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  1. #1
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    Suncoast Audio Magico M3 install today
















    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    My Systems: http://www.audioshark.org/showthread...481#post158481

    "We can hear everything we measure, but we can't measure everything we hear. Let your ears be your guide."

    Dealer for: Aqua Hi-Fi, Aurender, AudioQuest Cables & Power Products, Berkeley Audio, Block Audio (distributor), Boulder Amplifiers, Bowers & Wilkins (B&W), Bryston, Clarisys Audio Loudspeakers (distributor), Classe’ Audio, Degritter Record Cleaning Machines, Esoteric, Finite Elemente, FirstWatt, Focal Loudspeakers and Headphones, GigaFoil, Harbeth Loudspeakers, Hegel, HiFi Man, Innuos, ISO Acoustics, Keces Power Supplies, Kharma Loudspeakers and Electronics, Kuzma Turntables, Lumin, Luxman, Magico Loudspeakers, MBL Speakers & Electronics, MSB Technologies, MySonicLabs Phono Cartridges, Nordost Cables, Ortofon, Pass Labs, Quadraspire, Rega Turntables and Electronics, Shunyata Research, STAX, Stein Music Products, Stillpoints, Soulution, VAC, Vicoustics, Viva Audio, VPI Industries, WireWorld Cables.

    https://suncoastaudio.com/
    Phone: 941-932-0282
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Suncoast-Au...1105178279194/

  2. #2
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    Re: Suncoast Audio Magico M3 install today

    Quote Originally Posted by Mike View Post















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    Nice Magico T-Shirt Mike. ;-)


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  3. #3
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    Re: Suncoast Audio Magico M3 install today

    They look awesome Mike!
    Paul

    Speakers: Von Schweikert VR-5 Anniversary MK II Front L/R, LCR-35 Center, VR-1 Rear L/R Sub: JL Audio F113
    Amps: PS Audio BHK Signature 300 Mono, McIntosh MC207 Pre-Amp PS Audio BHK Signature and Gold Note PH-10 Phono Stage/PSU-10 Power Supply
    Turntable: VPI HR-X 12.7 TONEARM (2) and SDS, Stillpoints LPI
    Tape Deck Otari 5050B II2
    Music Server: Aurender N100H
    Cartridges: Ortofon Cadenza Black, Lyra Helikon Mono Digital Source: Oppo UDP-205 DAC: Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE
    SSP: Marantz AV8801 Cables: Wireworld Electra 7 (P) Wireworld Silver Eclipse 7, Shunyata Delta NR (I) Wireworld Silver Eclipse 7 (S)
    Wireworld Platinum Starlight 7 (USB)
    AC Power Regeneration: PS Audio DirectStream P15 Power Plant and Shunyata Denali 6000s V2.

  4. #4
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    Re: Suncoast Audio Magico M3 install today

    Mike.......You are making serious advancements on Suncoast Audio in short order. That is a remarkable sound system in a gorgeous room.

    You are moving right along. Congratulations.
    Dan

    STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital coax,
    Sonos Connect, Stillpoints Ultra SS & Ultra Mini, PurePower 2000, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario

    LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205 Signal Sleuth, Sonos Connect, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable,
    Sony DAT 60ES, Nakamichi BX-300, Micro Seiki DD40 w/m505A tonearm, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Stillpoints Ultra Mini, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113

    VINTAGE - McIntosh 4300V, McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, JBL 4312A

  5. #5
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    Re: Suncoast Audio Magico M3 install today

    Quote Originally Posted by Double-D View Post
    Mike.......You are making serious advancements on Suncoast Audio in short order. That is a remarkable sound system in a gorgeous room.

    You are moving right along. Congratulations.
    Thanks. The client is very happy. He has a wonderful system.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    My Systems: http://www.audioshark.org/showthread...481#post158481

    "We can hear everything we measure, but we can't measure everything we hear. Let your ears be your guide."

