Magico M3 Review

[Mike]

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/arti...eid=04981e95ea


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[a.wayne]

Only at absolute sound can an M3 beat a Corvette .....

[Priaptor]

I believe that’s an old review??

The reason I say that I remember reading it months ago and wondering about his listening to digital and quoting the MSB Select yet in his equipment listing he claims to have an MSB Reference.

[brodricj]

yeah, it's been out for at least a month. They must post-date.

[BlueFox]

Good to know. I didn't want to read it since the latest issue hasn't arrived yet, but I did remember reading a review in the past. Now I can go and reread it.

[Kuoppis]

I believe that’s an old review??

I think the M3’s were on the cover of the previous months issue, with a reference to the review.


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[brodricj]

I'd really like to buy a pair of M3, but I must sell my Q3 first. There's been no interest on the used market for my Q3, except for a silly offer from a buyer in Texas.

[walesi]

Kuoppis, time to dump the S3 and go down in the alphabet?

[brodricj]

A? Why would you dump S for A?

[CharlesL]

A? Why would you dump S for A?

I think M was meant.


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[brodricj]

Oh. My interpretation of alphabet going down is Z-A. Going up is A-Z. Unless up and down is backwards in the northern hemisphere. But then, backwards and forwards might also be confusing in the hemispherical sense.

[Kuoppis]

Kuoppis, time to dump the S3 and go down in the alphabet?

Not feeling the itch right now. I am very happy with the S3 mk2’s.

How about yourself?


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[walesi]

Yea, from S to M. From M to A, maybe not. 😃

[walesi]

And yea, I’ll stay in S too, at least for the time being.

[AJR]

The only reason why I would move on from my speakers is if I decide to swap out my Diablo for either the Colosseum or the Antileon Evo. Am more than happy with my Diablo though. With the MSB Premier I think I will have a very well rounded system. The next step would be a big one as it would be amp and speakers. Could do it in stages but cost-wise it would be a big step. Fun to think about

[Kuoppis]

The only reason why I would move on from my speakers is if I decide to swap out my Diablo for either the Colosseum or the Antileon Evo. Am more than happy with my Diablo though. With the MSB Premier I think I will have a very well rounded system. The next step would be a big one as it would be amp and speakers. Could do it in stages but cost-wise it would be a big step. Fun to think about

The Premier sound is so great, based on what I heard in Munich, that it will give you something to digest for a while.

Really happy for you, great choice.


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[JimmyS]

I'd really like to buy a pair of M3, but I must sell my Q3 first. There's been no interest on the used market for my Q3, except for a silly offer from a buyer in Texas.

A local owner updated to M3’s from Q3’s and was really happy. I tried to grab the Q3’s, but finding a home for the S3’s proved a similar challenge.

I took it as a sign that the M3’s are what are meant to be for me .

[PeterA]

I just bought a used pair of Q3s. They are fantastic. I'm sure the M3s are even better, but the price difference is substantial. My friend's who have heard it all think the Q3 was a steal. The single crate is inconvenient, the speakers are really heavy, and they need lots of power, but they sound great in my system. I'm sure that when the time comes, they will be hard to sell. Expensive audio gear seems tough to sell now.

[brodricj]

I just bought a used pair of Q3s. They are fantastic..

Q3 (on SPOD) are the best sound I have yet heard. I'm confident M3 are that much better, I wouldn't hesitate to buy them sound unheard.

[Elberoth]

Congrats! The Q3s' single crate is indeed a nightmare. The introduction of the new M series made the Q series prices plummet - which makes them a great buy now (if you have the room AND amplification needed).

[brodricj]

No. I suspect A3 made the used price of Q3 plummet.

[PeterA]

No. I suspect A3 made the used price of Q3 plummet.

Interesting comment. The A3 may affect the prices of many new and used speakers.

I saw two Q3s for sale on Audiogon over a year ago, long before the A3 announcement. They were asking in the low $20Ks. Those who have compared the A3 to the S3 Mk2 prefer the S3 Mk2. Those who have compared the S3 Mk2 to the Q3 prefer the Q3. It follows that they would prefer the Q3 to the A3. I don't know as I have not heard the A3. The build quality is not as good as the Q3. I'm sure they sound different and were designed for different customers.

[PeterA]

Congrats! The Q3s' single crate is indeed a nightmare. The introduction of the new M series made the Q series prices plummet - which makes them a great buy now (if you have the room AND amplification needed).

[Elberoth]

They look beautiful. A3 are hardly a competition to S3 / Q3 performance wise to my ears.

[PeterA]

They look beautiful. A3 are hardly a competition to S3 / Q3 performance wise to my ears.

This does not surprise me in the least. However, for those looking at that $10K price point, I imagine the A3 is worth an audition.

[brodricj]

I saw two Q3s for sale on Audiogon over a year ago, long before the A3 announcement. They were asking in the low $20Ks.

That's right. The best (and only) offer I received for my Q3 was $13.5K.

