Magico S5

[stereo]

i emailed Hans from Vitus
he know all Focal models very well

i heard Magico will stop using Vitus on Audio Shows , i'm not sure why

some here compare the Q3 and the S5?
i red that Q3 lack of Bass.

Magico is using Vitus, Spectral, Soulution, VAC, Hegel and whatever else sounds good at shows... where did you hear they will stop using Vitus?
I like both Q3 and S5 but I personally find the bass of Q3 more integrated and cleaner. And for info, the -3dB point of Q3 is lower than several larger Wilson speakers, so no, they don't lack bass, even if they will not play as loud as the S5 which is using bigger drivers.

 

[PeterA]

I like both Q3 and S5 but I personally find the bass of Q3 more integrated and cleaner. And for info, the -3dB point of Q3 is lower than several larger Wilson speakers, so no, they don't lack bass, even if they will not play as loud as the S5 which is using bigger drivers.

I just heard the S1, S5 and Q3 at Scott Walker Audio. Three different systems and rooms, but the S5 and Q3 sounded consistent with my impressions of when I compared them at Goodwins High End. To my ears the S5 has a more impactful and visceral bass, the Q3 has a more refined bass. I also find the Q3 to be slightly more tonally balanced and coherent. The Q3 certainly is not lacking in bass. I find the S5 very impressive, but it is slightly more artificial or "hifi" sounding and I think the Q3 is slightly more natural sounding.

Interestingly, Scott Walker mentioned that he thinks the Q1 needs a larger room than the Q3 to sound its best. His Q1 was out on demo so, unfortunately, I could not hear it.

 

[Dre_J]

I just heard the S1, S5 and Q3 at Scott Walker Audio. Three different systems and rooms, but the S5 and Q3 sounded consistent with my impressions of when I compared them at Goodwins High End. To my ears the S5 has a more impactful and visceral bass, the Q3 has a more refined bass. I also find the Q3 to be slightly more tonally balanced and coherent. The Q3 certainly is not lacking in bass. I find the S5 very impressive, but it is slightly more artificial or "hifi" sounding and I think the Q3 is slightly more natural sounding.

Interestingly, Scott Walker mentioned that he thinks the Q1 needs a larger room than the Q3 to sound its best. His Q1 was out on demo so, unfortunately, I could not hear it.

Peter,

If you can remember, would you share the equipment used in both rooms for the S5 and Q3? Sources you actually listened to and the rest of the chain. Additionally what music choices where your selections for this session?

Thanks,
Dre

 

[MylesBAstor]

I just heard the S1, S5 and Q3 at Scott Walker Audio. Three different systems and rooms, but the S5 and Q3 sounded consistent with my impressions of when I compared them at Goodwins High End. To my ears the S5 has a more impactful and visceral bass, the Q3 has a more refined bass. I also find the Q3 to be slightly more tonally balanced and coherent. The Q3 certainly is not lacking in bass. I find the S5 very impressive, but it is slightly more artificial or "hifi" sounding and I think the Q3 is slightly more natural sounding.

Interestingly, Scott Walker mentioned that he thinks the Q1 needs a larger room than the Q3 to sound its best. His Q1 was out on demo so, unfortunately, I could not hear it.

Think it's all what you hear it with. Heard the S5 twice with Absolare and there was no artificial edge.

 

[PeterA]

Peter,

If you can remember, would you share the equipment used in both rooms for the S5 and Q3? Sources you actually listened to and the rest of the chain. Additionally what music choices where your selections for this session?

Thanks,
Dre

Dre, I can't remember exactly, but the Q3 was in the big room (26 X 16 X 10) with all McIntosh gear, including turntable, stereo amp and Synergistic Research cables. Full SR ART and HFT room treatments. The S5 was in a smaller room with Esoteric pre, Korean mono block amps MSRP $8K, and inexpensive DAC, highest/best SR cables, full ART and HFT treatment. The music was mostly amplified digital on servers, and a couple of LPs in each room. Kind of Blue and ACDC. Yes, I fully agree that all of this is room/system/music dependent.

