Best amp for Magico S5's?

**microstrip** · December 10, 2013, 05:00 PM

I think it is very difficult to characterize the sound of the power amplifier without referring to the preamplifier - in order to know how a REF250 really sounds you have to listen to it using a REF40 or REF10. IMHO this applies to most power amplifiers - I was not a big fan of the D'Agostino's power amplifiers, only after I listened to them with the D'Agostino Preamp I entered the supporter group!

**joeinid** · December 10, 2013, 05:31 PM

Originally Posted by microstrip

I think it is very difficult to characterize the sound of the power amplifier without referring to the preamplifier - in order to know how a REF250 really sounds you have to listen to it using a REF40 or REF10. IMHO this applies to most power amplifiers - I was not a big fan of the D'Agostino's power amplifiers, only after I listened to them with the D'Agostino Preamp I entered the supporter group!

From personal experience, I can say that the D'Agostino preamp is one of those special pieces that makes EVERY amp sound amazing and better.

**Dafos** · December 11, 2013, 08:48 AM

Both the Ref 250 and the H30 were driven by my Ref Anniversary. I was worried about a mismatch between the Anni and the Hegel which has an input impedance of 20k, right at the lower load limit of the Anni. Driving the Q3, the H30 mated beautifully with the Anni, better than the ref 250 for this particular purpose.

**Rhapsody** · December 11, 2013, 09:29 AM

I know that we all know this, but I personally forget it all the time - Each time I change one component in the chain, then to get the best end result regarding the sonic presentation, I have to make sure that my cables are the right ones for this chain of components, sometimes speaker placement with the insertion of a different component, the matching between the amp and pre is optimized and a good match, even the Furutech wall outlet, (the rhodium and the gold sound totally different) must be in sync with this set of components.

Point being that if a different component is slapped into an existing system without optimizing that system for that component then it's an interesting exercise, but it does not illustrate what that components true potential is, it just show what that component sounds like in that particular system, nothing more, nothing less

**joeinid** · December 11, 2013, 09:50 AM

Bob,

Excellent advice that we forget but all true.

**Mike** · December 11, 2013, 11:24 AM

Bob - in your opinion, what TYPE of amp sounds best with the Magico S5's? Tube? Class A? Class AB? Class D?

**Rhapsody** · December 11, 2013, 11:58 AM

Originally Posted by Mike

Bob - in your opinion, what TYPE of amp sounds best with the Magico S5's? Tube? Class A? Class AB? Class D?

What a fun question that is......my answer is I don't know as I only have 150 hours on the S5's. At 500 hours I might think differently. But, at the 150 hour mark, in my room, with my system here is what I'm hearing-

SS- Goldmund 280 with Absolare pre - Clear, high resolution, plenty of power to light up the room, so AB SS sounds pretty good, especially with a tube pre.

Merrill Veritas with the Absolare pre - Ask Allen, he heard this, you would be surprised how good 700 watts, even class D watts sounds on the S5's. Big, powerful, full bodied, but dimensional and great midrange. Could easily live with this comibination.

Absolare pre/Absolare 52 Watt SET amps - I have my system optimized to get the most out of the SET's. The biggest issue for the SET's is the 700 sq. ft. room that is heavily dampened. Surprisingly enough they manage to play at around 95db and sound relaxed and they definitely do the SET magic, with articulation in a way that for me anyway, only an SET can do. Like the song said "Something in the way she moves". In a normally treated room that was a bit smaller than my space any SET lover would pick this combo every time.

Absolare pre driving Line Magnetic 100 Watt (KT 120's) push-pull amps. 3D gigantic holographic soundstage with high resolution, layering....quite intoxicating.

That's what I am hearing at the 150 hour mark. The truth is, personally I could actually live with each one of these combos, they all sound really great with no issues with any combination. In the last week I have had people listen to all of the above and I had one guy that loved the Merrill/Absolare, one guy loved the SET's.....as in three seconds he turned to me and said "Oh Wow". I just got the LM integrated yesterday, but someone heard it right out of the box with me and we were both sort of stunned at how well the S5's loved the 100 Watt push pull amps.

I honestly thing it's a preference thing....for me the answer is to have at least one tube option and then one SS option to switch back and forth every once in while. The great part about the S5's is that no matter what you connect, or at least anything that I have connected to them has been pure magic.

