I was at the first demo session for BAAS members. I first want to say that Alon, Bob and Jeff have done a great job accomodating our large group in two sessions on two different weekends. They let us listen rather than give the group a long sales pitch and I wish all demos would go that way.
Definitely well appreciated was the fact that Alon was there to answer all sorts of questions, and it was a revelation to hear why he chose specific construction and design methods. You could tell that this guy knows what he's doing. Alon has a lot of proof for his skills as a designer and a person genuinely interested in promoting the art. Just check the pics in the following article: http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/magico/mini.html
Back to the specific demo. The room itself was not ideal and Alon admitted that right away. Personal taste plays a huge role in what we like or don't like, so it is unlikely for a large group of 20 people to come up with a unified concensus. Some people thought the V3 sounded better than the Minis, some thought it was the other way around. The two systems in the demo changed slightly between the two sessions. One member who attended both sessions liked the Mini's better in week one and the V3's better in week 2!
Like in all typical demos, there are flaws in the setup, not all listening positions sound alike, etc. When I attend such an event, I try to take with me something that I believe represents the product and not the demo as a whole. What first impressed me were the build quality. Not many speakers in the 20K price range use proprietary drivers. I'm not talking Scanspeak drivers with slits on the membrane but a whole driver designed in-house and fabricated in limited quantities per Magico's specifications. That is rare even for speakers costing twice their price.
The use of expensive crossover components is another little detail that leaves a real impression that not many corners were cut in these products. I've seen other manufacturer's electronics. Magico is at the top, and these are components you don't even see, so it wasn't done to increase the visual effect of the product.
All this means nothing if the sound is not good, which brings me to the second significant note from that demo. Despite the acoustics in the room, I could definitely tell that these speakers have very little coloration. Listening in close proximity to one speaker reveals nuances in the music and overall a feeling of extreme coherency. I've heard more expensive speakers that don't get near the Minis or the V3 in that regard.
For me, I heard and seen enough to have a tremendous respect for these products and for the company. If I were in the market for speakers in these form factors and price then I would definitely arrange for a private demo. That's not only true for Magico products but for any audio product. I've never ever heard a demo unit in similar situations that wanted me to cry because I want it now. It's always an initial "spark" that starts a lengthy audition. Impulsive buys are utterly "dangerous"... I think you all know what I mean.
Most of us went back home and listened to our own systems and possibly liked them more than the demo system. That is a reasonable scenario. But take away the distracting factors, many would not have said no to an opportunity to have these speakers at home for a more serious audition. And like one lady (yes, not only men love audio!) at the demo said, they look fabulous!
