Older Revel vs Newer Magicos


I have an opportunity to get some Revel Studio 2 for about the same price as some used Magico A3’s. I recently heard some Studio 2’s being driven be a 100w Cambridge amp, not sure but, I think it was not an integrated. They sounded pretty special to my old ears. However, I have never heard the Magicos. Has anyone experienced both of these the speakers? And if so, please provide your opinions on them and whether the Studio 2’s should be considered older technology to be avoided.

hysteve

I have general thoughts.

Both excel at having a wide sweet spot and smooth tonal balance, including rich bass.

This also means IMHO, they need a lot of room to the sides to sound their best.

Tonally they are not the same. I find Magico’s cool in the treble and maybe with an extra chestiness in the lower voice, mid piano. This opinion is my own and not often shared by others. Listen to Diana Krall’s voice and piano in particular as well as some good horns.

I make no judgment here which is better for you, just that these are the impressions I’ve been left with.

ghdprentice equipment was questionable in my mind until I read some reviews of those with the same amp as mine. It’s only 60 w of power (Pass Int 60) but it’s 30 w of class A before going to A-B. And I’ve got good cabling that were all recently upgraded. Should be fine there. 

One reservation I would have with the Revels' is parts support if you ever need a replacement driver in the future.  Those midrange drivers and woofers with the titanium diaphragms are not in production any more, so the supply of replacement drivers will eventually dry up.

the studio 2 is a much better speaker than the studio 1 and probably still has a higher ceiling than the A3 goes, but room acoustics and component matching still matter more than trying to plug and play a new pair of speakers.

Not even close. The Magicos are a far better speaker. If I were a point source kind of guy I would buy a set of Magicos. They also make the best subwoofers available in the Q series.