Game Changer !

[Mike]

The last video sounded amazing. I listened to the entire Genius Loves Company (Ray Charles) CD the first time I heard them and I was really impressed. The thing I like about the Magico S5's is that the further you move them out from the wall, the better they image. They aren't as fussy with setup because they aren't ported! At Goodwins, I was able to put them flush against the wall and then just move them about accordingly. The further out from the front wall, the better the depth.

I do see a propensity for pairing them with Class A amps (Vitus, Pass) or Tube (VAC) though. Interesting. Not sure if that means anything....but it is interesting to note.

 

[Mike]

Mike
What do you think S5 vs Alexia?
Barry

Barry - the S5 costs $20,000++ less than the Alexia's and the Magico S5 was my second favorite speaker that I auditioned - and I was torn between the two anyway. The $$ difference is reason enough. It's a long story we can share over a drink sometime.

I have a lot of things I need to buy for my system(s) - so I couldn't go crazy on speakers. I still need cables (I sold all my cables and all I have is mostly bestbuy grade interconnects and lamp cord....luckily a friend lent me his TaraLabs speaker cables), acoustic treatments, VAC amps (yummy!), an integrated for downstairs, a Linn Klimax (this is still a maybe...Mark is insisting!), preamp, new rack (I like the Timbernation stuff), etc., etc. The cables alone are a major hit.

Mike

 

[Big B]

Barry - the S5 costs $20,000++ less than the Alexia's and the Magico S5 was my second favorite speaker that I auditioned - and I was torn between the two anyway. The $$ difference is reason enough. It's a long story we can share over a drink sometime.

I have a lot of things I need to buy for my system(s) - so I couldn't go crazy on speakers. I still need cables (I sold all my cables and all I have is mostly bestbuy grade interconnects and lamp cord....luckily a friend lent me his TaraLabs speaker cables), acoustic treatments, VAC amps (yummy!), an integrated for downstairs, a Linn Klimax (this is still a maybe...Mark is insisting!), preamp, new rack (I like the Timbernation stuff), etc., etc. The cables alone are a major hit.

Mike

Mike I'm on the same page as you. The cables are going to be a big hit and saving 20k goes a long way. I'm going to try and see Eastview this weekend. I think I have only demo the S1 which I still think are clinical.
Did you like Eastview's set up?
BTW if I'm ready to settle in on this price point

then the competition has to be Revel.

 

[Mike]

Mike I'm on the same page as you. The cables are going to be a big hit and saving 20k goes a long way. I'm going to try and see Eastview this weekend. I think I have only demo the S1 which I still think are clinical.
Did you like Eastview's set up?
BTW if I'm ready to settle in on this price point

then the competition has to be Revel.

The S5 to me was not clinical at all.....now the Q1, Q3, Q5 to me, is clinical and boring.....but I'm in the minority! Many love the Q series. If you're in the "trust your ears" and not the "it costs more, so it must be better" camp.....then you may or may not agree. I do recall my audition.....after 30 minutes, I turned to the dealer and said, "these S are way better speakers than the Q". His shoulders slumped and he said, "yeah, I sell 10 pairs of S5's for every one pair of Q5's." Then added, "I only sell Q5's if the customer comes in and is determined to buy them."

But keep this in mind....the S5's need a BIG room otherwise the bass could over power your room. This is just my opinion of course. Others may disagree. If you have a room say in the 12 x 16 range or smaller - then a the S1 is a much better bet and is still 95% of the S5. My room is 15 x 45 - so I'm ok I think.

 

[RedSectorA]

Mike I'm on the same page as you. The cables are going to be a big hit and saving 20k goes a long way. I'm going to try and see Eastview this weekend. I think I have only demo the S1 which I still think are clinical.
Did you like Eastview's set up?
BTW if I'm ready to settle in on this price point

then the competition has to be Revel.

It will be interesting to see your take on the Eastview setup Barry, Mike and I have listened to that exact setup previously and came out with different conclusion. As I mentionned before I also listened to the S5 at Filtronique in Montreal with an C-5 universal player, ARC Ref5SE and Ayre VX-R (very similar to my system at my request) and they sounded less clinical to my ears anyway. I have to ask Barry, what do you have as system? I'm curious to see where you are coming from prior to the audition.

 

[asiufy]

The S5 to me was not clinical at all.....now the Q1, Q3, Q5 to me, is clinical and boring.....but I'm in the minority! Many love the Q series. If you're in the "trust your ears" and not the "it costs more, so it must be better" camp.....then you may or may not agree. I do recall my audition.....after 30 minutes, I turned to the dealer and said, "these S are way better speakers than the Q". His shoulders slumped and he said, "yeah, I sell 10 pairs of S5's for every one pair of Q5's." Then added, "I only sell Q5's if the customer comes in and is determined to buy them."

