Auditioned Magico A3 - VERY DARK...


So today after waiting for months to try and listen to the Magico A3, I went to Scott Walker audio at Anaheim and listened to the Magico A3, connected to some VAC Tube amp, being fed from a Sony audio streamer, here are my impressions:

- They look fantastic, I wish they made them in silver too, but they are just great in brush black aluminum
- They're quite small and could fit everywhere
- Fit and finish is impecable
- The bass they generated was nothing but amazing for such a small cabinet, you could hear the drums, the down beats and incredible depth of bass at an amazing level
- Imaging was INSANE, you could literally place everyone and everything...
- Sound was VERY VERY DARK!!! This was a bit of a surprise, the top end lacked for my taste to a quite a degree
- I felt like the combo of the Tube amp and Magico lacked resolution, while bass and mid was great, the top end absolutely lacked resolution
- The sound was extremely laid back, again dark
- It does NEED POWER, like he had to crank the volume up, to get good sound out of this, so be aware of that

Overall, I "personally" did NOT like the sound, it lacked details and resolution at the top end, while it was great at the bottom end.  Now, the rep and I think this is mostly due to Tube amp, and connecting it to a solid state amp would bring back resolution, but we simply didn't have time to do that today.  I look forward to listen to these at another time with some decent solid-state amp, but as-is, I was NOT as impressed as I expected and wouldn't have purchased one and I strongly believe Tube and Magico A3 do NOT go well together! 

Anyone else with similar impressions?! Curious to know what others may think, or maybe there was something else in play?

Thoughts?
alexb76
Pokey just poked another hole in your unambiguous delight in Magico speakers; in particular, the A3.   Why don’t you tell him to leave this thread? I fully agree with him. Calling me a troll really burns me up so I will persist in answering your inane accusations. Stop pestering me and I will not respond.  I haven't heard the A3 so I have no opinion concerning it.  
I listened to the A3s on two different occasions. The first time was at a show and the sound was lifeless. The second time was in a dealer's showroom. They sounded like different speakers, detailed and very open. I submit Magico's are some of the best technical speakers that don't translate into me preferring them. I do understand why many people love Magico speakers,

I haven't heard the A3's myself because at $10k and being magico and backordered I doubt there's deals to be had and there's a lot of great used speakers at that price. I will say a local dealer didn't want to sell me any speakers at $10k before the a3 came out because he expected them to set the bar at its price.
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I took delivery of my A3's about 10 days ago and they are breaking in nicely. Last description I would ever use is "dark," at least with my setup. I find them lively, transparent, natural and with deep, taut bass. A little thin up on top but this is abating daily. In short, I am very happy with them. In fact, after 45+ years in this hobby/mania/obsession, I would call them one of the greatest bargains in audio history. Given demand and aluminum tariffs, I cannot see how they will stay at $9800/pr. much longer.
Rig: Krell FPB 300 cx amp dfriving Audience AU 24SX speaker cables; VTL 7.5iii pre; Bryston BDP-1 digital transport feeding PS Audio Directstream DAC; Sansui TX1 Tuner (yes, some of us still listen to radio).
Neal