Magico S5

[JackD201]

Wow, I had the opposite impression!
I've heard the S5 right after the Q7, with the same setup (Soulution), and the S5 impressed me more than the Q7 (in relative terms, of course). Also heard the Q3 in the same setup, but on a different day so couldn't put them side by side...
It seemed a bit wider than the Q3, but not as deep, as the Q3 is "boxy".
The S5 plays louder, with more punch, and the trade off is indeed a little less refinement.
I guess it'll depend on ancilliary electronics and what kind of music you hear. For rock and jazz, the S5 was amazing for its price.


alexandre

It looks like we agree more than we disagree. I heard the Q3s with Lamm and the S5s with Constellation.

 

[dafos]

Andromeda, That's an interesting question and one that I've been thinking about ever since I heard the Q3 last summer and the Q7 just a few days ago. Even though my Mini 2s are smaller two way speakers, their cabinets influence the sound more than the larger Q series. I'm astonished at how the Q7 disappeared given its huge size. I think the Mini is a much better looking design, especially in a more traditional room setting, but the Q series is just a more advanced and successful sounding design.

The Q3 and Q7 are certainly more detailed than my Mini 2, though I don't know how much my system context influences than versus the Spectral/MIT system in which I heard the Qs. I presume the berylium tweeter has a lot to do with it and I found it to sound very natural, not fatiguing in any way. Having said that, the Mini 2 is a bit more forgiving, a bit warmer sounding and some might find that very appealing. I'm happy with the Mini 2 for now and would really like to own the Q3 someday, though it may be a bit large for my room. It is certainly an easier load for the amplifier to drive. A used pair of Mini 2s for $16,000 represents an incredible value in speakers right now, IMO. I am very impressed with how quickly Magico is developing new designs that seem to keep getting better and better. I have not heard the Q1 yet.

I'm a mini 2 owner too and have been tempted by the q3. I'm perfectly satisfied with my mini + Jl audio setup until I heard the q3 at length at the last audio show. Incredible mid bass punch and articulation with no hint of bloat, overhang or any artificial boosting. I don't think the q3's can plumb the depths that a Jl audio sub can achieve but the visceral mib bass punch amd overall coherence of the q3 was, for me, the big difference between the mini plus sub combo. Both speakers seem pretty close in the mids while the mini may be less resolving and extended on top and coupled with the birch enclosure's coloration (despite its heroic construction), is probably a tad more forgiving and euphonic. HOwever, the q3 to me seems voiced on the warm side when compared to the revealing q5 and its incredibly easy to drive as I've heard another q3 effortlessly, and beautifully, driven by an ARC REF 75.

 

[PeterA]

Dafos, I'm intrigued by your Mini/JL Audio combination. I tried to integrate two JL F110 with my Minis and then even had Jim SMith come up and try it and we both felt that in my room, the Mini 2 slightly better without the subs. I know what you mean about the Q3 having more mid bass punch and its overall coherence in incredible. Also the Q cabinet is as silent as I've ever heard a cabinet sound. There is something about the aesthetics of the Mini which is really appealing in a small room. I would like the higher efficiency of the Q3 though.

 

[stereo]

the Q3 doesn't give you only higher efficiency... its cabinet is more neutral, its drivers have been improved vs. mini2. Bottom line, it is a more transparent and more dynamic speaker (don't get me wrong, the Mini2 is a fantastic speaker, but when you hear both in the same room, the improvement on the Q1 and Q3 is pretty obvious...)

 

[andromedaaudio]

I personally dont share that opinion , i found the Q3 having a very lean low end , far too little foundation .
Could be because i heard it on the devialet , the zandens gave very roomfilling bass to the V3.
The Q 7 i found a exxelent speaker with good but not overwhelming bass , just enough , Q3 just not enough.


Just my opinion based on a couple of dealershows

 

[stereo]

Andromedaaudio,
if you find the Q3 too lean in the bass, you should listen to the S5. it is a very nice speaker, with more weight in the bass. Check the latest Hifi+ review, I completely agree with the way Alan Sircom describes its sound.

 

[andromedaaudio]

I did hear the S5 and liked it much more indeed .

 

[Tubedoctor]

my friend owns the q5 and his system sounds very good, more control and faster than his older m5, but not as forgiving!

 

[Boggy]

Just wondering if the Dartzeel CTH 8550 can drive the S5 without strain. I listen a bit louder than usual. Any other integrated or pre/power combo $25K or less that pairs well with the S5? TIA!

