Magico A3 vs. Wilson SabrinaX

I have the old Sabrinas. Re the Q above I drive them spotlessly w Pass xa30.8 and they hardly ever leave class a - only when very loud at ca 100hz where the impedance is low. Hence xa25 should also work… as a ls I like them a lot. 

@trackmo: Command Performance in Falls Church carries Magico 

Given your pricepoint, there are so many interesting options out there.  I would check out:

Vivid Kaya 45
Wilson Benesch Vector
YG Carmel II
Von Schweikert Endeavor

I am running the Vivids and Wilson Benesch Vertexes with a 20w amp in a smaller room.  I am a Vivid and Wilson Benesch.  You ought to be able to hear the Vivids somewhere in the DC area.  The WBs are going to be a challenge.  Big sounding, engaging speakers that are a bit different.  

I have no affiliation with YG and VonSchweikert other than I have heard their speakers and was impressed.  I have to imagine there are dealers for both in DC.  

I have heard both at length. The Magico sound like they have the bass rolled off 
If you do this you hear the mids in greater detail. You can make the Wilson's sound like this based on placement in your room.  The Magicos are not capable of low bass extension.

I demoed the following speakers 2 years ago when I was shopping for a speaker:

Vivid Kaya 90 (very fast and similar to the cheaper KEF Reference line)

Magico A3 (drivers are not the most coherent)

Vandersteen Treo CT (too dark for my ears)

TAD ME1 (pretty amazing but $15K for a bookshelf. That price they pulled out of their ___)

Yamaha NS5000 (a beauty to see and hear, most coherent of the bunch)

All of this was with various top end gear. For my ears, I preferred the TAD ME1 (needs warm gear) and the Yamaha NS5000 (likely best with neutral gear).

I was going to buy the NS5000 but I found a Thiel CS3.7 available locally. The Thiel was on my bucket list for a decade so I bought that and used it for 2 years. I sold it last month and now looking to buy likely my final speaker.

It is down to the Yamaha NS5000 and the KEF Blade 2 META. I was sure I was going to get the Blade but I noticed my young son had dinged the up the drivers on my KEF KC62 sub and now I am not sire if it is wise to buy the Blade 2. It has no grills. I may get a free replacement on the KC62 sub for another issue. If I get the Blades I will need something like this.

Kef Blade 2 Meta Speaker Dust Covers | DigitalDeckCovers

The NS5000 (with grills) is not a bad consolation if I decide to not get the Blades. The NS5000 is an incredible coherent speaker. The 12-inch woofer is made with the same material as the tweeter and midrange. You can get a 60 day home demo with 1 of the online sellers of this model. I have a local dealer here who really does not know what a gem of a speaker they have. Long story.

The Blades need a LONG wall placement for best sound while the NS5000 should be good with either type of placement.

 

BTW - the sub I mentioned is for my office system which is KEF LS50 Meta + KEF KC62 sub