I know that if you drive the S5's with Vitus, D'Agostino, Constellation, VAC or really any top quality amp you are most likely going to get stunning results.

**Dpod4** · December 11, 2013, 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by Dafos

Both the Ref 250 and the H30 were driven by my Ref Anniversary. I was worried about a mismatch between the Anni and the Hegel which has an input impedance of 20k, right at the lower load limit of the Anni. Driving the Q3, the H30 mated beautifully with the Anni, better than the ref 250 for this particular purpose.

Similarly I drove VAC 450S and Hegel H30 with Ref 40 as well as VAC preamp and Hegel P30 I was demoing. The P30 beat the VAC. The Ref 40 beat the Hegel preamp. The H30 sounded better than VAC 450S with S5s no matter the preamp. Not that the VAC sounded bad. Great powerful tube amp that sounds almost SS.

So if I didn't have the constellation amp Hegel would be my SS choice. Tube wise I am surprised at how unbelievably good the air tight atm2 sounds with the Magicos. Even better than my memory of the Hegel.

**the professor** · December 11, 2013, 12:51 PM

+1000%

Originally Posted by Absolare

I know that we all know this, but I personally forget it all the time - Each time I change one component in the chain, then to get the best end result regarding the sonic presentation, I have to make sure that my cables are the right ones for this chain of components, sometimes speaker placement with the insertion of a different component, the matching between the amp and pre is optimized and a good match, even the Furutech wall outlet, (the rhodium and the gold sound totally different) must be in sync with this set of components.

Point being that if a different component is slapped into an existing system without optimizing that system for that component then it's an interesting exercise, but it does not illustrate what that components true potential is, it just show what that component sounds like in that particular system, nothing more, nothing less

**joeinid** · December 11, 2013, 01:25 PM

Darrin,

What are your thoughts on the new Constellation integrated?

**Dpod4** · December 11, 2013, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by joeinid

Darrin,

What are your thoughts on the new Constellation integrated?

Hey Joe I haven't heard it but if I was in a loft or apartment with the S1 or S3s I would buy the I integrated and save some space and power cords!

**MDP** · December 11, 2013, 02:40 PM

Darrin, when are you going to give us a review ?

**Dpod4** · December 11, 2013, 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by MDP

Darrin, when are you going to give us a review ?

Lets tell Magico to send us a unit and a couple of us can chat it up online!

**joeinid** · December 11, 2013, 03:40 PM

Thanks Darrin!

I'll have to talk to John.

**Myles B. Astor** · April 18, 2014, 06:34 PM

image.jpg

**joeinid** · April 18, 2014, 06:37 PM

Myles,

OMG!

Absolutely beautiful. I love my ART monos and GAT. Thanks for the photo. Any initial thoughts on the combo? I still have S3 on the brain.

**socfan12** · April 18, 2014, 07:06 PM

That must be a wonderful combination, Myles!

Joe, I think the S3s would work really well in your space.

**joeinid** · April 18, 2014, 07:09 PM

That's what I'm afraid of ......

Originally Posted by socfan12

That must be a wonderful combination, Myles!

Joe, I think the S3s would work really well in your space.

**mdkim** · April 18, 2014, 09:05 PM

Where were you hiding those bad boys Myles!? Early wedding gift

?

**dlb2** · April 18, 2014, 09:53 PM

Myles comes in all stealthy and then...BOOM!

So how do the tubes control the S5's?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**Myles B. Astor** · April 18, 2014, 09:57 PM

Well the S5s are far from dialed in but the ARTs don't have any problems driving the S5s. In fact, they sound even better than with the the MLs. Especially with the Proteus in the Classic Direct now.

**Myles B. Astor** · April 18, 2014, 09:58 PM

Originally Posted by mdkim

Where were you hiding those bad boys Myles!? Early wedding gift

?

No been working on getting a review sample from Alon for a while.

Speakers are just a pain for me to review since don't have a lot of room to store the others speakers not being used.

**Mikado463** · April 19, 2014, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by Myles B. Astor

Speakers are just a pain for me to review since don't have a lot of room to store the others speakers not being used.

not to mention trying to get to your TT without breaking your leg !

