Magico vs the world

@dznutz I agree the NS5k are very very transparent and detail monsters. Amazing imaging and ability to fill a huge space. Don't find them harsh at all either. Really enjoy them. They seem to really scale with increases in room space.

Thanks guys for your thoughts.
@mheinze I wish! I've never seen a critical professional review of magico and what I mean by that is a review where they talk about their modern speakers having  an obvious weakness (obviously pro reviewers are not going to bash a product).
As for other people and all these detractors... I have simply not seen them. Im not saying everyone  in the world loves magico. But I would the vast vast vast majority that hear the newer magicos all seem to gush about how great they are.
@yyzsantabarbara  nice list... definitely those are some solid speakers that can compete. Actually I found impressions on the NS5000 from TAS that actually put them above many heavy hitters except for the magico m2 and even then it was just slightly worse (they gave grade rankings).

Oh ya its here: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/jvs-tokyo-international-audio-show-report/
I think magico definitely has competitors like vivid... maybe persona. But that tank like build quality and pretty much universal praise makes them sell incredibly well. This is what left me with the impression that in high end speakers it really is like magico vs the world. Again I am not saying people don't like other speakers but just that magico seems among the most praised and popular in the high end ($10k speakers and up).

@douglas_schroeder  me? 

@alucard19 I really want to hear some Acoustic zen speakers but worried about lack of support. Robert is really hard to communicate with or get a hold of.

I agree with most of you who said they are exceptional speakers. I still remember hearing the m2 and it was just incredible. The only speaker that I can say was definitely better was the tidal contriva g2. But that carbon fiber and aluminum build quality is just so nice.

@mheinze which Tidal models did you hear and which what electronics?
Also which magicos and what electronics?

Also Mheinze I wonder if you would like vimberg more. Its also ceramic but its tuned to be much more relaxed and not fatiguing. Soundstage ultra has a good review of the Tondas.

@mikesawtell Which magicos did you hear?
I don't think its a matter of people not having a good ear more just a matter of taste. There are also so many variables... what were the electronics, what was the room like, what were they playing?
People with well trained ears love magico so I don't think its some issue of them appealing only to novice listeners. Actually the s5mk2 and m2 is on stereophile class A 2020 recommendations. And every pro reviewer and those who listen to magico that I've seen gush about them. Feelings like yours are relatively rare from what I've seen. But of course they may not to be your taste and I am not negatively criticizing you at all. This is subjective.

One interesting thing is Jeff from soundstageultra downgraded his $400k Magico Q7 system to a $40k system featuring Vimberg Tonda (non diamond). He could have chosen an S series magico for that price easily but he choose vimberg because of the sound. Reading his review it seems he really didn't even give up sound quality compared to the mighty Q7. This is why I think Tidal is one of the clear competitors to magico.

mheinze Ya he seems to have deleted the review since I cannot see it anymore.

I'm just curious what speaker could challenge or potentially beat a magico m6. Hrmm... interesting question to ponder.

@freedomgli I think YG is definitely interesting. I enjoyed the Sonja 1.3, but I think they have a few problems. First it seems their cabinets are not as nice as magico’s more curved designs and especially their mixed carbon fiber + aluminum design. Second being modular I think maybe their overall cabinet quality may not be as inert as a large monolithic aluminum cabinet like magico. And finally.. I’m a bit concerned about their small bass drivers. Yoav Geva mentioned how the way they are designed they perform similarly to a 12 inch driver (their 10.25 inch)... but I just don’t know.

It seems YG is just not as loved or wildly respected as magico. Is it because of their design not being as good magico. Or is it lack of marketing? Lack of dealers? I just don’t know. It seems magico puts more nuance, technology and sophistication into their speakers..monocoque carbon fiber, nanographene drivers, diamond coated beryllium. This is all fancy stuff and maybe it doesn’t translate to amazing sound... but from what I heard it does.

All I can say for sure is I am definitely eager to listen to the Sonja 2.3 and perhaps compare it again to the magico m2 or m3? Maybe even m6?

What speaker could out perform magico m6 ?

@dznutz  I was just spending the past hour reading and watching videos about eminence. It seems extremely impressive!
@moby2004 thanks for that man, amazing impressions. I find YG bass light as well but still great speakers.

In comparing speakers to magico I think I definitely favour traditional dynamic boxes. Not against horns though. Not that into panels just because I like build quality, bass and dynamics of boxes.
I especially like metal build quality but open to any brands/speakers in that genre. If anything this is more of a thought experiment to see what can truly compete with one of the top brands out there. Especially the magico m series.
Which sonus faber do you like? The Aida or Fenice?

@dznutz  I wonder if you'd like m series... maybe m2 given the use of carbon fiber in the cabinet and many people feeling it has a more musical organic sound than s series.

@stereo5  Nice man. Great that you like the references ! Its a non-insanely priced speaker that looks solid.

@keithr have you heard m series? Which yg have you heard ?

@keithr  "Valin marketing muscle" LMAO. So funny. Do you find the bass quantity enough on the hailey 2.2?
@kingbarbuda I wonder what will come along that will make you give up the a3 at the same price point.

@ lalitk  I think with magico you are paying for their exceptional cabinets with all the extensive aluminum internal bracing. But can you build a cheaper mdf or composite cabinet for cheaper with great drivers/crossover for less cash? That might be the argument against extensive aluminum cabinet.
@mheinze Are you talking about the YG carmel 2?

@kenjit which gauder did you hear ?

Haha Kenjit so funny. I saved that little exchange. I laugh so hard everytime I read it.

anyone like stenheim?

My local dealer said the A5 is nice but not at the level of resolution of the M2.. but that is to be expected given the price difference. If the A5 had that diamond coated tweeter it would have been truly incredible. But I am sure they don't want to step on the toes of the M series too much.
@seventies  Are you saying the Rockports fell short of the A3 including the Cygnus? If so thats pretty mind blowing.

I spoke to a prominent reviewer who has heard both A5 and NS5000. He basically said they were both in the same league in terms of performance but the A5 has a more inert cabinet and is somewhat more detailed and has a bit more bass. But he said he would be happy with either speaker. His reference is Alexia 2 which he found superior to both but  again not hugely so.

@kw6 which YG models have you heard ?

Did you compare to magico when picking yg?

@audiotroy which magicos have you heard? I think M series is when they really shine.