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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
Post removed 
spinaker01
491 posts
 
Audioguy85

why are you even here? Go somewhere else and enjoy your Timex and Bose mini system
vule's avatar
vule
18 posts
 
Hi

I haven't had a chance to listen to A3s.
Has anyone had chance to compare A3s with S1 Mk2s ?

Recently I read review on SoundStage Ultra site where reviewer (hilariously) claimed that 9 of 10 listeners would choose A3s instead of S1 Mk2s. Can that be a true?
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qwaszxxx
7 posts
 
Vule,

I have actually done a back to back audition of those two speakers - both set up in the same room, both driven by the same Devialet 220. The room was small and not a proper listening room.

The two overwhelming impressions was that the S1 had much more pleasant treble. Less sharp, just clear, clean, and more relaxed.

The A3 however just felt like a much more complete product - which of course makes sense as it’s a full-range speaker. While the treble was a bit sharp for me, the mids were nicer in the A3, and the bass was outrageously strong (in that small room anyway). I was blown away.

While I was very impressed by the A3s but personally could never justify the expense of the s1 as I’d also need a sub. I just don’t understand the logic behind the pricing structure in this case. That extra bit of smoothness in the highs is not worth it IMO.

Side note - It was during that audition thought that made me realize how much I like the sound of ribbon tweeters. Im very very seriously considering purchasing the A3s - I sure did love the low-end punch the A3s offered. But there’s a nagging voice in the back of my head telling me maybe a beryllium dome tweeter won’t give me the kind of sound I’m after.
vule's avatar
vule
18 posts
 
qwaszxxx,

Many thanks for Your post and thoughts.
It seems that A series will still need that diamond coating to reach smoothness of higher frequencies.
Compromises, always some compromises that killing softly.
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