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Speakers that are very accurate sounding but don't produce an emotional connection.

I have listened to a few speakers over the years that impressed me with their accuracy and presentation of the music, but just did not create an emotional response or connection. I have often wondered what that quality is in some speakers that produce an emotional connection with the listener. This quality has been identified by audiophiles, as "magical", "engaging"  "just right"  "euphonic"  "natural"  "true to life". " "satisfying"  "musical"....  I am sure there are at least 50  other  adjectives that could describe this "quality" of  sound . 

Considering the various aspects  of achieving  good and accurate sound by component synergy, is there a way to explain this so-called magical element that often eludes so many of us??.  I don't think such a feeling is temporal, conditioned by personal moods, or the phases of the moon or sun.  

Like to hear from members who have given some thought to the same issue.    Thanks,  Jim   

BTW, I know the thread is a bit out there, but  I don't think the topic is pointlessly pursuing the genie in the bottle. 


sunnyjim
sunnyjim OP
927 posts
 

There are so many good responses to the thread, it is overwhelming and impossible to  answer each one.

To Melbguy1  Happy to hear that YG in the new Carmel II strove to deliver more engaging and musical sound.  The originals were outstanding, but a bit typically cold....no,.... not metallic or edgy, or bright.  I was impressed by them, but don't know how long I would have been able to listen.. I would hope for  $24,900, the YG Carmel II  is more than just engaging and  includes a paid voucher for at least 4 days/nights stay in St Thomas , VI. 


To Stereo 5,  I forgot that there was a Rectilinear 3A which I guess was a revision of the original.  One caveat, I should have added in my first response was to keep in mind,  I was awed by the Rectilinear 3 or 3A in 1972, I don't want to do the math on this one,  and heard the IMF's TLS-80   approx. in 1982 or 1983.  So, it is difficult, or maybe smart, not to be hailing a particular speaker that is over 30 years; but, only because the technology of speaker design has advanced:  testing, newer materials, both electronics and  (cabinet) materials  have considerably widened the gap  between what sounded very good then, and what sound very good now.  I happened to be checking out components on E-bay, last week and punched  up "Rectilinear"   A few of the models for sale were fairly beat-up,  with woofers yellowed by time, and tweeters that looked like hack jobs replacement from Joe's used audio parts emporium unlimited. I also noticed the faded rotary tone control which today I would howl at the moon than have on  pair of speakers. Though, in honesty,  Vandersteen's tweeter and  midrange(?) controls on some of their models do convincingly work and make a difference in the sound.    

   

melbguy1
1,438 posts
 
I heard the Wilson Alexia’s in a treated room with top flight ARC tube gear & was underwhelmed. The bass was slow and flabby which smeared the midrange, they were not as coherent or well balanced as the S5’s, and are not as warm, full bodied or intimate sounding. Sound stage depth was good though. The Alexia’s have airy mids and highs, though I didn’t equate that with greater accuracy. The S5s are definitely more accurate and have better image specificity. I left that room after 30 minutes. I actually preferred a pair of B&W 802d’s paired with Electrocomoaniet amps that night, despite the still bright sounding top end (and I’m not a fan of the 802d).

The Magico S5’s broke new ground for Magico. If you thought the Q3’s sounded analytical, the S5’s have a more laid back presentation, deeper fuller bass & sound warmer. The S5’s are very well balanced and coherent, and *can* draw you into the music with ss gear if matched with the right amps, front end and cables. Vitus Signature series, Pass XA.8 and XS series, Soulution & Audia Flight Strumento all have excellent synergy. For cables, I’ve found Jorma Prime and Statement wire & Siltech Royal Sugnature series have great synergy. I can imagine Kubala Sosna Emotion & Elation also pairing well.

Personally I run Magico S5’s with a Vitus SIA-025, Vitus SCD-025mk2, Gigawatt PC3 SE Evo conditioner, Furutech GTX-D(g) wpo, Jorma Prime and Statement cables & Stillpoints, and find I get an emotional connection to the music which makes me want to sit down and listen. With that said, the new S5 Mk2 speakers I have on order will be on a whole nutha level such that you might have to re-assess your view of Magico speakers Gpgr...
gpgr4blu
1,079 posts
 
I'm always willing to listen Melbguy. As we have discussed previously in our numerous Wilson v Magico exchanges, I have heard Alon Wolf's presentations with his choice of electronics on a few occasions (and in one system without Alon Wolf since) and always walked out shaking my head. But I have never heard them with tubes. It's also possible that the rooms were not ideal.
 Had I not heard Wilson for the fourth or fifth time under the right circumstances, I'd have agreed with their critics as previously I thought they were cavernous, sharp and cold . When I hear them at shows sometimes, I'll hear one or the other negative aspect. Under those circumstances, I can understand the criticisms.  Maybe one day, I'll hear Magicos in a set up that sounds good or great to me. One day you may hear Wilson's that sound good or great to you.
There's always room changing one's mind in this hobby upon hearing the right electronics with the right speakers and cables in the right room.
And of course, I may never warm up to Magico or you to Wilson. We would not be the only ones.  
melbguy1
1,438 posts
 
Gpgr, likewise I’ve enjoyed our exchanges on this topic. To be clear, I heard the Alexia’s in a Dealer’s treated main room with top-line ARC tube gear. I was told by the Dealer the speakers were fully run in. I also confirmed my findings when I heard the Alexia’s at the Melbourne High End show with D’agostino Momentum mono blocks and a full DCS Scarlatti stack. But you know as well as I do that anyone who stamps thier fist on a table demanding that manufacturers put up or shut up in notoriously sub-optimal show conditions are not being honest with themselves. Too many variables. Hence I wouldn't rely on show auditions alone.

After hearing Magico’s sealed box designs compared to Wilson’s ported designs I think the former sounds correct. Magico also has greater in-house design and manufacturing capacity & are clearly ahead in technology. But that doesn’t mean Wilson make bad sounding speakers. They have a ’live’ sound & move plenty of air, so I can see why they have a big following. But for that kind of presentation, I personally prefer Marten Coltranes which sound much more musical to my ears. To each their own.
gpgr4blu
1,079 posts
 
Melbguy, I am not sure that Magico has "greater in-house design and manufacturing" than Wilson, but even if it did--that would never be the measure of a "better" product. If it were, we'd all be listening to B&W , KEF and Focal who have among the biggest most advanced facilities in the world. Not that there's anything wrong with that. IMHO, it all comes down to the ear of the manufacturer. With relatively small companies like Magico and Wilson--those ears belong to Wolf and Wilson.  In some of the larger speaker companies, it comes down to a committee of listeners. I've heard great speakers from very small manufacturers that stack up with the very best-- because of the ear of the designer---Daedalus, Salk, Nola. Frankly, I much prefer all of those to Magico as they sound more like music to me whereas Magico sounds like fairly undimensional hi fi. But again--I am open to persuasion. Maybe I have not heard Magico with all factors acting in their favor despite the fact that Alon Wolf set them up himself on 2 of those occasions.
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