New Magico Speaker Break-in Question

To @jmeyers -

• What amplifier are you running and can it handle down into 2-ohm loads?

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How about dips into 2.6 ohms, more specifically. Your other speakers were 6 ohms. These are 4 ohms nominal, and dip down if you trust this SP test graph for reference. There was another member here who experienced something similar, different speaker, same type of situation as I recall. We ended up figuring out his tube amps and others had some trouble driving the speakers at low impedance and it becomes shrill, harsh, not fun to listen to for long periods.

Worth checking this more and comparing A5 speaker versions, and worth asking Magico more on what amps are best to use. One of the tests, they used a mighty Boulder amp in a few tests and people mention trying some Pass amps to fwiw. See the comments below about "no tube amps", worth noting as well.

Yes, looking at the crossovers and caps used, some 250+ hr break-in can help some, but I’d first be looking closely at what amp capability you have now, and compare from there. Apparently this is known about needing an extra capable amplifier to drive these well. My question is about what happens to the sound when other parts of the frequency experiences impedance dips like this. Others wil chime in, I suspect. 

Maybe you have this covered already, good luck.

Stereophile article, for reference:

https://www.stereophile.com/content/magico-a5-loudspeaker-measurements

@jmeyers decooney Many thanks for your thoughtful response. My A5s are powered by McIntosh MC611s. These are mono amplifiers that output 600 watts are 8, 4, and 2 ohms. Consequently, I don’t think that my amplification is the cause of my near-term concern.

For sure, and you’ve checked that box and then some, very nice! Just a few days ago a known celeb’s system showed up on a video with similar Magicos, and the larger Mc amps. Interesting.

The other specific thing I can think of is those same caps in the speaker crossovers. I’ve used multiple variations of those same Mundorfs in different components and wow, they can take a looooooong time to form, break in, settle in. Some silver-over-copper and certain OCC cables can have a tipped up sound too fwiw. Curious how it sounds after your 250hrs of play time. Enjoy your system, have fun!

To @jmeyers  - really good speakers, capable amps, all seems in place. I’m very interested how this turns out after the long burn-in cycle is done.

Both @hilde45 compared notes some a few years back, and I have run into this whole "be" tweeter matter before. Recently went to a friends house and changed out some alloys for soft domes for him on some speakers I made years back.

Some designers have even walked away and back to really good soft domes. However, I tend to believe the right crossover design could help, but that’s a guess too. An adjustable one [dare I say] but may be unique to each persons system, room, etc.

Also, meant to ask, are you running "silver" or silver over copper interconnect and speaker cables by chance?

Keep us posted here to let us know how it turns out, okay?

"@skinzy Interesting you found they lacked bass.  I do not experience that. ". 

Yep. I wonder.   Another symptom of those pesky Mundorf caps in the speakers. Long Long break-in. I did not get the more natural tone, warmth, depth of bass out of all of my prior and current Mundorf cap installs until 100-200 hours, and still better after 300hr hours.  Painful time for forming and settling in with electronics and likely as long with passive crossovers. If you are an inpatient person, you might end up reselling anything with Mundorf caps in it before realizing the full potential.   

NEW Speakers and their initial stiff driver rubber or foam surrounds will loosen up, the capacitors inside all settle in with some good play time on them. Pretty standard for new stuff. Used stuff, no need to wonder or worry just play it and enjoy.  

New stiff [overly rigid] coiled up multi-stranded copper cables with rigid dielectrics inside, especially those sitting tightly coiled up in boxes for six months on a shelf, initial static electricity release, all well known and measurable parameters that change with some with a little play time. Compare sound at 1 and again 14-21 days. If you can't hear any difference, even better - no need to buy more gear.