@audiotroy unrelated to this thread but have you heard the Magico M2, M3 or M6? M2 was just so impressive. Incredibly detailed, amazing expansive sound stage. Best speaker I've ever heard. It was being drive by a big luxman integrated amp and chord dave + mscaler.
And ya thats the guy. Hes a nice guy but I was really curious at his conclusions.
Anyway trust me own ear I guess. |
@audiotroy @contuzzi thanks for your insights guys.I enjoyed the 7F and would really like to hear the 9H. But I was blown away by the Magico M2 and want to hear the S3 Mk2.
A dealer over on audioshark said the persona series tweeter would just 'tear your ear off' with its brightness. I didn't find this with the 7F.. paired with moon gear. So I guess this is more of a matching issue ?
@nabcs which Magicos did you hear ? |
@nabcs if you get a chance listen to the newer M series. It has a reputation of being more relaxed and musical compared to older gen magicos.
@jon_5912 if you get a chance listen to it. Its absolutely pricey but it has amazing build quality and sound. Try to hear the newer series.
I like the idea of a solid metal speaker that is like a tank that will last forever. |
@mheinze which other Wilson and paradigm did you hear compared to the A3 ?
@audiotroy whats your full system in your show room with the persona ? Also what's your room like.
I guess the nice thing with the 9h is that because of room correction in could sound great even in smaller rooms ?
The one thing that's amazing about magico you have to admit is the incredible build quality. It's second to none.
What did you think of the m2? |
@firstnot I haven't heard sopra or kanta but heard Stella, maestro and Aria line. Stella was impressive. But Stella probably too big for me.
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@steve59 when will you audition the 9h? |
@sciencecop maybe a smoother amp like MC601 monos would soften the sound and bring a great musicality to the 9H ? |
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I am going to listen to the 9H this weekend. Will report back with my impressions.
Still need to hear the S3 Mk2. |
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@sciencecop and others thanks for the kind words!
The m2 was incredible but lets put things into perspective... those speakers cost $60k - $70k usd ! For that price they better be amazing LOL.
Anyhow I heard a few speakers today:
Persona 9H:
9H looked big and impressive with the glowing P symbol at the base of the tower. It was connected to a moon neo integrated amp, blue sound streamer. Not sure on which DAC was connected but ill find out and post later.
WOW! What an amazing speaker. I listened to them in a large 30 x 30 x 12 ft listening room.. it was actually the demo floor and the speakers were on one side of the room so it was by no means an optimal listening room. But the thing that stood out to me the most at first was the bass. Not only was it tight and articulated it had a very impressive low rumble and authority that I definitely missed when I heard the 7F.
The mid range clarity was exceptional and the high end had nice shimmer but it wasn't offensive at all or fatiguing (I listened for about an hour). The soundstage and imaging was excellent... I could place instrument players well and the overall sound signature was forward and exciting. Dynamics were great.
Its strange because although the sound was precise and fast it also had a smoothness that was quite addictive. It was by no means thick or rich sounding but it was just precise, accurate, engaging and .... luxurious sounding?
Nicholas gunn - veracruz is one of my favorite test tracks and in the intro the flowing water sounded more real than I ever heard it. It sounded like the water was flowing right before me and immersed me as the rest of the song carried on. There is a type of flute or horn in this track and this is one of my measures for how much I enjoy a speaker. When the horn/flute peaks in the rhythm on great speakers I simply close my eyes (inadvertently) and become complete intoxicated by the experience. This happened with the 9H!
Overall I would say the M2 was slightly more detailed and threw a bigger sound stage but its hard to compare them because the rooms and electronics were different. But the 9H is awesome. The dealer gave me a great price which tempted me.
One thing that bothers me is I don't like having berylium in my speakers as I worry about toxicity (especially if a driver breaks)... and having big midranges also just increases the beryllium dramatically. But this is just my own paranoia. Maybe ill get over it.
Wilson Sasha DAW:
I then heard the DAW at another dealer. This was a great speaker as well but sounded very different. Firstly it had a bigger more authoritative bass but was slightly slower than the 9H. Overall it had a lot less sparkle and was warm sounding but still quite detailed. Initially I didn't enjoy them but I found as I listened further I found myself enjoying them more and more. They were connected to big PS audio monos and PS DS dac and PS preamp so perhaps thats why it was so smooth?
Overall I would take the 9H over them in a heartbeat. Especially since the price of the 9H is about half of the DAW. The DAWs to me sound ever so slightly veiled vs the 9H.
