q3 magico

Well, I had read Jeff's review and was amazed at his euphoria about the Magicos. I have only had limited opportunities to hear both the Q3s and the Tidal Piano Ceras, but I heard nothing like what he described from either speaker. I've never thought much of any Magico, with the exception of the V3 and know a guy who sold his V3 to buy Tidal Contriva Diacera SEs.

All I can really say is that my conclusion would be the opposite of Jeff's. He must be very impressed, however, as the Magicos replace his Rockport Arrakises.

"I would want a reviewer to compare its performance to more expensive designs, not lower cost product(s). What is the sense in that? The Contriva Diacera is a more expensive than the Q3 and that comparison makes more sense to Magico IMO."

I believe he just compared the Magico to the Tidal because that is the last speaker he had in his room. He did the same thing when he compared the B&W 803diamond to the Tidal.

James63, that does make sense. Nonetheless, it also makes sense for the reviewer to seek out price peers or more expensive products with which to compare/contrast, particularly when one is so effusive in his praise.

FWIW. When I had my V3, it was actually the Piano Cera which prompted me to order the Contriva. If anything, it was the previous Magicos I owned that had that faint scrim mentioned. An ever present lingering haze to their upper bass through mid which held back from my ultimately enjoying the system, more so the V3, and to a lesser extent the Mini2. Listening to the Piano minus those artifacts was a revelation then.

Upon receiving my Contriva, I was then asked to describe differences by fellow members, which I reluctantly commented simply by just saying--more connectedness to the music and felt as if veils have been lifted--finally! Yes, it is imo that much better, but then again so what, that it too cost much more comparing them would be meaningless based on pricing alone.

Now, the Q series I'm sure is a different and much improved animal. And if they are what they are reputed to be--would make a much more valid comparison. But still, we all hear things differently. And as far as me goes, I have neither the urge nor wants to make that comparison anymore. I've hopped off the speaker-go-round. Hope and pray! ;))

Re the Piano sounding loose, there is this variogain bass tuning incorporated. I see that in the review the reviewer chose the setting with that slight bass boost rendering a slightly relaxed yet looser presentation. Having one port plugged, could actually tighten things by quite a bit, less boost, but bass will tighten and go down noticeably deeper too. I guess the reviewer's room is on the large side thus dictates/preferred the use of previous setting.

Bvidman, I had forgotten that the Piano Cera review had used the (variotuning) bass boost setting as opposed to the flat/neutral setting which users in the small to medium sized rooms will prefer. Unlike the Contriva series, the Piano series does not have a provision for port plugging. BTW, don't want to see this thread turned into a Tidal vs Magico discussion. No doubt that both brands are world class.....