i have an s5mk2 and absolute love it. especially with big class a power from a symphonic line kraft 300, the speakers have incredible tone and texture and have overcome any narrow soundstage issues that can be the case with magicos. i've come to understand that these speakers LOVE power. the more the better. they sounded great with 250watts from my odyssey amp but the 500 or so watts that the kraft can do just opened the speakers up in a massive way. high current designs are the way to go with any magico imo
i plan on listing them in the near future to move up to an m2, alsyvox tintoretto, or an mbl101e mk2. the s5's are no slouch compared to any of these and, ironically, the m2 offers the least upgrade (but damn are they cool!). the alsyvox and mbl's have a different magic that only those kind of designs+ribbons can give. that said, i never left those demo's feeling like my s5's were behind. it's more a matter of taste and being a gear hound. i think the s5mk2 can easily be the speakers around which to build a cost no object system.
i plan on listing them in the near future to move up to an m2, alsyvox tintoretto, or an mbl101e mk2. the s5's are no slouch compared to any of these and, ironically, the m2 offers the least upgrade (but damn are they cool!). the alsyvox and mbl's have a different magic that only those kind of designs+ribbons can give. that said, i never left those demo's feeling like my s5's were behind. it's more a matter of taste and being a gear hound. i think the s5mk2 can easily be the speakers around which to build a cost no object system.