Well, the manufacturer disagrees with you The S series is supposed to sound different, and lose some aspects of the Q series. Maybe these aspects are what's luring you to the S5 instead of a Q3, for instance. But BETTER, overall, the S series are not.
And of course he'd sell more S5 than Q5, one costs almost a third of the other one, and is considerably smaller too! The more appropriate comparison to the S5 would be the Q3. I preferred the Q3, but generally folks seem to prefer the S5. Apparently, Magico hit the "sweet spot" between transparency and weight in presentation with the S5.
Mike, if you're going with tubes, I suggest you have a listen to the Q3 (NOT the Q5!), this time with a nice tube amp (SET maybe). Perhaps those Absolare that Bob in NYC has. You'll see the speaker itself is not analytical (in a bad way), as it'll reflect just what the amp will be doing.


alexandre

 

[Mike]

But BETTER, overall, the S series are not.

alexandre

I respectfully disagree. If the S series was to cost more than the Q, everyone would be heralding it as a huge success. The Q series is analytical and boring. Tubes may help....but it's not for me. I will say this about the Q series....they do nothing wrong....but they don't have a soul. Just my two cents.

 

[asiufy]

Ah, how I wish the Q series were cheaper than the S... That would've saved me a bundle And the S series IS a huge success (try to get an S1, see how long it'll take), mostly BECAUSE of its price. It's different yet similar enough to the Q-series to make it a killer price x performance proposition.

I've come to realise this "soul" thing people impose on products is completely irrational, and personal. What might lack "soul" for some, will be plenty "soulful" for others. I was not lacking for soul when I auditioned a Q7, even with "soulless" Soulution electronics.


alexandre

 

[Mike]

Ah, how I wish the Q series were cheaper than the S... That would've saved me a bundle And the S series IS a huge success (try to get an S1, see how long it'll take), mostly BECAUSE of its price. It's different yet similar enough to the Q-series to make it a killer price x performance proposition.

I've come to realise this "soul" thing people impose on products is completely irrational, and personal. What might lack "soul" for some, will be plenty "soulful" for others. I was not lacking for soul when I auditioned a Q7, even with "soulless" Soulution electronics.


alexandre

I'm glad we can respectively agree to disagree. I'm definitely in the minority. Most really prefer the Q series over the S. I never got to hear the Q7. I would love to, but I took one look at them at Goodwins. They are monsters.

 

[Mike]

I will say this about Magico, they have built two series of speakers which appeal to two completely different audiences (not an easy task!) and both products are SOTA. Like Raidho, Magico is fresh, new, creative, innovative and present a fabulous line of great speakers for a variety of buyers tastes and budgets.

 

[RedSectorA]

What I'm starting to like about this speaker is the polarizing opinion it's creating, it's a first insofar as I'm concerned! Mark (MDP) was right when he said it is a "Game Changer" as it is for sure different. Love a good debate were everybody is respectfull of the others opinion.

 

[Mike]

What I'm starting to like about this speaker is the polarizing opinion it's creating, it's a first insofar as I'm concerned! Mark (MDP) was right when he said it is a "Game Changer" as it is for sure different. Love a good debate were everybody is respectfull of the others opinion.

Agreed. The best thing we can do in this hobby is audition, listen and decide for ourselves. Our musical tastes, listening levels, etc. often dictate more than not, gear we will ultimately choose to buy. If I listened to only classical, I would still own Stradivari's. Nothing did classical better. But put on some rock and forget about it. My friend Charles just bought Strads and he only listens to classical. He thinks they are the best speaker in the world....and for him....they are!

 

[RedSectorA]

Perhaps that is true - though there are many audiophiles who don't seem to need an emotional connection to the music. .

I've noticed that too, I was once told from someone in the audio industry that the personality of a speaker builder (his soul) is built into his speakers. From the very few I have met or read about it seems to be inherently true.

 

[Big B]

I'm pretty sure I listened to the S1 and I was not impressed. But at the time I would have been comparing them to Alexia's. Which isn't really fair.
Room wise I'm just about to start the design phase. Having probably landed on a contractor.The room is looking like around 14x25 now but it is early.
Barry

The S5 to me was not clinical at all.....now the Q1, Q3, Q5 to me, is clinical and boring.....but I'm in the minority! Many love the Q series. If you're in the "trust your ears" and not the "it costs more, so it must be better" camp.....then you may or may not agree. I do recall my audition.....after 30 minutes, I turned to the dealer and said, "these S are way better speakers than the Q". His shoulders slumped and he said, "yeah, I sell 10 pairs of S5's for every one pair of Q5's." Then added, "I only sell Q5's if the customer comes in and is determined to buy them."

But keep this in mind....the S5's need a BIG room otherwise the bass could over power your room. This is just my opinion of course. Others may disagree. If you have a room say in the 12 x 16 range or smaller - then a the S1 is a much better bet and is still 95% of the S5. My room is 15 x 45 - so I'm ok I think.

