Magico M9 >>>>Fulfillment

[Lagonda]

Hi Ian,
The M9 is a four way speaker, which also has the MXO ALL ANALOG crossover between the pre and the amplification to precisely deliver frequencies to the respective drivers.

The midrange driver which is the same size as your M-Pro midrange driver is not "so tiny" The top two drivers cover the lower mids along with the midrange driver.

Does the MXO crossover actively cut out frequencies in the upper/mid section of the speaker or is it done with passive components, with active only on the sub - bass section ?

 

[Rhapsody]

Does the MXO crossover actively cut out frequencies in the upper/mid section of the speaker or is it done with passive components, with active only on the sub - bass section ?

The MXO controls between the top (mid's/tweeter) and the bass modules. Not between the tweeter and mids.

 

[Rhapsody]

The MXO has a R/L input from the Preamp, with two outputs to either two stereo amps or four monos. With two mono amps, one amp on each channel sends frequencies to the top module and the other amp to the bass module.

This is all done in the analog domain.

 

[Lagonda]

The MXO has a R/L input from the Preamp, with two outputs to either two stereo amps or four monos. With two mono amps, one amp on each channel sends frequencies to the top module and the other amp to the bass module.

This is all done in the analog domain.

So there is a active analog intervention happening before the passive analog crossover in the high/mid/ mid bass section ? Quoting the sales material i was unsure, both MBL and Gryphon seem to do the analog passive part parallel to the active analog in their top speaker systems. I personally prefer not having a active analog filter interfering with the main speakers, only using it on my sub towers, but i am sure the Magico crossover is very transparent.

"A pair of M9 loudspeakers requires two stereo or four monaural amplifiers. The M9 tweeter, midrange and mid-bass drivers are controlled by a three-way passive crossover with acoustical target 24 dB-per-octave Linkwitz-Riley filters. Magico’s elliptical symmetry crossover design preserves maximum frequency bandwidth with minimal IM distortion."
Does the active crossover have any provisions for dealing with dips or peaks in the room response, or is it a crossover only ?

 

[MadFloyd]

The midrange driver on the M6 and M-Pro is also 6".

I just measured mine and it's more like 5".

Maybe mine shrunk with the dry New England weather.

 

[Rhapsody]

I just measured mine and it's more like 5".

Maybe mine shrunk with the dry New England weather.

Strange, its spec'd at 6". I would guess its from which points the measurements are taken.

 

[Rhapsody]

Strange, its spec'd at 6". I would guess its from which points the measurements are taken.

You don't measure just the nano graphene center cone, you measure the full driver with the surround to get the driver size.

 

[MadFloyd]

You don't measure just the nano graphene center cone, you measure the full driver with the surround to get the driver size.

Figured it was something like that. The actual opening in the front baffle measures 5.5" so I suppose that's close enough. Even a 2x4 doesn't measure 2" x 4"

Either way, doesn't matter. It's not the size of the boat, it's the motion of the ocean....

 

[Rhapsody]

Figured it was something like that. The actual opening in the front baffle measures 5.5" so I suppose that's close enough. Even a 2x4 doesn't measure 2" x 4"

Either way, doesn't matter. It's not the size of the boat, it's the motion of the ocean....

Yes, if you removed the baffle and could measure across the driver from the outer edges of the surrounds it would measure 6".

 

[Rhapsody]

So there is a active analog intervention happening before the passive analog crossover in the high/mid/ mid bass section ? Quoting the sales material i was unsure, both MBL and Gryphon seem to do the analog passive part parallel to the active analog in their top speaker systems. I personally prefer not having a active analog filter interfering with the main speakers, only using it on my sub towers, but i am sure the Magico crossover is very transparent.

"A pair of M9 loudspeakers requires two stereo or four monaural amplifiers. The M9 tweeter, midrange and mid-bass drivers are controlled by a three-way passive crossover with acoustical target 24 dB-per-octave Linkwitz-Riley filters. Magico’s elliptical symmetry crossover design preserves maximum frequency bandwidth with minimal IM distortion."
Does the active crossover have any provisions for dealing with dips or peaks in the room response, or is it a crossover only ?

Sorry, I was on my phone before and did not fully answer your question.

The M9 tweeter, midrange and mid-bass drivers are controlled by a three-way passive crossover with acoustical target 24 dB-per-octave Linkwitz-Riley filters. Magico’s elliptical symmetry crossover design preserves maximum frequency bandwidth with minimal IM distortion.

 

[Bobvin]

Just left Magico and Alon. Those were the most amazing speakers I have ever heard. And not by a small margin. I am sitting in the plane waiting to taxi. More details to follow

 

[LL21]

Fantastic! Look forward to reading more.

 

[Bobvin]

Alright, I'm not trying to be a tease, just have a crazy day today. I will, however, say the M9s driven by the Pilium electronics ought to be considered a redefinition of what is possible in reproducing recorded music. From the first few notes it was apparent this was an exceptionally special system. Compared to what I heard of the WAMMs it was much more musical.

However, the room I heard the WAMMs in was nothing like hearing Alon's listening room. The WAMM were powered by Dagostino which I've heard many, many times. The Dag gear and I have never really "got" each other. Like dating that hot chick where you really wanted it to click, but you never had good energy together. That is NOT going to be a problem with the Pilium gear — we get each other just fine. I am thrilled and very looking forward to turning people onto the Pilium electronics. I am confident once people hear it they will agree—there is something special going on for SS electronics, there is some sense of liquidity and flow that gets you closer to the music, immediately.

