Am I no longer allowed to consider myself an Audiophile?
OK, I actually have some pretty decent equipment to listen to. But lately I've been inundated with reviews/opinions about the unmatched transparency of the Magico M9 loudspeakers. But at the same time I have been admiring the new Yamaha NS-5000 speakers (about $15K) which are considered quite awesome sounding in their own right. This brings me back to my 1st wonderful sounding ADS-810-II speakers (2X 8in. woofers, and a dome-midrange and tweeter). Easy to set up, nice wood cabinets, matching stands, less than $900/pair, with remarkable separation of instruments, great for ALL types of music, and only minor limitations. Anyway, as nice as the Magico's are, the required room and a whole lot of other things that are necessary to make them play music makes me want to complain about all the over-the-top gushing coming from various experts. It's not the cost of the M-9's that bothers me, but the "laboratory conditions" you almost have to place them in. OTOH, the Yamaha speakers got favorable reviews from the Abs,Sound in 2020, so what more do you really need if you have a living room (a couch, a coffee table, pictures on the wall.etc.) to really "listen" when the music takes over? I find the bewildering complexity involved with scientifically "almost perfect" sounding million-dollar systems to be what it is- an experimental approach rather than a pleasurable way to relax and imagine becoming a part of the performance. So I would want to go to a dealer and audition the Magico's,no question about it. But I would bring some music with me, and I'm certain it would be an enlightening experience. But I wonder if it would change my overall opinion about recorded music.
OP; but the "laboratory conditions" you almost have to place them in. I’ve dozens of systems over decades, always surprised me how chameleon the same system sounded when moved to different environs. Tried desperately to use a loft bedroom, slanted ceiling and could not for the life of me make it work. Same system sang in other rooms, just not that one. Room and treatment are 50% of the end result. Good hunting. |
@yyzsantabarbara The Magico A5 is currently 2x the cost of a Yamaha NS 5000 and has much more potential when properly placed and powered. |
Yamaha's unique, their ns5000 and a couple of other speakers are tuned to sound like their instruments. It takes a certain kind of know-how that others don't have. Magicos, Wilsons, whatever don't sound like instruments. They have some other sound, its fake as with most hifi speakers Isn't it strange that as the price goes up above a couple 100k, the conditions get real stringent and it may only sound good 2 minutes before midnight on a bluemoon night? The emperors with no clothes need to spin it somehow for CYA and acting prestigious/sophisticated. If your psychology is such that you can't be satisfied until you drop a couple 100k, get the Mark Levinson/Daniel Hertz M1 system (not just a speaker) or the anton system. You can put it in a regular retired old man's room, no restrictions, play youtube music.. everything will sound great. https://youtu.be/P7anRbl3mpI?si=O2kUWbj3uFMVv3NN Get the ns5000 as well and a couple of subs, it is its own tier of sound, a benchmark and costs nothing to own. Keep 2 rigs. @french_fries wrote
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@dayglow If you read the OP’s first post you will see he/she is thinking out loud about the Magico M9 (not A5) and the NS5000. I have heard many Magicos (over $100k) and liked them but not loved them. I was thinking of getting the A3 at one time until I heard the NS5000 in the worse possible room and realized the NS5000 was way more coherent than the A3. The other choice was Vivid which I also liked more than Magico. My comment to the OP was my user experience with the NS5000 and how to make them sing. I am not using a lot of cash to do so. If the roles were reversed and I was considering the NS5000, I would find that info useful. I am not saying the CODA #16 or #11 are the best amps in the world, but they are great with the NS5000 and do not break the bank (my #11 cost me $2400). I have heard a better amp, a $100k CH Precision but I am OK not having that extra little bit of goodness. I have also heard what I think is the best preamp in the world at my home, the Allnic ???? OTL/OCL costing $33k on the NS5000 but I think what I posted above is even better. This info can be useful to someone looking at the NS5000 as the OP. I have a prejudice against Magico, mainly for the price/performance. I have not heard the A5. The post above about what sounds like a musical instrument is right on the money for me too. BTW - I was considering the Daniel Hertz system and was considering flying up to Oregon to hear it. This was because I think I had a poor man's version of something similar and it was great but lacked power.
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@yyzsantabarbara Appreciate the non-combative reply, no malice was intended. You are correct regarding the Magico A3, hopefully an A series update is in the near future which could place all 3 models as true class leaders! |
