Unboxing the Magico S3 mk2

[Kuoppis]

Today's the day, the bronze beauties arrived. So far in two easier-to-store cardboard boxes.

That's where the fun started.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Kuoppis]

Getting them out in the open...

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Kuoppis]

Then I did what was neither the smartest, nor the easiest thing I have done so far: As I was too eager to connect them, I did not wait until the evening until one of my brothers was available to help and hauled them alone into the first floor music room.

88 kg alone up the staircase, just equipped with a movers shoulder strap. Holy guacamole, not very easy, nor smart, nor safe.

But there they are. Just happy it was not one of the bigger brethren [emoji3].

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Kuoppis]

Connected and set up, not much of a fuss as S3 mk2s are replacing S3s.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Mike]

Wow! Those look fantastic in your room! Carried them up the stairs? Ouch!

Congratulations. So happy for you. Enjoy in good health.

Keep us posted on the sound as they break in.

 

[Kuoppis]

Now, before you say it, I say it: Nothing can really be said straight out of the box. True colors will be revealed after 400-500 hours. And they are not even spiked up yet, as the audio guy forgot to send that additional small box. I say it anyway [emoji3].

One similarity to the S3 mk1 is that they do sound quite ok out of the box. In comparison the S1 mk1 really needed to be broken in first.

Quick observations:
- the highly acclaimed diamond coated tweeter is worth all the praise. Details in abundance, but no harshness whatsoever at all. Just beautiful.
- in lower midrange and bass, compared to the predecessor, this is a much more complete speaker. It's not just the 2 db lower in the frequency range, it's that the mk2 sounds much more complete. All the fuss about the graphene woofers, it's all true.
- as a full range LS the coherence is simply phenomenal: highs, mids, lows play entirely as one unit. Truly remarkable.

Summing up, I was quite critical about the rather quick replacement cycle for the S3, but this is much more than a simple upgrade (thanks to the R&D that has gone into the M Pro I guess). Kudos to Alon and Yair for this phantastic achievement and a big thank you.

Moving from S3 to S3 mk2? Worth every penny and more.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Kuoppis]

WAF has also taken a jump forward, love the bronze color [emoji122].

 

[Kuoppis]

Wow! Those look fantastic in your room! Carried them up the stairs? Ouch!

Congratulations. So happy for you. Enjoy in good health.

Keep us posted on the sound as they break in.

Thank you for the kind words Mike and yes, the stairs were a little of a problem.

I'll post updates as the sound evolves.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Alpinist]

Now, before you say it, I say it: Nothing can really be said straight out of the box. True colors will be revealed after 400-500 hours. And they are not even spiked up yet, as the audio guy forgot to send that additional small box. I say it anyway [emoji3].

One similarity to the S3 mk1 is that they do sound quite ok out of the box. In comparison the S1 mk1 really needed to be broken in first.

Quick observations:
- the highly acclaimed diamond coated tweeter is worth all the praise. Details in abundance, but no harshness whatsoever at all. Just beautiful.
- in lower midrange and bass, compared to the predecessor, this is a much more complete speaker. It's not just the 2 db lower in the frequency range, it's that the mk2 sounds much more complete. All the fuss about the graphene woofers, it's all true.
- as a full range LS the coherence is simply phenomenal: highs, mids, lows play entirely as one unit. Truly remarkable.

Summing up, I was quite critical about the rather quick replacement cycle for the S3, but this is much more than a simple upgrade (thanks to the R&D that has gone into the M Pro I guess). Kudos to Alon and Yair for this phantastic achievement and a big thank you.

Moving from S3 to S3 mk2? Worth every penny and more.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Your system looks terrific! I can't believe how quickly you unboxed them and got them in place. Now all you need to do is go through the break in process but I'm honestly not surprised in the least that you're already hearing significant improvements with the Diamond coated beryllium tweeter and Nanographene midrange and woofers. These speakers are loaded when it comes to the latest technology and at an incredible price too. Keep us posted on your impressions. I'm very excited for you!

Best,
Ken

 

[Mike]

Now, before you say it, I say it: Nothing can really be said straight out of the box. True colors will be revealed after 400-500 hours. And they are not even spiked up yet, as the audio guy forgot to send that additional small box. I say it anyway [emoji3].

One similarity to the S3 mk1 is that they do sound quite ok out of the box. In comparison the S1 mk1 really needed to be broken in first.

Quick observations:
- the highly acclaimed diamond coated tweeter is worth all the praise. Details in abundance, but no harshness whatsoever at all. Just beautiful.
- in lower midrange and bass, compared to the predecessor, this is a much more complete speaker. It's not just the 2 db lower in the frequency range, it's that the mk2 sounds much more complete. All the fuss about the graphene woofers, it's all true.
- as a full range LS the coherence is simply phenomenal: highs, mids, lows play entirely as one unit. Truly remarkable.

