A new Magico Owner but a long time audio and musicphille

[gotoma8]

Hi all,

I joined back in 2013 but being members of so many forums, I hardly get a chance to peruse them all let alone posts. Therefore, I am asking you to welcome me back to Audioshark as I wanted to connect with other Audio and Musicphiles alike and share my experiences.

Anyways, I have been fortunate enough to obtain a pair of Magico Speakers, not just any pair, but a pair of M3's! And WoW, do they sound out of this world!

I am first a Jazz music lover before Classical and then Rock. I used to sing in choirs (Jr. and High Schools as well as college) so I appreciate and love voices as well. I hope to share and learn from each of you our experiences and honesty on topics from music to equipment, etc.

Here's my current system:
Speakers: Magico M3
Amps/Pre: Marantz MA9S2 and SC7S2
Digital: Marantz SA10
Analogue: DIY Plinth of Aluminum and Leadshot filled with SS fixtures and arm mounts; VPI HRX Supper Platter, JMW 12.7i and 10.5i arms (SS).
Cartridge: Ortofon Cadenza Black
Phono Stages: DIY Pass Labs XONO and DIY Joe Curcio MC Phono
Power condition: Surge X and VPI SDS
Cables: DIY I/C and SC
Acoustic Treatment: DIY Absorbers and Diffusors; Foam Corner Bass Traps

 

[Mike]

Tuan - welcome back! So glad you're here again.

The Magico M3's are out of this world good. I just love them. They have such a rich, organic, natural sound and are a real contrast to the Q series.


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[gotoma8]

Thanks Mike, I truly feel the same way. Though they are not the biggest speakers with the lowest octave, for those of us fortunate enough to obtain a pair for our medium size room, it's just WOW and there's not going back!

So Mike, what do you think about the Marantz driving the M3s? I know Magico likes to use Vitus, Soulution and Constellations, etc., and what cables would you recommend?

 

[Mike]

Thanks Mike, I truly feel the same way. Though they are not the biggest speakers with the lowest octave, for those of us fortunate enough to obtain a pair for our medium size room, it's just WOW and there's not going back!

So Mike, what do you think about the Marantz driving the M3s? I know Magico likes to use Vitus, Soulution and Constellations, etc., and what cables would you recommend?

I think the Marantz is an excellent choice. I bet it's a fabulous combo.

Right now I'm using the Pass X350.8 on the M3's and it's absolutely outstanding.

I'm looking forward to trying Gryphon electronics with Magico.


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[joeinid]

Wow! Beautiful setup, amazing speakers. Thank you for posting.

 

[gotoma8]

I think the Marantz is an excellent choice. I bet it's a fabulous combo.

Right now I'm using the Pass X350.8 on the M3's and it's absolutely outstanding.

I'm looking forward to trying Gryphon electronics with Magico.


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Mike, that Pass X350.5 was one amp I sought after for sometime when I had the X250 with my older DIY speakers, which are amazing in their own right, but of course doesn't compare to the M3s. When I had the Pass I thought I was going to get this amazing sound, but it was better than the X250, however, the Marantz Monos, in my system at the time, better the Pass X350.5 in terms of SLAM, imaging and soundstage.

Yes, so far the Marantz Monos are doing a fine job with the M3. If the meter on the Marantz is accurate, most of the time, in my room, 14x19x8, it's hovering between 6 & 60 WPC into 4 ohms.

Can't wait til it's fully broken in!

 

[CPP]

Awesome ! Welcome

 

[gotoma8]

So, an update on the M3. I think I found the proper position and toe for placement in the room. Here are some basic room dimensions, to be followed with the pictures in a later post:

ROOM:
14x19x8' WxLxH
Front wall as a window behind the system that's 70" by 52", WxH
Back wall has a closet with two sliding doors and a corner pocket entrance door, rear right to the listening postion
Front walls have 2 2x2 skyline diffusers, corner foam bass traps, 1x5ft for hard fiberglass board absorbers in the front corners
Floor is carpeted
Ceiling has 4 pieces of 2x4' hard fiberglass board absorbers at first reflection point
Side walls have two RoomTunes 1x4 feet absorbers at first reflection on each wall and another 1 RoomTunes absorbers about 3ft behind the listening position.
Backwall has 2 2x2 skyline diffusors mounted on a stand about 4 feet from the ground and four feet behind the listening position. Also some foam absorbers.

Speakers are about 5.5 ft from the front wall and 3 ft from the side walls, measured from center of drivers on the M3's baffle. Toed in about 20 degrees or so, relative to listening position. M3 are now spiked to the plywood below the carpet and carpet mat.

SOUND, so how does it sound and how has the speakers evolved since first listen?

Bass now much more taut, maybe do to spiking. Faster and more slam. Bass is full to about 30hz in the room. When listening to the remastered Hotel California, titled cut, (via digital playback) the kick drum from Don Henley just whacks you in the heart. You can hear and feel it! Playing only at about 95 db. Bass notes from acoustic bass are just amazing, sharp, full, musical and extremely dynamic!

Bass/Mid Bass is just fantastic! Voices are clear, silky and just about right in terms of imaging and sound staging. Allison Krauss's voice on MOFI LP of Union Station was just sublime. In my previous systems, her vocals can be a bit to detailed and sharp, not so here. The transparency is just spectacular! Also Patricia Barber, Dianna Krall, Melody Gardot, Johnny Hartman, Sinatra, Bennett, all voices sounds right, if the recordings were up to the task. There's a cut called "MoonDanc" from a Kenny Burrell album where the triangle sounds so realistic and the decay was spot on!

Highs, well, i've heard things on recordings that I've never heard before, anywhere!

Okay, one day I'll write a more formal review....back to listening in the background...and work break is over!