New integrated amplifier to drive Magico S3 mk2

Agree Mike, I do have great respect for Pass products. And the system synergy with Magico and Pass Labs is excellent IMHO.

I did not hear the 260.8s, as I was looking for a stereo amp for space and heat dissipation reasons. I did not want to get any stupid ideas, as I know how that usually ends [emoji3].


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Kuoppis said:
We just discussed this on another thread and I think you are right.

I just went from 350 wpc to 500 wpc driving the Magico S3 mk2. While the 350 wpc never felt constrained, 500 wpc simply is better. More headroom, more ease, better flow.


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While I do think Magico are good speakers this might be a deal breaker for me (I'll never be able to afford new Magico speakers, 2nd hand maybe). 500wpc is very extreme. Most audiophiles I know have amps in the midrange power band 50 to 200 wpc.
 
Mordante said:
While I do think Magico are good speakers this might be a deal breaker for me (I'll never be able to afford new Magico speakers, 2nd hand maybe). 500wpc is very extreme. Most audiophiles I know have amps in the midrange power band 50 to 200 wpc.
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Mordante,

I am not sure what type of music you like and your preferred listening volumes. I also tried to research your speakers but had trouble with that. So I don’t have a good feel for what you need.

With that said, it seems that you need speakers with higher sensitivity than the Magico S range. Before I bought my Magico S3 MK2s I auditioned a lot of different speakers including the Dynaudio Contour 60s (amazing value for money, but these also require some juice, and I just couldn’t get excited about their aesthetic and size), Focal Sopra 2 and 3 (high sensitivity so might be worth a try if you haven’t already) and the now older model Sonus Faber Amati. SF have released a new Tradition range including a new Amati and Serafino, which had not been released when I was auditioning but I have since heard the Amati and it is fantastic. These SFs have high sensitivity. My SF dealer is looking to offload his older generation Amatis at a substantial discount (to make way for the new Amati Tradition) so maybe a 2nd hand one might work for you.

Andrew
 
Mordante said:
While I do think Magico are good speakers this might be a deal breaker for me (I'll never be able to afford new Magico speakers, 2nd hand maybe). 500wpc is very extreme. Most audiophiles I know have amps in the midrange power band 50 to 200 wpc.
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I did use the S3 mk2 with a 60 wpc Pass INT-60 for a while and quite liked it. And 200 wpc is plenty, they’re rated 50 wpc upwards.

I just want to be a badass [emoji41].


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Kuoppis said:
I did use the S3 mk2 with a 60 wpc Pass INT-60 for a while and quite liked it. And 200 wpc is plenty, they’re rated 50 wpc upwards.

I just want to be a badass [emoji41].


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Kuoppis - did you ever try the INT-250 or given your fantastic pre-amp were you only auditioning power amps?
 
AJR said:
Mordante,

I am not sure what type of music you like and your preferred listening volumes. I also tried to research your speakers but had trouble with that. So I don’t have a good feel for what you need.

With that said, it seems that you need speakers with higher sensitivity than the Magico S range. Before I bought my Magico S3 MK2s I auditioned a lot of different speakers including the Dynaudio Contour 60s (amazing value for money, but these also require some juice, and I just couldn’t get excited about their aesthetic and size), Focal Sopra 2 and 3 (high sensitivity so might be worth a try if you haven’t already) and the now older model Sonus Faber Amati. SF have released a new Tradition range including a new Amati and Serafino, which had not been released when I was auditioning but I have since heard the Amati and it is fantastic. These SFs have high sensitivity. My SF dealer is looking to offload his older generation Amatis at a substantial discount (to make way for the new Amati Tradition) so maybe a 2nd hand one might work for you.

Andrew
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I mainly listen to (post)rock, (post)metal, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (not sure what genre they are), Leonard Cohen etc. Lat few weeks Silence is Sexy by the Einsturzende Neubauten is my fav LP. Together with the Light at the End of the World by My Dying Bride.

Kuoppis said:
I did use the S3 mk2 with a 60 wpc Pass INT-60 for a while and quite liked it. And 200 wpc is plenty, they’re rated 50 wpc upwards.