I'm making a general comment on the sound of these two speakers as heard in a variety of systems and rooms over time. In each case, these are my general impressions only and I know they don't correspond with what others have heard. Both speakers are excellent. They have very little colorations, are very detailed and both have excellent bass. The tweeters are each much better than the one in my Mini2. The S5 is more visceral, the Q3, slightly more tonally balanced and natural, IMO. I've now heard each speaker three times in different settings. Some would argue that my impressions are of those systems only and not of the speakers specifically, and that would be fine.

I prefer comparing speakers directly in the same room and system with unamplified acoustic music, mostly jazz and classical with some complex and some very simple girl/guitar or cello/piano solos. Unfortunately, this is not always possible.

 

[PeterA]

Think it's all what you hear it with. Heard the S5 twice with Absolare and there was no artificial edge.

I don't know what you mean by "artificial edge". Perhaps leading transient? All I'm suggesting is that each time I've heard the S5 it has sounded very slightly less natural, ie more artificial, than each time I've heard the Q3. It could well be the equipment that I have heard it with. But at my local dealer, I've heard both with full Spectral electronics and MIT wires, (can't remember every source, though once was with Basis analog and the other was with Spectral and DCS digital) in the same dedicated, well treated room and this was my impression, and only that.

The systems were very similar if not identical. Perhaps the S5 and Q3 prefer different gear. I think I would prefer large Class A SS and analog with each.

 

[microstrip]

(...)
Luxman DA-06 DAC
wireworld platinum usb cable
Cardas Clear and Tara Labs the one speaker cables
Tara Labs 0.8 XLR interconnect
regular PC

I’m using only the computer to play music.
stock AC cable , no AC conditiner/tweaks (...)

Pelo911,

I would suggest focusing on source components. If I had to live with my current "regular PC with stock AC cable" , no AC conditiner/tweaks or good power cables on the DAC I would surely be disappointed with performance of my system.
Please note that I have no experience at all with your DAC. But I know that a mismatched digital source, irrespective of its price, quality or technology, can ruin a good system.

 

[PeterA]

Think it's all what you hear it with. Heard the S5 twice with Absolare and there was no artificial edge.

I don't know what you mean by "artificial edge". Perhaps leading transient? All I'm suggesting is that each time I've heard the S5 it has sounded very slightly less natural, ie more artificial, than each time I've heard the Q3. It could well be the equipment that I have heard it with. But at my local dealer, I've heard both with full Spectral electronics and MIT wires, (can't remember every source, though once was with Basis analog and the other was with Spectral and DCS digital) in the same dedicated, well treated room and this was my impression. The systems were very similar if not identical. Perhaps the S5 and Q3 prefer different gear. I think I would prefer large Class A SS and analog with each.

 

[Dre_J]

Dre, I can't remember exactly, but the Q3 was in the big room (26 X 16 X 10) with all McIntosh gear, including turntable, stereo amp and Synergistic Research cables. Full SR ART and HFT room treatments. The S5 was in a smaller room with Esoteric pre, Korean mono block amps MSRP $8K, and inexpensive DAC, highest/best SR cables, full ART and HFT treatment. The music was mostly amplified digital on servers, and a couple of LPs in each room. Kind of Blue and ACDC. Yes, I fully agree that all of this is room/system/music dependent.

I'm making a general comment on the sound of these two speakers as heard in a variety of systems and rooms over time. In each case, these are my general impressions only and I know they don't correspond with what others have heard. Both speakers are excellent. They have very little colorations, are very detailed and both have excellent bass. The tweeters are each much better than the one in my Mini2. The S5 is more visceral, the Q3, slightly more tonally balanced and natural, IMO. I've now heard each speaker three times in different settings. Some would argue that my impressions are of those systems only and not of the speakers specifically, and that would be fine.

I prefer comparing speakers directly in the same room and system with unamplified acoustic music, mostly jazz and classical with some complex and some very simple girl/guitar or cello/piano solos. Unfortunately, this is not always possible.

Thanks for the additional context Peter.

