Magico S3 mk2 vs Dynaudio Contour 60

AJR said:
Mike - apologies. I now see what you are saying. Given my retailer doesn't have the S5 mk2s to test I should try the S7s that they do have, and if they give me the 'feel' I am after then maybe the S5s will do the job. The S5 mk2 drivers are of course bigger than the S3 mk2s so maybe they will.

Still, the question I ask the forum is whether anyone has compared the S5 mk2s against the S3 mk2s plus the S-sub.

AJR
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Yes! That's what I'm saying.

I've heard the S3 mk2 with a single S Sub and I loved it. Properly integrated using the excellent Magico software that comes with the sub and you get that "wall of sound".

df8ff87164c7df5f63ccab506eeb9f4c.jpg



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Thanks! How would you compare that to the S5 mk2 with no sub?

BTW - I get your point about flabby bass. Listening to the S3 mk2s was educational in that for the first time I heard tight bass with the S3 mk2s. I guess I am wondering if it is possible to get 'tight', precise bass (like the S3 mk2s) that I can still feel in my gut. Combined with perfect treble and mid range (which the S3 mk2s deliver) I will be in audiophile heaven! Maybe that is attainable, but at a budget of circa US$43k.
 
AJR said:
Thanks! How would you compare that to the S5 mk2 with no sub?

BTW - I get your point about flabby bass. Listening to the S3 mk2s was educational in that for the first time I heard tight bass with the S3 mk2s. I guess I am wondering if it is possible to get 'tight', precise bass (like the S3 mk2s) that I can still feel in my gut. Combined with perfect treble and mid range (which the S3 mk2s deliver) I will be in audiophile heaven! Maybe that is attainable, but at a budget of circa US$43k.
Click to expand...

I haven't been able to do a direct comparison, so it's hard to say. Give those S7's a listen and you'll be able to get a better idea.


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AJR said:
So, I listened to the Dynaudio Contour 60s and the Magicos S3 mk2s today. Conclusions:


- Magico's high and mid range is superior. Slightly crisper and slightly better sound separation. Maybe 15% better to put a number on it. But the Dynaudios are still very, very good.


- Dynaudios bass is phat! You feel the air move inside you. But in a controlled way. The Magicos bass is super tightly controlled and seemed to go a bit deeper but you don't 'feel' it like you do with the Dynaudios. The bass in the Dynaudios can in some tracks be a little too prominent whereasthe Magicos bass seems perfectly integrated with the rest of the sound. But can always adjust the bass down from the Devialet. I mainly listen to rock and bass-heavy electronic music (but also listen to Jazz) so bass is important to me. I do like to 'feel' it.


- The soundstage created by the Magicos is deeper and more '3D'.

- The Magicos sound was more linear. They sounded a bit better at lower volume.


- Magicos sound is more 'neutral' (ie more of a complete pass-thru of the sound from the amp) whereas the Dynaudios have a slightly 'warmer' sound.


- Magicos win hands down on the aesthetic front. They are smaller (the Dynaudios are taller with a bigger footprint, although footprint is not too big) and just look absolutely stunning. Orgasmic even! The test speakers were a stunning dark bronze colour. Cast aluminium casing so a beautiful rough texture which is very noticeable and looks superb.


- Am less concerned than I was about the Dynaudios being too big for my room (in terms of needing space from the rear wall to breathe). More of an aesthetic thing as they are very tall speakers and would visually dominate my room. Simply put - I could spend a long time just gazing in awe at the Magicos; not so with the Dynaudios. Not that the Dynaudios are ugly - just very tall and 'normal' looking.


- Magicos are obviously a lot more expensive. I understand why.


Hmmmm. Plenty to think about. Short conclusion is that the Magicos are a more pure and better speaker with almost perfect sound integration and imaging. They are almost flawless. Only reservations are the significant additional cost (VfM - the Magicos were not 'miles' better IMHO, but the were appreciably better) and I did like the bigger bass sound and general 'warmth' from the Dynaudios.

A question for everyone: the Magicos I tested had only about 100 hours run in time (as did the Dynaudios). How does the sound (especially the bass) change after say 300-400 hours?

Also, the sales guy said if I want a bigger bass sound I could alway get the Magico S-sub. They have one there but no connecting cable yet. I imagine that would probably do it! So maybe start with the Magicos, get over the sticker shock, and then add the S-sub? And so the audio arms race begins...