Sonus Faber Aida:
I cannot.. or prefer not to say too much about this speaker because it was on a system not connected to tidal and thus I couldn't listen to my own test tracks. The system was all mcintosh... quad amp monos, tube pre, mac cd player, not sure on dac. Overall the sound was solid... good dynamics, good soundstage.. I listened to mainly Bach that the dealer had on cd. It was also somewhat smooth sounding.
All I can say is it sounded good but its not like I fell off my chair in amazement.
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Anyway those are my thoughts I am by no means an expert and have a lot to learn. I will keep listening and keep my eyes open. I will say coming back to my S8 V2s and my humble system... I am impressed with them. The 9H cost just about what my entire system costs and the S8V2 sound very impressive in my bed room especially with my dual PSA 18 inch subs.
But I forsee an upgrade in my future... definitely. |
Thanks for the thoughts.
@yyzsantabarbara unfortunately no, I asked the owner if I could demo them, initially he said sure, but after I finished with the 9H he seemed a bit tired and said... you won't like them, its a vintage sound. I didn't want to insist. Sorry.
@nabcs Ok thanks, lots to think about.
Do you guys think MC601s would be a good pairing? I could also do a tube preamp to warm it up more. |
@nabcs How do you think my dual bryston 4bsst's will do with the 9H?
Any worries you have about having so much beryllium in your listening room? I realise that its the powder aerosol beryllium thats toxic but do you have any concerns?
Did you hear any Raidho? |
@yyzsantabarbara ah thanks, hrm, maybe that integrated moon amp. If I do this though I will probably just get the speakers and connect them to my bryston is just to hear how they sound and later add or subtract gear.
I don’t know what the reputation of moon amplifiers are but perhaps the integrated Moon amps that I heard did warm up the 9h slightly which made it so detailed yet musical.
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I do like the pairing of my bryston amplifiers with my signature S8 V2 and that is known to be a somewhat cool leaning speaker so perhaps I'll enjoy the brystons with the 9h?
But then again I've never heard my Sav to speakers with a warmer amp maybe I would like them more. |
@yyzsantabarbara please report back with your findings would be interested
@nabcs unfortunately no because both the dealers near me have their persona rigs connected to moon stuff |
@yyzsantabarbara what do you like more between 3f vs me1 ? |
Just want to add that I totally agree the 9H bass is amazing. When I heard them, it was in a very large, about 30 foot by 30 foot by 12 foot room and I was in a corner of the room.. it was by no means ideal yet the bass sounded tight, fast, rich and detailed. 9H is super impressive.
Mike Bovaird keeps saying it makes his ears bleed, but thats not my experience at all. I find it has a very detailed yet still smooth intoxicating sound. I wonder what electronics he used.
If I had to choose, I would probably pick a 9H over a Magico M2 just because the sound is nearly as good overall and has better bass and I can save well over 20 grand. |
Man you guys are making me want the 9H!
@audiotroy What other speaker have you heard do you think could compete with the 9H in the same price category?
Ya Mike is a bit weird. Every time you ask him what electronics he used for the 9H he doesn't say anything.
@ricred1 What brands and models did the dealer prefer?
How does Kef blade and ref 5 compare to 9H ? |
@audiotroy Honestly the 9H is an incredible value (especially for dealer prices I am getting). I would say they offer up a lot of the detail and imaging that I heard on the far more expensive Contriva G2 (although the CG2 was definitely superior). The only thing that stops me from jumping on them is my lack of comfort with beryllium. I know its not necessarily toxic as a driver but I always have a fear of the driver cracking and spraying be atoms everywhere. If I spend car money on a speaker I just don't want to ever think about something like that.
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@audiotroy I think you are right. Also if I did it, I would get it completely blacked out. Would look amazing.
Wow thats surprising about the polymer speaker. I wouldn't say the contriva g2 is n ight and day better than the persona 9H but definitely a step up... but even that is a meaningless statement as you said since the contriva g2 was connected to WAYYYY better gear and in a way better room.
Any opinion on YG acoustics newer gear like hailey or sonja 2.2 ? |
For you guys going Persona, if you can swing it get the 9H. The 5H and 7F are nice but the 9H with the active woofers and ARC is a massive step up in low end control and power. It is 100% worth the increase in price (assuming you can get a good deal).
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@yyzsantabarbara oh ya Kennedy had it set up nice but they don't always have it there. Call ahead if you are a local. Did you ask the person if he could just turn the bass gain down on the speaker? Maybe they just didn't run arc correctly or maybe they manually raised it because perhaps most people who listen find that impressive and exciting.
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