Magico A3 vs S5 mk1

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BhamAudionaut

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Hi - I'm trying to decide between a new A3 and a used pair of S5 mk1's. Either will be replacing a Dynaudio Focus 380 driven by Roger's Fidelity EHF200 mk2 tube integrated. I like the Dyn's but am looking for more bass presence, depth and control, and a less glassy (i.e., smooth, less fatiguing) treble. Price is roughly the same for the 2 speakers. I have heard a number of Magico's (A5, S5 mk2, M5, M-project) and really like the sound, but have not heard either of the two specific speakers I'm looking at.....just trying to extrapolate about best choice. FYI, my room is 19x17'. Need some clues to help decide. (Wish I could afford more, but these are already at the top end of my budget).
 
I currently have the S5 MK 2 speakers, but this is what I posted in 2014 on another forum about the S5 MK 1 speakers.

"Magico S5, most likely the last speaker I will ever buy. These things are phenomenal. They are so accurate, whether playing low with a string quartet, or blasting at an obscene level with rock, they sound great. I am just amazed at how effortlessly they play loud. Tonight they will help me evaluate the new remastered Led Zeppelin 96/24 downloads."
 
BlueFox said:
I currently have the S5 MK 2 speakers, but this is what I posted in 2014 on another forum about the S5 MK 1 speakers.

"Magico S5, most likely the last speaker I will ever buy. These things are phenomenal. They are so accurate, whether playing low with a string quartet, or blasting at an obscene level with rock, they sound great. I am just amazed at how effortlessly they play loud. Tonight they will help me evaluate the new remastered Led Zeppelin 96/24 downloads."
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Thanks for the response. I’m strongly leaning in that direction. Would still love to hear from somebody that has listened to both A3 and S5 v1.
 
I don’t own nor have ever owned Magico. I have listened to all of their models except the M9s and their large horn speaker.

I would throw in to the mix the A5 which is quite good and would work very well in your room size. Of the two you mention, I would prefer the S5.
 
BhamAudionaut said:
Hi - I'm trying to decide between a new A3 and a used pair of S5 mk1's. Either will be replacing a Dynaudio Focus 380 driven by Roger's Fidelity EHF200 mk2 tube integrated. I like the Dyn's but am looking for more bass presence, depth and control, and a less glassy (i.e., smooth, less fatiguing) treble. Price is roughly the same for the 2 speakers. I have heard a number of Magico's (A5, S5 mk2, M5, M-project) and really like the sound, but have not heard either of the two specific speakers I'm looking at.....just trying to extrapolate about best choice. FYI, my room is 19x17'. Need some clues to help decide. (Wish I could afford more, but these are already at the top end of my budget).
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Magico S series mk1 are a steal at their current price. From A series, apart from A5, I’d pick S3 mk1, S5 mk1 over any other A series speakers.
 
Ritmo said:
I don’t own nor have ever owned Magico. I have listened to all of their models except the M9s and their large horn speaker.

I would throw in to the mix the A5 which is quite good and would work very well in your room size. Of the two you mention, I would prefer the S5.
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I heard the A5 and agree with you. Unfortunately, they are not in my price range. I am concluding that the S5 is a better bet for me.
 
I have owned the S5 MK1 and found them very fatiguing and a lot of sibilants on female vocals and violin.
Many have said the MK2 corrected much of that. I would find a pair to listen to or wait for a better option!
 
JGlacken said:
I have owned the S5 MK1 and found them very fatiguing and a lot of sibilants on female vocals and violin.
Many have said the MK2 corrected much of that. I would find a pair to listen to or wait for a better option!
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JGlacken said:
I have owned the S5 MK1 and found them very fatiguing and a lot of sibilants on female vocals and violin.
Many have said the MK2 corrected much of that. I would find a pair to listen to or wait for a better option!
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I have owned S3 for 5 years, which basically has the same tweeter as S5. Apart from when pairing with less than stellar electronics, S3 is NOT fatiguing at all.
 
i have to agree with Jeff - owned the S1 mark 1 and cudnt get rid of them fast enough. They were very bright and very hot in the top end. When series 2 came out i auditioned them and loved the new tweeter so much i have all S series mark 2 in my HT set up .... centre and fronts and sub :)

as far as i know the A series uses the old tweeter from the mark 1 S Series..... if that is correct then both speakers with have a similar level of treble fatigue

also, if u like the M Project and Mark 2 series of the S class, be careful with the Mark 1 .... When i auditioned the M Project i was in awe at how the tweeter disappeared - it was truly fantastic ..... almost like no tweeter existed, but clearly treble notes were playing. You won't get that experience from the Mark 1 S Series
 
If you want a great example of a be tweeter implementation, you should look at the Kharma DB9s. I heard them and the DB11s at Suncoast and they are fantastic. You can listen to them 24/7 without fatigue!
 
pweg said:
i have to agree with Jeff - owned the S1 mark 1 and cudnt get rid of them fast enough. They were very bright and very hot in the top end. When series 2 came out i auditioned them and loved the new tweeter so much i have all S series mark 2 in my HT set up .... centre and fronts and sub :)

as far as i know the A series uses the old tweeter from the mark 1 S Series..... if that is correct then both speakers with have a similar level of treble fatigue

also, if u like the M Project and Mark 2 series of the S class, be careful with the Mark 1 .... When i auditioned the M Project i was in awe at how the tweeter disappeared - it was truly fantastic ..... almost like no tweeter existed, but clearly treble notes were playing. You won't get that experience from the Mark 1 S Series
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You only heard S1 mk1, correct? Then, assumed all mk1 series is fatiguing?

Plus you also claim A series has similar tweeter as S series mk1 tweeter (non diamond coated), which I don’t disagree. By your ambitious extrapolation, entire A series including A5 is also fatiguing. It’ll be interesting to hear from A series owners as there are quite many of them. It’s harder to find S series mk1 owners.
 
The A series tweeters are not the same as those in the S series. They are 28mm Be dome (vs. 26mm in the S), similar to the ones used in the M series, but without the diamond coating and a different motor system. I own the A5. The tweeter is superb (the best I had in my room).
 
Most metal tweeters will sound fatiguing if supporting bass driver is lacking, amplifier power isn’t enough or signal isn’t clean “enough” (either from amp or source or both). Many people blame the speakers without giving them good enough supporting cast.

Mk2 diamond coated tweeter is smoother and may require less stringent supporting cast to sound good, but that is not necessarily mean non diamond coated mk1 tweeter is fatiguing, especially if you have done careful system matching as I have such as Everest, MIT SC, AQ Hurricane PC loom, Diablo amp, Esoteric N-05XD previously MSB Discrete, Gigafoil, EtherREGEN, Omega Ethernet, Furutech receptacle, etc.

S3 mk1 is the oldest component in my system and even to this day it surprises me whenever an upgrade is introduced in other parts of the system.

As the saying goes, your system is only as good as the weakest link.
 
Actually, I found the silk dome on my older speakers more fatiguing, especially at high SPL, than the A5 Be tweeter.
 
Henry303 said:
Actually, I found the silk dome on my older speakers more fatiguing, especially at high SPL, than the A5 Be tweeter.
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Everybody is focusing solely on the tweeter and tweeter material. The same tweeter can sound very different with different crossover components and wire in front of it.
 
S5Mk1 over A3. You will eventually sell the S5Mk1 after a few years for about what you paid for it. That won't happen with new A3. Keep your eyes out for Q3, used ones come up from time to time. If they were all about the same price point I would choose used Q3 first, used S5Mk1 second, new A3 last.
 
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