Magico Q7 . . . wow

hifimaniac,
strange, I have also a pair of evolution acoustics MM3... but I love Magico speakers. Nearly bought a pair before buying my MM3. I heard the Q7 at CES. I will buy a pair (waiting for my dedicated room to be built), and keep the MM3 for a different house. Both are great speaker, and it is true that MM2/MM3 is an excellent value for money.

the Q7 have completely different drivers (magnet)than rest of the range. They sound similar to a Q5, but more dynamic.

I believe that defining a speaker by the drivers material used is a bit simplistic. The EA sound quite different from a pair of Marten, Kharma, or tidal... and they are all ceramic.

On ported vs. closed bass enclosure: I have both a pair of EA MM3 (for stereo) and Usher BE-20 (for home theater and multi channel). The MM3 measures in my room at 18Hz flat. I find the MM3 bass much more natural than the Usher. I listen mainly to Jazz, for that the MM3 is better than a Usher (but I prefer Usher for modern music). I find the Magico Q3 even more transparent than the EA MM3, but it lacks bass response of EA MM3. the Q7 s for me the perfect solution. I am waiting to do one listening session in good conditions before buying one.

Prdprez, you write "I would gravitate towards Magico as a close second to EA. However, for my expectations, neither are worth owning long term".
I would be interested to hear from you what are your preference, and what type of music you listen to (if you listen mainly to modern music, I wouldn't be surprised you don't like them, but for acoustic jazz for example, I have difficulty to find better speakers, and I heard most of the top speakers on the market).
On difference on the Q7 drivers, I suggest you read the good description of the Q7 technology on soundstageglobal. You cannot get driver with a 10dB higher efficiency than the Q5 without significant changes of design (in particular on the magnet).
I don[t disagree that driver material are important, but i personally find that enclosure and filter design play a much more significant role. If you have a look at the first Magico Mini, the second magico mini, the M5 and the Q5, they have different technologies of driver, but there is a very clear family sound....

not sure I understand your message. Just go on any speaker driver manufacturer website, you will find a very broad range of sensitivity of drivers from 80 to 98dB...
Q5 and Q7 use similar configurations, but different drivers, with different sensitivity.

Suggest you read the soundstageglobal article:
Specifically, according to Tammam, the Q5 utilizes N38- and N42-grade neodymium in its drivers' motor systems, whereas the Q7 uses the N48 and N52 grades. These magnets allow for "higher energy storage within the material," according to Tammam, and this has allowed Magico to build motor systems that are far more powerful than any the company had developed in the past. Tammam said the magnet structures of the 10" and 12" drivers in the Q7 are so powerful that handling them requires great care, as the attractive force between two of the drivers' magnets would literally crush someone's hand if it was unfortunate enough to come between them. The point here is that these new ultra-powerful magnets have allowed Magico to design and build drivers so efficient that the overall sensitivity of the Q7 is rated at 94dB, which is quite high for a sealed-box design.

Btw.. I wait to see if really they are 94dB, would be outstanding for a sealed box.

Q5: 86dB
Q3: 90dB
Q7: 94dB
You are right, 8dB

Elviukai,
sorry, we were posting at same time, my answer was to a different post from somebody who was stating that Magico never claimed a 10dB sensitivity improvement
On drivers sensitivity difference, I never measured any woofer myself, so I should trust you. I am just surprised that if you have a look at the official specs of different woofers from scanspeak, Monacor, B&C, PHL,Beyma, you would find woofers with 87dB as well as 97dB... Of course, they may not be used in same design.

I agree with your statement that sensitivity given by manufacturers should be taken with a grain of salt. Stated sensitivity by Magico has been always 3dB higher than reality (because of a 4Ohm vs 8 Ohm issue?)

Jeff will do an extensive review of the Q7+Gryphon.
Since he had the Q3 in his room, I hope we will get a comparison of what the Q7 brings extra.

Prdprez,
Nobody argued that there is not strong family sound between Q5 and Q7. I listened to both (to the Q7 only in poor CES conditions) and came up with the conclusions that Q7 sounds even more dynamic, with a broader imaging. Of course, also more extended in the bass,but this was not really an advantage in an hotel room with significant room resonances.

I never meant to say there is any issue ;-)