Magico M3 & S3 mk2 win 2017 Golden Ear Awards

Mike

Mike

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Saw that, but have not found any information yet.

Will be exciting.


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The M3, yes I agree with. But the S3 Mk2 over the S5 Mk2? At the recent LA Audio show Robert Harley rated the S5 Mk2's in his top 6 cost no object loudspeakers ahead of the S3 Mk2, noting "Magico S5 MkII driven by VAC in the Scott Walker Audio room was stunningly spacious and dynamic; Magico’s own exhibit of the S3 MkII was also superb." Valin also described the S5 Mk2's as "Best of show-contending" at Axpona this year. Adam (Elberoth) has heard both speakers & obviously owned the S5 Mk2's, and concurs the S5 Mk2 is the better speaker. TAS apparently don't seem to be listening to their own reviewers feedback. My guess is they gave the gong to the S3 Mk2 because it is the first speaker in the S range to have graphene bass drivers (as opposed to the substantial graphene-reinforced aluminium drivers on the S5 Mk2), so there is a bit of a novelty factor there. And it is the new kid on the block. For sure the S3 Mk2 is a terrific loudspeaker. I just don't think it is a better speaker than the S5 Mk2 if we're talking about Golden Ear awards.
 
Melbguy1 said:
The M3, yes I agree with. But the S3 Mk2 over the S5 Mk2? At the recent LA Audio show Robert Harley rated the S5 Mk2's in his top 6 cost no object loudspeakers ahead of the S3 Mk2, noting "Magico S5 MkII driven by VAC in the Scott Walker Audio room was stunningly spacious and dynamic; Magico’s own exhibit of the S3 MkII was also superb." Valin also described the S5 Mk2's as "Best of show-contending" at Axpona this year. Adam (Elberoth) has heard both speakers & obviously owned the S5 Mk2's, and concurs the S5 Mk2 is the better speaker. TAS apparently don't seem to be listening to their own reviewers feedback. My guess is they gave the gong to the S3 Mk2 because it is the first speaker in the S range to have graphene bass drivers (as opposed to the substantial graphene-reinforced aluminium drivers on the S5 Mk2), so there is a bit of a novelty factor there. And it is the new kid on the block. For sure the S3 Mk2 is a terrific loudspeaker. I just don't think it is a better speaker than the S5 Mk2 if we're talking about Golden Ear awards.
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Hi David,

TAS does tend to go with the newest models and that would be the M3 and the S3 MkIi. Not to worry, the S5 MkII solidly holds its position in the Magico line.

Best,
Ken
 
David, the awards are based on what a writer considers best. Harley picked the $170K Rockport Lyra speaker, and Valin wasn't one of the writers making picks.

I also noticed they gave my Pass XP-20 an award this year. Obviously people with good taste work there. :)
 
BlueFox said:
David, the awards are based on what a writer considers best. Harley picked the $170K Rockport Lyra speaker, and Valin wasn't one of the writers making picks.
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This is the selection criteria for Golden Ear awards according to TAS - "Golden Ear Awards represent, in our editors' collective opinion, the best highend audio products available regardless of cost. Products are awarded a Golden Ear purely on sonic performance". By all means point me to the relevant source document if their selection criteria has since been updated.
 
So this is indeed quite nice praise for the S3 mk2, to take home this prestigious award - for all the reasons as outlined before.

Looking forward to taking delivery of my S3 mk2s later this week.


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Melbguy1 said:
This is the selection criteria for Golden Ear awards according to TAS - "Golden Ear Awards represent, in our editors' collective opinion, the best highend audio products available regardless of cost. Products are awarded a Golden Ear purely on sonic performance". By all means point me to the relevant source document if their selection criteria has since been updated.
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You raise a good point David. Is the award for the absolute best? The best in a price category, despite saying "regardless of cost"? What exactly?

Maybe the S7 should be on the list??
 
Kuoppis said:
So this is indeed quite nice praise for the S3 mk2, to take home this prestigious award - for all the reasons as outlined before.

Looking forward to taking delivery of my S3 mk2s later this week.


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How can you even sleep?
 
David, see page 63 of the September 2017 issue. As I said, it is the choice of the individual writer. I was wrong though. Valin is listed. I missed him when I first looked. He picked the M3, and Quint picked the S3.

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Mike said:
You raise a good point David. Is the award for the absolute best? The best in a price category, despite saying "regardless of cost"? What exactly?

Maybe the S7 should be on the list??
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Harley clarifies in the article that the Editors Choice awards are for more affordable gear, noting "our Editors' Choice list now imposes a price cap limiting the products recommended to those that are "real-world." You'll find very expensive products in Editors' Choice (loudspeakers up to $25,000 for example), but not those components that are, as HP is wont to say, "hideously expensive." We save the most costly and esoteric products for special honors in our Golden Ear Awards."

The S7 has been around for a while now, but then again the M3 came out before both the S5 Mk2 and S3 Mk2, so why not?
 
Mike said:
How can you even sleep?
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Barely [emoji3][emoji322].

This is really exciting. While impressed in Munich, hearing the next gen in my own system will be something special.

While the level of innovation has been proven time and again, this again exemplifies how significant the level of advancement in the M Pro was. Luckily the goodies are trickling down into the range.


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BlueFox said:
David, see page 63 of the September 2017 issue. As I said, it is the choice of the individual writer. I was wrong though. Valin is listed. I missed him when I first looked. He picked the M3, and Quint picked the S3.
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Thanks for posting that excerpt Bud. According to the article, it appears TAS have changed their selection criteria since HP's time, now giving sole discretion to individual writers as you said. My takeaway is I think Andrew Quint needs to do more listening, and less writing.
 
Kuoppis said:
Ever entertained that thought yourself?
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1. How ironic. 2. I've been an audiophile for 30 years and owned 5 pairs of speakers (including two pairs of Magico's) in the last 8 years. 3. I'm posting my opinion in an open, friendly forum free from trolls. and 4. This award isn't even that significant - It's just one writer's opinion, not like a Product of the Year award!
 
Alpinist said:
Hi David,

TAS does tend to go with the newest models and that would be the M3 and the S3 MkIi. Not to worry, the S5 MkII solidly holds its position in the Magico line.

Best,
Ken
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That makes sense Ken, and +1 :thumbsup:.
 
If this is the Selection Criteria then NEITHER the S3 MkII or S5 MkIII should be on the list. The M3 is better than either one.

Melbguy1 said:
This is the selection criteria for Golden Ear awards according to TAS - "Golden Ear Awards represent, in our editors' collective opinion, the best highend audio products available regardless of cost. Products are awarded a Golden Ear purely on sonic performance". By all means point me to the relevant source document if their selection criteria has since been updated.
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the professor said:
If this is the Selection Criteria then NEITHER the S3 MkII or S5 MkIII should be on the list. The M3 is better than either one.
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Purely as a loudspeaker, without taking into account room considerations, I completely agree with you that the M3 is the better speaker (as it should be for twice the price (of the S5 mk2)). Though it's interesting to note that the S5 Mk2 uses exactly the same midrange drivers as the M3 (Part no: MAG6004RTC) ;).
 
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