Magico S5 review

[Masterlu]

I have a good idea, let's try talking about the Magico S5

[jazzman]

I had ceramic drivers speakers for more than 4 years (evolution acoustics MM3). While I liked them a lot at the beginning, I grew with time bored of the coloration that ceramic drivers (and wooden construction) brings. I heard to a lot of ceramic speakers from reputable players (Tidal, Marten, Kharma...), but always had the impression that changing speakers would be a lateral move rather than a real upgrade.
This made me move to Magico (Q1 with S1 and Q7 also on order). Magico speakers needs your ears to get "re-educated"- they sound different from anything else, but if you go often to concerts or play music, you would realize that they just sound like the real thing... it is like removing a veil from the music. They give you much sharper transient and more details, better decay (even more for the Q than S serie), if you use high quality amplification.
While visiting dealers searching for an amp, I recently listened again to the Eidolon and the X diamond. While they are not bad speakers, I lacked the sense of presence that I find with the latest aluminum Magico speakers or to a lesser degree with Gyia. I have personally much more respect for these last 2 brands, which really try to innovate with their own drivers and cabinets.
Just my humble opinion....

Originally Posted by jazzman

I had ceramic drivers speakers for more than 4 years (evolution acoustics MM3). While I liked them a lot at the beginning, I grew with time bored of the coloration that ceramic drivers (and wooden construction) brings. I heard to a lot of ceramic speakers from reputable players (Tidal, Marten, Kharma...), but always had the impression that changing speakers would be a lateral move rather than a real upgrade.
This made me move to Magico (Q1 with S1 and Q7 also on order). Magico speakers needs your ears to get "re-educated"- they sound different from anything else, but if you go often to concerts or play music, you would realize that they just sound like the real thing... it is like removing a veil from the music. They give you much sharper transient and more details, better decay (even more for the Q than S serie), if you use high quality amplification.
While visiting dealers searching for an amp, I recently listened again to the Eidolon and the X diamond. While they are not bad speakers, I lacked the sense of presence that I find with the latest aluminum Magico speakers or to a lesser degree with Gyia. I have personally much more respect for these last 2 brands, which really try to innovate with their own drivers and cabinets.
Just my humble opinion....

Hi Jazz, thanks for your informed and interesting post. Having heard the V2, Q1, Q3 & S5's, I agree the Q series are amazing, though of course the Q3's are a big jump in price.

Everyone hears things differently & personal preference plays a part, although I would just make the following observations;

- I (personally) have not found the Avalon's wood cabinets colored, but rather solid, well damped & acoustically inert.

- Accuton's latest generation of graphite coated (BCC) ceramic drivers (including graphite coated CELL concept midrange & diamond tweeter) excel in the very areas you mentioned are strengths of Magico; "sharper transient. more details & better decay", and also have richer harmonic structure & spot on timbre compared to the previous generation.

I am a fan of the S5's as well, and despite comments to the contrary am still seriously considering these speakers. I agree they are very engaging and accurate speakers, though not quite as resolving or coherent as the Q series. I think the Eidolon Diamonds, and to an even greater extent the Compas have the edge on the S5 in regard to coherency, sound staging & image specifity. If you felt the Estelon & ED lacked presence, the Compas has been designed to be more lively & dynamic. With that said, I've heard several Avalon speakers, but not the new Compas, so my comments are conditional at this stage.

Without a doubt the S5's are a great value, and are exciting and engaging speakers. They are not perfect (perfection usually costs more than most folks on this forum can afford), but they are faithful to thier design goals & are a very complete speaker. Compas Diamond is a lot better than ED for sure, but it is also more expensive. in the end, the S5's on balance may well be the best of the bunch.

[CLEE]

Originally Posted by jazzman

......., but always had the impression that changing speakers would be a lateral move rather than a real upgrade.
This made me move to Magico (Q1 with S1 and Q7 also on order). Magico speakers needs your ears to get "re-educated"- they sound different from anything else, but if you go often to concerts or play music, you would realize that they just sound like the real thing... it is like removing a veil from the music. They give you much sharper transient and more details, better decay (even more for the Q than S serie), if you use high quality amplification.
....

Jazzman,

You said it well. That was what I felt although I used a different term in one of my previous posts that I had to “re-orient my listening”. For example, I found grand piano sounded grander through my previous speaker but surprisingly I enjoyed the rendition through the S5 more. Possibly my previous speaker was making the sound "too grand". I guessed S5's better transients and coherence, the lack of over-hang, and that it can stop on a dime all add up to a more realistic sound.

--Charles.

[joeinid]

If I had the room

Mmmmmmm Mmmmmm

[ame=http://youtu.be/RXKWKy74NQI]Magico S5 DarTZeel Pre / Power Micromega ARIA Crystal Cable at Absolute Hi End - YouTube[/ame]

I actually heard that very system Joe & it sounded amazing!

[joeinid]

Originally Posted by Bodhisattva

I actually heard that very system Joe & it sounded amazing!

I can only imagine how nice it sounded. There are no absolutes in this hobby. If YOU like the sound, that is all that matters. I love Dartzeel and the S5's are getting great reviews. I think they are fairly easy to drive, which Dartzeel loves, and are a great match. Dartzeel gear satisfies long term.

Originally Posted by joeinid

I can only imagine how nice it sounded. There are no absolutes in this hobby. If YOU like the sound, that is all that matters. I love Dartzeel and the S5's are getting great reviews. I think they are fairly easy to drive, which Dartzeel loves, and are a great match. Dartzeel gear satisfies long term.

I agree Joe it's what puts a smile on your face that matters, and I have to say the Dart amps brought a tube-like liquidity & beauty to the sound that created nice synergy with the S5's I thought. I also got the impression of the S5's are a moderately efficient load & the Dart drove the S5's with plenty of authority; as much as I could need or want anyway. They are beautiful looking amps as well & the fit and finish is excellent

[joeinid]

I've been through many amps on my TADs and nothing delivers like the Dart 108. I will be hearing the D'Ag stereo amp just to satisfy my curiosity. I love the looks of Dartzeel, many don't. Herve said he designs his gear for 30-40 year life cycles. I believe it. The first time you push in the power switch, I mean "nose" on the amp you'll understand what I mean about the feel of the gear. Just wonderful. I've switched several people to Dartzeel from Burmester. They understand.

[FlexibleAudio]

I hope I am not jumping into hornets nest, but interestingly I have the Compas and S5 on my short list to auditon based on limited online research. Can we get a direct A-B comparison between these two particularly focused on low-end bass and overall dynamics? Avalon's mid-line speakers have historically been phenominal across most measureables, but have received some forum and review criticism on these two fronts. That said, the Compas seem to have been designed to mitigate these possible short comings.