YG Acoustics Carmel 2 / Magico S1 Mk II

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Bob82

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Hi all,

Just making comparisons between the two pairs of speakers. I listened to YGs and found them impressive to say the least.

Really appreciate comparisons/pros-cons for the two. The YG is at higher price point so am a bit sceptical if it is a fair comparison on a price point of view. Thanks.


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Bob82 said:
Hi all,

Just making comparisons between the two pairs of speakers. I listened to YGs and found them impressive to say the least.

Really appreciate comparisons/pros-cons for the two. The YG is at higher price point so am a bit sceptical if it is a fair comparison on a price point of view. Thanks.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Hi Bob,

I did that exact same comparison about three years ago or whenever the S1Mk2 was released.

I can describe what I heard from a consumer perspective as I had no bias towards either brand.

I compared both speakers using the same front end (at that time) Pass Labs INT-60 ; Schiit Yggy Gen 1 DAC; Laptop running Audrivana. All cables were AQ ; Oak and Earth. Power was Shunyata on both systems.

Yes, I pretty much brought my systems to each dealers. Both were very accommodating. After all we were talking about a lot of money (to me at least).

Although it wasn’t able to have both speakers in the same room and swapping out speaker cables. This was the best I could to make my decisions.

Please see below for the pros and cons (from my perspective)I typed down at the time on my laptop during those sessions.

Magico S1Mk2 PROS

1.) Less expensive MSRP

2.) The highs are superior to the YG Carmel 2 (Magico’s Diamond Coated ) tweeter is very high resolution. The treble is probably (even to this day 2019) the best I’ve heard.

Magico S1 Mk2 CONS

1.) Bass or LFE Output- Even with the same electronics; The Magico lacked in low end and def didn’t reach as low as the YG.

2.) Non upgradable - When Magico releases an S1 Mk3; the Mk2 owners can’t upgrade without selling their entire speaker to purchase the new model.

YG Carmel 2 PROS

1.) Easier to drive than the S1Mk2. The YG’s opened up a lot more than the Magico with Pass INT-60. As a result, I felt the bass and sound as a whole picture was just more rounded. The sound was more open and played bigger.

2.) Build Quality. I found the YG Carmel 2 and their speakers to be built on the level of the Magico Q series and not the S. Keep in my mind; YG has 1 line; Magico now has 3. Little things like the machined binding posts on YG compared to the plastic ones on the S1Mk2. Splitting hairs here.

3.) Upgradeability - YG has an upgraded path for their customers. Whereas Magico doesn’t.

Conclusion:

I purchased the Carmel 2s and still enjoying them to this day three years later.

Although sometimes wish it had more treble resolution ; that is the 1 and only con or downside to the Carmel 2.

However, after hearing the Sonja XV with the billet-dome tweeter; I have great faith and confidence that once this technology trickles down to the Carmel ; that will suffice for me as pretty much a destination or end game speaker for me.

Unless of course I moved to a bigger room and which I would go for the Hailey 2.2s.

YG has proven that their existing Sonja and Hailey customers can upgrade to their latest technology (tweeter) if they desire to do so.

The combination of those factors led me to choose YG over Magico.
 
mdp632 said:
Hi Bob,

I did that exact same comparison about three years ago or whenever the S1Mk2 was released.

I can describe what I heard from a consumer perspective as I had no bias towards either brand.

I compared both speakers using the same front end (at that time) Pass Labs INT-60 ; Schiit Yggy Gen 1 DAC; Laptop running Audrivana. All cables were AQ ; Oak and Earth. Power was Shunyata on both systems.

Yes, I pretty much brought my systems to each dealers. Both were very accommodating. After all we were talking about a lot of money (to me at least).

Although it wasn’t able to have both speakers in the same room and swapping out speaker cables. This was the best I could to make my decisions.

Please see below for the pros and cons (from my perspective)I typed down at the time on my laptop during those sessions.

Magico S1Mk2 PROS

1.) Less expensive MSRP

2.) The highs are superior to the YG Carmel 2 (Magico’s Diamond Coated ) tweeter is very high resolution. The treble is probably (even to this day 2019) the best I’ve heard.

Magico S1 Mk2 CONS

1.) Bass or LFE Output- Even with the same electronics; The Magico lacked in low end and def didn’t reach as low as the YG.

2.) Non upgradable - When Magico releases an S1 Mk3; the Mk2 owners can’t upgrade without selling their entire speaker to purchase the new model.

YG Carmel 2 PROS

1.) Easier to drive than the S1Mk2. The YG’s opened up a lot more than the Magico with Pass INT-60. As a result, I felt the bass and sound as a whole picture was just more rounded. The sound was more open and played bigger.

2.) Build Quality. I found the YG Carmel 2 and their speakers to be built on the level of the Magico Q series and not the S. Keep in my mind; YG has 1 line; Magico now has 3. Little things like the machined binding posts on YG compared to the plastic ones on the S1Mk2. Splitting hairs here.

3.) Upgradeability - YG has an upgraded path for their customers. Whereas Magico doesn’t.

Conclusion:

I purchased the Carmel 2s and still enjoying them to this day three years later.

Although sometimes wish it had more treble resolution ; that is the 1 and only con or downside to the Carmel 2.

However, after hearing the Sonja XV with the billet-dome tweeter; I have great faith and confidence that once this technology trickles down to the Carmel ; that will suffice for me as pretty much a destination or end game speaker for me.

Unless of course I moved to a bigger room and which I would go for the Hailey 2.2s.

YG has proven that their existing Sonja and Hailey customers can upgrade to their latest technology (tweeter) if they desire to do so.

The combination of those factors led me to choose YG over Magico.
Click to expand...