    Dealer for: Aqua Hi-Fi, Aurender, AudioQuest Cables & Power Products, Berkeley Audio, Block Audio (distributor), Boulder Amplifiers, Bowers & Wilkins (B&W), Bryston, Clarisys Audio Loudspeakers (distributor), Classe’ Audio, Degritter Record Cleaning Machines, Esoteric, Finite Elemente, FirstWatt, Focal Loudspeakers and Headphones, GigaFoil, Harbeth Loudspeakers, Hegel, HiFi Man, Innuos, ISO Acoustics, Keces Power Supplies, Kharma Loudspeakers and Electronics, Kuzma Turntables, Lumin, Luxman, Magico Loudspeakers, MBL Speakers & Electronics, MSB Technologies, MySonicLabs Phono Cartridges, Nordost Cables, Ortofon, Pass Labs, Quadraspire, Rega Turntables and Electronics, Shunyata Research, STAX, Stein Music Products, Stillpoints, Soulution, VAC, Vicoustics, Viva Audio, VPI Industries, WireWorld Cables.

    https://suncoastaudio.com/
    Phone: 941-932-0282
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Suncoast-Au...1105178279194/

  6. #6
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    Re: Suncoast Audio Magico M3 install today

    That sure is a lot of room treatment around the gear. Was it already there, or added piece by piece after evaluating each part over time?
    Bud

    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD
    Pass XP-22 pre, X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers, SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR for source, Denali 2000 (2) for amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson four shelf maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.

  7. #7

    Re: Suncoast Audio Magico M3 install today

    Job well done Mike...your client has some very nice kit there & looks like a happy camper! No doubt a good part of the reason was the personalized and professional service which is the signature of your business . Btw, are those ASC bass traps?

  8. #8

    Re: Suncoast Audio Magico M3 install today

    Beautiful setup, congrats!


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
    “Life’s too short to listen to bad audio.”

    Big rig: Brinkmann Taurus DD TT + 12.1 arm + Lyra Etna Lambda SL MC + HRS M3X2/ Cardas Clear Beyond phono/ Stillpoints LPI/ Brinkmann Edison mk2 phono + RöNT II Tube PS/ Synology NAS with Roon + HD Plex linear PSU + Shunyata HD/ AQ Vodka RJ45 + Aqvox Network Switch SE + AQ Diamond RJ45 into DAC/ Brinkmann Nyquist mk2/ Audionet Humboldt/ Cardas Clear Beyond ICs/ Kharma DB9-S 1.1 LS/ Inakustik Reference LS 4004 AIR/ Audioquest Niagara 5000/ Shunyata Alpha power (HC, Analogue, Digital)/ Finite Elemente Pagode Rack/ Stillpoints Ultra SS/ Vicoustic panels + Stillpoints Aperture II.

    Small rig: Naim UnitiServe/ Curious USB/ Tidal/ Linn Klimax DS3/ Shunyata Power cable/ Pass Labs INT-60/ Acoustic Zen Silver Reference II/ HiD Diamond 8/ Harbeth 30.2 40th Anniversary/ Shunyata Venom EU7 & Venom 3 HD.

    HP rig: MacBookAir/ Tidal/ Auralic Gemini 2000/ Sbooster LPSU/ Audeze LCD-2 Classic + WyWires Red/ Shunyata HD/ Shunyata Hydra 2/ Shunyata Venom.

  9. #9
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    Re: Suncoast Audio Magico M3 install today

    Sweet! A beautiful system. Fine job, Mike.

    Ken
    "No summit worth climbing is easily attained."
    --------------------------------------------
    Source: MSB Select II DAC with Two Mono Powerbases and Femto 33 Clock; Renderer V2 Digital Input Module and Roon Nucleus Plus; MSB UMT V Signature Transport
    Amps: Vandersteen M7-HPA Mono Amps; MSB M204 Mono Amps
    Speakers: Vandersteen Model 7 Mk2
    Power: Two AudioQuest Niagara 5000’s with AudioQuest Dragon and Hurricane Power Cords

  10. #10
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    Re: Suncoast Audio Magico M3 install today

    Congratulations! Amazing system!!

    Tommy
    Mac mini i7 with Amarra Symphony iRC Berkeley Ref dac
    Rednet 16 Mutec MC3+ USB Krell MRAs & Krell Evolution Two
    Magico M Pro & Qsub15 Synergistic Research Galileo LE AC IC SC

  11. #11
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    Re: Suncoast Audio Magico M3 install today

    Look fantastic!

    How do the M-3s sound with the D'Agostino amps?
    _______________

    Mike

    Amplification: MBL 6010D, MBL 9008A Monos
    Analog: Kuzma R, Kuzma 4Point (11”), MSL Ultra Eminent EX
    Phono Pre: Pass XP-27
    Digital: Esoteric N01XD Esoteric K05
    Speakers: MBL 101E MKII
    Subwoofers: REL Carbon Specials
    Conditioner: Shunyata Triton 3
    Power Cables: Shunyata Sigma 1 & 2, Alpha 2, Delta and Venom
    ICs and SCs: Wireworld Platinum 8
    Rack: Artesania Exoteryc

  12. #12
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    Re: Suncoast Audio Magico M3 install today

    Quote Originally Posted by Ritmo View Post
    Look fantastic!

