Magico compared to Tannoy

@fred60, somehow the lack of HDCD on the 205 escaped me. I do have, though, a 105 that I'm using in my workout room, so I'll A/B them 

To quote a friend that has a high end store...

Tannoy is usually the last pair of speakers we sell to a customer

But I have listened to both speaker brands and both are very fine speakers, but there is definitely something about the Tannoy when voices are played through them. And they reproduce double bass exceptionally well

I guess if you are more into the jazz genre you might prefer the Tannoy,

But if you are thirsty for details and dynamics, the Magico might be a better option.

But all of this depends greatly on the rest of your components and cables.

Either one is a very good choice.

But my personal favorite is the Avantgarde line of speakers - very detailed and very musical - they seem to posses the best of the other two brands in one speaker

But that's just another opinion

Regards - Steve

As a Magico owner (A3 -> A5) I am admittedly biased. Driving them with Mac tube equipment gives them the soul they may otherwise lack with solid state. Being able to listen at a wide range of volume with complete satisfaction is a new plateau for me. I have cycled through JBL, Harbeth, Sonus Faber and Mac towers on my search and am completely happy with my setup (for now - audiophilia nervosa I believe is the condition). Room size is key. As stated above, either one is a very good choice.

No one has mentioned the cost of Magicos, which are stratospheric. A non-starting discussion for me. 

The Tannoys are similar to my Altec 604Cs. They get me there. 

Don’t think one could choose two speaker lines that are more diametrically opposed. Developed over decades significantly in BBC studios, Tannoy embody the British, BBC natural voice. Magico is a more modern, detailed sound. Having owned the top Tannoy, the Westminster Royal, I believe the main difference could be the ease of presentation. And the naturalness of the human voice. I have never owned a Magico but I have heard the Ultimates in a well over million dollar system. They were in a $250K dedicated room with power produced by a $100K power station. And with 5 channels-4 pushed by 16 chassis of 300B WE and a Big Mac for the bass.
Sorry, but I wanted to run out of that room screaming!
And another time in a Constellation based system-not as bad but same thing. I believe that this does not characterize all Magico but I think I have a general idea of that designer’s ear. Of great interest is the evolution of Tannoy stemming from the ears of several main designers of Tannoy now forming Fyne Audio.
Of great interest is their top model-the F1-12. A new take on the Westminster with a 12” dual concentric driver. Jay has heard them at a dealer in Florida. I trust his ear. He says that they do voices in an incredible way and also that they are beautifully built. FWIW, I would love to hear that speaker.