Magico vs the world

Somebody's put Tekton in the  Magico  thread  What are people thinking   ??

@kingbarbuda,

You have quite an impressive line up of equipment.  The systems must sound wonderful.

@stereo5 Well yes to me it sounds great. Thanks. I treat my listening room a bit like a listening lab. But I suppose quite a few of us do. 

@smodtactical

Can you please provide a link to Jeff review? I search the entire Ultraaudio site, did not find one. He did talk about buying them and show a factory visit, but I don’t see any review.

mheinze,

Well the Focal's Sopra 2's sounded superior to me over the A3's with the Ayre equipment. I guess to each his own, I chose what I thought sounded best.
FYI, I also own the same Ayre preamp along with tube mono blocks and (4) JL Audio F-113 subs. So perhaps that negates the criticism of the Sopra's.

ozzy

I moved from a set of B&W 803D3 to S3mkII last year and I never looked back. I was very happy with my 803s but after listening to the S3s several times (my dealer was kind enough to let me bring CDs and LPs for a few listening sessions with a similar system), I realized that I was gaining so much more detail, bass definition and sound stage. What I heard at the dealer, luckily for me, carried over to my listening room. If I had a bit more money to spend, I would have gone to the M2, they are amazing.

I don’t claim to have the best ears, not even above average actually, but I do know what I like and for me, Magico makes one some of the top speakers in the business and I hope I am lucky enough to be able to keep my S3s forever, or at least until I can afford the M2s, lol. All this said, I don’t think it is Magico versus the world. The absolute beauty for us audiophiles is that we have SO MANY options to pick from based on sound and price. Aren’t we lucky?

krazy ivan out. 

I have owned several pairs of Magic speakers. I loved their build quality and their clarity, speed and definition. I ultimately did not keep them in my system because I found I was just not listening for as long, in fact I would go many days if not weeks without listening. I ended up going back to Magneplanar speakers (20.7i) because although they do not do some things as well as the Magicos, they do transport me to the venue and bring the music alive in a way that it totally natural to my ears. They engage me with the music. I end up playing my air guitar or drum kit. I listen for hours without fatigue. The only other speakers that I have had such engagement with have been the Proac K series (K6 and K8). I have a pair of REL subs partnered with them and love the soundstage scale of the combo.

Which pairs did you own?
I just looked at your posts, you never mentioned Magico before (you have not posted anything since 2017), and you say that you are a distributor for Prima Luna? Can you disclose more about your system?

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.

I have owned several pairs of Magico speakers. I loved their build quality and their clarity, speed and definition. I ultimately did not keep them in my system because I found I was just not listening for as long, in fact I would go many days if not weeks without listening. I ended up going back to Magneplanar speakers (20.7i) because although they do not do some things as well as the Magicos, they do transport me to the venue and bring the music alive in a way that it totally natural to my ears. They engage me with the music.

This to me is the very definition of what I call hi-fi sound: technically fine, if you can stand it. 

The whole point of a music system is to enjoy listening to music. If you're not enjoying then the components no good no matter how wonderful the build quality, clarity, speed, and definition. 

Another thing about the hi-fi sound, guys tend to think that because its so technically good but they just don't enjoy listening, that maybe with enough time it will get that last little bit of break-in that makes it so you can stand to listen to it. Forgetting (if they ever learned) that if it doesn't sound good right out of the box odds are it never will.

I got a friend, when he heard Jennifer Warnes the first time he asked if she was married. It was the voice that did it. Didn't even ask about her build quality.

If it is genuinely "technically fine," why would it not be enjoyable?
In regards to this particular post, as mheinze eluded to, it's a fantasy post, if you believe this guy had "several pairs of Magico," I have a bridge to sell you (I mean why would you keep buying speakers from a company you don't enjoy listening to - this guy doesn't even lie well).
BTW, Smodtactical I read Ultrasound regularly, never seen a review of the Vimberg, (and the Q7 cost $225K not $400K).

