Magico S5, a little Bryston BDP1, and Shunyata Sigma power cord
BlueFox
Posts: 15,251
I am sitting here and really enjoying the sound coming out of the S5s from my Bryston BDP-1, since I added a Shunyata Sigma Digital power cord to it this afternoon. The Sigma took the background noise floor even lower. You really have no idea about this phenomena until it is reduced, or gone.
Anyway, none of that matters if the speakers aren't up to the task, and I am happy to report the Magico S5s are sounding even better than when I got them in April. However, I have to admit that I have had some incidents with these speakers over the last few months, but Magico has stepped up and made things right.
As some may remember, in July I accidentally toasted the right S5 tweeter and mid-range by having the preamp at its maximum. Well, that was completely and totally my fault. Fortunately, Magico is 30 minutes up the road, so I took the speaker there, and they fixed it. Of course, it cost me $2k, but that's the price you pay for s c r e w i n g up. At the time, Alon told me to keep an SPL meter handy to monitor the sound level as it can get really loud without you realizing just how high it is. Since then the highest I play these, and only occasionally, is in the low to mid 90s, with maybe a bounce into the upper 90s. This is measured 8' feet away in my chair. With the Pass XP-20 preamp this occurs with the volume in the 60s, while it was at 83 when I originally toasted the drivers.
After a month or so, I started noticing the sound didn't seem as balanced as before, with the left seeming more dominate. I tweaked the right volume a touch, and that bought the balance back. It still sounded great, but unbalanced. Then one night the right speaker sounded like c r a p. It turns out the midrange died. WTF! I knew I hadn't exceeded any capability of the speaker, but it broke.
So, I took it back to Magico, and they dissected the driver. They showed it to me, and said it appeared the driver banged against the magnet. Maybe it did, but I knew it wasn't from me. Alon said there was no other sign of abuse, and it was probably a manufacturing defect. So, they replaced it for free, and I was back in business.
Then in October I am listening to the stereo, and I notice the left side volume go down, then it would come back. After a while, it did that trick again. Now what I wondered. Finally, it went down again, but didn't come back. Now I have to shift the balance to the left, but even then it didn't sound quite right. At this point I started waiting for whatever is breaking to completely break so I could get it fixed. A week later I am listening to a new CD of chamber music that has a lot of ping type sounds, such as striking a triangle, and it was sounding dull. At that point I started to use the balance on the DAC to alternate between left and right, and I realized the tweeter on the left speaker wasn't working.
My first thought was this is just a continuation of the damage I caused in July. I figured that while the right tweeter broke, at the same time I probably weakened the left, and it finally failed. I ordered a tweeter from Magico, and replaced it a week later. No help. Same issue. Well, that sure was a waste of $800 I thought. However, Dave, the support manager, said they would refund me since that wasn't the problem.
On Tuesday I once again returned a speaker. It turns out this time a resistor on the cross-over cracked, and failed. Although I was ready to pay to fix this, Magico fixed it for no charge. Friday I picked up the speaker, and a check for $800. Now I am sitting here, and once again, am just amazed at how good these speakers sound.
I have had a bit of bad luck, but I hope that is all behind me now. I am also grateful Magico is right up the road. I have never bought used gear before buying the S5s, and never will again. It is my understanding the previous owner played vinyl through them, and they can't take that abuse from the pops, clicks, and rumble. Just kidding.
Anyway, none of that matters if the speakers aren't up to the task, and I am happy to report the Magico S5s are sounding even better than when I got them in April. However, I have to admit that I have had some incidents with these speakers over the last few months, but Magico has stepped up and made things right.
As some may remember, in July I accidentally toasted the right S5 tweeter and mid-range by having the preamp at its maximum. Well, that was completely and totally my fault. Fortunately, Magico is 30 minutes up the road, so I took the speaker there, and they fixed it. Of course, it cost me $2k, but that's the price you pay for s c r e w i n g up. At the time, Alon told me to keep an SPL meter handy to monitor the sound level as it can get really loud without you realizing just how high it is. Since then the highest I play these, and only occasionally, is in the low to mid 90s, with maybe a bounce into the upper 90s. This is measured 8' feet away in my chair. With the Pass XP-20 preamp this occurs with the volume in the 60s, while it was at 83 when I originally toasted the drivers.
After a month or so, I started noticing the sound didn't seem as balanced as before, with the left seeming more dominate. I tweaked the right volume a touch, and that bought the balance back. It still sounded great, but unbalanced. Then one night the right speaker sounded like c r a p. It turns out the midrange died. WTF! I knew I hadn't exceeded any capability of the speaker, but it broke.
