Q7, driven by the Constellation Centaur stereo amp and Virgo line stage, dCS Puccini CD... This amplification line was favored over Spectral by the dealer, because driven by the Spectral amps the sound is a bit thin, they claimed.
To make a long story short: I think I have heard more natural and more controlled sound from the Spectral/Q5 or Spectral/Q3 combos, sound that made me want to own those systems, and cry out Wow! The Q7s appear to be tough to match with amplifiers.
The details in random order:
The sound: There is no doubt in my mind I like the Spectral/Q3/Q5 sound over almost anything I heard the Q7 achieve as driven. I didn't get the same level of natural sound and you-are-there feeling as the Spectral combos - in fact, with the Spectrals, you are there. It feels like the Q7 has exceptional potential with the right amps, but I don't know what they are. If nothing else, save for the cabinet noise, they are ruthlessly revealing of upstream components. This was also my first exposure to Constellation, and though impressive, the Performance series at least do not appear to be in the same league as Spectral.
The bottom line: the jury is still out over here as to what drives the Q7s the best. But the partial verdict on the cabinet is in, and Magico has a lot of work to do to catch up to the smaller Q3 and Q5s; there is a reason why larger speakers cost so much more to manufacture, or why I like speakers that just don't suffer from too many resonances. Though I WANT the Spectral/Q3/Q5 combo, I could not say the same about what I heard today - I would be searching for yet more appropriate amplification.
To make a long story short: I think I have heard more natural and more controlled sound from the Spectral/Q5 or Spectral/Q3 combos, sound that made me want to own those systems, and cry out Wow! The Q7s appear to be tough to match with amplifiers.
The details in random order:
- The speakers failed to disappear, in the same room and position that so many others I have heard had no such issues.
- Resolution and dynamics are phenomenal all across the spectrum. But soundstage not as well defined as I am accustomed to.
- They are either flat in the bass or there was a small suck-out around 100-200Hz that didn't sound natural; other combos don't have that issue.
- Tonal balance was tipped up in the highs, very evident with sibilance, trumpets sounded a bit too bright. The sound could be characterized a bit analytical.
- Low-end extension satisfactory, but I was expecting room shaking bass with RR organ that I didn't get.
- More on speed: impressive, but... One of my references for attack is RR-120, Britten's Sinfonia da Requiem, the opening Lacrymosa; this piece opens with a massive dynamic attack that makes me and all the guests I've had at home literally jump up and/or blink (this was achieved with the Mundorf crossover mods I made, using apparently the same parts as the Q7). The Q7 combo was close, but just not as lighting fast, though more powerful and appropriately large sounding.
- Specific to the Q7: the cabinet, excepting the front baffle, is not as quiet as I had expected and had assumed. Clear resonances with the knuckle test on the upper midrange module, including the top and side plates, and much worse with the rear screw-on plate; much less so in the bass cabinet. Sticking my ear to that rear plate of the top module I could hear all kinds of distorted sound. During playback, that entire top cabinet vibrates to the touch. I contrasted this to the Q3 and the Rockport Altair and Mira Grand II sitting nearby - no comparison; if you want a dead cabinet you get the Q3, Q5 or any Rockport. In fact, I even no longer have such resonances with my "stiffened" MLs (which, BTW, also feature a much stiffer woofer cabinet than the Summit X, also sitting nearby).
The sound: There is no doubt in my mind I like the Spectral/Q3/Q5 sound over almost anything I heard the Q7 achieve as driven. I didn't get the same level of natural sound and you-are-there feeling as the Spectral combos - in fact, with the Spectrals, you are there. It feels like the Q7 has exceptional potential with the right amps, but I don't know what they are. If nothing else, save for the cabinet noise, they are ruthlessly revealing of upstream components. This was also my first exposure to Constellation, and though impressive, the Performance series at least do not appear to be in the same league as Spectral.
The bottom line: the jury is still out over here as to what drives the Q7s the best. But the partial verdict on the cabinet is in, and Magico has a lot of work to do to catch up to the smaller Q3 and Q5s; there is a reason why larger speakers cost so much more to manufacture, or why I like speakers that just don't suffer from too many resonances. Though I WANT the Spectral/Q3/Q5 combo, I could not say the same about what I heard today - I would be searching for yet more appropriate amplification.
Or the speakers are showing the front end issues. Then they put a record on the turntable and it's a completely different system. There must be something to it because more and more exhibitors at shows are using turntables (Of course, exhibitors pushing their own digital gear often don't). You have to ask why people like Richard Vandersteen never show with digital.