I’m surprised there has been so little discussion of YG Acoustics in this thread. They’re readily comparable with aluminum cabinets and bespoke drivers, yet they’re vastly different.  

@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?

The Tonda's are gorgeous.

Despite being absolutely entranced by the technology in ceramic drivers I don't actually like the sound of them nearly as much as I do composite fiber drivers.

Hopefully I'll be able to hear them soon.

Best,

E

What speaker could out perform magico m6 ?

Easy question... Wilson Benesch Eminence

But just to bring some here back to reality, there is no such thing as out perform, as that is completely subjective.  There is no 1, 2 or even 100 right answers.  And yet, they could all be right.

I recently bought a pair of YG Sonja 2.2 and the other contender was Magico M2. ( there are many other fantastic speakers but I wanted horns or sealed speakers for my room)
I listened to them multiple times but with different upstream gears ( same level) and in different rooms so the comparison was not a direct one. Both are excellent speakers with a lot in common but still different.
For my taste, Sonja 2.2 was a better match. The midrange and high frequency sounded more natural to me . Bass-wise, resolution Magico was ahead . Bass is a relative “weak” point on YG speakers ( very fast and natural but lack a bit of punch) 
Since, I got an excellent opportunity on REL 212se sub and bass is extraordinary.The integration with YG is excellent.
( might be as well with Magico but never tried)

@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.

smodtactical, are you in principle against any particular genre of speakers? ESL, line array or quasi-line array, horn hybrid, etc. ? You seem stuck on traditional dynamic speakers. 

I will answer your question about the Magico. In one sense it doesn't matter which Magico is selected to answer the question. I have heard several of them, and some in very impressive systems. However, I have yet to be impressed enough to ask for a review. Perhaps at an upcoming show. I have heard more impressive demos of the top end Sonus Faber than Magico, imo.  That doesn't mean in head to head comparison in my room I would pick the SF as better, but at shows it's caught my ear. 

Anyway, the genre is the game changer in so many respects. The King III electrostatic is what I call a "line source ESL" and its a unique sound, big, detailed, like a humongous Quad, only with better low end. To the ear of someone who loves that sound, it doesn't matter what dynamic speaker you put up against it, the ESL will win. 

Line source, the same thing. Omni, the same thing. Open baffle and quasi-OB, same thing. Horn and hy�bird horn, same thing, etc. 

So, are you bound to dynamic with the boxy colorations, because trust me, the Magico speakers have boxy colorations just like every other dynamic speaker. The superbly built Vapor Audio Joule White has boxy colorations - they all do. 

Have you made up your mind on genre of speaker? If not, I suggest you do, because that is the towering (pardon pun) question that should be answered first. No problem if you have the question resolved and are looking for your ultimate expression in dynamic speakers. I get that. But, is it possible that a different genre might supersede it? Have you ever owned a serious speaker in one of these other genres?  (Forgive if I have missed that discussion; I'm not revisiting it all to mine it for answer when you can simply tell me)  :) 

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?

In the simplest of ways... everything that has received a similar amount of design and engineering time can compete and potentially “out perform” them.

I, too, have not heard a Magico that I liked... and Ive owned 3 of them. So in my mind and experience, far less expensive speakers out perform Magico.

It was the Aida, I believe with McIntosh stack in the Quintessence Audio room at AXPONA 2019. Pretty doggone good. 

MAGICO is not worried as they are one of the best selling speakers on the planet because they don't sound good.(HO HO DUDE!!!)

Dznutz,

if you do not like Magico, why did you buy 3 different pairs?  Are you a mashocist or something?  I would have quit after the first pair.  Money to burn?  I am really interested in knowing why. 

Maybe he is related to quiltzig, who also bought a few pairs even though he never liked them.
Two years of posting, never mentioned Magico, lying is harder work than people realize :(

if you do not like Magico, why did you buy 3 different pairs? Are you a mashocist or something? I would have quit after the first pair. Money to burn? I am really interested in knowing why.

Because I fell into the trap that many do with well reviewed and marketed speakers. Im simply one of those who is willing to spend his own money to actually buy something and try it out in his own home. Very few are willing to do that.

