Magico Mini 2

I had the SF Cremona Auditor M's for several years and comparing to the original Auditors, far more detailed and very highly resolving.  At $6K with stands, still a great "under the radar" performer IMO.  I too had the upgrade bug 2 or 3 years ago, auditioned most of the speakers mentioned above and at the time had a good friend that happened to be a Magico dealer.  I've been in metalworking my entire career and Magico was one of our customers here in Silicon Valley.....I REALLY wanted to like them and auditioned several times and could never warm up to them...just to strident and clinical for my tastes regardless what was driving them.  I ended up with Guarneri Evolutions and they best in every way the Cremona Auditor M's as they should for nearly four times the cost.  I can tell you both the Cremona Auditor M's and the GE crave good clean power.  I'm running McIntosh MC601 monoblocks and both of those models really opened up with that power.  They are highly resolving but require attention to details to bring it out...neutral cabling plus I have all gear on 3" maple, Symposium Platforms and a combo of Stillpoints or Rollerblocks.   My room is only 16 x 12 and have the GE's paired with two REL G-2's....
I noticed you mentioned the Auditors weren't as resolving as you'd like, but having heard Franco's original GH....as beautiful and full as they are they are not highly resolving in any way.  You Cremona's, while not as full and lush will be more highly resolving than the GH's.  Have fun and enjoy the search!

MAGICO mini 2s are a classic as well as A3s.

@ebm  Fully agree on the mini and will be auditioning the S1 MK2 and the dealer has the S3 next week

Many speak very highly of the Raidho 1.2 as well. I like the ribbon tweeter. Am not a Magico fan for the reasons mentioned. 1 + SF Extremas are a legendary speaker. And the three way with the back tweeter are excellent. I also love the SF look.

@mglik Locked into a TAD and Magico audition next week.  Agree with the Extremas but they also need lots of power to shine.  Between the SF, I would still go for the Guarneri Homage if it surfaceS :)

That's been my take-away impression of Magico speakers too (including the A3 I auditioned). They seek such an audiophile-approved sound of "control" and reduction of anything speakerly, that they end up sounding, to my ears, restrained to a fault. I hear all the details, but they don't reach out and grab me or groove.

@prof I understand Magico’s need for a good amp but if it breaks the bank (5K used budget for amp), I might just have to give it a skip.  At this point, listening to the new Magico and comparing them to the mini 2 will give a good idea on the value.  One thing that’s surely on the mini 2 side is wife appeal :)

@ptrck887
Thanks for sharing your experience

I can tell you both the Cremona Auditor M’s and the GE crave good clean power. I’m running McIntosh MC601 monoblocks and both of those models really opened up with that power. They are highly resolving but require attention to details to bring it out...neutral cabling plus I have all gear on 3" maple, Symposium Platforms and a combo of Stillpoints or Rollerblocks. My room is only 16 x 12 and have the GE’s paired with two REL G-2’s....
I noticed you mentioned the Auditors weren’t as resolving as you’d like, but having heard Franco’s original GH....as beautiful and full as they are they are not highly resolving in any way. You Cremona’s, while not as full and lush will be more highly resolving than the GH’s. Have fun and enjoy the search!

I had the opportunity to listen to both the SF Guarneri Memento and Evolution models previously and although they were good speakers, the impression of the original Homage was still the deepest. Perhaps, during those auditions, I wasn’t at the “upgrading” frame of mind :). Both these models are much easier to come by and if I’m lucky, I might just find a pair at a used dealer for an audition.