Magico M owners, what amps are you using.
 

I am thinking about pulling the trigger on the new M2’s. Wondering what amps you guys are pairing with the M series. Thanks everyone.

I too second the Boulder choice. Years back I heard a set of B&W 802's here in San Francisco. The salesman was playing a cut of Sinatra's Witchcraft. Pretty amazing sound. It felt like Frankie was in the room. The sound from that turntable was so real, I couldn't believe it. And that was with a Stereo amp, not Mono block. Definitely audition the Boulder. Their not cheap, but they do impress!

1955moose... Welcome to AA! :wave:

I have heard Magico's with many different amps. Soulution still seems to generate the best results.

Have fun auditioning.

Constellation Audio performs magnificently in my system.

Did you find it hard to get the best/optimal sound from your Magico’s? I’ve been hear from some people that they can be tough to get sounding their best.

1955moose , welcome to the forum :)

There are so many vague or subjective references ("best/optimal", "some people", "they can be tough to get sounding their best") in your question that I'm not sure how to answer. All I can say is that my experience was trouble free, my system set up with relative ease, and that I'm quite satisfied with the end results.

Of course, I can only speak for myself and everyone else's mileage may vary.

I'm using D'Agostino M400 monoblocks with Transparent Audio cables. The MSB front end creates a meaty analog like sound that the D'Ag's pass unadulterated to my Magico M3's that then present it perfectly.

Cincy

JBags,

I just came back to this thread and realized that I came off sounding a bit harsh in my earlier reply. It was purely unintentional and I apologize.

What I was trying to say is that "best/optimal" is pretty much in the eye of the beholder so what sounds best/optimal to me, might be perceived otherwise by someone else listening to my system. Regarding the "some people" part of the question, that part is pretty generic and hard to interpret - much like "they say" or "everyone agrees". I hope you understand my dilemma - there's simply not enough detail there to formulate any type of helpful response. Finally, "they can be tough to get to sound their best" could apply to any/all speakers when all of the other independent variables are left undefined. I would imagine Magico to be no different when matched with non-complimentary equipment.

Consequently, not knowing how to address the open-ended statement attached to the back end of your question I chose to answer the former by relating that I had no difficulty coaxing a sound that pleases me out of my pairing of my Magico M3s to my Constellation Audio separates while acknowledging that others might audition my system and determine that it's not their cup of tea.

Again, I apologize for the impertinent tone in my "vague and subjective" response to your question. It was not my intention to come off sounding so coarse.

You have such an elegant simple system. Beautiful! Could you comment on how the Q-sub interfaces with your M3's?

Actually, the Q-subs are not delivered yet. I'm currently using a pair of REL subs but the answer is the same. I used an audio tool to measure my room's frequency response. I had a big bass dip in the 30-50Hz region of the spectrum. The rest of the plot was really quite flat. I couldn't get rid of the suck-out with any manipulation of speakers or listening position without hurting the response in the other 90% of the spectrum. Put the subs in place. Cut them at 50Hz and measured the response a few more times adjusting their volume until I had a fairly flat response over 15-100Hz. I noticed that the overall presentation (soundstage, 3D images) improved although I can't explain why. I'm currently happy with the sound but the allure of having both Magico speakers and the Magico subs was too much to resist. When they arrive in a few weeks, I'll get some help setting them up from the Magico dealer and a Magico employee who helps with most hi end set ups of this nature. I'll post the results. Probably May before all this happens.

Eric

No worries at all, and I know this hobby of ours is very subjective. In addition the way a system sounds is dependent on many factors, the room, the electronics, cables etc.

I know my question was a bit vague, the truth is I let a sales person get into my head a bit. I found a local Dan D’Agostino dealer so I contacted them asking for prices and availability. They asked me what speakers I was looking to pair the amps with and when I said Magico’s he started to criticize the speakers and brand. One of his comments regarding the Magico’s were that they are very hard to get “sounding good” and that the brands he carries are far superior. And instead of me realizing that he was just trying to push his products I started to have doubts.

You can say many things about Magcio, "hard to set up" is not one of them.
Just look at objective data; these are some of the most linear, well behaved, smooth measuring loudspeakers out there. In the real world all that translates to “easy setup” :thumbsup:

Cincy2, absolutes congrats. I would want to have the all Magico system also. I would love to hear your system especially when your Q-subs arrive. I have never had opportunity to hear a Magico. Magico M3's with Q-subs/Dag Momentums/MBL II Select/ complete Transparent equals a system that will compete with the best. You have a reference system.