Did I mention the M9s are simply F'n AMAZING. Oh what a joy it would be to be able to afford such a speaker. Everything changes after hearing those.

Both my travelling buddy and I noticed, upon entering Alon's room, there was a real similar feel to my own room. Alon's room probably a bit more lively than my own, it is also quite a bit larger, but “feel“ of the room was very similar. Bonnie Schnitta, of SoundSense who designed my room puts a premium on not only great sound but wants to create a room that "feels" good. It was a nice confirmation picking up the same gestalt in Alon's space.

More to come...

 

[ack]

Very interesting comments, and they set a very high bar for Pilium - I think everyone knows that no manufacturer so far has been able to come out with a slam-dunk product right out of the gate, and it takes years if not decades of hard work to achieve a goal. So a very high bar indeed: "Everything changes after hearing those"

 

[Rhapsody]

Very interesting comments, and they set a very high bar for Pilium - I think everyone knows that no manufacturer so far has been able to come out with a slam-dunk product right out of the gate, and it takes years if not decades of hard work to achieve a goal. So a very high bar indeed: "Everything changes after hearing those"

I would say that Konstantinos was working on his electronics design concepts for a few years prior to 2014 when he came out with his first line of Pilium electronics, which was the Brutale line. Now, seven years later, the Divine line is fairly settled in.

I understand what you are saying as Pilium is a young company in general but it's 10+ years that they have been developing and optimizing the design of the current Divine line of products so in a sense it's a fairly mature prouduct. Look at the Taiko Audio Extreme, which is a 3 year old product as an example. Plus Pilium has hundreds of pieces of gear at this point installed around the world.

I personally consider the Pilium gear a slam-dunk product, it is for me anyway, but 10+ years does not feel out of the gate to me.

 

[Bobvin]

Very interesting comments, and they set a very high bar for Pilium - I think everyone knows that no manufacturer so far has been able to come out with a slam-dunk product right out of the gate, and it takes years if not decades of hard work to achieve a goal. So a very high bar indeed: "Everything changes after hearing those"

Ack, I appreciate your comment. I am not prone to hyperbole, but could see how my comment might be interpreted as such. I am enthusiastic when I hear something that changes my point of view, as I was after I first heard the Diesis ROMA speakers. I will say this wrt the M9s, and an "everything changes" comment... I will qualify that just a bit. I've not heard "everything else", including David's horn system that certainly "changed everything" for Peter (yeah, sure, there was more in that "change" but you get my drift.) And I've yet to hear the Alsyvox or Bayz... but with respect to what many are most familiar with, a speaker in a box or cabinet, ported or not, the M9s are quite spectacular in a category redefining kind of way (imho).

Now, add the Pilium electronics... again I've not heard "everything" but I have heard some really great SS brands. Pilium can stand very proudly amongst the most respected marques and take on all comers. No hyperbole, the Pilium kit is the real deal.

When the Rhapsody Listening Rooms are up and running, there will be multiple locations across the country folks who are curious can listen for themselves. It all comes down to that anyway.

 

[PeterA]

Bob, I appreciate the enthusiasm with which you are reporting your impressions. Can you tell us how you are distinguishing between the contribution of the electronics relative to the speakers to the overall sound of what you heard?

Have you heard the Plinium gear in a bunch of different contexts?

 

[Rhapsody]

Bob, I appreciate the enthusiasm with which you are reporting your impressions. Can you tell us how you are distinguishing between the contribution of the electronics relative to the speakers to the overall sound of what you heard?

Have you heard the Plinium gear in a bunch of different contexts?

It's Pilium....

 

[Bobvin]

Bob, I appreciate the enthusiasm with which you are reporting your impressions. Can you tell us how you are distinguishing between the contribution of the electronics relative to the speakers to the overall sound of what you heard?

Have you heard the Plinium gear in a bunch of different contexts?

Hiya Peter... at this point in time I can't offer the differention you are asking for. I heard a system yesterday, the sum of the parts. By the end of the summer I will have lived with the Pilium and three amazing speakers so at that time I will be able to offer the deeper insight that can only come from living with gear for a while.

And yes, I am enthusiastic about the system that I heard. The combination was just outstanding, amazing, mind-blowing... did I mention it sounded really good? As in Holy Shit good?

That said, my biggest worry with making a change to Pilium and selling off my ARC kit (amps sold yesterday!) was losing the romance I hear from good tube gear. Hearing a big, monstrous, system, all SS and digital—I had my reservations. I've heard the big Wilsons with Dagostino, yes that system also sounded amazing, but that system lacked what I heard yesterday, an ease, sense of flow, liquid sound. (Hell, it might have even sounded "natural". )

Forgive me, I don't presume to be an audio reviewer, so my vocabulary is limited and ability to put words to what I heard is constrained. I recognize that. But as my experience of new and different expands, I am not shy about gushing a bit when I hear something truly spectacular.

 

[Rhapsody]

Bob, I appreciate the enthusiasm with which you are reporting your impressions. Can you tell us how you are distinguishing between the contribution of the electronics relative to the speakers to the overall sound of what you heard?

Have you heard the Plinium gear in a bunch of different contexts?

Peter, I've heard Pilium with Rockport, Magico, Raidho, Diesis, Alsyvox, Bayz, Wilson, Alta Audio and Borreson. Made all of them sing quite nicely.

I also have a pair of Avantgarde Duo Mezzos and a pair of YG Hailey 1.2s coming in on trade, looking forward to hearing them both with Pilium.