Magico compared to Tannoy

@gammaman I didn't buy the Oppo 205 because they do not have the HDCD chip.  Only the 105/103 and previous do.  Surprised that you didn't know that.  Anyway-- not sure if it makes a difference.  Have you auditioned the difference between a HDCD player and a non-HDCD player?  I'm thinking that the weakest part of my setup is the Oppo-- so thinking about upgrading to an Esoteric, the K-05xd and K-07xd are going to be released later this year.  Either that or buy the new Berkeley Audio Alpha 3, which does have the HDCH decoding but I think for some crazy reason they upped the price from 5K on the Alpha 2 to 10K for the Alpha 3.  So probably one of the Esoterics.  

Tannoys need to be heard in large well constructed cabinets. The cheap Lancaster cabs are useless. A Tannoy corner horn is unforgettable.

Tannoy = music
Magico = hifi (I have only heard the model 3)

@fred60, somehow the lack of HDCD on the 205 escaped me. I do have, though, a 105 that I'm using in my workout room, so I'll A/B them 

To quote a friend that has a high end store...

Tannoy is usually the last pair of speakers we sell to a customer

But I have listened to both speaker brands and both are very fine speakers, but there is definitely something about the Tannoy when voices are played through them. And they reproduce double bass exceptionally well

I guess if you are more into the jazz genre you might prefer the Tannoy,

But if you are thirsty for details and dynamics, the Magico might be a better option.

But all of this depends greatly on the rest of your components and cables.

Either one is a very good choice.

But my personal favorite is the Avantgarde line of speakers - very detailed and very musical - they seem to posses the best of the other two brands in one speaker

But that's just another opinion

Regards - Steve

As a Magico owner (A3 -> A5) I am admittedly biased. Driving them with Mac tube equipment gives them the soul they may otherwise lack with solid state. Being able to listen at a wide range of volume with complete satisfaction is a new plateau for me. I have cycled through JBL, Harbeth, Sonus Faber and Mac towers on my search and am completely happy with my setup (for now - audiophilia nervosa I believe is the condition). Room size is key. As stated above, either one is a very good choice.