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Joseph audio perspectives, magico a3, ATC scm40 v2

I am deciding between three speakers for my livingroom setup:

Joseph audio perspectives (v1)
Magico a3
ATC scm40 v2

My living room area is 15ft by 24ft. I need to place the speakers very close to the back wall so i was considering closed cabinet design.

previously i was using ATC scm40v1 and enjoyed its midrange especially male vocals and live music presentation. My setup is prism sound dream da1 as DAC, conran jhonson pv5 tube pre (about to get a schiit freya plus in Aug) and still deciding on amps.

One option for me is to get the ATC40v2.

I auditioned Magico S1 mk2 and Magico S3 mk2 but not yet the A3. S1 and S3 are wonderful sounding speakers with tons of details, great 3d imaging and dynamics, but sometimes a bit too refined and analytical. I would say the mids are just different flavors in S1 and S3 compared to ATCs, but not necessarily better. Also a3’s appearance and weight are not too appealing to me.

I found a used pair of joseph perspectives for $6k. I heard good things about joseph audio perspectives. They look great and are perfect in size and weight for me. Can anyone share their experiences with sonic performance of the joseph perspectives compared to ATC40s, especially in the vocals presentation? Thanks a lot!
128x128yuhengdu_tiger
cd318
2,636 posts
 
@yuhengdu_tiger

'I need to place the speakers very close to the back wall so i was considering closed cabinet design.'


Depends upon what you mean by 'very close'.

Almost every speaker I've had was designed to placed close to or up against the wall. Every single one of them benefitted from a couple of inches of space between them and the wall. 

Even the 2 Rega bookshelf models began to harden up a touch when pushed up right against the wall - and they were designed to be placed against the wall!

I think it depends upon the design and the boundary reflections.

As far as I know, there aren't many large speakers that don't need ample room (12-18 inches min) behind them.

My Tannoy Berkeley's need more than the 6 - 8 inches currently behind them for optimum performance so I probably only get around 90% performance from them. Unless I got some wheeled stands that's the best my domestic circumstances will allow.

In any case, at this level you should still make sure the sound fits you first and then the room - and not the other way around. I wouldn't be too surprised if the 3 that you mention all sound quite different, and you might have a strong preference for one over the others.
yuhengdu_tiger's avatar
yuhengdu_tiger OP
87 posts
 
@cd318 I am talking about 10in or less against the wall. Had a couple of email exchanges from Jeff Joseph and he suggested me to try them at home first. I showed him my room and since there are two windows on the wall behind the speakers they can be used to vent the base. Maybe also use some bass traps materials. 

"In any case, at this level you should still make sure the sound fits you first and then the room - and not the other way around." Thanks for the suggestions. I do feel that the magico (s1 and s3) a bit too clinical for my liking and it draws my attention away from the music. I was hoping that the perspectives can do the magic for me. But it is hard to demo them somewhere local. For ATCs I am already familiar with their sounds signature, for the 40 v1 I feel the highs and lows extension can be better. They have really great mids though.
yuhengdu_tiger's avatar
yuhengdu_tiger OP
87 posts
 
@djones51 what DSP do you using? I am curious if I can do something similar. Thanks.


hedwigstheme
137 posts
 
Snell A3
cd318
2,636 posts
 
@yuhengdu_tiger 

'For ATCs I am already familiar with their sounds signature, for the 40 v1 I feel the highs and lows extension can be better.'

I agree that the ATC SCM v2 would be a decent step up from v1.

'I do feel that the magico (s1 and s3) a bit too clinical for my liking and it draws my attention away from the music.'

You definitely don't want that to happen. An audiophile's burden is already heavy enough.The Magico's do seem to get the occasional comment about being a little 'too accurate', maybe.

As for the Joseph Audio Perspectives, one the one hand the fact that both @prof and @djones51 run a pair speaks volumes in their favour, but as @prof said you need a lot more than10 inches behind them.

This is a big stumbling block as he probably knows more about them than anyone bar Jeff Joseph.

What to do? Well don't despair as there might be still be an answer. But it's now up to @djones51 and his possible DSP bass solution.
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