My Magico A3 are finally broke in

Darrel

Darrel

Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2018
Messages
443
Location
Auburn, Washington USA
Hi all. I'm new to this forum and thought I'd post a little on my Magico A3's. I ordered them May 23 2018 and received them November 5 2018. A long wait but, well worth it.

I sold off my Home theater gear at the end of 2017 and decided to go back to just a stereo system. I wanted to keep it simple. Early 2018 I picked up a Bryston 4bsst used stereo amp. A NAD M12 preamp, Oppo 205 player, twin SVS 1000 subs and a Audioquest Niagra 1000. These were used with a pair of Talon Khite monitors speakers until the A3's arrived. I was using Harmonic Technology interconnect and speaker cables that I had tucked away in one of my cable containers. After the A3's arrived I order a pair of 1.5 meter Cardas Clear Cygnus Radium XLR interconnects and 1.5 meter Cygnus speaker cables with banana ends.

At this time I would say my A3's are mostly broken in. And music in my house has never sounded this good. I've had a lot of systems over the many decades. And have heard some good and great systems over the years. I'm now hearing music in my room.
 
Nice system. My Bryston integrated was a great little amp but a tad insufficient for my first Magico S1mk2s. With the 4bsst I’m sure you have ample power! Congrats and welcome to Audiophillia Nervosa syndrome support group.
 
Welcome aboard! Happy to hear you’re enjoying your new speakers.


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Thanks everyone. The A3's were a leap of faith. I've never heard or seen any Magico in person. Somethings you have to go with your gut.
 
I've had them eight weeks and play them daily. I'd say several hundred hours at least. The nearest Magico dealer is a six hour drive from Oregon to my house in Washington. And they delivered them. John the sales guy said they can take up to 600 hours. I'm not sure if the A3's take that long. Mine are the first pair in the North West that I'm aware of. But, the music and instruments have moved away from the speakers and are placed behind and across the room with weight and placement. So, that's why I said mostly broken in. Peter McKay from Magico told me that people have said that there is a three phase break in on the A3's. I said OK.
 
Darrel said:
I've had them eight weeks and play them daily. I'd say several hundred hours at least. The nearest Magico dealer is a six hour drive from Oregon to my house in Washington. And they delivered them. John the sales guy said they can take up to 600 hours. I'm not sure if the A3's take that long. Mine are the first pair in the North West that I'm aware of. But, the music and instruments have moved away from the speakers and are placed behind and across the room with weight and placement. So, that's why I said mostly broken in. Peter McKay from Magico told me that people have said that there is a three phase break in on the A3's. I said OK.
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Darrel, if my experience with my S3 MkIIs is any indication, don't underestimate your dealer's break-in period comments. It is what it is, but you will be rewarded in the end.
 
John's a great guy. I'm glad he set them up for you.

Interesting of the 3 phase break-in. Did he give any more info on that? Like when to expect the next phase?

Darrel said:
I've had them eight weeks and play them daily. I'd say several hundred hours at least. The nearest Magico dealer is a six hour drive from Oregon to my house in Washington. And they delivered them. John the sales guy said they can take up to 600 hours. I'm not sure if the A3's take that long. Mine are the first pair in the North West that I'm aware of. But, the music and instruments have moved away from the speakers and are placed behind and across the room with weight and placement. So, that's why I said mostly broken in. Peter McKay from Magico told me that people have said that there is a three phase break in on the A3's. I said OK.
Click to expand...
 
John was a great help with information, setup and room ideas. I ran "Brown noise" over night for about a week and during the day play a lot of music etc. What a three phase break in is I'm not exatlty clear on. I've owned new speakers before so any break in period has been a natural thing of getting use to their sound. But, the A3's sonic placement has impressed me over time. I didn't use the twin SVS subs for the first two days because the A3's will go down to 20hz and are impressive with low and mid bass. I decided to turn on the subs just because they were there and I had listened to enought stereo music to understand the Magico sound. I haven't turned the subs off since. I have the A3's set to full and the subs set to stereo and 160hz. The M12 has a lot of control for output for subs and main. In the past I've had my sub or subs set for my setup at the usual 80hz. But, listening to drums, piano and standup bass tracks I would lower and raise the frequency of the subs and around 160hz the snare drums just fell behind the speakers and at a height that told me I'm there.
 
Darrel said:
Thanks everyone. The A3's were a leap of faith. I've never heard or seen any Magico in person. Somethings you have to go with your gut.
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That's tough with a 10k (now 12.3k) speaker, but glad to hear they worked out! I was fortunate to get a home demo of the A3's back in early December 2018, and ordered based on us really liking them in our home.

I've been "warned" that new A3's will require considerable breaking in, and to not get discouraged along the way!
 
Congratulations Bart. You were lucky to be able to listen to a pair in your home.

What equipment are you pairing them with?

In my home the A3's sounded really good upon first hook up. I find myself listening to a broader range of music. I can listen to each instruments clarity and placement much better over time.

I will add that one addition I think that has really help was pairing the Cardas Clear Cygnus cables to the preamp and amp to speakers. The "Clear" name is as promised.

Being patient will pay off.
 
Darrel said:
Congratulations Bart. You were lucky to be able to listen to a pair in your home.

What equipment are you pairing them with?

In my home the A3's sounded really good upon first hook up. I find myself listening to a broader range of music. I can listen to each instruments clarity and placement much better over time.

I will add that one addition I think that has really help was pairing the Cardas Clear Cygnus cables to the preamp and amp to speakers. The "Clear" name is as promised.

Being patient will pay off.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I have Naim gear; pairing the A3's with Naim 252 preamp and 300DR power amp. Naim digital and Rega analog front ends. At the time of audition I was using the Naim 250DR power amp, and even with that there was relatively plenty of oomph to drive the A3's. The 300 will provide more pleasure I'm sure.
 
Darrel, really wonderful speakers. Congratulations on the successful acclimation of your A3s!
 
Thanks Thase13, I get a great deal of enjoyment with my system. It is in the audio world a very simple setup. And I think under $20k to piece together. But, I can stream a huge catalog of music from Tital and Qobuz as well as my CD and flac files. I can't complain.
 
A3 with Luxman was great sound. Even though my favourite is S3MKII but I would happy to have an A3 especially for the price. Enjoy them in good health.
 
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