Summing up, I was quite critical about the rather quick replacement cycle for the S3, but this is much more than a simple upgrade (thanks to the R&D that has gone into the M Pro I guess). Kudos to Alon and Yair for this phantastic achievement and a big thank you.

Moving from S3 to S3 mk2? Worth every penny and more.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

"Complete" is a great way to describe their lower midrange and bass.

 

[Kuoppis]

Your system looks terrific! I can't believe how quickly you unboxed them and got them in place. Now all you need to do is go through the break in process but I'm honestly not surprised in the least that you're already hearing significant improvements with the Diamond coated beryllium tweeter and Nanographene midrange and woofers. These speakers are loaded when it comes to the latest technology and at an incredible price too. Keep us posted on your impressions. I'm very excited for you!

Best,
Ken

Thanks Ken, that's a very nice thing to say. Waiting to take delivery and breaking them in are for sure the toughest parts of the process [emoji3].

Agree with you that the innovations do make a big difference. What is funny though, the outward appearance e.g. of the tweeter is very similar, so there might be a question about how much of a change that really is. But oh boy when you hear them, there's no doubt whatsoever.

The graphene elements are a significant change as well, but there it is easier, as they look different and are in this case partly even of a different size.

Magico makes bigger and better speakers, but the nice thing about the S3 mk2 is that so much of the groundbreaking innovations from the larger models have been incorporated.



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[brodricj]

Moving from S3 to S3 mk2? Worth every penny and more.

I also contemplated this upgrade path. I hadn't owned my S3 for very long when the Mk2 announcement took me by surprise. In the end I went S3>Q3. I sometimes wonder whether Q3 was the better choice when I read S3Mk2 owner reviews. I am very happy with Q3. Whilst an older design than S3 it is a far more refined speaker. Whether it is more refined than S3Mk2, I don't know.

 

[Kuoppis]

I also contemplated this upgrade path. I hadn't owned my S3 for very long when the Mk2 announcement took me by surprise. In the end I went S3>Q3. I sometimes wonder whether Q3 was the better choice when I read S3Mk2 owner reviews. I am very happy with Q3. Whilst an older design than S3 it is a far more refined speaker. Whether it is more refined than S3Mk2, I don't know.

I think there is very little you can do wrong with the Q3 I would argue. It is a really great LS.

For me the S3 mk2 was a natural upgrade path and now I am very happy about it.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[joeinid]

Huge congratulations, they look awesome. That's the color I'd pick. I know that system sounds great. I'm so happy for you.

Wow!

 

[Kingsrule]

Congratulations!

Your system looks great

 

[Kuoppis]

Huge congratulations, they look awesome. That's the color I'd pick. I know that system sounds great. I'm so happy for you.

Wow!

Thanks Joe, I'm also quote happy with the color choice.

And the Ayres go well together with mk2s as well. I wish I get a chance to try the KX-R/ MX-R combo as well at some point.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Kuoppis]

Congratulations!

Your system looks great

Thank you, very kind.

Not quite your setup, but works this for me as my music room is not very large.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[joeinid]

The KX5/VX5 combo is awesome and I do miss it. There's no doubt that the KX-R/MX-R combo brings the Ayre sound to the next level. Sometimes I think about "downsizing" back to the 5 series and taking some money off the table but then I come home, turn on my system and think, why change? All the Ayre gear, to me, exceeds it's equivalent priced brethren.

Thanks Joe, I'm also quote happy with the color choice.

And the Ayres go well together with mk2s as well. I wish I get a chance to try the KX-R/ MX-R combo as well at some point.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[the professor]

Other than the M3, I think the S3 Mk1 and now the Mk2 is Magico's best speaker. It gets you to tap your toe better than it's bigger brothers - it has more emotion.

Congrats!!!!!!!

Thanks Ken, that's a very nice thing to say. Waiting to take delivery and breaking them in are for sure the toughest parts of the process [emoji3].

Agree with you that the innovations do make a big difference. What is funny though, the outward appearance e.g. of the tweeter is very similar, so there might be a question about how much of a change that really is. But oh boy when you hear them, there's no doubt whatsoever.

The graphene elements are a significant change as well, but there it is easier, as they look different and are in this case partly even of a different size.

Magico makes bigger and better speakers, but the nice thing with the S3 mk2 is that so much of the groundbreaking innovations from the larger models have been incorporated.



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Kuoppis]

Other than the M3, I think the S3 Mk1 and now the Mk2 is Magico's best speaker. It gets you to tap your toe better than it's bigger brothers - it has more emotion.

Congrats!!!!!!!

Thank you so much, obviously I cannot but to agree [emoji3]. I noticed the same about the emotion, quite a lifelike presentation.

Need to listen more, but as a quick first impression two things come to mind: the graphene elements appear to move very fast so the sound is kind of effortless and detailed and what Ken already pointed out, similar to the Vandersteens, using the same material for mid and woofers delivers a nicely coherent sound.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk