl.

there’s a pair of Manger P2 passives available on Audiogon right now, 

hugely popular in Europe, few US dealers, but a fabulous product

multiple international reviews available and not one has included anything negative 

full disclosure - I own the P1’s and after 50+ years at this audio game, I’m done (dozens of high end speakers have come and gone) - for your listening space the P2’s would be ideal, in pretty much all regards, highly recommended 

Legacy Speakers.  i have the Signature SE. no sub needed for me. if i had more house i would not hesitate to get the Focus. ..-.-.-. Pass 250.8,   Pass XP-12.

Vandersteen’s, ProAc, Raidho

Replace your small room