23-Mar-2020, 17:38
I've compared Magico S5 (2015) to B&W 802n and 804d3 in my house, amplified by Devialet 400.
I loved the Magico in many ways, especially the detail. I don't remember them being boring. I found them amazingly clear, detailed, precise, with low distortion. They had awesome low, detailed, and tight bass. They were good off-axis vertically and horizontally (better than B&W 802n but not as good as KEF LS50). However I didn't find the drivers well integrated. The midrange was recessed, the treble hot, and overall sound lacking in euphoria (I just never enjoyed the music as much even though I could hear more details in it). That's in comparison to B&W, which have recessed midrange, bright treble, but are voiced on the euphoric side of neutral. With the Magico S5 the bass was hard to control in my room, no matter where I positioned the speakers. I also had to change the volume for every track, which I don't have to do with any other speakers. So I reluctantly returned them as poorly suited to my room (they sounded great with my D400 in the shop where I bought them), and eventually settled on B&W 804d3 (would have chosen 802d3 if not for height and cost). I'm not insulting Magico: their Q7mkII is the best speaker I've heard, and I think they've improved every area I've complained about in the S5. I fully support hearing any speaker before buying them though, preferably in your room. Devialet amps are easy to carry to a dealer if they don't have them.
I loved the Magico in many ways, especially the detail. I don't remember them being boring. I found them amazingly clear, detailed, precise, with low distortion. They had awesome low, detailed, and tight bass. They were good off-axis vertically and horizontally (better than B&W 802n but not as good as KEF LS50). However I didn't find the drivers well integrated. The midrange was recessed, the treble hot, and overall sound lacking in euphoria (I just never enjoyed the music as much even though I could hear more details in it). That's in comparison to B&W, which have recessed midrange, bright treble, but are voiced on the euphoric side of neutral. With the Magico S5 the bass was hard to control in my room, no matter where I positioned the speakers. I also had to change the volume for every track, which I don't have to do with any other speakers. So I reluctantly returned them as poorly suited to my room (they sounded great with my D400 in the shop where I bought them), and eventually settled on B&W 804d3 (would have chosen 802d3 if not for height and cost). I'm not insulting Magico: their Q7mkII is the best speaker I've heard, and I think they've improved every area I've complained about in the S5. I fully support hearing any speaker before buying them though, preferably in your room. Devialet amps are easy to carry to a dealer if they don't have them.
