Magico A5 or Sonus faber SERAFINO TRADITION or Harbeth 40.3 XD

I do have Mcintosh MEN220 and it did a magic in my room. I have McIntosh C1100, McIntosh 452, SME 20/3 and Manley Steelhead phono - was initially reluctant to insert AD-DA into my pure analog setup - boy, was I wrong!

Speakers are Sonus Faber Guarneri Evolution and JL Audio Fathom 112v2 sub.

For the music you listen to my vote would be Magico. Someone up stream mentioned KEF blades, another good choice. SF would be wonderful if you were a classical / Jazz person but your taste in music lends itself better to Magico, KEF and Wilson.

I have owned SF Olympica III's powered by a Mac MA6900. Harbeth Super HL5 Plus powered by same and currently own Magico A5's powered by MacIntosh MC275 Mk V with a C2300 preamp. I also have a B&W DB3D behind my rack firing to the side walls (think Phil Zone). Best and most satisfying system I have had. 

Side note / big vinyl fan with an Aries 3 and audio technica Art 9XI. Streaming BlueSound Node 2i through a Mac MCD500 (also plays SACD). Similar size room with 12 foot ceiling. Happy to send pics. 

Let me know if you buy them.  I would be interested if you find them as great as I do....or you can hate me for the recommendation.

@joesolek Thanks, it looks like the A5 is a contender for my living room since it is similar to yours but with 20+ foot ceiling. I will download the manual.

My room size is 16.5 ft. x 12 ft.  The ceiling slopes from 8 ft. to 10 ft.  The A5 are powered by PS Audio BHK 300 watt mono blocks.  For me, this seems to be more than enough power.  I have the MAC 122 av controller being used as my pre.  They are 26 inches from the back wall.  The left speaker opens to the kitchen and the right speaker is about 19 inches from the window boundry.  These were set up by the dealer and I have left them there to just get use to the way they sound.  I will probably try to tweak their placement, but I am pretty happy with the way they sound.  Go to magico's website and down load the manual for the A5s.  They have pretty simple guidelines for placement.  Hope this helps.  They are just fabulous.  For 2 channel, I am not using the sub. and the bass is phenomenal and tight even at low volumes.

@joesolek Can you tell us more about your setup? I am interested in the A5 and want to know more about the ideal room size (or volume) for them. How about placement issues? Since they are sealed I am assuming you can place them closer to the front wall. What gear are you using with them?

I just bought the A5 about a month ago.  Best speaker I ever owned.  Coming off the PSB T3.  Are they pretty.  Not really, but they are physically unobtrusive and sonically spectacular.

I have SF Il Cremonese Ex3me and they pair well with AR Ref6 SE and 160M.  But SQ is in another league when I added two subs (JL f112)., one in front left corner, other in rear right corner plus active xo JL CR1.  The subs open up mid and high freq beautifully and I can have LF as tight and as I want.  The integration will be seamless if one know how to set them properly for tight/perfect in-phase.

Will do ..... Has anyone tried the Mcintosh MEN220 (room perfect) DSP?

It runs about 5K and may be a first step to see what it would do to my 228BEs

Thanks for all the suggestions I will listen to my 3 and anything else they have at the stero shop I am going to. They have mcintosh as well so I should be able to get a setup close to mine.

That’s surely useful. As some have suggested, please update this thread once you managed to listen to all 3 speakers at the shop with the McIntosh as I'm equally interested to know the outcome.

@mglik I've heard the Cremonese and they are probably the best speaker I've heard. Preferred them over the Magico.  Wish I could afford them.  

Damn dude, you are going to be hard pressed to get much better than the F228Be without spending a whole more.  Maybe $25k isn't enough.

Good luck! Hope the music never stops!

I will probably buy new for speakers.

I do love the SF musicality. 
Buying used certainly is financially advantageous as well as getting a well broken in speaker. And why not go for the top of the line? I live happily with second hand speakers with a few slight cosmetic flaws.

LOL I have Revel 228BE and enjoy them.

I am knitting a giant quilt of a panda bear and it's windy outside

Of those three I would go with the Magico first and then Sonus Farber. I don't think the Harbeth are a great match for your music.

I would also add the Revel PerformaBe F328Be to your list of speakers to consider.

I am listening to GarciaLive Vol. 6 on Revel F36 now and loving it.

Very curious to hear your thoughts OP - please do report back!

+1 jomonhifi

Like a kid in a candy store!  Have a great time with the demos.

Thanks for all the suggestions I will listen to my 3 and anything else they have at the stero shop I am going to.  They have mcintosh as well so I should be able to get a setup close to mine.

I would listen to Gershman Acoustics Grand Avant Gardes too

My vote for Magico A5. Wonderful loudspeaker.  

nealry half of the comments are:

listen to X!

When the post asked about speakers A, B and C.

how relevant

Good luck and have fun...! Wish I was going with you...!

There was a very interesting review in the latest issue of Stereophile magazine, of the new Perlisten S7t. Brand new company and speaker.

@blkwrxwgn

but it's been never ever done!

Based on what I read here, Magico wins in the looks+pairing+sound+value total points.  I think the SF is a piece of art as furniture and it would cost more because you'd have to upgrade your current furniture to match it.

Five pairs of Tekton Moab's stacked on top of each other with Townsend Platforms between each one!!!!!

;)

Sorry, had to do it. 

All are good. Take your pick. Which will work best in your room and with your gear? That would decide it for me. As long as aesthetics fit. 