AJR
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Regarding the bass with only about 100 hours on them, the bass on my S3 Mk IIs went from somewhat understated to over full at around 150 hours and then seemed to tighten gradually. In my case I didn't feel the whole package was fully broken in until around 400 - 500 hours.... but I wasn't timing this process precisely, so YMMV.
 
Never heard the S-Sub, but I'm sure it is a great sub. But, I do have a bunch of experience with the Q-Sub and that sub does not do what you are questioning in the bass. It really does not make the bass fuller or warmer, it makes it go lower without question and with that it actually tightens up the bass/mid-bass. It smooths out the mids.

It also makes the price of the two speaker systems you are looking at even MORE lopsided price wise.

My suggestion is to get the one that engages you into the music more. Conveys the emotion, makes your toe tap etc. Sometimes a speaker that does things excellently and 'neutral' doesn't convey the emotion as other speakers.



AJR said:
So, I listened to the Dynaudio Contour 60s and the Magicos S3 mk2s today. Conclusions:


- Magico's high and mid range is superior. Slightly crisper and slightly better sound separation. Maybe 15% better to put a number on it. But the Dynaudios are still very, very good.


- Dynaudios bass is phat! You feel the air move inside you. But in a controlled way. The Magicos bass is super tightly controlled and seemed to go a bit deeper but you don't 'feel' it like you do with the Dynaudios. The bass in the Dynaudios can in some tracks be a little too prominent whereasthe Magicos bass seems perfectly integrated with the rest of the sound. But can always adjust the bass down from the Devialet. I mainly listen to rock and bass-heavy electronic music (but also listen to Jazz) so bass is important to me. I do like to 'feel' it.


- The soundstage created by the Magicos is deeper and more '3D'.

- The Magicos sound was more linear. They sounded a bit better at lower volume.


- Magicos sound is more 'neutral' (ie more of a complete pass-thru of the sound from the amp) whereas the Dynaudios have a slightly 'warmer' sound.


- Magicos win hands down on the aesthetic front. They are smaller (the Dynaudios are taller with a bigger footprint, although footprint is not too big) and just look absolutely stunning. Orgasmic even! The test speakers were a stunning dark bronze colour. Cast aluminium casing so a beautiful rough texture which is very noticeable and looks superb.


- Am less concerned than I was about the Dynaudios being too big for my room (in terms of needing space from the rear wall to breathe). More of an aesthetic thing as they are very tall speakers and would visually dominate my room. Simply put - I could spend a long time just gazing in awe at the Magicos; not so with the Dynaudios. Not that the Dynaudios are ugly - just very tall and 'normal' looking.


- Magicos are obviously a lot more expensive. I understand why.


Hmmmm. Plenty to think about. Short conclusion is that the Magicos are a more pure and better speaker with almost perfect sound integration and imaging. They are almost flawless. Only reservations are the significant additional cost (VfM - the Magicos were not 'miles' better IMHO, but the were appreciably better) and I did like the bigger bass sound and general 'warmth' from the Dynaudios.

A question for everyone: the Magicos I tested had only about 100 hours run in time (as did the Dynaudios). How does the sound (especially the bass) change after say 300-400 hours?

Also, the sales guy said if I want a bigger bass sound I could alway get the Magico S-sub. They have one there but no connecting cable yet. I imagine that would probably do it! So maybe start with the Magicos, get over the sticker shock, and then add the S-sub? And so the audio arms race begins...

AJR
Click to expand...
 
Wow. Fascinating. So to get the bass 'feel' I am describing I may need rear ported speakers (like the Dynaudios)? And that may mean blaspheming against a 'pure' bass sound like the Magico's produce?

I will take Mike's advice and at least listen to the S7s. And when my dealer finally gets a cable will listen to the S3 mk2s plus the S-sub. Then will be well informed.
 
Personally I'd keep searching for the perfect speaker that give you the bass you want without adding a Sub. Life is allot simpler when not having to try and integrate a sub.

.02
 
Dr Tone,

do you have any suggestions? Is there a speaker that gives the S3 mk2 flawless upper and mid range but 'bigger' (but still defined and articulated - a la S3 mk2) bass?

