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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.









fsmithjack
shadorne's avatar
shadorne
7,491 posts
 
@fsmithjack 

FWIW I would not buy a speaker that required 600-700 hours to break in. This is terrible engineering and horrible build quality. I don't believe Magico is that bad - I think the dealer just wants you to acclimatize your ears to the new sound versus your previous laid back speakers.
fsmithjack's avatar
fsmithjack OP
712 posts
 
What do you own that is so much better than my Magico S5's?

I mean they are only $30k speakers so obviously $100k speakers will be better but now let's compare those to Magico's $100k builds? 

Maybe they do take a long time to settle in - maybe not - who knows - this is my first go round with Magico's but as far as them having terrible engineering and terrible build quality - that's a joke !

I've never seen any speaker built like these speakrs. I mean - I'm not a zillionaire so maybe you have much better speakers and to you my Magico's are nothing? 

These are the best I've ever owned by far! This is my personal high water mark for build quality.

These are built out metal and are 200 pounds and Magico seems to use top quality parts and materials in the cabinets, crossovers and drivers. 

Maybe the sound is or isn't for me only time will tell but these have such an amazing quality build quality that I've never known. I'm certainly no expert but everything about there speakers exudes world class build to me but maybe I'm out of my depth. 

Im hoping maybe someone with more Magico experience can chime in about them?

Thanks 
ebm
9,311 posts
 
I had Magico Mini 2s they took 800 to 1000 hrs to break in because the size of the Mundorf caps in the xover.Magico buys the best caps,wire etc.There will always be Magico detractors many people can't afford them or there idea of great sound is not the same as ours  .I now have Magico Q3s and like the M3 which is a little better at a much higher cost,The Q3s took over 800 hrs to break in.Remember it takes 3 things to make a great speaker xover,drivers and cabinet Magico had that in spades.If you want to hear better bass and more detail look at Symposium stands with or without spikes this will depend on your floors.I assure my stands will stand up to the Magico feet at $9500.00  at a much lower cost.I do not believe the stainless steel spikes are not great for the sound.They came with my Rixrax i used copper spikes they sounded much better.Remember Magico is a truly high definition speaker that will tell you everything that is wrong in your system.So enjoy your wonderful new speakers and don't worry about the detractors.Enjoy!!
fsmithjack's avatar
fsmithjack OP
712 posts
 
Thanks ebm - appreciate the feedback a lot !!!! :)

Those Q3 look amazing. Would like to think those are my next stop down the road in a few years. Maybe if a MKII comes out. That helped me afford the S5's when the MK II came out.

The Goodwins Guys said 600 - 700 hours they settle in nicely but they keep getting better longer :) - 

Dave / Audiotroy mentioned those bases as great upgrades for reasonable money. I'm gonna try them a bit down the road. I totally agree that they expose the weakness in the chain - maybe it's soley break in but I think my IC and SC are not good matches.

Do you use tubes anywhere?

I'm fixing to add a BAT preamp to scratch my tube itch? Curious what you use for pre, amp, cables?

Thanks again for the feedback! 
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