After decades with planar speakers, loving the speed and transparency I started to suspect that while I loved that part of it I was missing something. I increasingly attended live acoustic musical events. About 18 years ago, I had been in a Magnolias and had heard a pair of Sonus Faber. I don’t remember which version. The sound just stuck in my mind for many years. There was something about them... which over time I began to realize was organic.
So, as an experiment about 12 years ago I found an old pair of Sonus Faber Cremona M. They were up in Seattle.. a three hour drive. I sprinted up Sunday morning and bought them. Within the next two days I called my local dealer and ordered a pair of Olympica 3 that were on a ship, the very first ones to hit the West Coast. The Cremona were simply that astonishing. They were real, and natural, sounded like real music, not a thin super fast version of it. I knew from reading that the newer at the time were tipped a bit more towards the detail. They were, and they were perfect.
So, after about ten great years with them and retiring. I bought a new pair of violin red Sonus Faber Amati. The difference was striking more dynamic and absolutely coherent top to bottom. I ditched my subwoofers and have been very happy with them for the last five or six years.
I would not consider a different brand. I have all Audio Research equipment. See my virtual systems. This is very synergistic with the Sonus Faber.
A word about the Sonus. I heard Sonus Faber with a dCS front end and Bermester amplification and they output was incredible. These electronics through a soundstage from the ceiling (and towards me from the front) wrapping around to 45 degrees and about 20 feet deep. So it sounded like a stereo on an acid trip. Tiny instruments suspended in three dimensional space. Not what I want... but I am saying they can do it, if that is your cup of tea.
My system is nothing like that. It is real, natural, musical. I cannot listen to the system... my mind is drawn instantly back to the music. I can listen for three hours and have to pull myself away. They are so musical. They have all the detail of hyper detailed system, but in proper proportion with other elements. They forgive bad recordings... they simply play great sounding music, the better the recording the better they sound. Not this is not only the speakers... it is also the electronics. The combination is intended to recreate the real thing, and it does.
They also look great. Something I was not used to after decades of compromise for the best sounding speaker with no frills. These are works of art.
I am surprised that you would put up Magico, in this list. They could not be more different in sound. I know they could sound good, but they are sooo fast and accurate they have sounded terrible in every system I have heard them in. I recommend some trips to long auditions... and listen to the music... not the equipment. The answer should be really obvious.