    How do the M-3s sound with the D'Agostino amps?
    Really really good. He has the upgraded 400's.
    My Systems: http://www.audioshark.org/showthread...481#post158481

    "We can hear everything we measure, but we can't measure everything we hear. Let your ears be your guide."

    Dealer for: Aqua Hi-Fi, Aurender, AudioQuest Cables & Power Products, Berkeley Audio, Block Audio (distributor), Boulder Amplifiers, Bowers & Wilkins (B&W), Bryston, Clarisys Audio Loudspeakers (distributor), Classe’ Audio, Degritter Record Cleaning Machines, Esoteric, Finite Elemente, FirstWatt, Focal Loudspeakers and Headphones, GigaFoil, Harbeth Loudspeakers, Hegel, HiFi Man, Innuos, ISO Acoustics, Keces Power Supplies, Kharma Loudspeakers and Electronics, Kuzma Turntables, Lumin, Luxman, Magico Loudspeakers, MBL Speakers & Electronics, MSB Technologies, MySonicLabs Phono Cartridges, Nordost Cables, Ortofon, Pass Labs, Quadraspire, Rega Turntables and Electronics, Shunyata Research, STAX, Stein Music Products, Stillpoints, Soulution, VAC, Vicoustics, Viva Audio, VPI Industries, WireWorld Cables.

    https://suncoastaudio.com/
    Phone: 941-932-0282
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Suncoast-Au...1105178279194/

  13. #13
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    Re: Suncoast Audio Magico M3 install today

    Quote Originally Posted by Melbguy1 View Post
    Job well done Mike...your client has some very nice kit there & looks like a happy camper! No doubt a good part of the reason was the personalized and professional service which is the signature of your business . Btw, are those ASC bass traps?
    Yes they are ASC.
    My Systems: http://www.audioshark.org/showthread...481#post158481

    "We can hear everything we measure, but we can't measure everything we hear. Let your ears be your guide."

    Dealer for: Aqua Hi-Fi, Aurender, AudioQuest Cables & Power Products, Berkeley Audio, Block Audio (distributor), Boulder Amplifiers, Bowers & Wilkins (B&W), Bryston, Clarisys Audio Loudspeakers (distributor), Classe’ Audio, Degritter Record Cleaning Machines, Esoteric, Finite Elemente, FirstWatt, Focal Loudspeakers and Headphones, GigaFoil, Harbeth Loudspeakers, Hegel, HiFi Man, Innuos, ISO Acoustics, Keces Power Supplies, Kharma Loudspeakers and Electronics, Kuzma Turntables, Lumin, Luxman, Magico Loudspeakers, MBL Speakers & Electronics, MSB Technologies, MySonicLabs Phono Cartridges, Nordost Cables, Ortofon, Pass Labs, Quadraspire, Rega Turntables and Electronics, Shunyata Research, STAX, Stein Music Products, Stillpoints, Soulution, VAC, Vicoustics, Viva Audio, VPI Industries, WireWorld Cables.

    https://suncoastaudio.com/
    Phone: 941-932-0282
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Suncoast-Au...1105178279194/

  14. #14
    Behavior Moderator (be nice police!)
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    Re: Suncoast Audio Magico M3 install today

    Fabulous!!!!
    Mark


    Kharma DB9 Signature
    Pass Labs XP32......incoming
    Pass Labs X350.8
    Esoteric N-05XD
    VPI Avenger with Magnetic Drive
    Manley Chinook Phono Pre
    Ortofon Cadenza Black cartridge
    Kharma Elegance speaker cables
    Kharma Elegance interconnects
    REL Subs

  15. #15
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    Re: Suncoast Audio Magico M3 install today

    What a system ! Happy for Cincy and Mike !!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Paul

  16. #16
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    Re: Suncoast Audio Magico M3 install today

    Quote Originally Posted by Paul View Post
    What a system ! Happy for Cincy and Mike !!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Guys,

    I had to take the afternoon off yesterday to get the speakers uncrated and help Mike get them installed. I'm playing catchup at work today. I will post my complete impressions this weekend. I spent an hour alone with the M3's last night and all I can say is Wow. More to come. Mike and his muscle Jerry were efficient and a god send. No way I could have done this myself.