Paradigm Persona 5s -$18k-sound more real than others to me.

If considering Harbeth and possibly also Spendor (Classic series), take a hard look at the Graham LS 5/5.  Also worth considering is the Yamaha NS-5000.

I found a dealer about 60 mins away that carries all 3 brands.

I am going to set up a demo.  I will let you all know how it works out.

Thanks for all of the great feedback.  I am going to try to get some dealer demos set up.  I am in western NY and may have to do some driving.

Sounds like the SF may be a safe choice base on looks and sound.  There is a local dealer but he does not have the Serafino in stock.

The Magico is an interesting option.  I will need to hear that one prior to purchase.

I will keep everyone posted.

My two cents: Brilliant choices! I recently sold my beloved Serafino's. For almost a year I was exploring Sonus Fabers line-up. I started with the Electa's then moved to the Olympica Nova V's, then to the Serafino's. The bottom line is : the magic really starts at the Serafino's with Sonus Faber. Unbelievable Soundstage, Pinpoint imaging, amazing midrange, but for me they had an Analog sound that I just didn't care for. I now own the Harbeth 40.3's and I'm 85% sure this is my forever speaker. Picky placement, lots of work dialing in, the best midrange EVER, a slight sparkle on the top end, bottom end is beautiful (when dialed in). 

FWIW Sonus Faber is a wolly owned subsidiary of McIntosh Group which also owns McIntosh Labs. McIntosh labs procuces all of the McIntosh audio products. I have heard that the McIntosh speakers are made buy Sonus Faber or at least the high end models. 

Great choices, Spendor and KEF Reference/Blade are also worth a look...

Hi,

if you where looking for the Harbeth, you should put on your list the spendor Classic 100, they are really great speaker and very well spoken.

Both speakers (Mágico and Sonus) are great speakers. Speed is one of the things you get with the Magico, and for my taste I like very fast speakers, so I would go with the Mágico.

I recently purchased a pair of Magico A5 speakers, used with a McIntosh MC312 and C52. All I can say is; best sounding speakers I have ever heard in a domestic situation, by far. You name it; dynamic range, LF/HF extension, spatial presentation, lfe like sound etc., they perform flawlessly. To top it all, IMHO they look beautiful and much to my surprise, my wife agrees. Could not be happier with my last (?) choice of high end speakers.

Not knowing which part of the world you live in there's a big difference in what you get for your money 

I suspect you're in America so Magico is probably best bang for buck .

In Europe you could almost bring the sonus faber Aida home for the same amount as the A5 

That said, it's your ears and money so don't take anybody else's advice over your own experience. 

At that price range, have a listen to ATC and Dynaudio if you have the opportunity. 

Happy hunting. 

If you think the sonus Faber sound good you should listen to the monitor audio Platinum 300 or 500 they're even more natural than the sonus Faber, that MPD tweeter is the best tweeter on the market right now, most natural highs I've ever heard and their driver technology is way ahead of everybody's, and their prices are way better than everyone's because their products are made in China, but if you look at the quality of the Platinum they have  11 layers of hand polished lacquer on them they're absolutely gorgeous and the sound matches the looks, just as good as anything Magico or anyone makes for one quarter of the price. 

 Sonus Faber  Nova 5's in my system are wonderful,  SERAFINO TRADITION = OMG WOW

Try to listen to Verity Audio at that price point. Incredible holographic image and you can really tune them with amp selection. Lots of great options mentioned here.

I have Mac and Sonus - match made in heaven.

Audiovector R6 series. Looks good, sounds better.

based on the their looks:

SF > 10

Magico > 6

Harbeth > 2

I'd never know how they sound, my budget is a 10th of their list price

I have the SF Serafino and have been very happy with them. I actually auditioned them and the A5 at my dealer with both matched to a Macintosh amp. I went with the SF because I thought they had a more natural sound and we're not as finicky regarding placement. They are also beautiful speakers but that would not have influenced my selection if I didn't like the sound better. I also listened to the top of the line paradigms and Bowers and Wilkins and chose the SF. The sound is very musical, never fatiguing and is particularly good with female vocals.  All of this is completely subjective, of course, and I thought the A5s were excellent as well and I'm sure I would've been happy with them. Just like the SF a little better.  
good luck in your search

I love my McIntosh and Sonus Faber combination. You will too.  Magico speakers sound a bit hollow with McIntosh based on my demos. 

I’ve never listened to Magico’s but I’ve owned three different pairs of Sonus Faber speakers and currently settled on the Serafino’s. I f&ckkng love them. Absolutely beautiful detail and soundstage and gorgeous deep and tight bass - a real 30hz bass with room to spare... Mids and highs are beautiful and open. I also listen to the music you listen to. I hear amazing things about the magico’s and also I love the sound of Wilson speakers but could never stomach the way they looked.

I started off with a McIntosh amp but found the sound a little too syrupy and boomy. ThenI got a Gryphon Diablo 300 and my ears loved that for a while but some fatigue settled in. A little harsh and clinical. My source is a DCS Bartok, BTW. Then I shlepped my Gryphon amp to my dealer as I was going to buy a pair of Amatis. We switched out the gryphon for an ARC 160s and the magic really happened. I wrote a check on the spot for that amp and was lucky to get a good deal on a used REF 6SE... It’s all settling in nicely now and I couldn’t be happier.

Tannoy Kensington?