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Magico S5 vs KEF Blade 2 vs TAD Evo One vs YG Kipod II Sig w/pwr bass

Opinions please. All are Used and are the same very good price but The Y&G are $4000 less which is nice.

KEF Blade 2

TAD Evolution One

Y&G Kipod II Signature w/Pwr Bass module

Magico S5


Would love your thoughts any thoughts on any please! Being all used and in good shape these are all within $500 of each other used price but Y&G and those had highest list but know to be good used deals because they are pretty serious speakers.

I think as far as used speakers in the great value - now less than 1/2 price but still new enough to provide great performance these are some different but pretty serious speakers. Please any and all feedback totally welcomed and is super helpful 

Source: Bricasti M1SE DAC 

Preamp: Parasound JC2 Pre

Amp: Pass Labs X350.5 Amp

IC: Darwin TRUTH Balanced

SC: HiDiamond D8 w/Furutech

PC: HiDiammond P3 (7)

AC: HiDiamond HDX2 

Transport: microRendu 1.4 and full suite of UpTone Audio Premium Power Supplies (2)x LPS-1 and (1) JS-2 LPS - (2) Regens - ISO and Amber and custom Canare DC cables for all / Tellarium Q Black Diamond USB cable and Curious Regen Link

Room is 12 x 23 w/Cathedral Ceilings - 15 Foot a peak 

Music: Assorted Music no metal or loud hard rock anymore really - not much Large Scale classical either but everything else.

Likes: Transparency- Delicate-linear-Dynamic-Fast - high resolution-microscope but not sterile not etched or lifeless - I know there is a fine Line here but I'm looking to walk it and come out on the right side - but real see through into the music - transparent to the source because I love my DAC - there more everything else sound more like my DAC the closer I'm getting to where I want to go as close as possible - image and sound stage lover - tight bass - hate flab - like speed and transparency as my selection choices might speak to

Coming from: Rethm Saadhana V3 speakers which I love and are incredible but want to try something else. 

Love any feedback about matching or equipment matching or one or multiple of these - what you heard at shows or whatever. Love more Info on these.









128x128Ag insider logo xs@2xfsmithjack
yyzsantabarbara
4,461 posts
 
You should also have a listen to the KEF Reference line and do a comparison to the Magico non-MKII versions. I think you maybe surprised at how good the KEF’s sound. The price is also a heck of a lot cheaper.

At the same LA show I heard the KEF Reference 1 (bookshelf) powered by the new Wyred4Sound monoblolocks and I was totally into the sound. I really like the stuff KEF is doing these days.
fsmithjack's avatar
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fsmithjack OP
712 posts
 
The $10,000 is for Magico S1 MKII

I know the S1 older version is not worth that 

I was wondering I guess how the 

S1 MKII is verse the older S5

i know less heft bass and slam but was curious if anyone heard the MKII in the S1

the S3MKII is way more money 
erik_squires
15,647 posts
 
Hi @fsmithjack

I’ve heard the S1Mk II at Magico and my feelings are mixed, and curious. First, the good:

  • Glass smooth mid to treble.
  • VERY wide dispersion
  • Impressive dynamic range
The not so good:
  • VERY wide dispersion
  • VERY low efficiency
  • Bass peaks in lower male voice/low piano registers, both sound chesty.
  • In terms of bass, not among the best small speakers.
  • Treble has the classic Mundorf sound. Good, but scintilating/magical. Less realistic and more euphonic. Still far nicer to my ears than the best B&W/Focal or Wilsons (up until 2 years ago)

The wide dispersion is a pro and a con. Pro is very wide sweet spot. Con is needs a lot of space behind and to the sides.

So of all the Magico speakers, it makes me scratch my head the most about WHO this speaker is for. It is small but power and space hungry. If you are going to invest the floor space and amplifiers, it’s as much as a large speaker. It’s tonal balance will give you more details at lower volumes than other speakers. So it’s also not a live volume speaker IMHO.

The tonal balance is unmistakably that of a small speaker. Wee bright (but not ragged like brands mentioned above) and wee bit chesty. "Bright" may be the wrong word because it implies a graininess or unpleasantness. "Cool" may be better.

Q all the Magico fanboys who hate how I write and think I have no business talking about what I experience.

Best,


E
fsmithjack's avatar
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fsmithjack OP
712 posts
 
That sounds pretty accurate I would think. I mean all you wrote is how you perceive the sound via your own experiences and nothing you wrote sounded like a criticism to me.

I have the space 12 x 23 with 15/16 foot cathedral ceilings - I am set up on the long way so tons of space to the sides and can have 4/5 feet out into the room so my room has the space for your description - I have 700 wpc/4ohm Pass Labs X350.5 that is warm and may work well with the Extemded Diamond tweeter - and I'm not a bass freak by any means but of course like every Audiophile love good bass and I don't listen at crazy SPL's - Low to mid 80's 98% of the time.

In this set up how would you think I'd like the S1 MKII compared to S5?

Is the new mid range and tweeter that much better?

i would guess the S5 to be a overall better speaker but really have no real idea?

Q3 or S3 MKII just way too much more money and would be off to the KEF Blade but I have a man crush on Magico's for some reason.  


zoera
5 posts
 
Really, KEF? Not even in the same zipcode as Magico or YG. The TAD is just plain harsh, so even though it's detailed, it'll drive you batty. I've also seen people recommending Focal... Must be jokers, for sure...

The S5 will definitely be more forgiving and will work with your Pass Labs. But given the lower price on the Kipods, and the fact that you already have the beefy amp that they require, that's the one I'd go for.

Given your listening habits, you might be even happy with an original YG Carmel, not the 2. Long wall setup, 4-5 feet off the back wall, just a touch of toe-in = gloriously deep sound stage.

z
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