Magico S5 vs KEF Blade 2 vs TAD Evo One vs YG Kipod II Sig w/pwr bass


Opinions please. All are Used and are the same very good price but The Y&G are $4000 less which is nice.

KEF Blade 2

TAD Evolution One

Y&G Kipod II Signature w/Pwr Bass module

Magico S5


Would love your thoughts any thoughts on any please! Being all used and in good shape these are all within $500 of each other used price but Y&G and those had highest list but know to be good used deals because they are pretty serious speakers.

I think as far as used speakers in the great value - now less than 1/2 price but still new enough to provide great performance these are some different but pretty serious speakers. Please any and all feedback totally welcomed and is super helpful 

Source: Bricasti M1SE DAC 

Preamp: Parasound JC2 Pre

Amp: Pass Labs X350.5 Amp

IC: Darwin TRUTH Balanced

SC: HiDiamond D8 w/Furutech

PC: HiDiammond P3 (7)

AC: HiDiamond HDX2 

Transport: microRendu 1.4 and full suite of UpTone Audio Premium Power Supplies (2)x LPS-1 and (1) JS-2 LPS - (2) Regens - ISO and Amber and custom Canare DC cables for all / Tellarium Q Black Diamond USB cable and Curious Regen Link

Room is 12 x 23 w/Cathedral Ceilings - 15 Foot a peak 

Music: Assorted Music no metal or loud hard rock anymore really - not much Large Scale classical either but everything else.

Likes: Transparency- Delicate-linear-Dynamic-Fast - high resolution-microscope but not sterile not etched or lifeless - I know there is a fine Line here but I'm looking to walk it and come out on the right side - but real see through into the music - transparent to the source because I love my DAC - there more everything else sound more like my DAC the closer I'm getting to where I want to go as close as possible - image and sound stage lover - tight bass - hate flab - like speed and transparency as my selection choices might speak to

Coming from: Rethm Saadhana V3 speakers which I love and are incredible but want to try something else. 

Love any feedback about matching or equipment matching or one or multiple of these - what you heard at shows or whatever. Love more Info on these.









128x128Ag insider logo xs@2xfsmithjack
"Anything with a berryllium tweeter is going to be touchy in the highs."

No such issues with my Revel Salon 2s.  
@fsmithjack

The tweeter used in the older version of the S5 is inadequate. It compresses terribly above 90 dB SPL (a major design mistake on this speaker probably corrected on subsequent models). Perhaps you listen loud and are sensitive to this harsh dull distorted sound? Being a metal dome it will also have plenty of high end and risk of resonances. Finally, tweeters that compress easily at modest volumes like 90 dB SPL will likely burn up their tweeter Ferrofluid quickly. If these speakers are a few years old then I would consider to replace the tweeters.

Based on your outstanding list of previous ownership I think your speakers are not working properly - have the tweeters checked first and see if there is an upgrade available.

Here is a link - check the two "deviation from linearity" plots the performance of the tweeter is horrendous for a speaker at this price/quality. (2 dB compression at 90 dB and 3dB at 95)


http://www.soundstagenetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1043:nrc-measu...

As the voice coil in the tweeter heats up the resistance increases and then the crossover will no longer work properly as it is not matched for the higher tweeter impedance. Since the crossover is around 2KHz any trouble there will be easily audible and that frequency can sound harsh if elevated.

Trust your ears!
Shadorne - I was thinking that but these came directly from Magico. I called them spoke to them. He was like they were here 3 days ago in the lab on the bench and they told me they are perfect - and test perfect. He said they seemed like they were hardly used at all - basically like new and told me everything is perfect with them. No I don't listen loud at all and most always under 90spl. Avg like 86-87 - just not into loud except once in a while - maybe pop up to 89 but rare over 90.

i think they hate the combo of my DAC direct to my amp and hate my IC and PC to amp. I think they need different and balanced IC's to go with a balanced tube preamp and different Pc for pre and amp. 

Not sure but hope this does the trick but also this is not a cheap bit of changes needed either. This group of stuff cost some doe and I wasn't expecting it all :(

I was hoping they would sound good - different but good but not the case. I had nothing to do with my old speakers or what I'm used to. Any person after 2 minutes will say yeah Houston we have a problem here... 


Shadorne raises an interesting point, but I would add that the compression at 90+ db shown in the SoundStage measurements, rather than applying to listening levels of 90+ db, applies to the situation where 90+ db levels (at 2 meters) occur in the mid to upper treble region itself.  And that will occur VERY infrequently for most listeners on most recordings.

Also, I posted an unrelated thought about the issue in the thread you started about it yesterday.

Regards,
-- Al
   
@fsmithjack 

If you are certain the speakers are 100% then check your source - maybe you are overdriving your preamp input or something is broken.

Your speakers should sound fantastic with just an iPhone plugged into your Preamp.