Magico S5 vs Tannoy Westminster Royal SE

03-29-13: Bhobba
Magico is of the accuracy detail type and, to some like me, can come across as perhaps a bit brittle, dry and uninvolving, but due to the very low resonance fast, very uncolored, and articulate.

I am not sure which amps you heard those S5's with? however the S5's are best matched with warm, tube-like solid state amps and then they sound magical. I've heard the S5's with both Vitus and Dartzeel which both have excellent synergy. Anecodotally Hegel and Constellation also work well, though I haven't heard those combo's. In general, with warm, musical sounding amps like Dart, the S5's sound more relaxed, musical and flowing. You could also try cables like Jorma Prime which are very well balanced, natural sounding, harmonically rich & have a liquid flow which I think would compliment the S5's very well. Siltech Royal Sig series also work well with Magico. As always, it is a matter of synergy.

Bhobba is absolutely right, the Magicos are brittle on many pieces, and he really is on the money with Rockports. Though I prefer the Tannoys for FAR less money than what I would consider a competitive Rockport, the Rockports are a very credible speaker that have a nice low distortion delivery.

The Westminsters, which I listen to for hours daily, are far more seamless and integrated top to bottom. The distortion is much lower. They are far easier to drive. The are absolutely superior on voices, which is the toughest test. They are more dynamic. They scale far better.

While monetarily not in the same league as most of the posters on this thread, I have achieved, for far less of an investment, the kind of performance provided by Tannoys.

Alnico drivers, pepperpot high frequency drivers, and hard edge surrounds, all in ca 1975 drivers, the HPD 315.

Crossovers are custom designed and built, cabinets are custom made 150 litre bass-reflex, at nearly 2" thick and each weighing 192lbs.

They are able to provide me with musical enjoyment I could not have afforded otherwise, and in a very large room, to boot (16'.5" X 34', w/cathedral ceiling).

They are happy to be driven by 300Wpc SS, or 35Wpc (VAC PA 35.35).

Tannoy has proven to be endearingly reliable, flexible, and wonderful music makers. These will be my last speakers, others need not apply.

I wish you all the enjoyment that I am having, no matter what you do it with.

Regards,
Dan

They provide me with

Dan, you have marched to the beat of your own drummer and I have no doubt that you have benefitted hugely from doing so. "Wonderful music makers" is your quote. I could not say it better.

Most readers, unfortunately, will doubt that these speakers, not using the latest buzzwords, the latest supposed high tech materials (I doubt the words "high tech" have ever been misused and clouded reality as much as they have been in high end audio) could ever compete with the latest, greatest $50k or $100k speakers.