    Eric
    Wadax Reference DAC and Server
    CH Precision L10 PreAmp
    CH Precision M10 Amplifier
    Rockport Orion speakers
    Nordost ODIN 2 speaker cables and interconnects
    StromTank 2500 Power Supply
    Shunyata Sigma QR power cords
    Shunyata Everest power conditioner
    Vicoustics Room Treatments

  17. #17
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    Re: Suncoast Audio Magico M3 install today

    Wow, what a beautiful room. I'm so envious!
    Speakers: Magico M-Project w/MPods
    Amps: CAT Legend -> CAT JL7s
    Analog: Kronos Pro Limited Edition / Black Beauty tonearm / Zyx Universe Premium, Ortofon A95
    Digital: Roon->Vivaldi DAC/Upsampler
    Cables/Power: Kubala Sosna Elation ICs & SCs / Shunyata Denali 6000T & PC's / Furutech outlets

  18. #18
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    Re: Suncoast Audio Magico M3 install today

    Congrats!!!!!!!

    I bet it sounds great.
    Jock

    If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters.

    ---------

    House: Naim ND555/2PS, Naim 552, Naim 500, Studer A80/Doshi V3, Magico M2s, 2 Magico Q-Sub 15s, Lumina IC/SC, Shunyata Everest and Omega PCs.

    Workshop: Naim ND555/2 PS, VAC Master Pre, VAC Sig 200iQ, Border Patrol pre/power, Avant Garde Duo Mezzo XD, 2 Magico Q-Sub 15s, Shunyata IC/SC, Shunyata Typhon QR/Triton V3/Sigma PCs.

  19. #19
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    Re: Suncoast Audio Magico M3 install today

    Wow! Very impressive room and setup! Enjoy!

    BTW, just realized you're in Tampa. You might want to check out our local Suncoast Audiophile Society (see link below) and/or the local Sarasota club. Ask Mike about us!
    Squeezebox Touch/Bel Canto DAC 3.5VB + Oppo 205 > Conrad Johnson CT5 preamp and Premier 350 amp > Martin Logan Expression 13A's and two ML BF210 subs. Audience Au24e I/C's & speaker cable. Member of the Suncoast Audiophile Society.

  20. #20
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    Re: Suncoast Audio Magico M3 install today

    Mike
    Are those the GIK wood products on the wall behind the gear? I was looking at those at RMAF.
    Jim

    D'Agostino Momentum M-400's MxV’s & HD Pre-amp
    Wilson Alexandria X2 Series 2 speakers
    Digital: dCS Vivaldi APEX DAC, Clock & Upsampler
    Analog: SME 20/3 with Esoteric E-03 Phono
    Transparent Opus Speaker Cable & Interconnects & Opus Power Cords
    Power Cords on Digital: Shunyata
    Power Conditioner - Shunyata Everest

  21. #21
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    Suncoast Audio Magico M3 install today

    Quote Originally Posted by sleepysurf View Post
    Wow! Very impressive room and setup! Enjoy!

    BTW, just realized you're in Tampa. You might want to check out our local Suncoast Audiophile Society (see link below) and/or the local Sarasota club. Ask Mike about us!
    They're all nuts. Avoid them. Suncoast Audio Magico M3 install today


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    My Systems: http://www.audioshark.org/showthread...481#post158481

    "We can hear everything we measure, but we can't measure everything we hear. Let your ears be your guide."

    Dealer for: Aqua Hi-Fi, Aurender, AudioQuest Cables & Power Products, Berkeley Audio, Block Audio (distributor), Boulder Amplifiers, Bowers & Wilkins (B&W), Bryston, Clarisys Audio Loudspeakers (distributor), Classe’ Audio, Degritter Record Cleaning Machines, Esoteric, Finite Elemente, FirstWatt, Focal Loudspeakers and Headphones, GigaFoil, Harbeth Loudspeakers, Hegel, HiFi Man, Innuos, ISO Acoustics, Keces Power Supplies, Kharma Loudspeakers and Electronics, Kuzma Turntables, Lumin, Luxman, Magico Loudspeakers, MBL Speakers & Electronics, MSB Technologies, MySonicLabs Phono Cartridges, Nordost Cables, Ortofon, Pass Labs, Quadraspire, Rega Turntables and Electronics, Shunyata Research, STAX, Stein Music Products, Stillpoints, Soulution, VAC, Vicoustics, Viva Audio, VPI Industries, WireWorld Cables.

    https://suncoastaudio.com/
    Phone: 941-932-0282
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Suncoast-Au...1105178279194/

  22. #22
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    First Impressions

    Finally got a few minutes to post on the M3's. First.... a huge thanks to Mike B at Suncoast Audio for the assistance he provided. Changing speaker brands is as stressful as divorce and remarriage...maybe more so. Lending me his S1s for three months went above and beyond the call of duty. Having that experience made the exchange of massive amounts of coin of the realm for M3's much easier to endure. I developed faith in the brand and their marketing and grew excited to hear the M3's after the extremely positive experience with Magico's "entry level" model.

