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Magico Mini 2

I've been listening to the same set up for a 6-7 years now and been fairly happy till recently, when I saw a pair of Magico Mini 2 at a used dealer.  I am of course very curious about these speakers as they were unobtainable back when they were released.

My present system are listed below.  For music, I value musicality, timbre and staging, listening mostly to vocals and small jazz groups. Nothing too loud in a small 12x18 ft listening room

Esoteric K05x with Cybershaft clock
Aurender S10 
Acuphase E450 
Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor 
Mixture of Acrolink and Shunyata cables with a Hydra conditioner

My questions are
-  Is the Magico Mini 2 still relevant and one of the best out there?  AT USD12K used, it isn't exactly cheap but certainly a price I can buy into to try the Magico sound.
-  Understand that its a power hungry speakers and I'll likely need to switch my amp as well eventually... are there any intergrates options out there that you can suggests?
- Not all standmounts are the same and while my auditors work well in my smallish room, can anyone advise if this will be a problem?  Changing the room is not an option ;)

Thank you for taking your time to read this and please offer your thoughts and advise, especially former/present Mini 2 owners. 

128x128petzzz
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
I remember the Magico Mini from years ago. It made the cover of TAS and got a rave review from Jonathan Valin. I read the review - and thought that the Mini was way overpriced at $30K. Even figuring in the 30% dealer markup it still was appallingly costly!
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
For $6K you could get three pairs of Quad 57's and stack them! That setup would kill a single pair of Mini's!
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,199 posts
 
I’ve never heard a shootout between Magico and others like Sonus Faber, but, I suspect there are many less expensive options that would hold their own quite well (including Sonus Faber) and final decision comes down to largely personal preference.

Of course the sound is always key but there are other factors that go into buying decisions. If one covets Magico and is willing to pay more power to them. It is a very good statement-making but pricey product line.

Were it me, and I were looking at Magico Mini’s, I would probably go with Fritz speakers first in that those also offer top notch performance out of a smaller monitor package and are also easy for most any amp to drive and offer excellent value. Hard to find fault.

Joseph Audio is a bit pricier but also good competition I would say.  Those were more neutral and less warm sounding in demos I have heard however.

Of course neither are Magico....


petzzz's avatar
petzzz OP
23 posts
 
@mapman   Thanks for the response... that’s what I’m considering hence the potential switch in amplification and recommendations.  I think my sources are up to the task since I’m not intending to push the mini to its limits.  Actually, my room size doesn’t allow me for that :).  So, it will be the mini and a new amp. 

My other hesitation is the sound... I’m comfortable with the warmer presentation of the auditors and I think the Magico is entirely different...wondering how the mini 2 will influence the overall sonic signature of my system
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,199 posts
 
When I heard the Mini 2’s off the VAC tube amp and DCS digital source (also pricey wiring throughout), the sound had a nice but subtle touch of warmth through the mid-range, not unlike good Sonus Fabers when I have heard them.

I use a modest Audio Research sp16 tube pre-amp in my system built around Class D Bel Canto ref1000m monoblocks and that also helps deliver just a subtle touch of similar warmth through the midrange though how much will vary still with speaker used.

Never sounds "tubey" though and neither did the VAC/Magico setup as I recall.   Just clean and detailed with a very subtle touch   of warmth perhaps in the midrange.
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