I had the pleasure of listening to a new pair of Wilson Alexx V’s today. They are definitely a speaker that one should put on their short list if the budget allows. Excellent at staging, bottom end reach and very resolving across the whole frequency spectrum. I think if one has the room to accommodate them, then there are few speakers IME that can compete with them.
Mágico M6 vs Big Wilson speakers
Is there anyone out there that owns or has personal experience with the Magico M6 speaker. I’m mainly interested in owners or people intimately familiar with them and can compare or articulate the major differences between these and the big Wilsons in the same price category. Assuming all the best electronics available. Please let’s go with the assumption that both companies are great companies not looking for negative comments on companies etc. Any opinions are greatly appreciated. Thankyou.
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I WOULD approach this question from a different perspective. I have heard the Wilson Alexandrias and they sounded incredible. For a few days afterwards I kept thinking about what I had heard them do. I have also had the pleasure of hearing Sonus Faber Extemas- a unique design but having only a tweeter and a mid/woofer. I was equally impressed with the sound quality they produced. Wilson Audio was mainly known for the Watt/Puppy for many years- it is still in its 11th (?) iteration. So I would say that you should try to at least hear them. They should tell you what you need to know in spite of the WAMM's which will only surround you with a lot more sound and a much larger image. As for Magico there should be a "representative" model of what they are trying to do for different genre's of music, without trying to hunt down an enormously large speaker. If you don't have an incredible room to place a massive pair of speakers (plus subs!?) it's a moot point. The manufacturers have such a room to test their product, and a small handful of retail stores that can set up a "proper" audition (no holes barred). Sometimes if you just get an opportunity to hear the magic no matter what the speakers are called or by how large or small they look like. But often the deepest bass frequencies are either helping create that magic or smearing/obscuring the rest of the music. This is something Sonus Faber seemed to understand with a high-quality line of smaller two-way models. |
Something else to also consider...I have owned large speakers, such as Dunlavy SC-5’s, Dynaudio C4’ and ML and Maggies. Certainly the box designs have the hardest job of getting out of their own way acoustically speaking. Being able to establish a well defined soundstage with precise image placement is more challenging than with a full range, more compact speaker. |
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Thee best tweeters available are the Maggie ribbons and the B&W 800 series Diamonds. Absolutely astonishing how much essential information is imbued into the music via these tweeters. Magico speakers are well behaved...yawn. Wilson’s were exciting to listen to but have recently veered toward tame. In the end, it’s system matching and personal bias! |
It’s not just about ’deadness,’ that’s easy. A loudspeaker enclosure also needs to be stiff. That is where the Aluminum comes into play (that is why the top of the line Rockport is made out of Aluminum as well). Magico does a reasonably good job at that, certainly better than Wilson, and it does that across all its models. |
Having owned a pair of Magico S1MKII I would not say that the cabinets ring. The Magico cabinets are pretty dead I will say that the cabinet on the Rockport that replaced my Magico are even more dead than the S1MKII. I would also say that I anyone doesn’t think a pair of M6 is on par with larger wilson like the Alexx should go and listen to a pair of M6. They are completely different speakers but the M6 is incredible in its own right. Kenjit - I owned LS50 and went from them to Dynaudio C1 Platinums and then onto Magico S1mkII. the Magico was simply better in every regard to the LS50 and Dynaudio. |
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aluminum rings and speakers without ports cannot produce meaningful bass. Um, no? The Magico's are pretty inert, and sure you can. I will say that it's not unfair to say the approach to bass is pretty different in the two designs, but that is taste, and room matching, not because of limitations discussed above. |
Be aware that the Wilson sound has changed quite a bit in the last several years. Basically, it is a much softer/warmer sound under the direction of Darryl Wilson, versus the historic tuning of founder Dave Wilson. Some people like the newer sound, others don't. The Magico "house" sound has also evolved to a slightly warmer, more balanced tonality versus the more clinical sound of earlier models. As a long term Wilson owner and as a consequence of the above, I now have inbound my first set of Magico's (A5 not M6). Keeping my current Wilson's for now and look forward to comparing the two in my home. There are dealers who will bring both to your house at the six figure sums the top line models cost, so long as you buy something. Good luck! |
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I knows there's Covid and all, but. At this price range scheduling demos with dealers even if it means quick flights to and from different cities may be very worthwhile. Plane tix aren't much compared with the price of the speakers. Just so you can be sure you make the right decision. At this price range you are in Stenheim / Zellaton territory. Why not get the best? If a slightly less real sound is desired, I'd still go with Focal Utopia over Magico or Wilson. Between those two, I have been consistently more impressed with Magico, at the upper and lower ends. Magico captures a very real sound in the right setups, which in my cases were at dealerships. Wilson to me is too friendly and not real enough. |
I've listened to magico and I find that beryllium tweeter bright but that's just me I really love the monitor audio platinums that AMT tweeter is so sweet and natural sounding and as far as I'm concerned the monitor audio platinum are better than both the magico and Wilson especially. And there are big platinum 500s are only $30,000 and they will sound as good or better than anything magical or Wilson making the $80 to $100,000 range. I've heard all of them and the platinums are just more warm and natural and realistic sounding. |
Carey1110 at this price point I would also throw the Rockport Lyra into the mix. It has possibly the best cabinet construction of all three at this price point. I have heard a pair of M6 with a pair of Q18 subs but not on their own. They are all great speakers it is about taste. If at all possible audition. I don't know of any dealer that has both wilson and magico. There are a few that carry magico and Rockport though. |
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I will give you the areas where I think you’ll notice differences: Mid to Treble balance. Treble smoothness and color. Lower voice, piano ranges. Diana Krall is a good test, even if you aren’t a fan. Off axis imaging. Space they need around them. Magicos seem to thrive on having little or no side reflections/interference. WIlson’s seem to be less sensitive, so pay attention to where you plan to place them, and whether the showroom is similar. I won’t pollute your opinion with mine, as you may like one or the other, but with modern Wilsons and Magico’s this is where I hear most of the differences. Otherwise, I strongly encourage you to audition them at the volume you will actually listen to them. If you like low level listening, spend a lot of time there. If you like concert level, do that. Best, E |
Carey, Please contact John Iconomou for Wilson Speakers. Great guy, nothing but superb customer experience in last 5 years of my dealings with him. https://www.audiosalon.net/contact Good Luck! |