First pair I bought in 2015... couldn’t make them work for me. In 2018, I thought I would try again with their latest release. Still not working for me. Then I had an opportunity to practically steal a pair of their higher end models in 2019... couldn’t go wrong so I tried it. 3 strikes and youre out for me.  They could be the right speaker for you... they weren't for me.

@dznutz 
You “never heard a Magico that you liked,” yet you bought 3 pairs, this is very interesting. Care to share some information? Which models, what didn’t you like, what do you like?

If I was trying to convince some one of something then sure, but I'm not.  If you own Magico and you are happy then great.

I believe dznutz, because I owned three different speakers from a very popular company(not Magico) and finally decided they weren't for me. I think as you grow in this hobby you make different choices. 

Oh, my bad, I thought you were trying to convince the OP that Magico is not worth having, and you had to buy it 3 times to make sure of it. 
That is a good one!  

@ricred1
It is all in the context, you are discreet, and not mentioning brands, but this thread is about Magico and dznytz does mention the brand, so it would have been helpful if he shared more insight on his experience and give his view, that was not meant to "convince anyone of anything", more credibility.

To me, they're not worth it.  I would not recommend them.  But if it tickles some ones fancy and they want to own them then go right ahead.  It may be the best to them.

So, are you bound to dynamic with the boxy colorations, because trust me, the Magico speakers have boxy colorations just like every other dynamic speaker. The superbly built Vapor Audio Joule White has boxy colorations - they all do.

But some have more than others. Does that not matter?

@dznutz ,

I do not own Magico, never cared for the sound, same goes for Focal. I own GE Triton Reference speakers which are perfect for me in every respect but others may not like them.

Another shameless rave review, with measurements to back it up, can you imagine? It’s a travesty!

https://soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1399-magico-a1-loudspeakers

Lets all bad rap MAGICO because its the best.MAGICO sales will not suffer because of your bad rap.

It may not be the best for everyone, that is OK, what is not OK is the BS from people that probably never even heard them, or spent 2 sec at a show, standing by the door, cause Magico room is always full and hard to get a good seat, making judgments.    

@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.

Still haven’t heard a musically convincing Magico system in a decade. They are analytical, non-dynamic, and not particularly coherent. YG is a much better speaker in aluminum land. 

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

Keithr Jump on YG asap if there so great.What speaker do you have?Do not bad rap MAGICO the worlds best speaker by far.

I own Hailey 2.2s actually, nice snarky comment.

I've heard M, S, and Q all in dealer demos, auditions, and/or at shows. Numerous amps too (except Pass which a friend runs with apparent success). The best I've heard them was on was Gryphon. I was very interested in the brand at one time but just feel YG is superior for a sealed box, aluminum speaker and ended up purchasing a pair. More alive, better micro dynamics, magical hybrid tweeter, and Yoav's crossover is the secret sauce that brings about a musically superior experience. But YG doesn't have the Valin marketing muscle.

Great comments enjoy what you like YG is definely another great speaker.MAGICO is great as well it took me years to get them to sound there best.I would certainly agree that YG and MAGICO are among the best.Your 100% right Valin is a big MAGICO booster.He suddenly said the MAGICO Minis were just ok after the new models come out making me loose thousands when i sold mine.I told him this at AXPONA.Remember he gets everything on long term loan for free.Enjoy!!

All of this defending and bashing Magico is hilarious. In my audiophile journey I have owned many speakers. Currently I do own a pair of Magico A3s. But there are a lot of great speakers and guess what? Not everyone likes the same thing or the same speakers. That is why there are many speaker manufacturers. Perhaps, something better than Magico will show up? Maybe I will own them? I thought a long time ago that Dynaudio was it for me. Then along came my Magicos and Magnepans. Bye bye Dynaudio. It happened once. It can happen again. Another thing: these speakers don’t operate in a vacuum. You need to recognize that it isn’t just about the speaker. It’s about the system, power management and cabling connected to them and the room. 

@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.