I just want to be a badass [emoji41].

Don't we secretly want to be a badass.

The manufacturer of my amp does not supply info about how many watts at what load my amp is. They just state more than 100wpc at 8 Ohm.

Right now I have a pair of Blumenhofer FS2 on test and next week a pair of Raidho X-3 will join them. Both are either second hand or demo models. New both are out of my price range.


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AJR - I have the INT-60 as well, which is now at my summerhouse. It was great with the S3 mk1s.

But I did not audition the INT-250 as such, I think it however shares most, if not all, of the innards with my X250.8. I would not know what you could possibly do wrong with a Pass amp, unless you want to try a Gryphon or something. If integrated, I would go for either of those at the moment.


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Yep. It is a straight shoot-out at the moment between those two. Just waiting for my dealers to get them in stock so I can do a home demo and decide. Agree that I can’t really go wrong with either of them. Fun times ahead!
 
Mordante, all components you have, or are auditioning are of a high quality. That is a good starting point.

I would focus on the type of sound you really like and would build a system around that. Whether expensive or more affordable, old or new does not matter so much - there are many ways to skin the cat.


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AJR said:
Yep. It is a straight shoot-out at the moment between those two. Just waiting for my dealers to get them in stock so I can do a home demo and decide. Agree that I can’t really go wrong with either of them. Fun times ahead!
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Sounds like a lots of fun, please post your impressions.


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Kuoppis,

I read your comments in a separate thread on the Boulder integrated. How do you think it performed compared to the Pass INT-60? Probably not a fair comparison as the Boulder has more power. Have you listened to the Pass INT-250 and if so how does the Boulder compare? Should I add it to my shortlist?

Andrew
 
AJR said:
Kuoppis,

I read your comments in a separate thread on the Boulder integrated. How do you think it performed compared to the Pass INT-60? Probably not a fair comparison as the Boulder has more power. Have you listened to the Pass INT-250 and if so how does the Boulder compare? Should I add it to my shortlist?

Andrew
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Andrew, as a matter of fact I would. Especially with your musical taste, where you want powerful bass. The Boulder has it - in abundance. It’s a lots of fun.

Of course I also like the INT-250, it’s a great amp.


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Hi to all, i am also Magico S3 mk1 owner, i tried many amps in my house:
1.Gryphon Attilla
2.Gryphon Diablo 300
4.Constellation Audio Argo
5.Hovland Radia (stereo power) + Audible illisions L3 pre
6.And still Mark Levinson 431 (stereo Power) + Audible illisions L3 pre

My first impression is Magico doesnt need too high watts, but loves high quality main current (amperes) so, in my list and you must listen Constellation Audio Argo is the winner, after Argo I am very happy with my ML431 but audible illusions L3A is a tube pre amped maybe because of that factor i love ML431, Gryphon 300 has too much power but at the low volumes it doesnt wake up for some frequencies, especially low frequencies, maybe because of i listen 300 not much and i sold it before it completed its burning process, here is my gryphon 300 video and argo video ,
 
i couldnt put the links but you can watch from youtube Argo and magico and
[h=1]iesmr_s3 for the diablo 300[/h]
 
ilkeresmer said:
Hi to all, i am also Magico S3 mk1 owner, i tried many amps in my house:
1.Gryphon Attilla
2.Gryphon Diablo 300
4.Constellation Audio Argo
5.Hovland Radia (stereo power) + Audible illisions L3 pre
6.And still Mark Levinson 431 (stereo Power) + Audible illisions L3 pre

My first impression is Magico doesnt need too high watts, but loves high quality main current (amperes) so, in my list and you must listen Constellation Audio Argo is the winner, after Argo I am very happy with my ML431 but audible illusions L3A is a tube pre amped maybe because of that factor i love ML431, Gryphon 300 has too much power but at the low volumes it doesnt wake up for some frequencies, especially low frequencies, maybe because of i listen 300 not much and i sold it before it completed its burning process, here is my gryphon 300 video and argo video ,
Click to expand...

Hi Ilkesremer, welcome, thanks for joining. A nice list of amps you have there.

Thank you for sharing your experiences.


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