Magico vs the world

Well, in my opinion, the A3 and the S3 mk2 with the proper room and proper system, are very revealing speakers, with very nice sound stages. IMO, the S3 mk2 are better than the A3. But for the money, it may not be worth the difference in money. But that is dependent on whose wallet we are talking about and other factors. After careful listening and comparisons to other speakers I went for the A3s. Without the side by side comparison to the S3 mk2, the A3s are very satisfying. Plus there are logistics in my listening room which would make it very hard to integrate the bigger and heavier S3mk2s. But it’s not just the speakers. It’s about the room and the rest of your system. I’m not saying that you can buy lousy speakers and bring them to a whole large other level like putting lipstick on a pig, so to speak. But with the proper cabling, power management and other components, you will put what ever speakers you get, in a position to perform up to their potential. 

I read over some of the other replies above. At AXPONA last year I heard the Vandersteensn in their listening room and granted it is hard (some would say impossible) to get an accurate audition of a speaker at AXPONA, I will say that they were impressive. I had already purchased my Magico A3s from my local dealer before their price increase. The A3s are well designed and well built. Some say they sound clinical. I say accurate. This is a matter of taste. If you desire warmth get a tube amp or preamp. If you want blacker backgrounds get better cabling and power management. Also make sure your listening room is acoustically ok per your liking. I have space constraints. So the A3s meet my need in that regard. The Vandys or S3 mk2 would not fit. Plus here is the kicker. I live in a 4 story townhouse. Guess which floor my listening room is on? The A3s each weigh 100 lbs. Anything heavier isn’t going to make it to its destination without help from the Chicago Bears offensive line, though I imagine with some N95 masks they might be available. 

@skyscraper Sorry for the delay. My Magico A3s are on a all digital system of streaming or CD. Here is the system:
Power: 20amp dedicated line from the breaker box > Shunyata PS8 with Defender and Greenwave EMI filter > PS Audio PowerPlant P12.
Integrated amp in cold months: PrimaLuna
Dialogue Premium HP
Preamp is warmer months: Pass Labs XP-20 with Revelation Audio Labs power connection cable, with Amps: Benchmark AHB2 monoblocks, First Watt SIT-3 or M-2.
Sources: InnuOS Zenith Mk3 w/Innuos Phoenix running Roon Core w/Squeezelite.
DACs: a variety which I switch in and out - Chord M Scaler with Chord Quetest (w/SBooster power), PS Audio DirectStream DAC or Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ w/SBooster. CD: PS Audio DS MemoryPlayer with I2S connection to DS DAC.
Internet: Eero Pro to SOtM switch
Ethernet cables are DH Labs Reunion
Interconnects: Shunyata Delta
Power Cables: Almost all Shunyata Deltas NR except for Delta EFs on the Benchmark amps due to space constraints for the plugs.USB cables: Shunyata Venom
Speaker cables: Shunyata Delta
Speakers: Magico A3

I know. It’s a disease.


Sources: 

@stereo5 Well yes to me it sounds great. Thanks. I treat my listening room a bit like a listening lab. But I suppose quite a few of us do. 

All of this defending and bashing Magico is hilarious. In my audiophile journey I have owned many speakers. Currently I do own a pair of Magico A3s. But there are a lot of great speakers and guess what? Not everyone likes the same thing or the same speakers. That is why there are many speaker manufacturers. Perhaps, something better than Magico will show up? Maybe I will own them? I thought a long time ago that Dynaudio was it for me. Then along came my Magicos and Magnepans. Bye bye Dynaudio. It happened once. It can happen again. Another thing: these speakers don’t operate in a vacuum. You need to recognize that it isn’t just about the speaker. It’s about the system, power management and cabling connected to them and the room. 

It’s been a while since I posted here. Back then I had two rigs. One of them with Magnepan 1.7i. The other with Magico A3s. I sold the Maggies. I have the A3s. I am wondering about the Magico A5s. Does anyone here have the A5s? What are your impressions of them as compared to other speakers you have auditioned? Thanks. 

@henry201 Some questions regarding your A5s:

1. Do you use them with subwoofers?

2. Please clarify what feet and flooring you have them on. For instance, spikes and pads on hard wood floor, or Isoacoustics feet, etc?

3. Did you A-B them against the A3s? If so, what were your impressions?

 Thanks. K

For what it’s worth, and for the money (at the introductory preorder price, pre/price increase, when they were first released) I don’t think another box speaker can beat my Magico A3s. I like a neutral detailed and uncolored presentation. But because I like to experiment with different things I might get in 2923, a pair of Magnepan LRS+ or a pair of Ohm speakers. Just to occasionally have something different.