Wilson Alexia or Q3

[S1chen]

Originally Posted by bvdiman

S1chen,
Sorry for having my moment of doubt as the question you raised did sound a bit like trolling knowing well how most Magico vs Wilson threads usually ends up like.

In '90s when I had Wilson WP7, two of my favorite amps driving them were Jadis JA80 and VTL90 (90w class A, 8 WE300Bs - 4/side), they were sublime.. Overall I preferred them to Ongaku which I also acquired later along with change of speakers to more efficient Tannoy RW. Powerful 300Bs based amp done right is really something else.. If anything similar I can imagine how wonderful it must be sounding with your Alexia. On the other hand, when I owned Magico Mini2, V3, my preference were SS amps on them (I used FMA611/Soulution710), their sealed nature required that extra current to enliven the woofers. Tip from Toga is right, both needed slightly different treatment in order to get optimized. Although it might have shifted a little with Wilson's current voicing.

So finally onto your dilemma, imo both speakers at this level could sound downright ugly or beautiful highly dependent on what feeds them ie.revealing albeit voiced differently. True System building is an art by itself demanding not only healthy doses of passion, dedication but patience as well. Take your time and only trust yourself (hearing/heart). Good luck with whichever path you may be taking, and enjoy while at it.

Thanks for the understanding. I do thought before that people may think I am here to stir shit and this is holding me but for several weeks. Again the Alexia is great speaker and at least this is one of the best speaker I have own so far. But I do love the micro detail of the Magico and its lightning speed. If the Q5 is as sensitive as 90dB, I would not have post this dilemma question between an Alexia and Q3. It will definitely be my next upgrade.

In fact, when I was using the sasha earlier, if I was expose to Magico Q3 before I met Alexia, I would had be a Magico owner now.

[CLEE]

Originally Posted by PLK

Suggest you read the HiFi News Lab Report on the Q3 and Alexia.

Both manufacturers rate their speaker's sensitivity at 90db.

The HiFi News Lab Report shows the Q3 came in at 87.8db and the Alexia at 89.8db.

They both have a "scary" EPDR (equivalent peak dissipation resistance) of .9ohm at 64hz/65hz.

Thanks for the info.

[PlanarSpeakerFan]

Originally Posted by PLK

Suggest you read the HiFi News Lab Report on the Q3 and Alexia.

Both manufacturers rate their speaker's sensitivity at 90db.

The HiFi News Lab Report shows the Q3 came in at 87.8db and the Alexia at 89.8db.

They both have a "scary" EPDR (equivalent peak dissipation resistance) of .9ohm at 64hz/65hz.

Wow, 0.9 ohms, I'm thinking Pass monoblocks would be excellent amps to drive these speakers. However, let it be known that I do have some bias in this area because I own a pair.

Ken

[PLK]

Originally Posted by PlanarSpeakerFan

Wow, 0.9 ohms, I'm thinking Pass monoblocks would be excellent amps to drive these speakers. However, let it be known that I do have some bias in this area because I own a pair.

Ken

My friend has Pass XA-200.5 monoblocks, so I agree your Pass XA-100.5s would be excellent amps for these speakers.

The amps that everyone seems to over look are the Aesthetix Atlas monos,
$16K/pair. They're rated at 300w into 8ohms and 500w into 4 ohms

Stereophile's review of the stereo Atlas which is rate at 200w into 8ohms and 400 into 4 ohms, shows with clipping defined as 1% THD, the Atlas with both channels driven clipped at 318W into 8 ohm, 535W into 4 ohms, and, with one channel driven, at 760W into 2 ohms.

My guess is the no negative feedback Atlas monos could put out over 1K watts into these hard to drive speakers, and tube lovers can have fun rolling their 6SN7 input tubes.

[PlanarSpeakerFan]

Originally Posted by PLK

My friend has Pass XA-200.5 monoblocks, so I agree your Pass XA-100.5s would be excellent amps for these speakers.

The amps that everyone seems to over look are the Aesthetix Atlas monos,
$16K/pair. They're rated at 300w into 8ohms and 500w into 4 ohms

Stereophile's review of the stereo Atlas which is rate at 200w into 8ohms and 400 into 4 ohms, shows with clipping defined as 1% THD, the Atlas with both channels driven clipped at 318W into 8 ohm, 535W into 4 ohms, and, with one channel driven, at 760W into 2 ohms.