____________________
Charles Updated System
Amps: McIntosh 1.25KW’s (3) set on floor on custom made cultured marble slabs
Preamp and DAC: McIntosh D1100
Sources: McIntosh MCD1100 SACD player, MVP881 BR player, MVP851 DVD player, MR87 tuner, Marantz 510LV Laser Disc player, ASUS laptop USB (JRiver Media Center 23)
Speakers: Wilson Audio Specialties Alexx
Sub-woofer: Wilson Audio Specialties Thor’s Hammer (1) horizontal lie and Wilson Watch Controller (abbr: WC)
Cables main system: Audioquest Wel Signature speaker cables and balanced IC (preamp to amps); Wel Signature AES/EBU balanced digital IC for CD playback; Audioquest Diamond optical (1) for tuner, (1) for BR player, and (1) for LD player for total of (3); Coffee USB cable; McIntosh MCT cable for SACD playback; Dragon power cords (5 HC cords and 3 source cords for total of 8); Thunder HC power cord for tuner; cables for DVD player not listed
Cables subwoofer system: Audioquest Redwood speaker cable (1); Wolf balanced subwoofer IC from WC to amp; Wind balanced IC from preamp to WC; Hurricane HC (2) and Dragon HC (1) power cords
Power conditioners: Audioquest Niagara 7000 (1) and Niagara 5000 (3); (4) dedicated 20-amp lines with no. 10 wire straight out of fuse box

So I just pulled the trigger and ordered the M2’s. Extremely excited. Now it’s really time to decide on an amp

Why not try your big Brystons?

You think? I was initially thinking of going either D’Agostino, AVM(which I hear pairs very nicely). And going to listen to others as well.

It was just a thought.

Might save yourself some significant $$$ by finding the Big Brystons do a great job with your new speaks.

I THINK Ivan used these to drive the TAD Reference 1s to a great level..

I still do. :thumbsup:

Don't underestimate the big Brystons!

Get one more and Bi-Amp, I would. :yes:

Now that’s thinkin’ lincoln!

The Magico speakers I'm familiar with only have a single set of speaker terminals.

I am actually running Mac electronics with my speakers. I know that they are a significant weakness in my system. I have heard delightful combinations with boulder, the 2160 and the 2150 monos. I have heard them with momentum’s. I have heard them with spectral. I have heard them with soulution.

Every single one of these is spectacular. Spectral is ultra detailed and refined. Boulder is big and commanding but also transparent. Momentum’s have a buttery midrange to die for. Soulution does it all.

I have a friend with q7s. He has had every electronic under the sun, including all the above. He says by far the best sound he has heard is with the gryphon memphisto monos.

Cincy2 has the Momentum series. It seems such a natural obvious elegant choice.

Thank you very much for all of that info, extremely helpful. I know that everyone’s tastes and opinions are different and the real life applications vary greatly depending on the room, cables power etc.

I know the best solution is to listen to all the options myself but you might have a Magico dealer that is not a soulutions or boulder dealer and vice versa.

I also have the option of sticking with my Bryston 28B3 monos. Decisions decisions.

VAC 200iQ monoblocks
 

Love the 200 iQ monoblocks on my M3's. Nice foundation. Warm, rich, detailed. Just want to listen to music, not get analytical!

Dth31... Welcome to AA! :wave:

I cannot imagine there are many amplifiers of sufficient power and which are recognised as being high end components which would be regarded as unsuitable, perhaps aside from some valve devices where issues have been raised generally on Magico compatibility.

So when I acquired M3s I expected them to be perfectly fine with my Devialet 1000s (which they are) - and an important factor for me is that visually the units are easily ignored, being entirely black and of inoffensive (but beautiful) shape and size. For me, the audio experience is enhanced when the visual experience is minimised, as is the case with the small and characterless (but beautiful) Devialet units. And from my listening position that, and a small black digital source, is all I see.

IanCG... Welcome to AA! :wave:

Gasp! I traded the Momentums for a pair of MSB's new M500 monoblocks. MSB's Select II DAC was so impressive I had to see what their amp designers could do. The new mono's will be here in about another month.

Cincy

I bet they are going to sound incredible. I’m really liking the sound that the Magico and Goldmund pair is producing. Hi resolution, great imaging and sound stage and the low end is great. Very happy thus far. I think the only really improvement I can make would be room treatments and positioning.

Congrats Eric! You're building a state of the art system. I've heard the MSB DAC as well as the monos in a system with YG acoustics a couple years ago. Very impressive sound.

Edit:

I forgot that you had added a pair of Q subs. How have you found the addition? I believe you had REL subs before? I'm interested in hearing your opinion as I have a pair of 25's in my system that integrate well but I know the Q subs are very impressive. What do you have the crossover set at?

Thanks! I did have Rels. The QSUBS are a significant upgrade. The integration with my M3's was performed long distance from Israel. The dealer set up his PC with the control software. The engineer "desktopped" in and we played test files while he set up the variables. The sound is marvelous. Organ music with bass is rich and organic. My only wish is for Magico develop a remote so you don't need to use a PC to make tweaks. Even the volume requires a networked PC to change. Minor inconvenience to get a magical listening experience. Can't wait to see with the MSB mono's do to the set up.

Eric

Pictures of this amazing system!!!???

I sure could use some guidance from the Magico brain trust. Recently, my interest in Magico has been rekindled, after owning Wilson Audio products rather exclusively; the latest being the Gen I Sashas. But I'm hugely reluctant about ever getting rid of my Lamp M1.2 Monos and Lamb L2 Pre. Do you think that these electronics could power the Magico M2 speakers optimally? Has anyone ever used/heard a Lamm/Magico combo? Thanks in advance...

What amp did you wind up getting to drive your M2s? Thanks!