Magico vs Revel

[PeterA]

Unfortunately, upon audition I heard from the A3 what is described under Anechoic Measurements in the report:
"Magico has some notable resonances at 150 Hz and 600 Hz."

Higher level Magico speakers don't have that problem. The Q3 and M Pro speakers, for example, are terrific.

Yes, based on your report to me about your A3 audition, I went to that dealer to hear the speakers for myself with a reviewer friend, and for some reason they only played the M3 for us and not the A3. I'm sorry I was not able to hear the A3, but I did see it and thought it was built to a very high standard for a $10,000 speaker.

I will try to hear the A3 another time.

 

[Dre_J]

Perhaps the individuals conducting the listening are used to the sound of Revel speakers. If that's the case, it is likely they will prefer them.

In many ways, that's not different from a completely satisfied Revel speaker owner that would subjectively prefer the sound of their speaker to any Magico speaker.

One could reverse this equation with a completely satisfied Magico speaker owner subjectively preferring the sound of their speaker to any Revel speaker.

The fact is the speakers (Revel and Magico) sound different. Which one is preferred and comes ahead is most likely dependent on the listener's preferences and biases. Double blind testing, most likely, won't change that outcome if the listener's preferences and biases are strong enough and the speakers readily show those differences audibly when unseen.

What the test may tell more than anything else are the sonic preferences of the listeners who took part in the evaluation. Under different conditions with different listeners, the results may be different.

P.S. Regarding one comment from a listener in the Harman document that is the subject of this thread about the A3 sounding "imbalanced ... dark, tubby, muffled, colored mids": I've observed the speaker sounding the opposite, as setup by Magico at a trade show, with emphasis tilting in the opposite direction than stated in the linked document.

Given this personal observation, I'd suggest a demo of either speaker under whatever circumstances best fit the listener's preferences if possible.

Dre

 

[Mikado463]

Listened to the A3 once, while 'nice', I'll keep my Revel Studio 2's. More in line price wise than the Salon's

it would have been nice if they compared them in the test

 

[mep]

Listened to the A3 once, while 'nice', I'll keep my Revel Studio 2's. More in line price wise than the Salon's

it would have been nice if they compared them in the test

Has a Harman speaker ever lost a Harman test conducted by Harman employees?

 

[joeinid]

Salon2 and studio2 beat lots of other speakers, in my opinion. It’s personal taste and 2 speakers I prefer over many others.

 

[Mikado463]

Has a Harman speaker ever lost a Harman test conducted by Harman employees?

I have no clue nor do I give a rats rear end, but I know what 'I' like . With that being said let Magico conduct theirs ............

Salon2 and studio2 beat lots of other speakers, in my opinion. It’s personal taste and 2 speakers I prefer over many others.

Agreed Joe, having owned di-poles for 30 plus years my current Revels were the first to 'sway me away' at a price point that I could justify.

 

[LVB]

Years ago I owned the Revel Ultima, a well-designed loudspeaker, by Harman standard. That was one of my most regretful purchases, a bit like the early days of SS, it was all there, but you lost interest after 60 sec (overdamped, lifeless and monochromatic – but nice FR). Perhaps the new stuff is better, but at shows, I have not notice.

 

[nile49]

Years ago I owned the Revel Ultima, a well-designed loudspeaker, by Harman standard. That was one of my most regretful purchases, a bit like the early days of SS, it was all there, but you lost interest after 60 sec (overdamped, lifeless and monochromatic – but nice FR). Perhaps the new stuff is better, but at shows, I have not notice.

I had the Studio 2s for a few years. They were very amplifier dependent in my opinion and could tend towards lifelessness but in the right setup could be fanstastic as well.


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[mep]

I have no clue nor do I give a rats rear end, but I know what 'I' like . With that being said let Magico conduct theirs ............



Agreed Joe, having owned di-poles for 30 plus years my current Revels were the first to 'sway me away' at a price point that I could justify.

My point was that you should feel very confident that any Harman speaker you own will fare very well in Harman tests conducted by Harman employees.

 

[Dizzie]

I had the Studio 2s for a few years. They were very amplifier dependent in my opinion and could tend towards lifelessness but in the right setup could be fanstastic as well.


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I think the same could be said for most speakers. Position is also important. What works for one speaker may not be optimum for another. Testing speakers with the same equipment and in the same position is tragically flawed. The performance of at least one (maybe both) of the speakers will be compromised.

 

[PeterA]

My point was that you should feel very confident that any Harman speaker you own will fare very well in Harman tests conducted by Harman employees.

I wonder what would happen if the listeners could toggle between different amps and bring their own music.

 

[mep]

I wonder what would happen if the listeners could toggle between different amps and bring their own music.

Somehow I doubt that Harman would allow you to change their testing protocol. You could always ask them if you are really interested.

 

[mep]

I think the same could be said for most speakers. Position is also important. What works for one speaker may not be optimum for another. Testing speakers with the same equipment and in the same position is tragically flawed. The performance of at least one (maybe both) of the speakers will be compromised.

I doubt any of this matters to Harman as long as Harman trained listeners who are also Harman employees can consistently pick out Harman speakers as sounding superior in their tests. Is anyone aware of any speaker manufacturer challenging the results of any Harman speaker test?

 

[Mikado463]

My point was that you should feel very confident that any Harman speaker you own will fare very well in Harman tests conducted by Harman employees.

Ok fine, as did my Studio 2's fare very well when I compared them ..........

 

[mep]

Ok fine, as did my Studio 2's fare very well when I compared them ..........

The only thing that should matter to any of us is that we are happy with the choices we made in assembling our systems. What other people think of our systems shouldn’t matter as long as we are happy with the sound.

 

[Myles B. Astor]

I wonder what would happen if the listeners could toggle between different amps and bring their own music.

I am not sure it would make any difference as it looks like—just as with the tests done with Martin-Logans that looked like they had been dropped out a 5th floor window—everything is plugged into the same $5.99 AC power strip that you can buy at your local hardware store.

Funny as I would have said the sound attributed to the A3s was actually the sound of the electronics being used.

Well at least they got rid of the Proceed gear.

 

[LVB]

Odd that they stated that the blind test was done with Harman employees. Looks like a sentence a lawyer will write. Does it mean that only Harman employees did the test, or that just the Harman employees, out of other listeners, that did the test preferred the Revel? Why wouldn’t they conduct a legitimate test with random listeners? Or did they, but only published the results that served them.

 

[BayStBroker]

But this is just an advertisement. If their tests had resulted in mixed opinions or a preference for Magico then we never would have learned the results.

 

[mep]

Odd that they stated that the blind test was done with Harman employees. Looks like a sentence a lawyer will write. Does it mean that only Harman employees did the test, or that just the Harman employees, out of other listeners, that did the test preferred the Revel? Why wouldn’t they conduct a legitimate test with random listeners? Or did they, but only published the results that served them.

You have to go through the Harman listener training program. There are no random people off the street participating in Harman testing.

 

[Mr Peabody]

I'd have to find the spill again, I thought Revel stated they used random listeners when coming up with the sound of the Performa 3 series. I owned Performa 2 F52 and preferred that sound over the P3 series.

I heard the 228b but not in the best environment. The A3 briefly. So I have no opinion at this point. I do like the Salon and Studio 2, finding them to provide excellent performance for the money.

I also like Magico in all the systems I've heard.

So for now, I'd say if shopping in the $10k range, listen to both and take your preference. Or, be like Joe and buy them both, LOL Not that he did, just his MO.

You have to go through the Harman listener training program. There are no random people off the street participating in Harman testing.