Magico or Avantgarde ?

[moby1977]

Hi all,

I am currently asking myself if it would not be the right moment to upgrade my speakers (this hobby is crazy...) and so I am hesitating between two speakers that I recently listened : Magico M2 and Avantgarde Duo XD ( potentially YG that I listened recently as well ) .I know that there are plenty of other good speakers but let's keep the list short...

I am currently using Avantgarde Zero TA XD that I am enjoying.

Given the significant investment I won't be able to change my amps at the same time so ideally the speakers should fit my current gears ( Accuphase C2850/A70 combo and I have also a 2*16W 300B SET amp )

My room is 4M*11M*3M.Not dedicated and unfortunately far from perfect : My listening distance is quite short ( 2.5m) ,very close from the back wall , the room is asymetrical and quite lightly furnished... I put acoustic panels on the back wall and on the primary reflection spots but still it's a "bright" room.

In terms of sound preference : dynamics, fluidity, clarity.
Music : I am listening a bit of everything so I don't need them to be excellent in one particular area but they need to handle well any kind of music.

Duo Pros :
- Easier to setup in a difficult room ( active sub and controlled directivity)
- less expensive
- customizable color
- match my current amps I believe
Cons :
- much bigger footprint,difficult to move around
- very sensitive to the upstream gear
- build quality compared to Magico
- as I am also in Home theater,much more difficult to match them with center and surround speakers

What do you think ?

Thanks
Alex


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[Mike]

Hi Alex,

Based on the dimensions of your room, you can safely go with either. HOWEVER, based on your listening distance of only 2.5m, you don’t have enough “throw” distance for the Avantgarde Duo XD’s. You’re close. You would ideally want 3-3.5m. That being said, you could sit 2.5m away, but you would really have to adjust the rake angle and angle the speaker down to your ears and make sure both speakers are even from a level standpoint.

I would like to see a little more power than the A70 for the Magico’s, but you should be fine (I’ve actually had an A65 and A70 on trade, great amps, but they can run out of steam quickly).

I wouldn’t worry about “much bigger footprint”. They are, but once you live with them for a few weeks, they’ll fit right in.

The M2’s are very flexible in terms of placement and I’ve found you can get good sound with a quick setup and great sound when you spend a little time dialing them in with the laser and level.

Jock (The Professor) has the M2’s and Duo Mezzo XD’s. Hopefully he will chime in here.

As always, good luck with your search and keep us updated on your progress. You can’t go wrong with either!

[moby1977]

Thanks Mike.
I could increase the listening distance by decreasing the distance from the front wall...
What would be the minimal distance from the front wall ?




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[the professor]

As Mike says - I do have both. I've only had the M2s for a week now and they are far from being broken in.

But they are getting a very special quality to them.

I honestly don't know which pair I would give up if I had to only have one system. The AGs are more dynamic, but the M2s are closer in dynamics than most all other speakers.

I haven't played much with the placement of the M2s, and they are sounding great, so . . . I either got really lucky or they are not very particular in placement.

Both systems have great toe tapping.

Since you already have the AGs, I'd probably stick with those, assuming they would work in your room. Seems like from Mike, that they might be tricky. I do not know cause I have a larger room and that wasn't an issue.

Good luck - two great choices!!!!

[KeithR]

Two, very very different sounding speakers but 2.5m seems mighty short for getting coherent sound with Duos.

If dynamics and fluidity are your thing, I'd look for a higher efficiency dynamic driver speaker (93dbs+) that will integrate better with your room. You might not get horn dynamics, but still very enjoyable sound that is appropriate to your room size.

[bart]

I've been to a demo once where they demonstrated how good the Avantgarde Trios sounded when sitting really close, almost as a personal huge headset.
It was fantastic.
So, you should be okay with the Duos.

I haven't heard the M2s.

I've heard the YG Haileys, and they would fit your room, budget and probably your amp too.

[joeinid]

My room is probably a little on the short side, distance-wise from the speakers, and I still think it's wonderful. I'm at the minimum recommended distance from the tweeters and I don't notice any shortcomings when I listen. Everything sounds so good that I don't think technically, just awesome musicality.

[kzhtoo]

I vote for M2. Whenever you have a budget to get the finest from Magico, you should go for it.

A70’s 60 class A watts is plenty for M2, especially you sit only 2.5m away from the speakers. In fact, I think M2 and Accuphase class A would be a superb combo. And you’ll be surprised how easy the sealed speakers integrate well with difficult rooms. Another thing, M2 would be easier to move if you so choose to later down the road.

[moby1977]

Thanks all for your inputs! Will try to demo them in a setup as similar as possible as mine even if the dealers might argue otherwise...
I am not too familiar with the Magico M line. Is the directivity pronounced or the opposite?



