Game Changer !

I hear that we have 2 of our esteemed members going to hear the Magico S1 and S5 today !!!

I cant wait to hear their opinion. Whenever I hear a product that I think sounds great,I love to hear other peoples thoughts, even if it's different from mine.
 
We are expecting a full written report. Comparisons to D3, Alexia's, Q series, TADs.....etc. Nothing can be excluded. :)
 
Caio Bella!

What a great day in NYC. First stop was Rhapsody, where Bob could not be a more gracious and generous host. We spent a couple of hours there and listened to the Waves and the Raidho D3s driven by Absolare. A very different presentation. The Waves are more immediate and present, with a huge presentation, great ambience...almost like being in a large concert hall, while the Raidhos are sweet.....detailed....have a great tweeter...did an unbelievable disappearing act and threw a more precise and deep soundstage. They are gorgeous speakers and I can only dream about owning a pair.

Next stop was four short blocks uptown to Earsnova to listen to the Magico S1s and S5s. I will get right to the point. In my opinion, the Magicos are shockingly good. I loved the S1s and came close to deciding on the spot, that I was going to own a pair...like now.....BUT....after getting over the emotional impact and calming down, thanks to Joe and our friend Mike....not that Mike.....I decided that I need to work on getting more out of my Revel Studio 2s, and that the S1s would be a lateral move at best. The Revels are that good...as good as Joe has repeatedly said.

The S5s....I have to say that Mark is right about these speakers. I left today feeling that the Magico S5s are the best speaker I have heard for as long as I can remember....beautiful shape and finish... and the most convincing reason that I will pass on the S1s. On the car ride home, we discussed the S5s and I stared thinking that it may be worth consolidating my system, maybe downsizing a bit on my electronics and and figuring out a way to get a pair of these great speakers. If it is at all possible, it will take a while for me to figure this one out, and I have never even considered a purchase near what it will take to get a pair. I liked them that much. Mike and Mark....you guys are right on target with your feelings about the Magicos.

Magico S5....Game Changer...YES!
 
First let give you a little history I 'm ready to make the jump up the next level of gear. To this end I have been auditioning speakers up to 50K range for the last 12 to 15 months.This is a lot of fun no problem while-ling my free time away on this project. Wilson Alexia seem to be the top of the SOTA for me. So all my comparisons revert back to that speaker until I come across something better in the price range.I have not auditioned D3's as yet but I have auditioned D1's and D2's. There seems to be no Salons in town right now.

Magico S5 to my ears.
The S5s are no Alexia's. To me this is evident not incremental. I find the Alexia bass to be far tighter. The bass never tightens up on S5. If your are fussy like me this may become disconcerting. Not bad but disconcerting. The high end is where I think most people will consider the best attribute of this speaker. Gosh darn is it ever clear up there. Maybe too clear (hence the clinical). I found it so clear as to be at the cost of some musicality. Seemed the speakers sweet spot is around 77dbs. When I brought it down to conversation level around 68dbs they lost all that top end (pretty much gone) a surprise for me. This did not happen with the Alexia's.To be fair this may need to be revisited for conformation. The Alexia's seem to be a fuller speaker more all round.
For me I'm a HT guy and that clarity at the top end is something I like. Dialogue is a big criteria for me.I don't know about the bass. That maybe a nonstarter for me. Having said that if there is a 20k savings I have to look harder at the Magicos.They are a good looking speaker. The knock I have with Alexia's is they are expensive and require top notch gear to be the most effective.
Eastview's room was fine. The room was well treated only when I got up to 88dbs I started to notice some bounce. I spent pretty close to an hour there. Steven was was very gracious showed how things worked and left me to my own thing.Thank you Steven.

Barry
 
Wow!

Thank you Barry for your opinion. My Alexia demo a while back was really good and I enjoy them immensely. I may have to listen to them again at some point to confirm what I heard.

Bob at Rhapsody is the consummate host. Zero pressure and so accommodating. As Bruce said we went back and forth with the D3 and the Sound Kaos Wave 40's. Let me say that both of these speakers are awesome. I do not think my room would do the D3 justice. It's an L-shaped bedroom and there is nothing symmetrical about it. I think it was evident to Bob that I absolutely love the Wave 40's. I love late night listening and tubes have gotten back into my bloodstream big time. A sweet SET on the Wave 40's would be as close to heaven on earth for me. The Wave 40's are immediate and open with a sweet tone and deep and wide sound stage. They are clear without being harsh and they bring me right into the studio or live performance.



I was thinking about Magico S1 like Bruce but having the Studio2's, I don't think I'd gain anything. Different? Yes. Better? Maybe in some areas but the Studio2, I think, is all around a more fulfilling speaker. Now when it comes to the S5, a game changer? I have to say yes. The S5 was stunning in terms of tone and reality. It just sounds so right. Beautiful top to bottom. I seem to be more sensitive to the higher frequencies than some of my fellow sharks. I think that's why I go back and forth with my TADs. They have a little more energy on top and I have found a great balance with my current gear. The S5, for me, are immediately listenable. Smooth without being dull, detailed without being harsh. Full and tight (for me) bass. Oh my. I can see my GAT/ART combo on them and me in a puddle in front of them. I think the Studio2 and the GAT/ART combo is great, but I think the S5 GAT/ART combo would be off the hook better. The S5 along with the Waves would be a great combo. I think it's time to thin the heard and focus.
 
