My final speaker for the long term
Joey_V
Posts: 8,570
Final speaker for the long term.
My room is a fixed entity, 15x18. It ain’t gonna change anytime soon and the current economy, rising interest, etc… the dream of building a new house with a massive first floor stereo room just ain’t happening anytime soon. I might be able to build a 25x17 room in the backyard someday, but that’s probably 5 years away. I just turned 40, so time is beginning to slip.
Right now I am running what you see in my signature. I wanted to test out some classic speakers that I had lusted over since my college days and procured the Magico MINI II… and truth be told, they are absolutely stunning sounding with the right gear and room treatments.
But now, it’s time for my final act for this room. I don’t think I’ll be tempted again to change if I hit it just right. If I change rooms, then that’s a different story, but if I stayed in this room, then these are pretty much my retirement.
I have seriously lost the urge to do upgrades to most of my components. More like lateral moves to keep updated but no large shifts in audio paradigm. Instead of doing comparisons, etc, I just sit and listen… and listen… and listen. I can sit for 5 hours straight into the early mornings.
I spoke to my wife in detail, and what I want for our 10th anniversary, is my final speaker. She said yeah right, but I’m convinced that if I get this right, I will have reached the summit for my size room. There ain’t no Magico M6 or Wilson XVX for me… in this room… ever.
The two speakers I have narrowed down to are the Magico M2 and the Vivid Giya G2 series 2. Both in black. Both will be used as I don’t like taking the depreciative hit.
The M2 - I have heard on MSB and synergistic research sounded very very good. I think I could get a better sound for my taste at my home base, but I digress. I have heard the Vivid Giya 1 (not the 2) in a DCS and Dartzeel set up and it was very very good as well, but I’m not regarding imaging height, I felt it was too tall a singer, but then the Giya 2 is much shorter so I’m hoping that ameliorates it.
The Vivid attract me because of Lawrence Dickie and his speaker design. I like the nautilus tubes, the lack of diffraction in the cabinet surface, the opposing bass drivers, and the shape is probably about as good as you can make for a wave launch.
The Magico M2 attract me as a next step from my Mini II, Alon Wolf has some good points with cabinet construction, tension rods front the back, diamond dome beryllium tweeter, grapheme mods and bass, isolated pod behind the midrange, copper gaskets, drivers held by tension rather than bolt down into mdf, and sealed design. The cabinet shape of the m2 is also edgeless though not as superlative as the variable width baffle of the Giya 2 s2.
I can’t audition both in my room.
I don’t want to bother dealers since I’m not buying from them.
Luckily I’ve heard them or a semblance of them before and have experience with their progenitors or similar yet not as refined examples (Magico mini 2 and bowers and Wilkins 802d3).
Not sure if any here have some thoughts or ideas. I’m pretty closed off to other options as I don’t want to confuse myself even more. I’ve crossed off Rockports, Stenheim Alumines. I have not heard Estelon. I don’t like Paradigm Persona. I have not heard Vimberg. I have crossed off Sonus Faber (already have Olympica 3). I have definitely crossed off Focal Evo series. I don’t like the new BW 802D4 enough.
One thing I need to keep in mind is not to overload the room… though I have dual JL F113v2 subs with the JL CR1 to attenuate the bass from the speakers if I need to. Something I didn’t have when I had larger speakers that overwhelmed my room in the past.
The best speaker is not the biggest, but the one that fits the room the best.
I’m not after the best speaker in the world, I’m only after what sounds like one I can marry for years and decades.
Thx for listening to me just talk…
My room is a fixed entity, 15x18. It ain’t gonna change anytime soon and the current economy, rising interest, etc… the dream of building a new house with a massive first floor stereo room just ain’t happening anytime soon. I might be able to build a 25x17 room in the backyard someday, but that’s probably 5 years away. I just turned 40, so time is beginning to slip.
Right now I am running what you see in my signature. I wanted to test out some classic speakers that I had lusted over since my college days and procured the Magico MINI II… and truth be told, they are absolutely stunning sounding with the right gear and room treatments.
But now, it’s time for my final act for this room. I don’t think I’ll be tempted again to change if I hit it just right. If I change rooms, then that’s a different story, but if I stayed in this room, then these are pretty much my retirement.
I have seriously lost the urge to do upgrades to most of my components. More like lateral moves to keep updated but no large shifts in audio paradigm. Instead of doing comparisons, etc, I just sit and listen… and listen… and listen. I can sit for 5 hours straight into the early mornings.
I spoke to my wife in detail, and what I want for our 10th anniversary, is my final speaker. She said yeah right, but I’m convinced that if I get this right, I will have reached the summit for my size room. There ain’t no Magico M6 or Wilson XVX for me… in this room… ever.
