Magico S5
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I spy two small red boxes, looks familiar
Yes, using the ultra low Transfig Proteus and Doshi at the moment.
I'll listen both ways but IIRC Martin Colloms preferred them sans grilles. I have them there to cat proof the speakers
The grills are perfect for cat protection since they easily go on and off. When I got my S5s last week one of the first things I tried was grills on/off. With them on there is a very slight muffling in the sound. Take them off and the sound opens up a bit. For me it is very obvious, and I suspect it would even be apparent in a blind A/B test.
I'll listen both ways but IIRC Martin Colloms preferred them sans grilles. I have them there to cat proof the speakers
bah if Magico did a modern V2 speaker as S2 then such a speaker would not need to be cat proof; do not mind me just irritated there was no S2 model when I was looking to upgrade speakers as I was always a fan of the V2 but it required really good room placement (that an S2 I believe would overcome being more room benign)
Cheers
Orb
bah if Magico did a modern V2 speaker as S2 then such a speaker would not need to be cat proof; do not mind me just irritated there was no S2 model when I was looking to upgrade speakers as I was always a fan of the V2 but it required really good room placement (that an S2 I believe would overcome being more room benign)
Cheers
Orb
That's funny. I'm waiting for a Q2, but perhaps there is no room for such a speaker in their line up.
bah if Magico did a modern V2 speaker as S2 then such a speaker would not need to be cat proof; do not mind me just irritated there was no S2 model when I was looking to upgrade speakers as I was always a fan of the V2 but it required really good room placement (that an S2 I believe would overcome being more room benign)
Cheers
Orb
Ahh, the V2's. I remember them - the only Magicos I ever owned. Nice midrange but man where they rolled off on top.
yeah, and influenced heavily by the room as well.
Still amazed they did not release a S2 model before S1, but then that would probably eat heavily into S3 sales.
Love the top end frequency of the latest Magico S range and integrates with the mid, big improvement over V2/V3 IMO.
cheers
Orb
Finally had a chance to hear a pair of S5s (with VAC electronics). Big disappointments. Having been duly impressed with bass of the S3 at Axpona, the S5 in a bigger room (with lots of adjacent open space) produced far less of it. Mid's and highs did not do anything for me either, and overall not very musical or involving at all. I am getting much better sounds from my Evolution Acoustics MM3s in my own room. So I heard the Alexia's and S5s as potential contenders to replace the the MM3s and neither one made the cut. Of course others have other experience and report Magico and Wilson leaving the MM3s in the dust. Without hearing it myself I'm not going near these speakers. Next on the list is hearing the TAD Reference.
Since you were so favorably impressed with the Magico S3 speakers, why not consider them? I have heard several reports claiming that they are the most musically engaging speakers in the Magico lineup, at least in part due to their new midrange enclosure which is not currently used in any of their other models.
In retrospect I think I was completely floored by the amount and quality of the bass produced by the S3 (in a relatively small room) and got infatuated with that. I don't think I was totally in love with the speakers overall balance/presentation, and I doubt very much they could match performance of my MM3s in my room. The S5s obviously did not win me over either so I will take Magico off the list of speakers of potential MM3 replacements (I'm in no hurry anyway, because my new Spectral amps have elevated performance of the MM3s to a new level).
You should try hearing the S5's with Spectral. I heard the S5's with tube amps once and the combo was terrible.
Too much hassle - I have to fall in love with a speaker / system to be intrigued enough to want to hear it in my own room. Did not happen with the S5. If I ever walk into Spectral/Magico room and magic happens, I would reconsider. To be fair (to Magico), I believe this was a very poor setup.
I wouldn't generalize based on one time and one tube amplifier. The S5s sound great not only with my amps but also the Absolare (as long as you don't listen at 110 db). You also don't know if you're complaining about the rest of the system, cables, room, etc.
If you want to know what Magico is capable of, listen to the Q series. The Q3 is a fantastic speaker. IMO, it would be premature to write of an entire brand based on your experience with the S5.
I can easily give them a pass for less than impressive bass, because of room. However, in the relatively large space, I would expect them to at least "disappear" (which they did not), and there was a definite harshness on the vocals.
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