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Auditioned Magico A3 - VERY DARK...

So today after waiting for months to try and listen to the Magico A3, I went to Scott Walker audio at Anaheim and listened to the Magico A3, connected to some VAC Tube amp, being fed from a Sony audio streamer, here are my impressions:

- They look fantastic, I wish they made them in silver too, but they are just great in brush black aluminum
- They're quite small and could fit everywhere
- Fit and finish is impecable
- The bass they generated was nothing but amazing for such a small cabinet, you could hear the drums, the down beats and incredible depth of bass at an amazing level
- Imaging was INSANE, you could literally place everyone and everything...
- Sound was VERY VERY DARK!!! This was a bit of a surprise, the top end lacked for my taste to a quite a degree
- I felt like the combo of the Tube amp and Magico lacked resolution, while bass and mid was great, the top end absolutely lacked resolution
- The sound was extremely laid back, again dark
- It does NEED POWER, like he had to crank the volume up, to get good sound out of this, so be aware of that

Overall, I "personally" did NOT like the sound, it lacked details and resolution at the top end, while it was great at the bottom end.  Now, the rep and I think this is mostly due to Tube amp, and connecting it to a solid state amp would bring back resolution, but we simply didn't have time to do that today.  I look forward to listen to these at another time with some decent solid-state amp, but as-is, I was NOT as impressed as I expected and wouldn't have purchased one and I strongly believe Tube and Magico A3 do NOT go well together! 

Anyone else with similar impressions?! Curious to know what others may think, or maybe there was something else in play?

Thoughts?
alexb76
ebm
9,311 posts
 
Do you have a Supratek if so good luck.I am more than happy with my preamp so your advice is not needed.What makes you the expert on synergy.I have had ARC,CJ,and VAC in my system the preamp sounds wonderful.What is your system as you are the expert.Thanks again
jtgofish's avatar
jtgofish
515 posts
 
Well if you like your AF preamp then that is all that is important.I can see why some people would like them because they sound very composed, smooth and refined.We do not all hear or listen the same.I much prefer the more open, 3D.vivid,dynamic and free sound of the Supratek however because to me that is how real music sounds. To me by comparison the Strumento preamp sounds like the sound is really struggling to get free of the boxes.Yes I have owned a Supratek Cabernet preamp for about ten years.A lot of other components including other preamps have come and gone but that has always stayed.

melbguyone
294 posts
 
@ebm Yes Jtgofish owns a Supratek Cabernet 300b preamp. And given that was his second post in this thread insisting his preamp is far superior to the Audio Fliight Strumento No.1, some bias can be implied. As to the member’s claim “The preamp is simply not in the same league and the power amp deserves something better, which is pretty much what EK said when he reviewed them”, all EK eluded to in his review was that he thought the No.4 amp was the star of the show when he said “In fact I’ve reviewed some very heavy hitters well above $50K for our domestic print magazines and the Strumento N° 4 in particular would not be embarrassed by any in terms of either musical merit or construction quality“. EK further noted “Rest assured that these components are truly superb sonic performers built to spectacular standards on par with the very best”, concluding “Here at the Kramer’s ‘Mountain Retreat’ they will be missed. Forza Italia!”

Look at his earlier post when he claimed Magico S5’s sound “dark,cold ,small and dull sounding“ with AF Strumento amps, until of course his Supratek Cabernet preamp was inserted, transforming the S5’s into “huge,open,dynamic and vibrant“ sounding. Firstly, I owned S5 Mk1’s and now Mk2’s, and neither speaker sounds “dark, cold ,small and dull sounding“. That is complete rubbish, lol! 😂.

The last Supratek Cabernet 300b preamp I saw for sale on Stereonet <1yr ago was going for $3,200AUD in good shape. The AF No.1 linestage is $22,900AUD msrp. The Supratek preamp might be a “bargain”, but there are limits. Supratek is an Australian preamp, so some members on SNA get a bit over-zealous about them. Now I have to back to listening to my “dark and a bit congested” sounding S5 Mk2’s 😆.
jtgofish's avatar
jtgofish
515 posts
 
Well yes I agree in absolute terms the Magico S5s do not sound especially dark,cold,small and dull.My brother owns a pair so I know them well.That was a bit unfair.They are very good speakers.
What I meant was that by comparison with  the sound when the Supratek was inserted they sounded dark,cold,small and dull [within the context of that system] So I meant it in relative terms and perhaps the term constricted would have been a better term to use.


melbguyone
294 posts
 
@jtgofish I get what you were trying to convey, though I don’t think your comments about the Strumento No.1 preamp were fair or accurate. As EK himself clearly described, the preamp is in the same league as the No. 4 power amp. I get that tubes do 3D holography/dimensionality well, and offer pleasant 2nd order harmonics, warmth and sweetness. And I get some some folks prefer that. But having auditioned the AF Strumento amps on several occasions, I can attest it is really nice kit and good value imho. So I understand why ebm is stoked.

I also think your description of the Magico S5’s sound was inaccurate. To me, the S5 Mk1’s are on the warm side, throw a broad sound stage & are a bit laid back in presentation compared to the Q3’s for example, whilst having more lively bass. Alan Sircom in his review of the S5’s described the top end as "extended, airy treble with absolutely no sense of sharpness or ringing". And the Strumento amps aren’t dark sounding (like the Vitus RI-100), so I don’t see that correlation. But we can agree the Supratek’s presentation would be very different. Better being in the eyes of the beholder.

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