The two speakers I have narrowed down to are the Magico M2 and the Vivid Giya G2 series 2. Both in black. Both will be used as I don’t like taking the depreciative hit.
The M2 - I have heard on MSB and synergistic research sounded very very good. I think I could get a better sound for my taste at my home base, but I digress. I have heard the Vivid Giya 1 (not the 2) in a DCS and Dartzeel set up and it was very very good as well, but I’m not regarding imaging height, I felt it was too tall a singer, but then the Giya 2 is much shorter so I’m hoping that ameliorates it.
The Vivid attract me because of Lawrence Dickie and his speaker design. I like the nautilus tubes, the lack of diffraction in the cabinet surface, the opposing bass drivers, and the shape is probably about as good as you can make for a wave launch.
The Magico M2 attract me as a next step from my Mini II, Alon Wolf has some good points with cabinet construction, tension rods front the back, diamond dome beryllium tweeter, grapheme mods and bass, isolated pod behind the midrange, copper gaskets, drivers held by tension rather than bolt down into mdf, and sealed design. The cabinet shape of the m2 is also edgeless though not as superlative as the variable width baffle of the Giya 2 s2.
I can’t audition both in my room.
I don’t want to bother dealers since I’m not buying from them.
Luckily I’ve heard them or a semblance of them before and have experience with their progenitors or similar yet not as refined examples (Magico mini 2 and bowers and Wilkins 802d3).
Not sure if any here have some thoughts or ideas. I’m pretty closed off to other options as I don’t want to confuse myself even more. I’ve crossed off Rockports, Stenheim Alumines. I have not heard Estelon. I don’t like Paradigm Persona. I have not heard Vimberg. I have crossed off Sonus Faber (already have Olympica 3). I have definitely crossed off Focal Evo series. I don’t like the new BW 802D4 enough.
One thing I need to keep in mind is not to overload the room… though I have dual JL F113v2 subs with the JL CR1 to attenuate the bass from the speakers if I need to. Something I didn’t have when I had larger speakers that overwhelmed my room in the past.
The best speaker is not the biggest, but the one that fits the room the best.
I’m not after the best speaker in the world, I’m only after what sounds like one I can marry for years and decades.
Thx for listening to me just talk…
Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R
Comments
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Magico. The Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory of Loudspeaker manufacturing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5OMquMru3Y George / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
Onkyo A-8017 integrated
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iFi nano iDSD DAC
iPurifier3
iDefender w/ iPower PS
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Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
I couldn’t look those Giyas everyday.2 Channel in my home attic/bar/man cave
2 Channel Focal Kanta 3 I Modwright SWL9.0 Anniversary Pre I Modwright PH9.0X I Modwright KWA-150SE I VPI Prime Signature w/ Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC I Lumin U2 Mini I North Star Designs Intenso DAC I Audience OHNO ICs/Audience Furutech FP-S55N and FP-S032N Power Cables/Acoustic Zen Satori I Isotek Sirius -
Black might be the best choice in that case.
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Wildcard: KLIPSCH
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stangman67 wrote: »I couldn’t look those Giyas everyday.
Yeah I get that a lot
Good thing my room is isolated and I listen in the dark but I get that aversion to the looks of the G2S2.
Reminds me of a soft serve ice cream or peepsMagico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R -
I find that your final speaker is the one where you can't afford the speakers that beat the ones you have
Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
Speaker Cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
Digital cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2 bnc, Tellurium Q aes, Silnote Audio Poseidon Signature 2 bnc
Puritan PSM156 -
I saw the giyas at the guys house I bought my set of mezzo from. I thought they looked pretty nice in person personally.
Some high end is definitely a beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Wilson audio is a great example of that.
Curious why you didn't like the Evo, I've heard the newer Focals several times and always thought they were too bright.- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
Definitely think some of the real high end focals are still hot. Not nearly as bad as the electras but still bright. Kantas on the other hand are not bright in the least2 Channel in my home attic/bar/man cave
2 Channel Focal Kanta 3 I Modwright SWL9.0 Anniversary Pre I Modwright PH9.0X I Modwright KWA-150SE I VPI Prime Signature w/ Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC I Lumin U2 Mini I North Star Designs Intenso DAC I Audience OHNO ICs/Audience Furutech FP-S55N and FP-S032N Power Cables/Acoustic Zen Satori I Isotek Sirius -
I heard the Scalas in Singapore and was accosted with high frequency sounds!
I heard the Sopra recently and it also was pretty zingy.- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
I heard the Scalas in Singapore and was accosted with high frequency sounds!
I heard the Sopra recently and it also was pretty zingy.
Ahh Singapore. One of the centers of audiophilia. I spent 6 months in Singapore in the mid 2010’s and went to many many high end hifi stores.
