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Magico V3

I have been considering a speaker upgrade from my current Thiel 3.7s to units in the 10-15k price bracket in the used market. I have auditioned Wilson Sophia 3 and Sasha and Revel Studio2. The studio 2s were to me a sideways move in that the bass was very good but the transparency was no better than what I have; the Wilsons are both very good with superior bass dynamics and extension compared to the Thiels although the Sashas are a few grand out of my price range. Things I have available to audition in my area are Avalon Eidolon Vision and Sonus Elipsa. However, my interest is really peaked in the V3 because I have heard the Mini-2 and the Q3 and liked them a lot; in fact, I think the Q3 is the best I have ever heard, and to my ears preferable to the Wilson Maxx 3 which I also listened to recently. The V3s are available now since they are being traded for the Q3s.

I listen to a lot of orchestral music and acoustic music, mostly on SACD.

I cannot find a pair of V3's to audition in my area. If you have heard the V3s or own them, I am wondering if you think they would provide that wonderful Magico sound I have heard but at a price I can afford.

Thanks in advance for your help.
teeshot
peterayer
1,382 posts
 
Sure the Q's sound much better than the V's. However, if one considers a pair of V3's cost $15K used and a pair of Q3's cost $40K new, the question of value enters the picture.

If I were to consider trading my Mini2 for the Q1 in a year or so, the Q1 will be $30K and I would be lucky to get $15K for my Mini2. Is the Q1 really worth double the price of the Mini2? That's a bit more difficult to answer.

Many of us could re-buy our current systems with components found used on Audiogon for a fraction of what we paid originally, new or used. I try not to dwell on such things.

IMO, the V2, V3 and Mini2 are very good values right now. Perhaps even better after the holidays.
elberoth2's avatar
elberoth2
1,223 posts
 
Magico just introduced the successor to V3 - it is called S5 and will be introduced at CES 2012. Price is $28k.
clavil
254 posts
 
I thought the successor of the V3 was the Q3 ...

as impressed I was by the Mini II (it was a real shock ! ) I had never the chance to hear the V3 in a convincing set-up ... or are the Mini II just better than the V3 ?
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,516 posts
 
Magico speakers just don't do it for me. Yes they are fast, and so are YG speakers that don't do it for me either. Music is not just fast, but has weight, air, structure etc. You have not mentioned your audition of one of MY favorite speakers...Vandersteen...either the 5A or the 7's. These are the most complete speakers that can be adjusted for the room, so that they always work at their best.
peterayer
1,382 posts
 
I could have paid about the same for a used pair of Mini2 or V3 when I bought
the former a couple of years ago. I did listen to each 2-3 times before deciding
on which one to buy. I always preferred the Mini2 because it was more coherent
in the demos I heard. The V3 extended down a bit more, but the bass was
slightly less well defined, IMO. I just could not hear the drivers or the cabinet of
the Mini relative to the V3.

The Mini2 also disappeared as a source. I actually preferred the V2 to the V3 in
the demo I heard because it was also more coherent, but it was not as clear and
nuanced as the Mini2.

The Q3 is a different animal. I would replace the Mini2 with the Q3 if I could
afford to and if my room could handle the weight and size.
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