Dre

 

[LL21]

...All I'm suggesting is that each time I've heard the S5 it has sounded very slightly less natural, ie more artificial, than each time I've heard the Q3. It could well be the equipment that I have heard it with...Perhaps the S5 and Q3 prefer different gear. I think I would prefer large Class A SS and analog with each.

Thanks for your feedback here. Very interesting. I am most interested in hearing the Q7s...having heard all the other Qs and S5 and S1. Given my own system and its ability to mate well (for me) with the original X1/Grand Slamms (albeit with some minor tweaks) which have been known to be quiet clinical and exacting...I really am most interested in hearing how Q7s interact. Most people who know me are surprised by this interest given that my background was all CJ tubes and SF...but as my ear has evolved, so has my system.

I have slowly slowly been 'shaving' away at the 'golden hue' providing I never feel like am sacrificing what my ear believes is a pure and deep tone in all my notes. With my equipment now (as you seem to suggest)...I really would be most interested to learn what having a Q7 on the end of it would do. My 2 favourite speakers at the moment are the Genesis 1s and the Rockport Arrakis. But they are both massively large and even more expensive than the already extremely expensive Q7s.

 

[pelo911]

Magico is using Vitus, Spectral, Soulution, VAC, Hegel and whatever else sounds good at shows... where did you hear they will stop using Vitus?
I like both Q3 and S5 but I personally find the bass of Q3 more integrated and cleaner. And for info, the -3dB point of Q3 is lower than several larger Wilson speakers, so no, they don't lack bass, even if they will not play as loud as the S5 which is using bigger drivers.

a dealer i know told me Magico didn't liked the sound at the CES 2014 so they decide to use other brand
maybe it's just a rumors.

Q3/S5 bass compare to my Focal Maestro (2 big 13" driver)?
maybe Q5 it's the one to compare to Maestro?

 

[pelo911]

Pelo911,

I would suggest focusing on source components. If I had to live with my current "regular PC with stock AC cable" , no AC conditiner/tweaks or good power cables on the DAC I would surely be disappointed with performance of my system.
Please note that I have no experience at all with your DAC. But I know that a mismatched digital source, irrespective of its price, quality or technology, can ruin a good system.

what you suggest to replace?
DAC and Computer?

 

[microstrip]

what you suggest to replace?
DAC and Computer?

I would not replace anything - but I would borrow a good CD player. I do not know what are your preferences, but it seems you are not pleased with your current system and I am assuming that the weakest link - or at least the less predictable - in your system is the DAC/computer system.

 

[pelo911]

I would not replace anything - but I would borrow a good CD player. I do not know what are your preferences, but it seems you are not pleased with your current system and I am assuming that the weakest link - or at least the less predictable - in your system is the DAC/computer system.

i don't have Cd's , i'm using only my computer to play music
a lot of people using CAPS V3 Zuma or Macbook Pre/Macmini or Aurender S10
and not regular (gaming) PC that might add a lot of noises.

to reduce noises , i saw few peoples using DAC with Volume control plug directly to the Amp
not sure what DAC.

 

[microstrip]

i don't have Cd's , i'm using only my computer to play music
a lot of people using CAPS V3 Zuma or Macbook Pre/Macmini or Aurender S10
and not regular (gaming) PC that might add a lot of noises.

to reduce noises , i saw few peoples using DAC with Volume control plug directly to the Amp
not sure what DAC.

I am not telling you to go in CDs, just to listen to something different for diagnostic purposes - borrow the player and a few CDs!
What are your main criticisms about your current system?

 

[stereo]

a dealer i know told me Magico didn't liked the sound at the CES 2014 so they decide to use other brand
maybe it's just a rumors.

yes, just rumors. The sound was very good at CES and the Magico team was very happy about it. Maybe your dealer is not distributing Vitus

 

[pelo911]

yes, just rumors. The sound was very good at CES and the Magico team was very happy about it

i was there
sound amazing!!
i'm not sure what model of Vitus they use there.

i'm also looking to buy Vitus
can be good match to my Maestro or any other speakers

 

[MylesBAstor]

 

[rockitman]

View attachment 15288

how do you change records...straddle the mono blocks ?

 

[Dimfer]

I spy two small red boxes, looks familiar