Interesting Magico news


They are now using a 'polymer' sub-enclosure in their S5 MK 11 - for the 'critical' midrange
driver no less. 
Isn't this similar to what Wilson Audio has been using for years?
Curious.
ptss

Showing 4 responses by melbguy1

Wilson use separate modules to isolate drivers from internal standing waves. Wilson Benesch use different design solutions depending on the model. The closest model in size/cost to the S5 Mk2 (Act One Evolution) uses a separate ported midrange/tweeter enclosure. Whilst Magico use a Computer-modeled midrange enclosure designed to optimally isolate the midrange from the backwave of the bass drivers & breakup internal standing waves, so it works a bit differently.
Companies like Wilson, Wilson Benesch and Rockport have long experience designing composite cabinets. Similarly Magico have long experience using aluminium cabinets. Most loudspeakers have some compromise to balance cost and performance, whilst Magico’s M3 and Rockport’s Lyra are more cost no object designs. If Magico used the M3’s composite carbon cabinet for the S5 Mk2, it would probably add $15k to the price.

I can certainly attest that the Magico S5 mk2’s aluminium cabinet is highly inert, even on energetic music passages. That is due to a number of design features incl: sheer mass (1/2" thick cabinet walls), a curved cabinet, heavy bottom plate with 4 point outrigger feet, machined 3D convex top plate etc. Though being aluminium, the cabinet still needs a little help. So Magico use 5-layer damping mats to prevent any audible ’excitement’ from the cabinet.

The proprietary polymer material used for the midrange enclosure would have been chosen as it provides all the right qualities to meet the design goals, without the need to use more expensive moulded carbon fiber, or carbon composite material. You can see a frequency response curve of the S3’s midrange enclosure here - http://magico.net/product/s3.php
@cdk84, Magico were using Black Hole 5 or a similar product for the S5 Mk1. Here is a pic of the damping mats applied to an S5 - http://audioshark.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=10892&stc=1

I don’t know specifically which product they’re using for the S5 Mk2 as there hasn’t been any internal photos of an S5 Mk2 in the factory posted yet to my knowledge.
keithtexas100 posts02-18-2017 9:43am

I think it’s just a plastic dish of a specific size, which is likely filled with some damping material (of celestial origins no doubt). Here is a video of the S3; discussion (and picture) of the polymer housing for the midrange is at about 9:45 mark.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aE3mx9-6-M

As stated above, many manufacturers isolate the midrange in a closed/damped housing or chamber.

Keith, the shape of the enclosure is first designed using SOTA Finite Element analysis modelling tools, then then ultimately formed using a proprietary polymer material.

You're right, most high end manufacturers isolate the midrange driver using either an isolated module (like Wilson) or midrange enclosure. Magico were using a midrange enclosure for the S5 Mk1 for example, though it was made of aluminium and had a no parallel surfaces. The S5 mk2's custom polymer enclosure takes it a step further and has much lower harmonic distortion.