Magico S5 vs Infinity IRS speakers

Originally Posted by jazzman

Even if I prefer it, I wouldn't say that the Q3 is a better speaker than the S5.
S5 is more accessible, more tolerant to the source, in the sense that it is a bit warmer, with a very slight bass hump. It is also very transparent, but not as much as the Q3. For me, it is targeting the typical Wilson buyer, as it does everything a sasha would do.... better, and without being as "revolutionary" as the Q3.

Q3 require a learning curve, like all Q series. You need to reeducate your ears, because their linearity, transparency and impulse response is better than anything else on the market. Response is perfectly flat and extremely transparent (because of a more inert cabinet construction and more expensive drivers and XO). On very good recording and with very good upstream components, no speaker it its price range beats it. On poor recording or with average upstream components... you hear it, because they are "brutally honest" (vs. "honest" for the S5 and "pleasing" for the Sonus Faber).
If I would listen to a lot of pop/rock, I would buy the S5. For Jazz (which is my priority), I prefer the Q3. You really cannot go wrong with any of them.

I haven't heard the S5 and Q3 in the same room with the same equipment. But I have at home S1 and Q1 in same room, fully treated, so I had the opportunity to compare for several hours, with different upstream components. S1 is an amazing value for money. But cost put aside, I would take the Q1 any day.

Jazz, you've been reading Alan Sircom's review All your comments reflect my own listening impressions of the S5's. They are a bit more laid back, very smooth, warm and very well balanced and coherent. They scale brilliantly from the lowest kick drums to the most shimmering highs and throw off a huge sound stage. I agree it is more tolerant of average recordings. The S5's are transparent sounding, but too much transparency can be a bad thing. You also want meat on the bones.

As for the comparison between the S1 & Q1, the Q1 is twice the price of the S1 so it's a bit like a senior beating up a freshman. Hardly a fair comparison! But the S5 vs Q3, now that's a fair fight But as I mentioned in my earlier comment, i'd rather pocket the $10k saving and put that into better isolation & bringing forward electronics upgrades. You have to keep your system balanced (and by that I don't mean using xlr cables) and focus on system synergy. That is the path to musical nirvana Hey, wasn't this thread comparing the S5's to the classic Infinity's?