MAGICO M3 - Review

Thanks so much for all the helpful feedback. I feel better about the speaker and my purchase. I'll ensure good positioning and continue working on break in for now. If that doesnt help I'll consider using the Klimax as a pre-amp, and upgrading amplifier power.
Would a 2nd Burmester 911 be a better choice, or would CH Precision A1 x 2 be better(I dont know much about amp power specs).
I appreciate the friendly advice,for an AS newbie!
Barry
 
Hi Barry, congratulations and there should not be any need for remorse.

My dealer, who has worked with Magico since the days of the Mini II, says that if he had to take one home and call it a day, it would be the M3. While not inexpensive, it has the balance of virtues, to him.

This is from a guy who has all the S series and Q series (up to Q7) + Q subs on demo and has delivered at least 2 M-Projects and 2 M3s.

He made an M3 delivery recently to a Q3 owner, who used the Gryphon Diablo 300 integrated to good effect. Although he is not a Gryphon dealer, he was quite pleased as it showed that you don't need big bucks and power to drive the M3 (unlike, say, the Q5). So, the higher Gryphons like the Antileon EVO might work. See www.ultraaudio.com/index.php/equipment-menu/706-gryphon-audio-designs-antileon-evo-stereo-amplifier. Jeff Fritz, the reviewer, uses the Q7 Mk II.

Otherwise, the Magicos are normally paired with Soulution or Constellation at his place. Virus is fine too and you have the other recommendations on this thread.

At this level, a home demo would be ideal. Good luck.
 
Hi Kippyy (Barry),

I have run the M3 for several months at our showroom, and now have the pleasure of having a pair in my home system. I had them paired with a VAC 200iQ and with a Constellation Amp 1.0 at our showroom, and was thrilled with the sound. I was happy and impressed enough to bring some home. On getting a pair in my home, I moved to a Constellation Centaur II amp, and BAM! Wow, blown away. This combination has really made me (and several friends) smile from ear to ear.

my 2 cents,

Noah
 
An appetiser, but good read nonetheless.

The part about the favourite child is interesting. Alon is most proud of the M3 and, (not) surprisingly, the S1. Read somewhere (was it on AS?) that Alon keeps a pair of S1s at home.
 
In response to suggestions in this thread, I'm demoing the CH Precision A1 mono blocks with the M3's and although the bass is better, the sound is still thin and lacks dynamic punch and oomph. My 19 x 24 room has a very tall vaulted ceiling which extends to the 2nd floor of my home. Given that my Burmester 911 drove the Wilson Alexias in this room well, I'm losing faith the the M3 are suitable for my living room. Any other ideas are welcome, but I'm considering trading them in after 3 months with them, and going back to Wilsons.
 
Kippyy said:
In response to suggestions in this thread, I'm demoing the CH Precision A1 mono blocks with the M3's and although the bass is better, the sound is still thin and lacks dynamic punch and oomph. My 19 x 24 room has a very tall vaulted ceiling which extends to the 2nd floor of my home. Given that my Burmester 911 drove the Wilson Alexias in this room well, I'm losing faith the the M3 are suitable for my living room. Any other ideas are welcome, but I'm considering trading them in after 3 months with them, and going back to Wilsons.
Click to expand...

Vitus.
 
Kippyy said:
In response to suggestions in this thread, I'm demoing the CH Precision A1 mono blocks with the M3's and although the bass is better, the sound is still thin and lacks dynamic punch and oomph. My 19 x 24 room has a very tall vaulted ceiling which extends to the 2nd floor of my home. Given that my Burmester 911 drove the Wilson Alexias in this room well, I'm losing faith the the M3 are suitable for my living room. Any other ideas are welcome, but I'm considering trading them in after 3 months with them, and going back to Wilsons.
Click to expand...

That almost makes your room was twice as big as the size sugest. It may just be too much of a volume to pressurise for three 7" woofers.

I would either:

- get the subs (either RELs or Magico's own S-Sub)
- trade them in for S7 or M-Pro (there was a pair for sale recently), both of which have three 10" woofers.

I had the S5 mk 2 (with just two 10" woofers) and the bass oomph and slam was nothing short of amazing. I'm guessing both the S7 and M-Pros would do the same for you in a bigger room.
 
The Burmester amp is not the issue; the M3s just don't fit your taste/room. I'd try some bigger speakers like the Magico S5mk2 or Rockport Cygnus.
 
I think the situation can be improved by "fuller" sounding amps, such as the ones Mike and Bob recommended. If I may, my suggestion would be the D'Agostino, either the Momentum or Progression.

In such a big room, positioning, both of the speaker and the listening position, is very critical to get the best bass response and impact. I'd get your dealer to come and help you out with that.

Another thing you could play with is the CH Precision's feedback adjustment. Give it more/less negative feedback, and see how that affects the bass response/impact in your room.


cheers,
alex
 
Anatta said:
The Burmester amp is not the issue; the M3s just don't fit your taste/room. I'd try some bigger speakers like the Magico S5mk2 or Rockport Cygnus.
Click to expand...

Don't forget the Magico S7, they produce powerful and visceral bass. Very fine speakers.

Ken
 
Kippyy - who is your dealer? Has he been able to assess the situation?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Just caught up with this thread. First Kippyy, congrats on purchasing the M3s, I am envious. I hope to hear a pair one day. But hearing feedback from everyone's whose ears I trust, they sound perfect for me.

Second, my former listening room, my family room, had similar dimensions like your current room. A had full range speakers there and was never satisfied with the bass and the mids were also thin as well. The glass from the windows didn't help either. If you can add subs (read an earlier post that you couldn't though) that would certainly help. I use a CH A1 stereo amp with my S7s and love the bass, dynamics, and the mids, albeit in a now smaller listening room. Having said that, there are amps/electronics with richer mids than the CH, like Vitus and D'agostino that you might be able to try.

Could you try rolling the M3s to another (smaller) room, same electronics, just to experiment? It may not be a gear issue per se, but a speaker/room coupling one perhaps?
 
Elberoth said:
I'm guessing both the S7 and M-Pros would do the same for you in a bigger room.
Click to expand...

A perfectly good guess, but after having heard the M-Pros, I don't think so. They seem to be voiced more along the lines of the Q series.
 
Kippyy said:
In response to suggestions in this thread, I'm demoing the CH Precision A1 mono blocks with the M3's and although the bass is better, the sound is still thin and lacks dynamic punch and oomph. My 19 x 24 room has a very tall vaulted ceiling which extends to the 2nd floor of my home. Given that my Burmester 911 drove the Wilson Alexias in this room well, I'm losing faith the the M3 are suitable for my living room. Any other ideas are welcome, but I'm considering trading them in after 3 months with them, and going back to Wilsons.
Click to expand...

Good call.
 
Bad call. [emoji41]

Try different amps. Engage your dealer. Add subs. Lots of options.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Kippyy said:
In response to suggestions in this thread, I'm demoing the CH Precision A1 mono blocks with the M3's and although the bass is better, the sound is still thin and lacks dynamic punch and oomph. My 19 x 24 room has a very tall vaulted ceiling which extends to the 2nd floor of my home. Given that my Burmester 911 drove the Wilson Alexias in this room well, I'm losing faith the the M3 are suitable for my living room. Any other ideas are welcome, but I'm considering trading them in after 3 months with them, and going back to Wilsons.
Click to expand...


What cables are you using in your system?
 
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