New Magico speakers arriving 04/2015!

**Kuoppis** · September 27, 2015, 09:33 AM

Originally Posted by madfloyd

They do pay attention to the footers. It looks to me like they are using similar footers as the M-Pros which are fantastic. Stillpoints will degrade the sound. You may prefer the degraded sound (just like some people prefer some amount of distortion), but it is easily evident if you know what to listen for.

That's an interesting point of view and a first.

As you appear to invest in boys toys a bit, based on your experience, what would you recommend as the optimum solution? Out of factory the S3s come with very regular spikes.

I think I will also ask Magico the same question.

**Kuoppis** · September 27, 2015, 09:42 AM

Originally Posted by madfloyd

They do pay attention to the footers. It looks to me like they are using similar footers as the M-Pros which are fantastic. Stillpoints will degrade the sound. You may prefer the degraded sound (just like some people prefer some amount of distortion), but it is easily evident if you know what to listen for.

As a matter of fact, I do actually hear some slight distortion with some music (e.g. Beyond the Double Bass/ Renaud García-Fons), when playing jet landing level. So it might be the Stillpoints react to vibration caused by certain frequencies. It is not with all music (independent of volume), so I thought it might be the amp getting settled after the rework.

Recommendations appreciated.

**Mike** · September 27, 2015, 09:45 AM

What's your system?

The obvious answer is just to know the level at which the vibrations occur and listen below that.

Have you tried backing away the Stillpoints a half or full turn?

**Face** · September 27, 2015, 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by Kuoppis

As a matter of fact, I do actually hear some slight distortion with some music (e.g. Beyond the Double Bass/ Renaud García-Fons), when playing jet landing level.

That sounds more like power compression.
https://www.jblpro.com/pages/general...ompression%22?

**Kuoppis** · September 27, 2015, 01:09 PM

Hello Face,

That's what I thought as well, especially as my poweramp has just gone through a major overhaul, where basically all power management has been rebuilt. These amps usually take about 500 hours to settle after an upgrade.

Not aware of Stillpoints actually causing distortion either, pretty much the exact opposite is what people typically report. Maybe that is the case when the speakers just sit on top of the Stillpoints, but mine are fastened tight with big screws.

**Kuoppis** · September 27, 2015, 02:49 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

What's your system?

The obvious answer is just to know the level at which the vibrations occur and listen below that.

Have you tried backing away the Stillpoints a half or full turn?

Hi Mike,

I indeed played with the Stillpoints a bit, but no significant change was audible. I guess it's the electronics needing some time to settle after an upgrade, power compression was suggested as a possible cause. And you are right, the level where it kicks in is way beyond my comfortable listening level.

You see my system in the footnote, basically Ayre Twenty pre and power amp, Meitner DAC, Magico speakers, WyWires cables, Shunyata power, Stillpoints under components and speakers.

**madfloyd** · September 27, 2015, 06:39 PM

Originally Posted by Kuoppis

Not aware of Stillpoints actually causing distortion either, pretty much the exact opposite is what people typically report. Maybe that is the case when the speakers just sit on top of the Stillpoints, but mine are fastened tight with big screws.

Note that I didn't say Stillpoints would cause distortion; I said they would degrade the sound. The bass will no longer be able to start and stop as quickly and you will get smearing in the lower frequencies which will in turn affect other areas of the presentation. For example, you will probably hear 'more' bass due to this, but the quality of the bass will not be as good.

Then again, that may just suit your tastes and if so, fine, but it's not something any speaker manufacturer is going to do, especially Magico who have worked so hard to get tight articulate bass...

**Kuoppis** · September 27, 2015, 07:09 PM

Originally Posted by madfloyd

Note that I didn't say Stillpoints would cause distortion; I said they would degrade the sound. The bass will no longer be able to start and stop as quickly and you will get smearing in the lower frequencies which will in turn affect other areas of the presentation. For example, you will probably hear 'more' bass due to this, but the quality of the bass will not be as good.