    Packing. Each speaker comes in its own crate standing upright. One side of the crate converts to a ramp to permit the speaker, when it's restraints are removed, to be wheeled off the elevated platform. From there it is an easy trip to the music room where the wheels are removed and replaced with Mpods. This is a three person task. Two to tip and hold the speaker and the third to manipulate the wheels / Mpods. We managed to get this done without any medical or pharmaceutical assistance. Very cleverly thought out packaging. If they got this right, what about the speakers?

    The S1Mk2s are a sealed design and were easy to place in my room. They threw a wide and deep soundstage once I got the wall treatments right. The trebles were rich, saturated and natural. Bass was tight and substantial for a single driver speaker. They amazed me. I went to the Magico plant and listened to the M3's in their room. They were impressive but there are so many variables you just never know until they are in your room with your front end and cables and your butt is in the sweet spot.

    Right from the first track I could hear the improvements over the S1. The S1 trebles that I already loved were more relaxed and dense from the M3's. The percussion on several tracks was more lifelike (a feat believe me). One track from a Mapleshade Redbook file with a harmonica and "bones" was so startlingly realistic I got chills. My xylophone jazz tracks and solo piano defined "percussion" instrument. Bass heavy tracks produced more bass volume than the S1's but it was not intrusive or out of context with the rest of the presentation. I know the "correct" volume for my critical listening tracks and I had to crank it down for the M3's. Very efficient design.

    Soundstage: Even wider (I didn't think that was possible) than the S1's. Where the S1's appeared to be wider than the speaker placement, the M3 stage appeared to me to be wider than the room boundaries. Fascinating as Mr. Spock would say. The individual images (voice or instrument) had more air around them and were larger within the soundstage than the S1 presentation. I heard that in Magico's room which was understandable in a room the size of a warehouse. I wasn't expecting it in my 14 X 19 foot room. Very nice.

    Bottom line. Best speaker I've owned by a mile. They are fullly up to the task of handling my front end and amps. A lot of the credit for the rich sounding presentation goes to the D'Agostino amps. The speakers perform nicely by getting out of the way. There were times with my previous ported speakers where I was ready to give up the hobby forever I was so discouraged. Not any more my friends.

    Cincy
    Wadax Reference DAC and Server
    CH Precision L10 PreAmp
    CH Precision M10 Amplifier
    Rockport Orion speakers
    Nordost ODIN 2 speaker cables and interconnects
    StromTank 2500 Power Supply
    Shunyata Sigma QR power cords
    Shunyata Everest power conditioner
    Vicoustics Room Treatments

  23. #23

    Re: Suncoast Audio Magico M3 install today

    Quote Originally Posted by Mike View Post
    Thanks. The client is very happy. He has a wonderful system.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    But something is wrong. I don't see a turntable or tape deck anywhere.
    Micro Seiki SX-8000 air bearing table, SME 312s arm, SME 3012R arn, Dynavector XV-1s cartridge, Lyra Etna SL cartridge, ARC Ref 3 phono stage, Otari MX-55 2 track R2R, Ampex 350 tape repros, Roon Nucleus Plus music server, HiFi Rose 150B DAC, ARC Ref 6, ARC Ref 75 with KT-150s, Parasound JC5 amp , JBL 4345 speakers, Viero Equilibro Level 3 speaker cables, and Definitive Technology Ref subs.

    Reviewer for Positive Feedback

  24. #24

    Re: Suncoast Audio Magico M3 install today

    Quote Originally Posted by mep View Post
    But something is wrong. I don't see a turntable or tape deck anywhere.
    I was thinking the same thing


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Speakers - Magico S5mk2 Integrated - Vitus SIA-025 Analog - Vpi Prime Signature/Ortofon Cadenza Bronze Digital - Lumin A1
    Power - Shunyata Denali 6000S/Alpha HC/Alpha Digital Cables - Kimber KS-6063/Nordost Frey IC

  25. #25
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    Re: Suncoast Audio Magico M3 install today

    Sounds Great!
    Jock

    If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters.