AJR
 
the professor said:
Never heard the S-Sub, but I'm sure it is a great sub. But, I do have a bunch of experience with the Q-Sub and that sub does not do what you are questioning in the bass. It really does not make the bass fuller or warmer, it makes it go lower without question and with that it actually tightens up the bass/mid-bass. It smooths out the mids.

It also makes the price of the two speaker systems you are looking at even MORE lopsided price wise.

My suggestion is to get the one that engages you into the music more. Conveys the emotion, makes your toe tap etc. Sometimes a speaker that does things excellently and 'neutral' doesn't convey the emotion as other speakers.
Click to expand...

Dr Tone said:
Personally I'd keep searching for the perfect speaker that give you the bass you want without adding a Sub. Life is allot simpler when not having to try and integrate a sub.

.02
Click to expand...

Very excellent information and advice.
If you plan on adding a $15,000 S Sub at a later date I would re-evaluate my choices for speakers.
 
It is excellent advice. The difficulty though is that BOTH speakers got the juices flowing. But in different ways. Give me the Magico upper and mids and the Dynaudio bass and I would be very happy. Has anyone come across a speaker that does that (and is say less than US$50k).
 
Dr Tone said:
Personally I'd keep searching for the perfect speaker that give you the bass you want without adding a Sub. Life is allot simpler when not having to try and integrate a sub.

.02
Click to expand...

+1. (and I'm also an electronica-head).

if you want to stick with Devialet, I would suggest a warm speaker as a pairing.
 
Super strange comparison. Feeling and “taste” aside, the S3 is WAY better than anything DA ever did, at any cost (I think that it is still the only so called "high-end" company I know of that uses drivers with polypropylene cones, yikes…).
BTW, the S3 also goes lower. There is a good write up in the German “Stereo” magazine on the DA and the S3 Mk1 (The Mk2 is substantially better). They even make it easy for you to tell, they rate the products they review, 92 for the DA and 98 for the S3 (the S3 has the lowest distortion of any loudspeaker they ever measured).

https://stereo-magazine.com/flipview/epaper/stereo-magazine-2017-8/
vs
https://stereo-magazine.com/flipview/epaper/stereo-magazine-2016-5/
 
I read that review. I agree that technically the S3 mk2 wins, and that its bass goes deeper than the Dynaudios. But what it does not give is a visceral bass feeling. Its bass sound is no doubt technically better, but I quite like to physically feel the bass. What I am trying to work out is if it is possible to get the best of both worlds. Can I get the taut, articulated and deep S3 mk2 bass sound but so that I feel it (as opposed to just hearing it).
 
Mike said:
Yes! That's what I'm saying.

I've heard the S3 mk2 with a single S Sub and I loved it. Properly integrated using the excellent Magico software that comes with the sub and you get that "wall of sound".

df8ff87164c7df5f63ccab506eeb9f4c.jpg



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Click to expand...

Now you got me interested...


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To some extent, the difference in bass is likely to be due to set-up in the two dealer showrooms.

Occasionally, the difference can be vast.

The only way to be relatively certain is to hear each at your place in similar positions.
 
AJR said:
I will take Mike's advice and at least listen to the S7s. And when my dealer finally gets a cable will listen to the S3 mk2s plus the S-sub. Then will be well informed.
Click to expand...

I would be keen to hear the outcome of that test.


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LVB said:
Super strange comparison. Feeling and “taste” aside, the S3 is WAY better than anything DA ever did, at any cost (I think that it is still the only so called "high-end" company I know of that uses drivers with polypropylene cones, yikes…).
BTW, the S3 also goes lower. There is a good write up in the German “Stereo” magazine on the DA and the S3 Mk1 (The Mk2 is substantially better). They even make it easy for you to tell, they rate the products they review, 92 for the DA and 98 for the S3 (the S3 has the lowest distortion of any loudspeaker they ever measured).
Click to expand...

I am so glad someone else said it first: this comparison is a little like putting a Chevy and a Porsche next to each other and trying to compare them in all seriousness.

There are literally worlds between those speakers.


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AJR said:
... Can I get the taut, articulated and deep S3 mk2 bass sound but so that I feel it (as opposed to just hearing it).
Click to expand...

Unfortunately not really. There is a big price to pay for the extra oomph you get form a port, smearing, resolution and extension, it gets old really fast. You need to readjust your propriety a bit , it will be worth it. Once you get accustom to the Magico bass, you would not be able to go back, nor would you remember what you were hearing before that you liked on these ported design.
 
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