new Magico speakers the Q5


seen on their Website
clavil
Lapierre,

You go through a pretty good explanation why a proper Aluminum (“…better elements of stiffness, mass, and
dampness ..”) box is superior to an MDF, and then come up with a wrong conclusion… ? Assuming all thing equal, Aluminum is It is not different , it is better. It has nothing to do with which “tone” you prefer. It is about who has less “tone” to begin with.

Clavil,

Just the fact that a Chevy body is made out of the same steel as a BMW, does not make it equal in overall quality.
Mariv26,

Piega Masterone, reminding me to Infinity Epsilon & Sigma

http://www.piega.ch/en/produkte/masterone.htm

and

Piega CLX 120

http://www.piega.ch/en/produkte/cl-serie.htm

are considered by german High End magazine STEREO belonging to the best of the best.

I have never heard them, that's why I am asking here...

it's most probably better quality than a Chevy ;-)
It's interesting reading about a speaker that, as of yet, has been sampled only by the company's principals and (maybe) several outside listeners whose opinion they care about.

Magico has big cojones coming out with this model just one year after their M5. If you compare the two, the Q5 involves replacing one of the two 6" drivers with a new 9" midbass unit, and upgrading the tweeter, along with their stated refinement (it is not clear whether they are referring to acoustic or crossover) of the two 9" woofers. And a new braced aluminum frame that overall is more dense than the M5, built on their own CNC machines. Technogeeks will gladly replace Miss July's poster for the new Q5 pictures (I already have).

But how will it sound?

As a disclosure, I bought the V2 several months ago after deciding for myself that overall they were the best speaker for me and my family under $20K. We are very happy with the choice, and I must admit that having a very good dealer who is a true gentleman paved the way for my purchase. For me, the hype concerning Magico caused me to be more cautious and deliberate in my decision, to ensure that I was making a good one.

It's fascinating watching everyone (including myself) trying to attach objective means of measurement (value, construction techniques, raw material cost, how "true" the intent of the designer is, how "honest" is their ad campaign, etc.) to what in the end is a very subjective and personal choice, regarding not only the speaker's performance but also the outlook toward audio itself. I sometimes try to talk to my non-audiophile wife in these terms, but like the saying "a picture is worth a thousand words," it's best to put on a record or CD to make your case.

Perhaps some people might be swayed by arguments pro or con, but in the end, if enough people are convinced to part with their $$$ for this or any other product, the company will succeed and make a profit.

In the end, the market decides. It will not matter whether or not it is a mediocre or great product, or if it "worthy" or "unworthy" of the success or failure it attains. And the market's choice may or may not make us happy. For some, there is no need to justify their choices; for others, a complete and thorough accounting is necessary for them to be true to themselves.

I for one would like "good" companies lead by admirable staff that make genuinely decent products to succeed. But there I go again with all the subjective verbiage.

Suppose the principal of a company is a real a**hole, but they make a great and reliable product - would you buy it? How about if he/she is just a great human being, but their product sucks - how about then? Suppose you lust after the Aston Martin Rapide, but they reject your argument that it really shouldn't be that more expensive than an equally-equipped Jaguar - does that make them a baaaaad company? Everyone has heard the story of someone who thinks that Bang and Olufsen is the pinnacle of High-End (I thought so in 1982 ... for shame), and that buying anything more expensive should have their head examined. And so on...

You like it, you might buy it. You don't like it, you most likely will not buy it.

The bottom line is that the Q5 is $54K. It is that price whether or not the M5 exists. It likely cost less than $54K to build. There was some design work necessary, which took some time, and which is worth some money as well. There is no monopoly on the ability to design, prototype, craft, or sell speakers of similar construction, so anyone has the ability to compete for sales in this arena.

We vote with our wallets and purses, pure and simple. I could have made this argument with one word - Walmart.

"it's best to put on a record or CD to make your case"

So true.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could hear what we talk about here on Agon in real world fidelity over the internet?

Ironic that with a web site we can only talk about this stuff and never actually hear a darn thing meaningful to back up what we say!
HI guys

It is really interesting to follow this thread about Magico new Q5 and others like, V3 or Mini 2. I am a Magico fan from Hong Kong, Asia

Personally, I have owned 2 pairs of Mini before I go the ladder up, to now I own M6. M6 is REALLY stunning, comparing with all speakers I have ever heard, nowhere closer or nearer to Magico.

In terms of transparency in high range, you will not realise where the music comes from, it is really airy and silky. It goes without saying about the bass range, slamming all the way extant 30 feet x 15 feet hall. the mid range is airy and smooth and does not however have grain or sands. Its speed is not a compromise at all.

Hey guys, Do not trust my words and go for an audition, you will know Woolf;s philosophy in delivery into music not just sound.

the local dealer in Hong Kong has been using different amplifiers to serve M6, such as, Spectral solid state and LAMM valve amp. Both are up and beyond standard.

I have also used valve, 20W output, really stunning.
My impressions of Magico minis when I have heard them were similar to Kirbyfels. The silkiness in the highs lent themselves uniquely well to massed violins and such in good orchestral recordings
true....most ppl in our city compare with other gigantic speakers, like Wilson Maxx and MBL 101 and Kharma.

Noticeably, I have tried my setup with Boulders with Maxx and MBL 101, since these 3 brands Boulder, Wilson and MBL are agented by the same local dealer.

I finally choose Boulder + Magico 6, Maxx is good but not to the league of Magico 6 in terms of dynamic and speed and response.

jsut my two cents.
HI BVDiman..

sorry my mistake when I said, comparing side by side wiht Magico, Wilson Audio Alex 2.2 and not Maxx 3. I got mixed up with the model names. in local dealers, both of these Magico 6 and Alexdandria 2.2 are almost the same price tag.
hi there, how do they compare with 101e ? I have a fortune in comparing these speakers.

I will say as follows :-

101E's tweeter very open and airy with 360 degrees audition. beautiful and more "grand". 101E is really something I do not throw my credit card, its bass does not extend all to the way or sometimes, little boomy and rolling off. It does not cohere with the mid range or mid-bass and let alone, the bass sounds alone. Sorry to say but hard to find a description.

Magico 6 : tweeter is very open and airy too. I personally do not know where the music comes out when u close your eyes and enjoy. Its bass is a slam, goes all the way and far extending. I never have any boom or resonance in my room.

just my 2 cents

Overall, coherence in Magico 6 is better than 101e, IMO
thanks Kirbyfel

have you heard the 101E with the biggest MBL monos ?

I ask because if they are not perfectly controlled, the bass is very boomy ...
Kirbyfel,

Which Boulder amps did you audition with the MBL 101Es? I find the 101Es require a certain amount of bass control to integrate the woofer with the rest of the speaker. Also, did you audition the 101E positioned out into the room? I find the sonic presentation of the radial speaker to be very natural and immersive as I would if there were musicians in the room.
you are right...only MBL mono block can control the 101E but then you are stuck with the signature sound of MBL and no other brands. isn;t it fun ???

on top, MBL's poweramp is by far less dynamic and density than Boulder
personally, i still prefer Boulder amp than MBL amp. just very personal I guess, there is a lapse or fall off in the mid range down to mid bass
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/Magico-Merging-Technologies-and-Matan
So how did these speakers sound at CES? There has been no writeups yet on these post-CES.
Changster,

you can find a review here

http://www.avguide.com/blogs/jonathan-valin
JV on Avguide stated in his review of the M5 that the sweet spot is small, did anyone notice that when hearing the Q5 in Vegas?

JV stated it the closest he has heard a cone speaker sound like an electorstatic.