Going Out of My Head Over You ...

[JoeN]

Pass X260.8s amps
Pass XP22 Preamp
Luxman D-08u SACD
Aurender N100H Streamer
Magico A3’s
Magico A3 Grills
Shunyata Hydra Alpha A12 Power Conditioner
Shunyata Cables
Bamboo SVT Quadrasphire Racks (x3) and Amp Stands (x2)

First, I would like to thank Mike, the owner of Suncoast Audio in Sarasota, FL., for suggesting such a marvelous system. Awesome!!!

Initial impressions

Mere words can’t do justice to what I’m hearing coming from my SACDs playing on the Luxman D-08u. I’m simply there in, with, and around the music all at once; captured in the moment. The spacious soundstage and imaging are absolutely breathtaking. It sounds better than any live concert I’ve ever been too. It’s only been a few hours and the music is already entrancing. Positively majestic! I’m already at a new plateau in my listening experience and the system isn’t even broken in yet ...

IMO, the Pass 260.8s (which are barely warmed up now) have a tube-like sweetness – a harmonic richness to them. Their sonic signature is just perfect to my ears! They dig deep into the emotional side of the music and yet deliver a brilliantly balanced engaging detailed sound. Power and then some! WOW!!! I normally play my music kind of low, so all I’m hearing is in Class A. And while every amp has its own character, to me the Pass sound is simply music. It’s so engaging and real! I’m in absolute awe.

I initially thought the Magico A3s may be too small for my room, but they fill the entire space (Great Room, Gathering Room, Dining Room, and Kitchen) with beautiful music. The Magico A3’s deliver an excellent bass; a powerful bass grip and remarkable slam for their size! This is complemented by the very fine detailed mids and highs. The spacious soundstage is so involving – it’s huge. The imaging is absolutely extraordinary. Magicos are stunningly musical and yet deliver a wonderful articulate sound as well. The speakers sort of disappear and all you hear is the music. Music the way it should be – at least to my ears. These Magicos are so good, I can’t even image what a set of M2s would sound like. The Q7 Mk IIs I heard some years back though were transcendent! And I understand the Ms are even better.

IMO, there is sufficient speed to deliver amazing rhythmic magical pacing (pun intended) on recordings of all musical genres (esp. my favorites jazz and soft rock). I thought for sure I might miss the sound I enjoy so-much from the B&W 802s and Wilson Yvettes that I’m so familiar with and the Martin Logans 13As which I auditioned numerous times at different dealers. Properly driven these are all amazing speakers. IMO, each is excellent. They each do many things exceptionally well. However, for me personally the Magicos are delivering a class-leading level of detail and dynamics that to my ears surpasses them all. They’re unbelievable.

Being more than a sum of all its parts, IMO this Pass / Magico system effortlessly recreates every aspect of the music. It displays a rich dynamic expression, detailed resolution, and tonal sophistication I haven’t heard at this level before. I’m drawn “into” every note. It has already given me a new appreciation for music.

And yes, I’m just a little excited.

First Planned Improvements

There is always room for improvements. And needless to say my room(s) needs a lot of work. While it will never be perfect (none really are) no matter what system resides here, at a minimum acoustical improvements are needed at least behind the audio system itself, in the coffered ceiling, and above the kitchen cabinets. I have to research which acoustical materials would be best (and wife friendly, like Guilford of Maine) and someone to properly install them. An EtherREGEN is in the future. A Turn-Table and / or Headphone system may be in the future as well.

We will probably move some of the components around when Suncoast comes to put the final touches on the system – including some more Quadraspire rack polls.

For the present we will enjoy the music just as it is.

A Huge Thank You

As stated above Mike at Suncoast Audio designed the system. Thanks Mike, it’s absolutely stunning! And the set up this system was an amazing job as well. It was delivered early! I want to thank Suncoast for taking such great care with all the components, their technical knowledge, and answering all my questions so completely. I’m so very grateful.

[Charles]

It's great to have a nice large space and a speaker that can fill it. You have a beautiful well thought out system. Congrats!

[JoeN]

Originally Posted by Charles

It's great to have a nice large space and a speaker that can fill it. You have a beautiful well thought out system. Congrats!

Many thanks Charles.

I have to thank my dealer for the setup. I knew what I wanted - Pass / Magico - but he definitely choose the right pieces to give some pretty amazing sound. And the Luxman is awesome. That wasn't even on my radar ... One listen though and you're sold.

[sircharles]

Very nice setup. It must sound amazing! Thanks for sharing.

[JoeN]

Thanks sircharles. Those Eggleston Andra III speakers of yours are tremendous as well. The first and only time I heard them Eva Cassidy "Live at Blues Alley" was playing on them. Great speaker!

[Pyro]

Nice setup! I like the Bamboo SVT shelves.

[JoeN]

Originally Posted by Pyro

Nice setup! I like the Bamboo SVT shelves.

Many thanks. Yes, my wife selected those over the black ones. They match our furniture better. After receiving them I must agree with her. They are also surprisingly well built.

We’re waiting on some more poles so we can finish the installation ... (the shortage of poles wasn’t Quadraspire’s fault though, but the US distributor).

[Masterlu]

Joe... Big Congrats, nicely done!

[Antonmb]

Excellent Joe, great setup - looks very clean and well-laid-out.

[JoeN]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

Joe... Big Congrats, nicely done!

Many Thanks Ivan. As you know I still have a lot to do. But it's a start.