Magico Comparison

What is the original Magico? Do you mean one of the bespoke designs designed for individual customers or an early production commercial product? Did you compare them in the same system?

Teeshot, keep the V3s. They are the best sounding Magicos.

I heard both speakers but in different systems with different room acoustics and different upstream components. I remember thinking the M5s were more listenable -- smoother with more body while the Q3 speakers were faster, more detailed, but one or two clicks toward center of gravity in the upper registers. Disclosure, I own S5 speakers (could not be happier with them...wonderful on every dimension that is important to me). I had one interaction with A Wolf at Magico and he was very responsive and friendly. I admire a man who can create something so wonderful... nothing but compliments from here. And people who work for Magico (e.g., Irv Gross) are exceptional and consumer + music focused.

I believe it was the magico v1 bookshelf it was not in the same system but components that i'm very familiar with

Musicfile, Perhaps you are talking about the original Mini. I've now heard the Mini 2 in six different systems and they have each sounded very different. I don't know what that means except to say that for a comparison to mean anything valid to me, it needs to be direct, that is in the same system. Otherwise, I can't learn much from it. Perhaps others are better at this then I am.

I also am concluding that the Mini 2 (and other Magico speakers, especially the new Qs) are fairly transparent to upstream components, and they will take on the character of what comes in front of them. I find it therefore pretty difficult to ascribe a character to these speakers. They have all been quite revealing though.

I have also had good conversations with Mr Wolf and Irv Gross.