Magico S5 vs Wilson Alexia

mbovaird · Oct 16, 2013

Thanks for the clarification. Mine are going to be Pewter. I can't justify the upgrade colors....but they are perdy!

Bruce B · Oct 16, 2013

So what is the price of the Q3 and Q5?

I know the Alexia is $48.5k and the color upgrade is another $5k

rbbert · Oct 16, 2013

mep said:
What about them? Did the OP ask people to chime in with any speakers they liked at the same price point as the Magico S5 and the Wilson Alexia? Or, did the OP ask people if they have heard the Magico S5 and the Wilson Alexias and compared them head-to-head? I'm pretty sure the OP didn't ask people to give opinions on other speakers that sell "for about the same price" or other speakers that other people liked better than the two he inquired about. This is the second time in this thread you have provided alternative speakers when the OP is simply asking if people have heard both the Magico S5 and the Wilson Alexia speakers and compared them head-to-head.

Just curious

mbovaird · Oct 16, 2013

rbbert said:
Just curious

After a 6 month journey I narrowed it down to those two. I'm going S5's.

MadFloyd · Oct 16, 2013

mbovaird said:
After a 6 month journey I narrowed it down to those two. I'm going S5's.

You've decided for reals?

mep · Oct 16, 2013

mbovaird said:
After a 6 month journey I narrowed it down to those two. I'm going S5's.

Congrats and I sincerely hope you are very happy with your choice.

asiufy · Oct 16, 2013

mbovaird said:
After a 6 month journey I narrowed it down to those two. I'm going S5's.

Mike,

Good choice. What amp now?

Prices: Q3 is roughly $48, with the Q5 around $75.

Myself, I preferred the Q3 over the S5, but I understand those who prefer the S5 over the Q3...

alexandre

microstrip · Oct 16, 2013

Frank750 said:
But what did happen to the Aidas? Did you ditch them for the Alexia?

Yes. Although the Aida's were great speakers, they were taking almost all my system budget and I was not able to "fuel" them properly. I made the mistake of listening to them in my listening room with Odin and a top digital system (Metronome Kalista + C2A), as well as ARC REF750s, and then they have shown what they able to do. But I am not prepared to go this way, as as a good friend was desperately needing them,

I got the Alexia.

I had listened to a lot of speakers, had the X2's in my system for a few weeks, but after being used to the transparency and nuance of the Aida tweeter, I did not find comfortable with them in my actual system - too many things to change. I felt in love with the XLF, and slowly realized that the Alexia has many of the good things of the big sister. So the new king is now the Alexia.

Orb · Oct 16, 2013

Well grtz to both of you

Just curious Micro, did you get the chance to listen to the S5 with a diverse range of electronics (amps and cd or dacs)?
Cheers
Orb

microstrip · Oct 16, 2013

mbovaird said:
Very interesting comments indeed. I always find it interesting that we audiophiles equate price with sound. If it costs more, it must sound better? The one thing I learned during my 6 month journey to find new speakers was the importance of being honest with myself. The S5 soundly trumps the Q5 IMO. (...)

The Q5 is an wonderful speaker, but will need a completely different system than the S5. If you compare both in the same conditions you are making a disservice to one of them.

IMHO audiophiles do not equate price with sound. But usually manufacturers do not make the more expensive product sounding worst than the cheaper one. Surely this happens exceptionally - everyone remembers the M5 and the Q5.

Yes, if the Q5 was more efficient I would have also considered it.

microstrip · Oct 16, 2013

Orb said:
Well grtz to both of you

Just curious Micro, did you get the chance to listen to the S5 with a diverse range of electronics (amps and cd or dacs)?
Cheers
Orb

Yes. Constellation Audio, Dartzeel and even ARC/ D'Agostino.

Orb · Oct 16, 2013

microstrip said:
Yes. Constellation Audio, Dartzeel and even ARC/ D'Agostino.

Thought you would had been thorough but no harm asking

Thanks
Orb

microstrip · Oct 16, 2013

Bruce B said:
So what is the price of the Q3 and Q5?

I know the Alexia is $48.5k and the color upgrade is another $5k

I got the Mocha Black - pictures can not show how good looking is this finish.

mbovaird · Oct 16, 2013

asiufy said:
Mike,

Good choice. What amp now?

Prices: Q3 is roughly $48, with the Q5 around $75.

Myself, I preferred the Q3 over the S5, but I understand those who prefer the S5 over the Q3...

alexandre

VAC all the way. They are only two blocks from my house to boot! A pair of phi200's.

microstrip · Oct 16, 2013

Orb said:
Thought you would had been thorough but no harm asking
Thanks
Orb

Thanks you did - it is the purpose of audio forums.

PeterA · Oct 16, 2013

asiufy said:
Mike,

Myself, I preferred the Q3 over the S5, but I understand those who prefer the S5 over the Q3...

alexandre

I agree with Alexandre, but I think it has a lot to do with the type of music one prefers. I find the Q3 to be more tonally neutral and ideal for acoustic music like classical and non amplified jazz. The S5 may appeal more to those who like amplified music like rock. I found the S5 to be warmer and have a punchier bass with more slam. Though it is a sealed cabinet, the S5 bass reminded me more of the ported Wilson bass than that of other Magico speakers.

I think both the Alexia and the S5 need very high current, high quality amplifiers.

Elberoth · Oct 18, 2013

PeterA said:
Though it is a sealed cabinet, the S5 bass reminded me more of the ported Wilson bass than that of other Magico speakers.

Interesting. Bass articulation and speed is where I got the biggest imrovement over my Sashas.

MadFloyd · Oct 18, 2013

Elberoth said:
Interesting. Bass articulation and speed is where I got the biggest imrovement over my Sashas.

Elberoth, how do you find the soundstage with the S5's?

Elberoth · Oct 18, 2013

I think that Sashas had slightly deeper soundstage. I said 'I think' as I also had some system changes along the way, which might have influenced that as well. That is the only downside compared to Sashas I can think of, as the S5 are way smoother, more fluent and natural sounding.

LL21 · Oct 18, 2013

Elberoth said:
I think that Sashas had slightly deeper soundstage. I said 'I think' as I also had some system changes along the way, which might have influenced that as well. That is the only downside compared to Sashas I can think of, as the S5 are way smoother, more fluent and natural sounding.

My immediate reaction to hearing the S5 was more coherent presentation than the Sashas with quicker transient response...the Sashas by comparison seemed to be a bit thicker in each note...presumably in an effort to create a sense of coherence/seamlessness/smoothness, but I felt the S5 was more successful in these regards. To be fair, it is also a newer design...and I feel like its contemporary generation Alexia is far more coherent, faster than the Sasha as well. Not comparing the two since price is different...but nonetheless they are of a similar generation/vintage. Overall, preferred the S5 to Sasha (on first impressions).

Magico S5 vs Wilson Alexia

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