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Auditioned Magico A3 - VERY DARK...

So today after waiting for months to try and listen to the Magico A3, I went to Scott Walker audio at Anaheim and listened to the Magico A3, connected to some VAC Tube amp, being fed from a Sony audio streamer, here are my impressions:

- They look fantastic, I wish they made them in silver too, but they are just great in brush black aluminum
- They're quite small and could fit everywhere
- Fit and finish is impecable
- The bass they generated was nothing but amazing for such a small cabinet, you could hear the drums, the down beats and incredible depth of bass at an amazing level
- Imaging was INSANE, you could literally place everyone and everything...
- Sound was VERY VERY DARK!!! This was a bit of a surprise, the top end lacked for my taste to a quite a degree
- I felt like the combo of the Tube amp and Magico lacked resolution, while bass and mid was great, the top end absolutely lacked resolution
- The sound was extremely laid back, again dark
- It does NEED POWER, like he had to crank the volume up, to get good sound out of this, so be aware of that

Overall, I "personally" did NOT like the sound, it lacked details and resolution at the top end, while it was great at the bottom end.  Now, the rep and I think this is mostly due to Tube amp, and connecting it to a solid state amp would bring back resolution, but we simply didn't have time to do that today.  I look forward to listen to these at another time with some decent solid-state amp, but as-is, I was NOT as impressed as I expected and wouldn't have purchased one and I strongly believe Tube and Magico A3 do NOT go well together! 

Anyone else with similar impressions?! Curious to know what others may think, or maybe there was something else in play?

Thoughts?
alexb76

Showing 4 responses by alexb76

alexb76 OP
22 posts
 
Thanks for the feedback guys. I heard what I heard. Some may claim Magico is the best speaker ever made, etc and it maybe true. However, in that setup, it didn’t at all meet my taste. It was 100% lacking on the top end as I played some familiar music that I’ve heard many many times in systems worth $100K+ or with best headphones. It very well maybe the setup in that room as even the rep admitted that. So, I reserve final judgement until I listen to them once more with solid state. Wiring was top notch, can’t quite remember the brand though so that’s not it. 

Re size: It has a smaller footprint that my B&W 805D with a stand. 
alexb76 OP
22 posts
 
I think in general the consensus is that Magico may need careful pairing. They seem to recommend Hegel 360 as low end Amp that works well with it, and that’s a lot of power out of integrated amp and solid state with high damping factor. Pairing with Tubes maybe not ideal, but one may have to check various tubes and see which might work.
alexb76 OP
22 posts
 
WOW, I had no idea I get 147 comments about my A3 audition... haven’t read them all, but wanted to add that I auditioned MORE Magico speakers last week at AXPONA... and surprise, surprise, NONE impressed! I don’t mean they suck or anything, but they were NOWHERE near as good as their price may suggest! I suspect the money goes more to construction of the speakers than sound!

I listened in Magico room to M2, then in Classe room, Synergetic Research room to M3, and then A3 in another room, A3 was still dark, M3 better, but still "meh"! For instance, a tiny $1200 Elac Carina impressed more (for its size), the Harbeth was magical sounding, some of the exotic speakers in the $50-100K range were all impressive, Wilson sounded like orchestra, Vandersteen sounded like live music, Magico was like just OK!

So, either no one can set these up properly due to insane power demand they may have, or they’re just not that great or to my taste. I am now fully off Magico bandwagon and will be looking at other options in the A3 price range!
alexb76 OP
22 posts
 
@prof 
Agreed, I think these speakers are a love it or hate it, are VERY difficult to setup or match to equipment and that's probably why there are varied opinions on em.  For me, I have to move on, as none I tried suited my ears, while quite a few others did.
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