 

[Big B]

Currently I'm looking to make the move up. I'm Ht guy. I will fleshout my systems tonight in my profile. I have run out of time for today

It will be interesting to see your take on the Eastview setup Barry, Mike and I have listened to that exact setup previously and came out with different conclusion. As I mentionned before I also listened to the S5 at Filtronique in Montreal with an C-5 universal player, ARC Ref5SE and Ayre VX-R (very similar to my system at my request) and they sounded less clinical to my hears anyway. I have to ask Barry, what do you have as system? I'm curious to see where you are coming from prior to the audition.

 

[the professor]

I sold my Q series because I found them boring. I quit listening to them after a couple of months. They just didn't draw me in and make me want to listen.

They were amazingly made and were very accurate and could absolutely see why some people would love them.

 

[MDP]

Mike I'm on the same page as you. The cables are going to be a big hit and saving 20k goes a long way. I'm going to try and see Eastview this weekend. I think I have only demo the S1 which I still think are clinical.
Did you like Eastview's set up?
BTW if I'm ready to settle in on this price point

then the competition has to be Revel.

The direct competition is definitely Revel,owning the Salon 2's, I can attest to that.

 

[NorthStar]

The S5 to me was not clinical at all.....now the Q1, Q3, Q5 to me, is clinical and boring.....but I'm in the minority! Many love the Q series. If you're in the "trust your ears" and not the "it costs more, so it must be better" camp.....then you may or may not agree. I do recall my audition.....after 30 minutes, I turned to the dealer and said, "these S are way better speakers than the Q". His shoulders slumped and he said, "yeah, I sell 10 pairs of S5's for every one pair of Q5's." Then added, "I only sell Q5's if the customer comes in and is determined to buy them."

But keep this in mind....the S5's need a BIG room otherwise the bass could over power your room. This is just my opinion of course. Others may disagree. If you have a room say in the 12 x 16 range or smaller - then a the S1 is a much better bet and is still 95% of the S5. My room is 15 x 45 - so I'm ok I think.

Fully agree with you Mike.

 

[MusicDirector]

Agreed. The best thing we can do in this hobby is audition, listen and decide for ourselves. Our musical tastes, listening levels, etc. often dictate more than not, gear we will ultimately choose to buy. If I listened to only classical, I would still own Stradivari's. Nothing did classical better. But put on some rock and forget about it. My friend Charles just bought Strads and he only listens to classical. He thinks they are the best speaker in the world....and for him....they are!

This reminds me of what I was looking for in a set of speakers when I was shopping and wound up with the Paradigms. As I was auditioning and auditioning and auditioning adnauseum, I was also discovering that many speakers were good at one genre or a few genres of music, but lousy or lack-luster at another. For instance when I was auditioning Paradigms for the first time I was trying out all the models I could. I recall noting (yes, I was actually carrying around a notebook and pen when auditioning) that the Studio 20s sounded pretty good with rock and jazz and folk, etc, but fell hard with Classical. I was looking for a set of speakers to handle all genres well because I listen to a very wide variety of genres and when I got to the Studio 60s and 100s with the exception of them being a little harsh at first, I knew they were the ticket for me as I hit them with everything and the kitchen sink to test them out. (I always brought my own music to audition with). That said, the Paradigms I chose are but one of many speakers that can probably handle and perform very well with all kinds of music I believe. All I knew is that I did not want to be limited to one or two genres of music or have to purchase several sets of speakers and swap them out every time I switched CDs or records or whatnot. (Not to mention the lack of funds to do such a thing).

 

[NorthStar]

This reminds me of what I was looking for in a set of speakers when I was shopping and wound up with the Paradigms. As I was auditioning and auditioning and auditioning adnauseum, I was also discovering that many speakers were good at one genre or a few genres of music, but lousy or lack-luster at another. For instance when I was auditioning Paradigms for the first time I was trying out all the models I could. I recall noting (yes, I was actually carrying around a notebook and pen when auditioning) that the Studio 20s sounded pretty good with rock and jazz and folk, etc, but fell hard with Classical. I was looking for a set of speakers to handle all genres well because I listen to a very wide variety of genres and when I got to the Studio 60s and 100s with the exception of them being a little harsh at first, I knew they were the ticket for me as I hit them with everything and the kitchen sink to test them out. (I always brought my own music to audition with). That said, the Paradigms I chose are but one of many speakers that can probably handle and perform very well with all kinds of music I believe. All I knew is that I did not want to be limited to one or two genres of music or have to purchase several sets of speakers and swap them out every time I switched CDs or records or whatnot. (Not to mention the lack of funds to do such a thing).

Eric, your Paradigm Reference Studio 100 loudspeakers; which version are they?