    ---------

    House: Naim ND555/2PS, Naim 552, Naim 500, Studer A80/Doshi V3, Magico M2s, 2 Magico Q-Sub 15s, Lumina IC/SC, Shunyata Everest and Omega PCs.

    Workshop: Naim ND555/2 PS, VAC Master Pre, VAC Sig 200iQ, Border Patrol pre/power, Avant Garde Duo Mezzo XD, 2 Magico Q-Sub 15s, Shunyata IC/SC, Shunyata Typhon QR/Triton V3/Sigma PCs.

  26. #26
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    Re: Suncoast Audio Magico M3 install today

    Glad you are happy with the M3s! BTW, great looking room! I bet it sounds sublime!
    _______________

    Mike

    Amplification: MBL 6010D, MBL 9008A Monos
    Analog: Kuzma R, Kuzma 4Point (11”), MSL Ultra Eminent EX
    Phono Pre: Pass XP-27
    Digital: Esoteric N01XD Esoteric K05
    Speakers: MBL 101E MKII
    Subwoofers: REL Carbon Specials
    Conditioner: Shunyata Triton 3
    Power Cables: Shunyata Sigma 1 & 2, Alpha 2, Delta and Venom
    ICs and SCs: Wireworld Platinum 8
    Rack: Artesania Exoteryc

  27. #27
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    Austin, TX & Suburban Chicago
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    Re: First Impressions

    Cincy, great write up. What a nice journey that you've been on!
    Le Roy

    Austin, Tx : Soulution 520 preamp, 501 mono blocks, 541 SACD/560 DAC w/ Network Streaming, Raidho D3.1, Lumin U1, Uptone Audio Modded Mac Mini w/ MMK fanless kit & JS-2 LPS, Regen, Ansuz DTC loom (complete), Oppo 105D, QNAP TS-451+

    Chicagoland : Soulution 725 preamp, 711 stereo amp, 541 SACD/560 DAC w/ Network Streaming, Raidho D5.1, Naim UnitiServe 2TB, Aurender W-20 Ansuz DTC later generation wire, Teac X1000 R2R, QNAP TS-451+

    Foundation:
    Raidho Rack system, Ansuz DTC Mainz8, Ansuz (2) Supreme Mainz D8 Distribution, 20 amp dedicated outlets via subpanel

  28. #28

    Re: First Impressions

    Quote Originally Posted by Cincy2 View Post
    Finally got a few minutes to post on the M3's. First.... a huge thanks to Mike B at Suncoast Audio for the assistance he provided. Changing speaker brands is as stressful as divorce and remarriage...maybe more so. Lending me his S1s for three months went above and beyond the call of duty. Having that experience made the exchange of massive amounts of coin of the realm for M3's much easier to endure. I developed faith in the brand and their marketing and grew excited to hear the M3's after the extremely positive experience with Magico's "entry level" model.

    Packing. Each speaker comes in its own crate standing upright. One side of the crate converts to a ramp to permit the speaker, when it's restraints are removed, to be wheeled off the elevated platform. From there it is an easy trip to the music room where the wheels are removed and replaced with Mpods. This is a three person task. Two to tip and hold the speaker and the third to manipulate the wheels / Mpods. We managed to get this done without any medical or pharmaceutical assistance. Very cleverly thought out packaging. If they got this right, what about the speakers?

    The S1Mk2s are a sealed design and were easy to place in my room. They threw a wide and deep soundstage once I got the wall treatments right. The trebles were rich, saturated and natural. Bass was tight and substantial for a single driver speaker. They amazed me. I went to the Magico plant and listened to the M3's in their room. They were impressive but there are so many variables you just never know until they are in your room with your front end and cables and your butt is in the sweet spot.

    Right from the first track I could hear the improvements over the S1. The S1 trebles that I already loved were more relaxed and dense from the M3's. The percussion on several tracks was more lifelike (a feat believe me). One track from a Mapleshade Redbook file with a harmonica and "bones" was so startlingly realistic I got chills. My xylophone jazz tracks and solo piano defined "percussion" instrument. Bass heavy tracks produced more bass volume than the S1's but it was not intrusive or out of context with the rest of the presentation. I know the "correct" volume for my critical listening tracks and I had to crank it down for the M3's. Very efficient design.