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[Al M.]

Hi all,

I am currently asking myself if it would not be the right moment to upgrade my speakers (this hobby is crazy...) and so I am hesitating between two speakers that I recently listened : Magico M2 and Avantgarde Duo XD ( potentially YG that I listened recently as well ) .I know that there are plenty of other good speakers but let's keep the list short...

I am currently using Avantgarde Zero TA XD that I am enjoying.

Given the significant investment I won't be able to change my amps at the same time so ideally the speakers should fit my current gears ( Accuphase C2850/A70 combo and I have also a 2*16W 300B SET amp )

My room is 4M*11M*3M.Not dedicated and unfortunately far from perfect : My listening distance is quite short ( 2.5m) ,very close from the back wall , the room is asymetrical and quite lightly furnished... I put acoustic panels on the back wall and on the primary reflection spots but still it's a "bright" room.

A distance of 2.5 meters ear to tweeter is incredibly short. I would not listen to any speakers that up close except monitors, which is the type of speakers I have, and I sit further away too (2.65 meters or 8.7 feet).

A 60 W/ch amp like your Accuphase will likely not work on the Magico. You probably need more oomph. For my 92 dB sensitive two-way monitors I use a 100 W/ch amp (into 8 Ohms, 130 W/ch at 4 Ohm load), even though they can be driven nicely and quite dynamically by 15 W/ch amps. I prefer overkill. The bass comes from subs with 1800 W class D internal amps.

[Paul]

For me is Avantgarde Duo all the way. Yes I am biased as being an owner. The Magico is super nice speakers and very powerful sounds but Avantgarde will stop you upgrade bug completely. That’s what I found as most Avantgarde owners do. While others are keep upgrading to newer models nothing wrong with it but I’m so happy that I’m settled now


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[kzhtoo]

Avantgarde will stop you upgrade bug completely. That’s what I found as most Avantgarde owners do. While others are keep upgrading to newer models nothing wrong with it but I’m so happy that I’m settled now

Hard to argue against with this. Less fun for us though since you are settled now. Loved reading your system evolution over the years.

[Paul]

Hard to argue against with this. Less fun for us though since you are settled now. Loved reading your system evolution over the years.

Haha. Thank you so much. I really enjoyed my journey and had great fun but also it’s good to be settled that going home and smile every time I listen to without browsing the audio forum and sites.


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[Bruce]

Haha. Thank you so much. I really enjoyed my journey and had great fun but also it’s good to be settled that going home and smile every time I listen to without browsing the audio forum and sites.

Umm--Really?

Bruce

[Mike]

Umm--Really?

Bruce

LMAO. You know him too well.

It’s ok not to be “done”. It’s about the journey more than the destination.

If I was “done” when I first said I was done, I would be recapping my Carver amps and making maintenance repairs on my 801F’s.

[Dguitarnut]

So Mike, tell me when will those new Avantgardes Duo II with the revolutionary adjustable Bells that taylor the sound stage to the type of musical material start shipping?

[Paul]

Umm--Really?

Bruce

Bahahahha. Good one Bruce ! However you will see .


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[Mordante]

I tend to agree with some of the other people here. Maybe 2.5m is not enough perhaps. My listening chair is anout 2.5m from my speakers. When I some serious listening I move my chair back for about 1 meter. Not a huge fan of Avantgarde speakers. If you are European maybe you can consider Stenheim, I heard these with smaller amps and they sounded great. Or Blumenhofer and Blumenhofer Clasic (BHC).

[Dguitarnut]

I tend to agree with some of the other people here. Maybe 2.5m is not enough perhaps. My listening chair is anout 2.5m from my speakers. When I some serious listening I move my chair back for about 1 meter. Not a huge fan of Avantgarde speakers. If you are European maybe you can consider Stenheim, I heard these with smaller amps and they sounded great. Or Blumenhofer and Blumenhofer Clasic (BHC).

Sorry but I can’t get past the looks of your two suggestions to want to listen to them.

There again I don’t like the IKEA look .

[Mordante]

Sorry but I can’t get past the looks of your two suggestions to want to listen to them.

But you are looking at the plastic megaphones of Avantgarde

[Dguitarnut]

-Raidho look? Gimme a break dude!
but you could plant your tulips in the Avantgardes! Just an idea.

[Mordante]

-Raidho look? Gimme a break dude!
but you could plant tulips in the Avantgardes! Just an idea.

Wish I could get the Blumenhofers to sound good in my house. I had them next to my Raidho. But tbh I think maybe if I had put in some extra effort the Blumenhofers would have been a better and cheaper choice. I was alone when I set them up. I should have gotten some help I think. I had the FS2 on loan.