[Elberoth]

That's right. The best (and only) offer I received for my Q3 was $13.5K.

x 10

[Mike]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cXFJk7e8JY



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[ashandger]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cXFJk7e8JY



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Great to hear Sultans through M3. If possible, could you please post a video with same track through your Constellation amps when you get them. Many thanks

[brodricj]

My electronics are now sitting on Critical Mass footers (clock, DAC and pre-amp, each on their own CM footers)....The M3 have been sounding a bit muddy since then, particularly at the bottom end. They still look great. I was going to upgrade to Mpods on outriggers, but the spiked Mpods probably have changed that plan. I'm wondering if I can have some outriggers CNC'd and anodized, use with the spiked Mpods.

[Mike]

My electronics are now sitting on Critical Mass footers....The M3 have been sounding a bit muddy since then, particularly at the bottom end. They still look great. I was going to upgrade to Mpods on outriggers, but the spiked Mpods probably have changed that plan. I'm wondering if I can have some outriggers CNC'd and anodized, use with the spiked Mpods.

Can you move them out from the walls (side and back) a little?

[brodricj]

They are already 53 inches off the back wall (measured from wall to front of speaker enclosure, the amp infringes on that space however)...and the side "wall" is just a curtain, the real wall is about 10' away.

[Mike]

They are already 53 inches off the back wall (measured from wall to front of speaker enclosure, the amp infringes on that space however)...and the side "wall" is just a curtain, the real wall is about 10' away.

Give them time. Play some Daft Punk Random Access (seriously). Get the drivers worked in. Takes hundreds of hours.

[brodricj]

Things went muddy when the CM went under the electronics....I thought they came good for a while last night but today they've gone muddy again. Something whacky going on with those CM footers.

M3 improved enormously when the casters came off and the Mpods bedded down into concrete. The CF side walls of the M3 vibrated like crazy when on the casters, since they went on the spikes the cabinet resonances have gone. I haven't checked the faceplate tie-rod tensions yet, I'll do that when the speakers have a couple of hundred hours on them.

[Mike]

Things went muddy when the CM went under the electronics....I thought they came good for a while last night but today they've gone muddy again. Something whacky going on with those CM footers.

Yes...do you remember reading what they need? Two weeks break in. Sounds absolutely goofy, but it’s true. After one week, the system they were in sounded awful. After two weeks, superb! (And I didn’t listen in between).

[brodricj]

The electronics have only been on the CM for 4 days thus far...for what they cost I could have bought a proper rack.

My current thinking for next step is either Grandioso P1X or D1X. I haven't decided which yet.

[Mike]

The electronics have only been on the CM for 4 days thus far...

10 days to go.

[Kuoppis]

Congrats, great choice.

So far, I have burned on pair of S1s, one pair of S3s and one pair of S3 mk2s. My experience is that Magicos need about 500 hrs. of burn-in. Although, the current generation requires less than first one. The mk2s sounded great out-of-the box, but still settled for a while.

Enjoy in good health.


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[brodricj]

I’m streaming Spotify and it sounds great, but I’m itching to get my hands on a Grandioso P1X to hear what these speakers are really capable of.

A new power center is also on my radar...Gigawatt, PS Audio P20, Accuphase PS-1230. Not many choices...I’m leaning towards the Accuphase but I’m not a fan of the Accuphase aesthetic.

[GSOphile]

Congrats, great choice.

So far, I have burned on pair of S1s, one pair of S3s and one pair of S3 mk2s. My experience is that Magicos need about 500 hrs. of burn-in. Although, the current generation requires less than first one. The mk2s sounded great out-of-the box, but still settled for a while.

Enjoy in good health.


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My experience with S3 MkIIs similar to Kuoppis's. Bass is the most obvious. It doesn't break in evenly - in fact, awful at times. My dealer had a similar experience. Checked with Magico and was advised that the drivers break in at different rates due to their different positioning within the enclosure.

[brodricj]

Now that M3 is supplied with the new spiked Mpod, is there any role now for the original Mpod on 3-pt stand? I'm just weighing up the option of buying the optional Mpods for my M3. I can understand Mpods being an upgrade over the original M3 steel spikes, I'm just trying to undertsand what the optional Mpods might bring to the party compared to the new spiked Mpods.

[Kuoppis]

A new power center is also on my radar...Gigawatt, PS Audio P20, Accuphase PS-1230. Not many choices...I’m leaning towards the Accuphase but I’m not a fan of the Accuphase aesthetic.

I just got the Audioquest Niagara 5000 and am very happy with it.


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[Kingrex]

Brodric, I know your waiting on the speaker to break in. I have maybe 400 or so hours on my PAP. Maybe a little more and they are coming into focus and balance better and better every day.

What I wanted to know was, have you pulled the CM out from under any equipment to see if the bass tightens up again.

[brodricj]

Not yet....I pulled them out last night but I haven't had a chance to listen without them since then.

[Boggy]

[BlueFox]

I wonder when Magico will offer a color other than black for these? For this price you should be able to get any color in the universe.

[brodricj]

CF comes in any color you want, as long as it's black.....
Painting the CF I guess is possible, but the finish looks so elegant it would be a shame to mess with it.
Or, are you suggesting, have a color option for the face plate with black CF side panels?

[Elberoth]

CF does not have to be black. Wilson Benesch, who is a pioneer in CF usage in speakers design, does offer CF in alt colors like Red and Blue now.

[brodricj]

You mean, the resin is pigmented with color, or painted with color?

[bzr]

https://www.compositesworld.com/blog...d-carbon-fiber