 

[asiufy]

Given that my 108 did quite well with it, the CTH 8550 should do just fine. I also listen loud, depending on the selection


alexandre

 

[stereo]

Just wondering if the Dartzeel CTH 8550 can drive the S5 without strain. I listen a bit louder than usual. Any other integrated or pre/power combo $25K or less that pairs well with the S5? TIA!

The Dartzeel is a great amp, very rich tones, (I still have a 108), but lacks a bit of power if you really want to play loud. Depends on the size of your room.
One great choice for the S5 is also the Hegel combo: I heard it with S5 in same room as a big pair of Pass, the Hegel killed the Pass. I heard also the Hegel on the Q3 against a Spectral, Hegel won also. This amp is a real bargain, underrated by audiophiles because it is not a famous brand name and they didn't spent a fortune to build a show off chassis.
Another excellent choice is the Devialet, or even better two to double power. I am very happy with my Devialet on a pair of Q1.

 

[asiufy]

He's talking about the CTH 8550, which has more than twice the power of the 108. If the 108 played the S5 without a hitch, in a very large room, there's no reason why the CTH wouldn't do just fine, with enough power to spare.


alexandre

 

[A.wayne]

The Dartzeel is a great amp, very rich tones, (I still have a 108), but lacks a bit of power if you really want to play loud. Depends on the size of your room.
One great choice for the S5 is also the Hegel combo: I heard it with S5 in same room as a big pair of Pass, the Hegel killed the Pass. I heard also the Hegel on the Q3 against a Spectral, Hegel won also. This amp is a real bargain, underrated by audiophiles because it is not a famous brand name and they didn't spent a fortune to build a show off chassis.
Another excellent choice is the Devialet, or even better two to double power. I am very happy with my Devialet on a pair of Q1.

I have heard great things about Hegel also , which amp did you listen to, the H-30..?

 

[stereo]

I have heard great things about Hegel also , which amp did you listen to, the H-30..?

yes. It is for me the best bargain in high end amps today (and I don't have one). The pre is also very good

 

[Nightlord]

Have you heard of the O&G Enginnering RS2000? ( http://www.og-engineering.se/Amplifier.aspx ) I think it will both match and go beyond the Hegel.

Myself, if I was on the look for something, I'd go for the slightly less powerful but cheaper Holographic Audio AMP-27 ( http://www.holographicaudio.com/products/details/Amplifier/AMP-TwentySeven.html )

 

[FrantzM]

Have you heard of the O&G Enginnering RS2000? ( http://www.og-engineering.se/Amplifier.aspx ) I think it will both match and go beyond the Hegel.

Myself, if I was on the look for something, I'd go for the slightly less powerful but cheaper Holographic Audio AMP-27 ( http://www.holographicaudio.com/products/details/Amplifier/AMP-TwentySeven.html )

What are their respective prices?

 

[Nightlord]

What are their respective prices?

The latter one is just shy of 5000 Euro, the O&G I don't know for certain, but in the 7-8000 Euro range I'd say.

 

[asiufy]

What makes these swedish brands different/unique/better?


alexandre

 

[Nightlord]

What makes these swedish brands different/unique/better?

Well, I do hope they aren't alone out there!

As you may have noticed they are two quite powerful amps and that's more or less a reaction to the evolution of what people on one the major Swedish forums have been wishing for... something that stays clean and can drive speakers capable extreme volume levels to their limits.

The second part is that the Sound-technological society (LTS) in Sweden have for a long time used a Before/After method of testing amplifiers to try and find those that has as little coloration as possible (Bryston 14B-SST got modified by Bryston to be able to pass the test, still the best one tested), so that philosophy has also rubbed off on these two amps. Neither one has been officially tested by LTS, and it's quite possible they never will due to risks of bias as some of the design team also does some pro bono work for LTS, but it would be very odd if they would release something that was contrary to their ideology.

It's small reasonably upstart companies and therefore I also expect them to be at competitive prices.

BUT I really do hope there are more companies out there with the same design goals that I don't know about, the more the better for our mutual benefit!

---

It's not all Swedish amps that has this philosophy... there are also for instance extremely expensive tube amps being made here:

(Hesselvall Audio - The Dream)

 

[asiufy]

Nightlord,

My point was that I didn't see anything new about them. Also, why the O&G use opamps, instead of discrete components? Also, bridging a mono amp to get a stereo, doesn't that affect SQ, damping, etc?
Ah, do they use negative feedback?

alexandre