    Soundstage: Even wider (I didn't think that was possible) than the S1's. Where the S1's appeared to be wider than the speaker placement, the M3 stage appeared to me to be wider than the room boundaries. Fascinating as Mr. Spock would say. The individual images (voice or instrument) had more air around them and were larger within the soundstage than the S1 presentation. I heard that in Magico's room which was understandable in a room the size of a warehouse. I wasn't expecting it in my 14 X 19 foot room. Very nice.

    Bottom line. Best speaker I've owned by a mile. They are fullly up to the task of handling my front end and amps. A lot of the credit for the rich sounding presentation goes to the D'Agostino amps. The speakers perform nicely by getting out of the way. There were times with my previous ported speakers where I was ready to give up the hobby forever I was so discouraged. Not any more my friends.

    Cincy
    Thanks for sharing and congrats for the beautiful room. Guess you'll stick with the hobby for a while now .


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
    “Life’s too short to listen to bad audio.”

    Big rig: Brinkmann Taurus DD TT + 12.1 arm + Lyra Etna Lambda SL MC + HRS M3X2/ Cardas Clear Beyond phono/ Stillpoints LPI/ Brinkmann Edison mk2 phono + RöNT II Tube PS/ Synology NAS with Roon + HD Plex linear PSU + Shunyata HD/ AQ Vodka RJ45 + Aqvox Network Switch SE + AQ Diamond RJ45 into DAC/ Brinkmann Nyquist mk2/ Audionet Humboldt/ Cardas Clear Beyond ICs/ Kharma DB9-S 1.1 LS/ Inakustik Reference LS 4004 AIR/ Audioquest Niagara 5000/ Shunyata Alpha power (HC, Analogue, Digital)/ Finite Elemente Pagode Rack/ Stillpoints Ultra SS/ Vicoustic panels + Stillpoints Aperture II.

    Small rig: Naim UnitiServe/ Curious USB/ Tidal/ Linn Klimax DS3/ Shunyata Power cable/ Pass Labs INT-60/ Acoustic Zen Silver Reference II/ HiD Diamond 8/ Harbeth 30.2 40th Anniversary/ Shunyata Venom EU7 & Venom 3 HD.

    HP rig: MacBookAir/ Tidal/ Auralic Gemini 2000/ Sbooster LPSU/ Audeze LCD-2 Classic + WyWires Red/ Shunyata HD/ Shunyata Hydra 2/ Shunyata Venom.

  29. #29
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    Jul 2014
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    Tampa FL
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    Re: First Impressions

    I’ve just had the very pleasurable experience of having Jim Smith of “Get Better Sound” voice my room with my new Magico M3’s. It was a long day! The first question to answer is why hire someone else to do this. The answer is simple for me. I consider my music to be a very personal hobby. I don’t go to audio shows. I don’t have audio buddies. I have one chair in my room. Therefore the only reference I have for what constitutes good sound is whatever system I had before I upgraded. Without a knowledgeable outside party to evaluate the total room/system performance in absolute vs relative terms, I would never know if my current system and setup had achieved its full potential.

    Enter Jim Smith. Career audio subject matter expert and great guy. I’m not knowledgeable enough to describe everything he does and the logic/technology behind it. He has done that elsewhere himself on this audio forum and in his books/DVD’s. What I can do is recap his basic process in layman’s terms.

    1. Evaluate the starting system / room for an hour or so using Jim’s sound files
    2. The next day, utilize a portable Real Time Analyzer and pink noise track to graph the room response and find the peaks and nulls with emphasis on the bass.
    3. Adjust the listening chair fore and aft to maximize flatness across the band particularly in the bass register. (Compromises had to be made. More on that later). Evaluate with music tracks. Adjust and repeat as necessary
    4. Breakout the lasers. Find room center. Move the speakers to roughly Jim’s desired position based on his experience and the listening we had done the previous night. Likewise adjust the speaker toe in. Play music. Adjust. Repeat (many times). Measurements are made to the 32nd of an inch!
    5. Tweak the room treatments for diffusion / absorption and position to take care of sidewall reflections and related issues. Test with music again. Adjust. Repeat.
    6. Check all measurements one more time to insure nothing has changed.

    When the process above was completed we had made the following changes to my set up: The speakers were moved almost two feet further into the room (19’ L x 14’ W x 10” H). My chair went back about a foot and a half towards the rear wall. We made multiple minor adjustments to the speaker distance from room center and speaker toe in until we had a fairly flat response between 40Hz and 20KHz. The very bottom end would not give up a 20-25dB suckout between 20 and 40 Hz no matter what we did. Jim optimized the rest of the spectrum and left the low, low end problem to be solved by me with a set of subwoofers at a later date.

