More on the Q5s

[ack]

I have read the review, twice. As a mastering engineer, I don't know what's coming though the door next. Last week I did a rock/punk band from Belgium, this week an electronic band from D.C. Next week I have 7hr. of solo jazz piano to do. I made sure the speakers I have now can reproduce Chinese drums!
As I've stated before, I"ve heard every Magico speaker (except for Ultimate), in multiple venues/set-ups, and have not liked any of them. Speakers are a personal thing, I prefer busty blondes...

Understood. The Q5's, like the M5's, need subs to move air down low.

[audioguy]

Understood. The Q5's, like the M5's, need subs to move air down low.

So for all that money I have to buy subs as well. Goodness gracious!!!

[ack]

Just another 12-15 grand for a pair of JL 212's

[FrantzM]

Hi

While I am in favor of ALLWAYS using multiple subs in a system regardless of the bass capabilities of the main speakers ... I , also, find the reported lack of bass of the Magico Q5 disturbing... For that kind of money one should get 20~20 KHz at any sane SPL, certainly not limited , it's-there-but-you-have-to-strain-to hear-it bass ... the M5 is above the $100 K mark .. The Q5 half that ...
The thread is about the Q5 and it seems to be a very good, albeit limited speaker ... The only thing I do find interesting is how much one brand seem to captivate the imagination of us, Audiophiles, while others producing gear of excellence and in the view of many, superior gears are not discussed at all. I have rarely seen for example mention of the superlative Rockport speakers, whose entire lineup is an example of balance and excellence .. I have heard several models not the Arakis or the Altair, however based on what I heard from the Ankara ...if I am to spend close to 100 K on a speaker the Altair would be the one (Serious, dedicated subwoofer challenging bass) but I digress and am wildly OT .. Back to the Q5

[Bruce B]

Yeah, it amazes me that a "nearly full-range" $60k speaker needs subs. On top of that, you'll need LOTS of power to get them moving at 84dB sensitivity at BELOW 4 ohms. That's one reason I crossed the Avalon ISIS off my list. I "only" have 100wpc monoblocs. Forget about the guys with 18wpc SET amps. That's one thing I can give Wilson in that the Alexandrias are a very easy load. I don't know why more manufacturers don't follow suit.

[Ron Party]

Yeah, it amazes me that a "nearly full-range" $60k speaker needs subs. On top of that, you'll need LOTS of power to get them moving at 84dB sensitivity at BELOW 4 ohms. That's one reason I crossed the Avalon ISIS off my list. I "only" have 100wpc monoblocs. Forget about the guys with 18wpc SET amps. That's one thing I can give Wilson in that the Alexandrias are a very easy load. I don't know why more manufacturers don't follow suit.

I'm with you, Bruce. For me, high efficiency speakers are the only way to go.

[ack]

What I don't understand is why we are not seeing more isobaric designs...

[microstrip]

So if it is good at Acoustic Music only, then I would have looked at a more "universal" speaker since I listen to anything from Power Wester Clasiical to Easter Indian Classical Music and Hard Rock and Rap and Hip Hop and World Music ...

I have not been apointed as defender of the day of the M5, but as I listen mainly to classical, jazz, vocal and no electronic music I find the M5 promising ... I only heard them once with the Dartzeel monoblocks for a short time and they seemed great, but is was in show conditions, that is not meaningful for me.

The clarification you added is very important in this discussion - for you that M5's would be an incomplete speaker at any price, even at one tenth of what they cost. Although I do not listen frequently to rock music, it sounded much better when I heard it decades ago in my JBL 4311's. But Monteverdi madrigals sound at less one thousand times better in my current system!

[phillipK]

First time posting here, so I hope I am not stepping on anyone's toes, but did anyone here actually looked at the Q5 measurements? I mean, if I read it correctly, they do extend almost an octave lower (and higher) than the MAXX 3, so why would you need a sub with one and not with the other? If anything, it looks like it will be the MAXX that will need a sub in this context. Not trying to be facetious here but should the facts be given some weight? I found more interesting comments in http://forum.stereophile.com/forum/s...7484#Post97559

[FrantzM]

Hi

I have never heard the JBL you are referring to so cannot comment. I am a classical music lover too. Although I consider myself eclectic, my Western classical music pieces accountfor 55% of my music collection. So indeed I would like a speaker capable of playing classical. What my many years in this hobby have taught me however is that a full range speaker plays EVERY music better than those with limited range.. Even small formation chamber music come out more realistically with a full range speaker. I don't know what is in your system but the Montervedi pieces would be quite realistic with competent bass reproduction, if you don't have that yet...
I still think for the price involved more output in the bass is warranted... whether for the Q5 or the M5, at these prices there are several speakers of excellence, actuqlly much under that: Rockport Ankaara, Von Shwikert VR5 and 9, Evolution Acoustics MM2 and MM3, Revel Salon, Wilson MAXX3, very long list ... very, very long list.. It is not a matter of bass-love: Accurate bass brings more realism in music reproduction.
On another front... 84 dB is toome on the low side, very low side alhtough my former speakers (MG 20.1) were in the vicinity but they were planar and the fall off of SPL with distance is less sever than with quasi-point sources like the Magico , Such low sensibility calls for really stout amplifier and to play at serious SPL those required for say your very basic Classical music, say a Beethoven 5 for example, you need to pump some serious watts in the speakers and at these power levels, the strange phenomenon called thermal compression rears its ugly head. I don't know how Magico addresses that but , a more efficient speaker has inherently less of this problem...if you like them ....as Raul (Silviajulietta) would say: Enjoy the music ...