Excellent read from the few posts above. ...Bruce, Barry, and Joe. ...Right on gentlemen!

* Barry, I liked what you said regarding various listening levels; that is important.
- For me a good speaker is equally adept at low listening levels as it is at reference level (live or near).
...Everything is there still; the background, the ambiance, the low frequencies, the micro dynamics, the exquisite details, the impact, the presence, the air, the clarity, the imaging, the sound stage, the holography, and the full emotion.
...No matter the number on that preamp's master volume level control.
 
Big B said:
First let give you a little history I 'm ready to make the jump up the next level of gear. To this end I have been auditioning speakers up to 50K range for the last 12 to 15 months.This is a lot of fun no problem while-ling my free time away on this project. Wilson Alexia seem to be the top of the SOTA for me. So all my comparisons revert back to that speaker until I come across something better in the price range.I have not auditioned D3's as yet but I have auditioned D1's and D2's. There seems to be no Salons in town right now.

Magico S5 to my ears.
The S5s are no Alexia's. To me this is evident not incremental. I find the Alexia bass to be far tighter. The bass never tightens up on S5. If your are fussy like me this may become disconcerting. Not bad but disconcerting. The high end is where I think most people will consider the best attribute of this speaker. Gosh darn is it ever clear up there. Maybe too clear (hence the clinical). I found it so clear as to be at the cost of some musicality. Seemed the speakers sweet spot is around 77dbs. When I brought it down to conversation level around 68dbs they lost all that top end (pretty much gone) a surprise for me. This did not happen with the Alexia's.To be fair this may need to be revisited for conformation. The Alexia's seem to be a fuller speaker more all round.
For me I'm a HT guy and that clarity at the top end is something I like. Dialogue is a big criteria for me.I don't know about the bass. That maybe a nonstarter for me. Having said that if there is a 20k savings I have to look harder at the Magicos.They are a good looking speaker. The knock I have with Alexia's is they are expensive and require top notch gear to be the most effective.
Eastview's room was fine. The room was well treated only when I got up to 88dbs I started to notice some bounce. I spent pretty close to an hour there. Steven was was very gracious showed how things worked and left me to my own thing.Thank you Steven.

Barry
Click to expand...

Barry, This is the kind of thing I love about our hobby. I have the opposite reaction from you on these two speakers. I think the S5's better the Alexia in every way. I can't think of one thing the Alexias do better than the S5's. Isn't it amazing that we can have such an opposite reaction ?

Barry, have you ever auditioned the Revel Salon 2's ? If not,I think you should give them a listen.you might like them.
 
MDP said:
Barry, This is the kind of thing I love about our hobby. I have the opposite reaction from you on these two speakers. I think the S5's better the Alexia in every way. I can't think of one thing the Alexias do better than the S5's. Isn't it amazing that we can have such an opposite reaction ?

Barry, have you ever auditioned the Revel Salon 2's ? If not,I think you should give them a listen. You might like them.
Click to expand...

The Revels (both Salon2 and Studio2) are still relevant and supremely satisfying in many ways. They do nothing wrong and so many things oh so right.
 
BruceLet said:
Caio Bella!

What a great day in NYC. First stop was Rhapsody, where Bob could not be a more gracious and generous host. We spent a couple of hours there and listened to the Waves and the Raidho D3s driven by Absolare. A very different presentation. The Waves are more immediate and present, with a huge presentation, great ambience...almost like being in a large concert hall, while the Raidhos are sweet.....detailed....have a great tweeter...did an unbelievable disappearing act and threw a more precise and deep soundstage. They are gorgeous speakers and I can only dream about owning a pair.

Next stop was four short blocks uptown to Earsnova to listen to the Magico S1s and S5s. I will get right to the point. In my opinion, the Magicos are shockingly good. I loved the S1s and came close to deciding on the spot, that I was going to own a pair...like now.....BUT....after getting over the emotional impact and calming down, thanks to Joe and our friend Mike....not that Mike.....I decided that I need to work on getting more out of my Revel Studio 2s, and that the S1s would be a lateral move at best. The Revels are that good...as good as Joe has repeatedly said.

The S5s....I have to say that Mark is right about these speakers. I left today feeling that the Magico S5s are the best speaker I have heard for as long as I can remember....beautiful shape and finish... and the most convincing reason that I will pass on the S1s. On the car ride home, we discussed the S5s and I stared thinking that it may be worth consolidating my system, maybe downsizing a bit on my electronics and and figuring out a way to get a pair of these great speakers. If it is at all possible, it will take a while for me to figure this one out, and I have never even considered a purchase near what it will take to get a pair. I liked them that much. Mike and Mark....you guys are right on target with your feelings about the Magicos.

Magico S5....Game Changer...YES!
Click to expand...

Thanks Bruce, I'm so glad you liked them too. I think they sound great,kind of like Salon 2's on steroids,in a good way !!
 
MDP said:
Hey Joe, sounds like you and Brother Bruce gad a great time !! Glad you liked the S5's !!
Click to expand...

We did have a great time! It was fun! S5's are wonderful. Bruce is the brother I should have had. :heart:
 
All,

What a great exchange of experiences and opinions. I have got to try the S5s.

Thx!
 
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