Then again, that may just suit your tastes and if so, fine, but it's not something any speaker manufacturer is going to do, especially Magico who have worked so hard to get tight articulate bass...

Hi Madfloyd,

That is an interesting view, need to think about how that would technically work. Intuitively at least it seems like with less resonance in the cabinet through absorbtion devices sound degration should also be less. Further, the ratio of membrane movement in relation to cabinet vibration should not change, as that is not affected by the footers. So what might cause the degradation?

So how does that work, care to elaborate? Would be interesting to know. And how is that question addressed in the M Project to avoid sound degradation, it looks like they are standing on QPods or something. Are those not also absorbtion devices, at least those babies are not standing on spikes judging from the pictures.

**Mike** · September 27, 2015, 07:35 PM

I remember a friend of mine saying, Stillpoints all day long on digital sources/DAC's, Wilson speakers, Focal speakers and many other types of speakers, even preamps, but he tried them under his S5's and preferred without. YMMV.

**Kuoppis** · September 27, 2015, 10:59 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

I remember a friend of mine saying, Stillpoints all day long on digital sources/DAC's, Wilson speakers, Focal speakers and many other types of speakers, even preamps, but he tried them under his S5's and preferred without. YMMV.

Ok, I understand. I think I would concur with that statement. Magico does not equal Magico, they have different strengths IMHO.

If you compare e.g. the Q3, S3 and S5, they are all different animals. The Q3 is the most detailed and neutral of them, the S3 in the middle taking the S range mids to a new level through the new subenclosure and a tight and controlled bass through introduction of the aluminum membranes and the S5 with the most voluminous bass of the bunch.

I think the first two might actually benefit from the Stillpoints, while I might not put them under the S5. With this caviot I absolutely concur with Madfloyd's statement. In addition, it is always a question of acoustics and placement what kind of accessories you want along with your speakers, whether it is bass traps, other acoustic treatment or maybe footers which will suit your setup.

**madfloyd** · September 28, 2015, 05:27 PM

Originally Posted by Kuoppis

Hi Madfloyd,

That is an interesting view, need to think about how that would technically work. Intuitively at least it seems like with less resonance in the cabinet through absorbtion devices sound degration should also be less. Further, the ratio of membrane movement in relation to cabinet vibration should not change, as that is not affected by the footers. So what might cause the degradation?

So how does that work, care to elaborate? Would be interesting to know. And how is that question addressed in the M Project to avoid sound degradation, it looks like they are standing on QPods or something. Are those not also absorbtion devices, at least those babies are not standing on spikes judging from the pictures.

I'm not sure I can explain how they work. I do know they don't couple the speakers to the floor and right there that means that they can move to some degree.

Btw, the footers on the MPros ARE spikes, not absorption devices.

**Kuoppis** · September 29, 2015, 04:21 PM

Originally Posted by madfloyd

I'm not sure I can explain how they work. I do know they don't couple the speakers to the floor and right there that means that they can move to some degree.

Btw, the footers on the MPros ARE spikes, not absorption devices.

Ok, I understand. And for sure Alon has put spikes underneath for a reason. But somehow I was not entirely happy with the spikes on mine. And, while Leo Fender understood more about guitars than I ever will, I've still modded a bunch of my guitars and those are the ones I like the most.

I am also playing with the idea of trying Soundcare Superspikes under the Magicos. I am not unhappy with the sound now, but just to test and hear them in comparison.

Btw, I would not touch the spikes on the MPros either

.

**Kuoppis** · September 29, 2015, 04:45 PM

[QUOTE=madfloyd;144742]I'm not sure I can explain how they work. I do know they don't couple the speakers to the floor and right there that means that they can move to some degree.

I think you might have a point there. Ever tried to lift monitor speakers to move them around while they were playing? What happens is that the sound changes dramatically, becomes hollow and thin, as soon as the speakers are completely decoupled from the solid surface.

The question is how much do Stillpoints decouple compared to spikes. I guess a bit.

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