Hi mdp, thanks for your points.
I also have audition of Carmel 2 and magico, albeit was s3mk2 rather than s1mk2.

The caveat is the setup was different. Carmel 2 was paired with lumin D2 and vitus RI-101 and Magico was with soulution amp and a CD player (cannot remember the brand)

I agree with most of the points above. But cannot comment on the low end part as s3mk2 is bigger.

Coming from focal utopia beryllium tweeter, I found that magico tweeter has more high extension than YG (similar characteristic as focal tweeter).
However I found it too much for my taste. Carmel 2 was more easy listening/warmish (vitus may contribute to this too), and retained good resolution.

Other good point for Carmel 2 was the coherency.

At the end, I go for Carmel 2.

The other point to make is Carmel 2 really need sufficient run in. Initially the bass was hollow and lacking. But now there is significant improvement. I am on about 200 hours and still need another 200 hours
 
mdp632 said:
Hi Bob,

I did that exact same comparison about three years ago or whenever the S1Mk2 was released.

I can describe what I heard from a consumer perspective as I had no bias towards either brand.

I compared both speakers using the same front end (at that time) Pass Labs INT-60 ; Schiit Yggy Gen 1 DAC; Laptop running Audrivana. All cables were AQ ; Oak and Earth. Power was Shunyata on both systems.

Yes, I pretty much brought my systems to each dealers. Both were very accommodating. After all we were talking about a lot of money (to me at least).

Although it wasn’t able to have both speakers in the same room and swapping out speaker cables. This was the best I could to make my decisions.

Please see below for the pros and cons (from my perspective)I typed down at the time on my laptop during those sessions.

Magico S1Mk2 PROS

1.) Less expensive MSRP

2.) The highs are superior to the YG Carmel 2 (Magico’s Diamond Coated ) tweeter is very high resolution. The treble is probably (even to this day 2019) the best I’ve heard.

Magico S1 Mk2 CONS

1.) Bass or LFE Output- Even with the same electronics; The Magico lacked in low end and def didn’t reach as low as the YG.

2.) Non upgradable - When Magico releases an S1 Mk3; the Mk2 owners can’t upgrade without selling their entire speaker to purchase the new model.

YG Carmel 2 PROS

1.) Easier to drive than the S1Mk2. The YG’s opened up a lot more than the Magico with Pass INT-60. As a result, I felt the bass and sound as a whole picture was just more rounded. The sound was more open and played bigger.

2.) Build Quality. I found the YG Carmel 2 and their speakers to be built on the level of the Magico Q series and not the S. Keep in my mind; YG has 1 line; Magico now has 3. Little things like the machined binding posts on YG compared to the plastic ones on the S1Mk2. Splitting hairs here.

3.) Upgradeability - YG has an upgraded path for their customers. Whereas Magico doesn’t.

Conclusion:

I purchased the Carmel 2s and still enjoying them to this day three years later.

Although sometimes wish it had more treble resolution ; that is the 1 and only con or downside to the Carmel 2.

However, after hearing the Sonja XV with the billet-dome tweeter; I have great faith and confidence that once this technology trickles down to the Carmel ; that will suffice for me as pretty much a destination or end game speaker for me.

Unless of course I moved to a bigger room and which I would go for the Hailey 2.2s.

YG has proven that their existing Sonja and Hailey customers can upgrade to their latest technology (tweeter) if they desire to do so.

The combination of those factors led me to choose YG over Magico.
Click to expand...

Hi mdp,

You mentioned upgradability of the YGs, It is indeed nice that you don’t have to sell your old speakers if the new revision comes.

I realised the treble resolution is not overly emphasised and sounds just right to my ears. Not a fan of shrill sounding speakers.

On the subject of amplification, what have you got driving the Carmels now? Planning on driving them tube amps- VAC.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
kimurastanley said:
Hi mdp, thanks for your points.
I also have audition of Carmel 2 and magico, albeit was s3mk2 rather than s1mk2.

The caveat is the setup was different. Carmel 2 was paired with lumin D2 and vitus RI-101 and Magico was with soulution amp and a CD player (cannot remember the brand)

I agree with most of the points above. But cannot comment on the low end part as s3mk2 is bigger.

Coming from focal utopia beryllium tweeter, I found that magico tweeter has more high extension than YG (similar characteristic as focal tweeter).
However I found it too much for my taste. Carmel 2 was more easy listening/warmish (vitus may contribute to this too), and retained good resolution.

Other good point for Carmel 2 was the coherency.

At the end, I go for Carmel 2.

The other point to make is Carmel 2 really need sufficient run in. Initially the bass was hollow and lacking. But now there is significant improvement. I am on about 200 hours and still need another 200 hours
Click to expand...

The Carmels sound like their partnering electronics it seems. Very easy to show off bad recordings too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Bob82 said:
Hi mdp,

You mentioned upgradability of the YGs, It is indeed nice that you don’t have to sell your old speakers if the new revision comes.

I realised the treble resolution is not overly emphasised and sounds just right to my ears. Not a fan of shrill sounding speakers.

On the subject of amplification, what have you got driving the Carmels now? Planning on driving them tube amps- VAC.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Bob ,

Have you heard the new Hailey or Sonja 2s with the billetdome tweeter ?

if so and you like what you heard ; that’s promising for the future of Yg Carmel.


I’ve found that Yg speakers will simply convey the electronics behind them. Both positive and negative. This is a good thing imho as it easily allow you to find something you like or don’t.

Ive never heard them with tube amps. So , I can’t comment on tubes and Yg.

I’m now using Spectral electronics. Which is a rare but , amazing imho combination.

I previously used Pass labs amps.

Yg speakers require a lot of current to get them to sing but once they open up.


Enjoy and keep us posted on your decision
 
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