    At the end of the session, Jim let me listen to some of his evaluation tracks from the sweet spot. All I can say is that after starting this process with sound I thought was the best I had ever experienced, I heard things I didn’t think possible from two channel stereo. Deep, deep, did I say DEEP soundstage. Black Hole kind of dense mid-range for instruments and voices. Hubble Space Telescope type precise images for percussion and voice. Quark size, subtle dynamic changes. On one jaw dropping track of his, I heard sounds positioned a few feet on either side of my shoulders. How is that even possible???

    Bottom Line: I’m a happy camper. I can confirm the consensus that a session with Jim is the best value in audio today. Anyone can move speakers and chairs. Jim uses his data and his years of experience to determine how much and when to stop. And that has made all the difference.

    Eric
    Wadax Reference DAC and Server
    CH Precision L10 PreAmp
    CH Precision M10 Amplifier
    Rockport Orion speakers
    Nordost ODIN 2 speaker cables and interconnects
    StromTank 2500 Power Supply
    Shunyata Sigma QR power cords
    Shunyata Everest power conditioner
    Vicoustics Room Treatments

  30. #30
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
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    North Central Florida
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    3,483

    Re: Suncoast Audio Magico M3 install today

    Eric.......This is such a wonderful event to read about. Jim Smith's reputation speaks for itself so no reason to elaborate. What I find exciting is your elevated emotions as the performance limits of your system were raised to a level you had no idea existed. That is something to shout about. It is clear from reading your post that Jim's wealth of knowledge and experience applied to your system was will worth the investment. I can sense your happiness and enthusiasm. I am very pleased for you.
    Dan

    STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital coax,
    Sonos Connect, Stillpoints Ultra SS & Ultra Mini, PurePower 2000, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario

    LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205 Signal Sleuth, Sonos Connect, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable,
    Sony DAT 60ES, Nakamichi BX-300, Micro Seiki DD40 w/m505A tonearm, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Stillpoints Ultra Mini, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113

    VINTAGE - McIntosh 4300V, McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, JBL 4312A

  31. #31
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2015
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    Hyderabad India
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    951

    Re: Suncoast Audio Magico M3 install today

    Eric,

    Congratulations on a fantastic setup!
    Getting Jim to setup your listening experience is special.
    2 Channel Stereo :
    Custom Win10 Transport | Mutec MC-3+ USB | Lampizator Amber | Acoustic Portrait Thiyaga | ATC SCM20PSL + JL Audio E-Sub e110

  32. #32
    mauidan
    Guest

    Re: First Impressions

    Quote Originally Posted by Cincy2 View Post
    When the process above was completed we had made the following changes to my set up: The speakers were moved almost two feet further into the room (19’ L x 14’ W x 10” H). My chair went back about a foot and a half towards the rear wall. We made multiple minor adjustments to the speaker distance from room center and speaker toe in until we had a fairly flat response between 40Hz and 20KHz. The very bottom end would not give up a 20-25dB suckout between 20 and 40 Hz no matter what we did. Jim optimized the rest of the spectrum and left the low, low end problem to be solved by me with a set of subwoofers at a later date. Eric
    Eric,

    Congrats on your new speakers.

    After the two foot move, how far are the front of the speakers from the rear wall?

  33. #33
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Dallas/Fort Worth Texas
    Posts
    161

    Re: Suncoast Audio Magico M3 install today

    Eric , Congrats on the new speakers, i agree the best money spent on Audio is having Jim Smith come out to the house with his wealth of knowledge and golden ears
    he can take any system and make is sound better. I listen more to my gear now than ever before.
    Kevin

  34. #34
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Tampa FL
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    Re: First Impressions

    Quote Originally Posted by mauidan View Post

    After the two foot move, how far are the front of the speakers from the rear wall?
    Eight feet from the front wall. The room is 19 feet long.

    Eric
    Wadax Reference DAC and Server
    CH Precision L10 PreAmp
    CH Precision M10 Amplifier
    Rockport Orion speakers
    Nordost ODIN 2 speaker cables and interconnects
    StromTank 2500 Power Supply
    Shunyata Sigma QR power cords
    Shunyata Everest power conditioner
    Vicoustics Room Treatments

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Suncoast Audio Magico M3 install today

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