My guess is the no negative feedback Atlas monos could put out over 1K watts into these hard to drive speakers, and tube lovers can have fun rolling their 6SN7 input tubes.

PLK,

It's so funny that you brought up the Atlas monoblocks. I almost mentioned them in my previous post. They are very powerful and terrific sounding amps. I've been lucky enough to audition them with Vandersteen 7's and they do a fantastic job of driving these speakers. The sound is smooth, warm and natural with holographic imaging and a huge soundstage. Dynamics are nothing short of incredible. They are on the top of my list. The reason I went for the XA-100.5s is because I listen to a lot of jazz vocals and piano, and in my opinion, nothing approaches the purity and transparency on jazz vocals and piano that I hear from Pass' Class A amplifiers.

Ken

[inga]

Originally Posted by PlanarSpeakerFan

PLK,

The reason I went for the XA-100.5s is because I listen to a lot of jazz vocals and piano, and in my opinion, nothing approaches the purity and transparency on jazz vocals and piano that I hear from Pass' Class A amplifiers.

Ken

The cello as well. I heard very few amps on which cello sounds so real. So far only Pass labs and MBL amps.

[Cellindo]

Dear S1chen,

Magico Q5 are very very power demanding. 300W is a bare minimum to exercise them (not joking, but from a short experienced with bridged A-65's amps). Just forget 300B amps how powerful your design can be...

Your Alexia are excellent, this is certain. Loosing money on trade-in is never funny and any upgrade must be an obvious and a significant one. I see some options for you:

-) TAD Ref One is probably the best speaker to consider in your case

-) Alternatively, the fantastic Vivid Audio G2 could be one option but possibly more a lateral move.

-) Same for the TAD CR-1, somewhat a lateral move, I'm afraid.

-) If you can bear the look and accept the size of the NOLA Baby Grand, I encourage you to listen to these big towers. Truly wonderful speakers working with lower power amps.

-) The Magico S5 is inferior in the rendition of liveliness of the music to any Wilson speakers (Sasha/Alexia/Maxx). Just listen to a good recording take of a live performance and it's quite easy to discern. Nice Magico's house sound indeed, however not a real life music reproduction (note transient/attack just too slow).

-) The Q5 are indeed excellent speakers but we are back to the associated power requirements. We will need a power plant in your listening room. I have no comment on the smaller Q3 simply because I don't know them.

Last point: the huge Rockport Altair II can easily be driven by low power tube amps (such as the Absolare products).

[Masterlu]

inga... Welcome!

[PLK]

Magico now rates the Q5's sensitivity at 86dB. Stereophile's review measurement came in at 84db.

Magico rates the S5's sensitivity at 89dB. The National Research Council of Canada's measurement came in at 87db.

Magico rates the Q1's sensitivity at 86db. HIFI Critic's measurement came in at 84.5db.

Originally Posted by Cellindo

-) The Magico S5 is inferior in the rendition of liveliness of the music to any Wilson speakers (Sasha/Alexia/Maxx). Just listen to a good recording take of a live performance and it's quite easy to discern. Nice Magico's house sound indeed, however not a real life music reproduction (note transient/attack just too slow).

Hi Cellindo, I respect your views and ear (we all hear things differently), though I personally don't subscribe to your view the S5's have inferior dynamics or slow transients. The S5 employs the same midrange as the Q3 & the same tweeter diaphragm and surround, albeit assembled offsite and tuned to the S5's greater dynamic capability. I've heard the Q3's, and whilst I would say they are a tad bit more transparent and smooth, the S5's transients are every bit as fast. Moreover, the S5 is the more dynamic speaker and has better bass. Of the other speakers you mentioned, I have only heard the Tad CR-1 which I didn't like.

I see you are a Wilson owner and would be naturally biased toward Wilson speakers. I am a Magico owner and am naturally biased toward Magico, and the S5 in particular as that is what I enjoy. But I can tell you I have owned fast speakers (Marten Coltrane Alto's) and whilst the Alto's attacks might have been a touch faster, the S5's are way smoother, have better tonality & are more enjoyable over long listening sessions. But by no means are the S5's "slow" in comparison to my old Coltrane's