I compared the Sopras to Kantas, and the Kantas are the much more enjoyable speaker IMO
2 Channel in my home attic/bar/man cave
2 Channel Focal Kanta 3 I Modwright SWL9.0 Anniversary Pre I Modwright PH9.0X I Modwright KWA-150SE I VPI Prime Signature w/ Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC I Lumin U2 Mini I North Star Designs Intenso DAC I Audience OHNO ICs/Audience Furutech FP-S55N and FP-S032N Power Cables/Acoustic Zen Satori I Isotek Sirius -
Still trying for the m2 but the guy all of a sudden seems like he’s interested in raising prices instead of selling at what posted last week.
39,500 was my deal, he’s wanting 45,000 now. He’s been trying to sell for 6 months and then now this? Weird.Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R -
Then come back with 35k or I walk.
😁 -
😱😱😱The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson -
I would give that guy one chance to go back to the agreed price, then I would ghost him until he came back to $39.5.
I’d imagine that whatever he’s planning to get went up slightly, so he’s trying to cover the difference. But if he needs those funds to make something happen, every day you don’t respond will feel like a week to him if there aren’t any other serious prospects.Analog: MoFi MasterTracker > MoFi UltraDeck > Sutherland 20/20
Digital: Cambridge CXC / Streaming > Cambridge CXN v2
MastersounD Dueventi > Rosso Fiorentino Certaldo or Arcam rHead > Hifiman HE4XX
Discogs -
Have you seen these yet Joey?
https://tmraudio.com/speakers/floorstanding-speakers/b-w-nautilus-floorstanding-speakers-midnight-blue-pair/?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=campaign&utm_campaign=Friday Five vol 338 11/4/2023&_kx=-_4Bmpwk02HtDDjquSgX3YNdR8ipxU0_JX1wMUUuPBM=.WBMz2Y
The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson -
Always wanted to hear those- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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Driest, sterilist set of speakers I've ever heard. Those that Joey is lusting after use a lot of the B&W technology I had thought. Tubes are just inside the enclosure.
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Guess it sounds like almost every other bw speaker out there haha
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
Yes but more of that "goodness" ...
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nooshinjohn wrote: »
My friends have sent that link to me… a little expensive, too much of a risk at that price. But cool piece of history nonetheless
Too difficult to power, needs like 4 amps or something?Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R -
displayname wrote: »I would give that guy one chance to go back to the agreed price, then I would ghost him until he came back to $39.5.
I’d imagine that whatever he’s planning to get went up slightly, so he’s trying to cover the difference. But if he needs those funds to make something happen, every day you don’t respond will feel like a week to him if there aren’t any other serious prospects.
I think you’re right
Not sure what he’s trying to pull here but if I lose the desire, I’ll leave the unit aloneMagico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R -
I heard the Scalas in Singapore and was accosted with high frequency sounds!
I heard the Sopra recently and it also was pretty zingy.stangman67 wrote: »Definitely think some of the real high end focals are still hot. Not nearly as bad as the electras but still bright. Kantas on the other hand are not bright in the leastI saw the giyas at the guys house I bought my set of mezzo from. I thought they looked pretty nice in person personally.
Some high end is definitely a beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Wilson audio is a great example of that.
Curious why you didn't like the Evo, I've heard the newer Focals several times and always thought they were too bright.stangman67 wrote: »I heard the Scalas in Singapore and was accosted with high frequency sounds!
I heard the Sopra recently and it also was pretty zingy.
Ahh Singapore. One of the centers of audiophilia. I spent 6 months in Singapore in the mid 2010’s and went to many many high end hifi stores.
I compared the Sopras to Kantas, and the Kantas are the much more enjoyable speaker IMO
I’ve owned the Kanta 2 for a little while. Just didn’t gel with the sound over time. A little odd in the bass if you really live with it.
Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R -
My other friend alerted me to this
I’ve heard the Stenheim 5se… sounded quite good
https://tmraudio.com/speakers/floorstanding-speakers/stenheim-alumine-3-floorstanding-speakers-gray-red-pair/Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R -
The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson -
You are basing your impressions of the Evo based off the Kanta??- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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Not enough of a room for those Maggies.
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In your original post, Stenheims were crossed off your list. They are getting a lot of good reviews and might be a good match for the room.
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You are basing your impressions of the Evo based off the Kanta??
Nah
I’m basing it on that and I’ve heard Scala evo and maestro evo
I don’t like the tweeter in particular.
Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R -
In your original post, Stenheims were crossed off your list. They are getting a lot of good reviews and might be a good match for the room.
You’re right it might be
I am interested those 3s
I heard the larger ones and thought there was something off about the midrange
Still sounds great, one of the better ones I’ve heard but I heard something I didn’t particularly like
But it’s so hard because a lot is the room and equipment so I don’t know how my dual arc 10s and Boulder would do.Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R -
Just stick with the Magico speakers that you have.
