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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.









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normie57
50 posts
 
yysantabarbara

Ive got 3.5 ft between the side wall (lightly treated with some absorbers made by a friend) and the side firing woofers and just over 6 ft between the loudspeakers. Doesn’t sound like an optimal setup but it works really well. The Blades just love Clayton amplifiers and the Clayton loves the transformer coupled VAC preamp. All the best!
erik_squires
16,007 posts
 
The Strataveri speakers are among my favorite speakers. Ever. Of all time.

They have the detail and imaging of ESL's with the smoothness and dynamic range of the best dynamic driver speakers.

Those wide baffles are AMAZING in how much better they sound in most rooms compared to traditional speakers. It's like bringing in speakers and room treatment at the same time.

Best,

E
fsmithjack's avatar
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fsmithjack OP
712 posts
 
GUYS / GALS NEED YOUR ADVICE PLEASE!

A friend said this preamp is outstanding and will sound great with Pass Labs amps and to not get caught up in the specs but the measurements say different.

Pass Labs X350.5 amplifier with input Impedance 30k ohms Balanced or 20k ohms Single ended*
(*source Pass Labs Manual)  

Hovland HP-100 source impedance 2500ohms*
(*source Stereophile)

Guys / Gals, can I used my Pass Labs X350.5 amp with Hovland HP-100 preamp? Has anyone used Pass amps with Hovland pre's. I will be using Magico S5 Speakers and Bricasti M1SE DAC but want it to sound the best it can. Should I just stick with the Aesthetix Calypso pre I was leaning toward before my gut said to go for the Hovland HP-100

Hovland HP-100 Preamplifier: * Output impedance: approximately 2500 ohms or according to Atkinson, Hovland HP-100 (2500ohms) its source impedance was high at 2.4k ohms, rising to 4.3k ohms at 20Hz. The partnering power amplifier would best have an input impedance of at least 47k ohms if the bass is not to sound lean*. The Pass Labs doesn't meet the x10 requirement it is supposed to but it is sort of close when looking at it. What do you guys think? I am not sure what to do but you guys will know what to do?

I posted in the preamp section but wanted to ask you guys also as many know the Magico speakers and they say the sealed box bass can sound a bit lean so don't want to add to it with impedance mismatch with pre and amp but also the numbers are not terrible so maybe you guys can give me some advice?
Thanks 
fsmithjack's avatar
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fsmithjack OP
712 posts
 
I UPDATED MY PRE THREAD AND WANTED TO UPDATE YOU GUYS ALSO...

MAGICO S5 LOUDSPEAKERS have landed. Wow these are like nothing I've ever heard and owned and used. I am going to need to do much work to set up.

Guys - I am kind of lost??

Any idea about set up - tow in the like. The smallest change makes such a difference. Not really in the bass but in everything else got my work cut out of me.

Few Notes: Rethm Saadhana V3 Speakers are different but same quality for sure. Some thing they do better, some things much better and others similar others Magico's better but they are absolutely are in the same class.

Its apparent right out of the gate. I love the Magico's and I am sure once I get use to them will like them more but this speaker search has me listen and shop and research so many speakers. The world needs to know that Rethm Saadhana V3 Speakers are better than 93% of the other speakers out there (my questimaton of course) but if you took focus groups and all that I but that number will stand up. So excited for my new speakers because I love new exciting audio thinks but this made me realize again and confirmed just how good the Rethms really are!

Tube - preamp. Yes those of you that said to match Magico with Tube preamp seems right on the mark. I think a tube pre will be a better match.

Down to:

BAT VK-51SE
BAT VK-32SE
CJ ET3SE
CJ CT-6

Any thoughts - think I'm leaning toward the BAT VK-32SE

I called BAT they said its the sweetest of the BATS and have same bass and dynamics as the others. The 51SE a little more neutral but the Magico's seem to be looking for a bit of sweetening.

Thoughts  


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shadorne
7,467 posts
 
Magico is a very well engineered speaker. There is no way a lowther driver even in the fanciest aesthetic box can even hold a candle to the Magico S5. I would not try to get a more tube euphonic sound out of such a wonderfully engineered speaker but your taste must be quite eccentric if you can equally love such two very different speakers.
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