**Myles B. Astor** · April 19, 2014, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by Mikado463

not to mention trying to get to your TT without breaking your leg !

Being flexible is a plus!

Though the depth is a little distorted.

**Elberoth** · April 20, 2014, 02:55 PM

Wow, i would love to hear the S5s on the CJs !

**Myles B. Astor** · April 20, 2014, 07:25 PM

Originally Posted by Elberoth

Wow, i would love to hear the S5s on the CJs !

**Penthouse-D** · May 9, 2014, 08:44 AM

I was lucky enough to spend a few hours with Bob at Rhapsody listening to the Rogers EHF-200 with the S5's. Full, punchy and extremely dynamic and the watt mater was rarely touching 40..

**Mike** · May 9, 2014, 08:58 AM

Originally Posted by Penthouse-D

I was lucky enough to spend a few hours with Bob at Rhapsody listening to the Rogers EHF-200 with the S5's. Full, punchy and extremely dynamic and the watt mater was rarely touching 40..

Uh oh....itchy feet?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

**Rhapsody** · May 9, 2014, 09:06 AM

Originally Posted by Penthouse-D

I was lucky enough to spend a few hours with Bob at Rhapsody listening to the Rogers EHF-200 with the S5's. Full, punchy and extremely dynamic and the watt mater was rarely touching 40..

Hey Jim, When are we going golfing? I have played Beth Page four times in the last two weeks. Will be playing out there 2-3 mornings a week now. Let's play sometime.

**Bobvin** · May 9, 2014, 09:35 AM

Miles, i see the kitty scratcher in the pic, how do you keep them off the grills?

**Myles B. Astor** · May 9, 2014, 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by Bobvin

Miles, i see the kitty scratcher in the pic, how do you keep them off the grills?

Good question. I had plexiglass sheets cut for the Martin Logans (otherwise kitties love to climb the MLs) and currently use the Magico supplied cloth covers to cover the speakers when not in use.

**BlueFox** · May 9, 2014, 11:52 AM

I use my S5s with Pass Labs X600.5 amps (1200W @ 4ohms). The amps were on a dedicated 20 amp line, and two weeks ago the breaker tripped while listening to music at over 100db. It just amazes how effortlessly, clear, and detailed this combo plays at these levels. At the other SPL end, playing string quartet type music is also perfect. Anyway, Monday I had another 20 amp line installed, one for each amp, so tonight, after a few beers, I will test it. If these things still trip a breaker then I give up.

The grills are made of metal, which is impervious to cats. However, I guess it is possible they could scratch the paint, but my 4 cats seem to have learned that while they may walk by the stereo, any loitering is unacceptable. Also, the grills are magnetic, and easily come off and on, so I listen with grills off, and place them on when I leave the room.

When the SPL goes up on Friday nights the cats quickly move into the back of the house. However, the youngest cat, a feral kitten I caught out back three years ago, is a rocker. She comes into the living room, sits down, and rotates her ears around from forward to 90 degrees offset on her head while listening to the music. She gets her fill, takes a break, and later comes back for more.

**Penthouse-D** · May 9, 2014, 01:33 PM

I'm certainly in with golf Bob. Sadly, I must work Monday through Friday to earn money to waste. I'll only play The Black or The Red at Bethpage. I LOVE them both. The Green or Blue are 6 hour rounds on the weekend on marginal courses. Soon.

**Rhapsody** · May 9, 2014, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by Penthouse-D

I'm certainly in with golf Bob. Sadly I must work Monday through Friday to earn money to waste. I'll only play The Black or The Red at Bethpage. I LOVE them both. The Green or Blue are 6 hour rounds on the weekend on marginal courses. Soon.

We will have to figure that out as I only play out there during the week....we tee off at around 6 am and are done in 3.5 hours. We play all of the courses EXCEPT the black, on a regular basis....Black course for special days.

**socfan12** · May 9, 2014, 07:34 PM

Originally Posted by Myles B. Astor

Good question. I had plexiglass sheets cut for the Martin Logans (otherwise kitties love to climb the MLs) and currently use the Magico supplied cloth covers to cover the speakers when not in use.

Myles, any word on the S5 review? Can you share any insights yet?

**BlueFox** · May 9, 2014, 11:05 PM