So, I took it back to Magico, and they dissected the driver. They showed it to me, and said it appeared the driver banged against the magnet. Maybe it did, but I knew it wasn't from me. Alon said there was no other sign of abuse, and it was probably a manufacturing defect. So, they replaced it for free, and I was back in business.
Then in October I am listening to the stereo, and I notice the left side volume go down, then it would come back. After a while, it did that trick again. Now what I wondered. Finally, it went down again, but didn't come back. Now I have to shift the balance to the left, but even then it didn't sound quite right. At this point I started waiting for whatever is breaking to completely break so I could get it fixed. A week later I am listening to a new CD of chamber music that has a lot of ping type sounds, such as striking a triangle, and it was sounding dull. At that point I started to use the balance on the DAC to alternate between left and right, and I realized the tweeter on the left speaker wasn't working.
My first thought was this is just a continuation of the damage I caused in July. I figured that while the right tweeter broke, at the same time I probably weakened the left, and it finally failed. I ordered a tweeter from Magico, and replaced it a week later. No help. Same issue. Well, that sure was a waste of $800 I thought. However, Dave, the support manager, said they would refund me since that wasn't the problem.
On Tuesday I once again returned a speaker. It turns out this time a resistor on the cross-over cracked, and failed. Although I was ready to pay to fix this, Magico fixed it for no charge. Friday I picked up the speaker, and a check for $800. Now I am sitting here, and once again, am just amazed at how good these speakers sound.
I have had a bit of bad luck, but I hope that is all behind me now. I am also grateful Magico is right up the road. I have never bought used gear before buying the S5s, and never will again. It is my understanding the previous owner played vinyl through them, and they can't take that abuse from the pops, clicks, and rumble. Just kidding.
Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes
Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables
Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits.
Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes
Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables
Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits.
Comments
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Sounds like a lot of work, but glad you are now enjoying your truly high-end system!2 ChannelTurntable - VPI Classic 2/Ortofon 2M BlueAmplification - Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II, Parks Audio Budgie PhonoSpeakers - GoldenEar Triton 17.2 Home TheaterDenon AVR-X3300W; Rotel RMB-1066; Klipsch RP-280F's, Klipsch RP-450C, Polk FXi3's, Polk RC60i; Dual SVS PB 2000's; BenQ HT2050; Elite Screens 120"Man CaveTurntable - Pro-Ject 2.9 Wood/Grado GoldAmplification - Dared SL2000a, McCormack DNA 0.5 DeluxeCD: Cambridge AudioSpeakers - Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary; LSiM 703; SDA 2A
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It is my understanding the previous owner played vinyl through them, and they can't take that abuse from the pops, clicks, and rumble.
LMAOPolitical Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Glad that's over with. It's a PITA when stuff starts to not work, but doesn't go out completely. I had that happen with an SME tonearm once. Went back to the factory twice, and finally the 2nd time they were able to get defect to occur and repair it."Science is suppose to explain observations not dismiss them as impossible" - Norm on AA; 2.3TL's w/sonicaps/mills/jantzen inductors, Gimpod's boards, Lg Solen SDA inductors, RD-0198's, MW's dynamatted, Armaflex speaker gaskets, H-nuts, brass spikes, Cardas CCGR BP's, upgraded IC Cable, Black Hole Damping Sheet strips, interior of cabinets sealed with Loctite Power Grab, AI-1 interface with 1000VA A-L transformer
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An interesting story, and I'm glad you are now able to enjoy your music!Family Room, Innuos Statement streamer (Roon Core) with Morrow Audio USB cable to McIntosh MC 2700 pre with DC2 Digital Audio Module; AQ Sky XLRs to CAT 600.2 dualmono amp, Morrow Elite Speaker Cables to NOLA Baby Grand Reference Gold 3 speakers. Power source for all components: Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One with dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel.
Exercise Room, Innuos Streamer via Cat 6 cable connection to PS Audio PerfectWave MkII DAC w/Bridge II, AQ King Cobra RCAs to Perreaux PMF3150 amp (fully restored and upgraded by Jeffrey Jackson, Precision Audio Labs), Supra Rondo 4x2.5 Speaker Cables to SDA 1Cs (Vr3 Mods Xovers and other mods.), Dreadnaught with Supra Rondo 4x2.5 interconnect cables by Vr3 Mods. Power for each component from dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel, except Innuos Statement powered from Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One. -
I wouldn't let one bad experience ruin buying used gear. That just means you have to be more selective on who your buying from. What those speaks cost though, totally unacceptable....and some of it has to be Magico's dime.HT SYSTEM-
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's
