On 06/04/2025 at 1:35 PM, BioBrian said:

 

In this case, the amp itself is generating hum and buzz, even with only the power cord connected. We can hear it from across the room when the music or movie stops. Being near the rack to change a disc or adjust something is horrible - it's like a nasty growl when you go near it.

 

Anyway I shouldn't pollute your cheerful and optimistic thread! Maybe I have to start one, to learn more about Consumer Rights and all that unnecessary fuss. Grrr...

PM being sent.

3 hours ago, Mendes said:

Great to hear the system again Chanh, I love the horns.

They are crying out for a SET Amp, 211 Tube amp or PSE 845's or something similar.

I understand how hard it is to audition with your horns though but would be really special.

Not that the Gryfon's are slouches, just synergy ✌️tubes and horns.

 

Thanks again mate and good to see the team again.

Cheers, Steve! I'm on the lookout for those 211s or 845s. Years ago, I had a pair of Mingda 6NS7 300B 845s. They would have been a great match if I hadn't sold them for $2,000. 

 

Thanks for bringing over the grape juice! It was delicious, as always!

On 13/04/2025 at 9:53 AM, AccuTidal said:

Happy Sunday, everyone! 🎉 I’m excited to share that I’m hosting a get-together with my wonderful WA crew before my upcoming adventures in Sydney and Melbourne, where I'll be scouting for amazing speaker candidates! Can’t wait to connect and share some great learning conversations! 🌟

Thanks Chanh for the chance to hear the horns on the end of your wonderful sounding system. Despite not being able to be set up optimally due to the presence of your Magicos hogging the likely spot, they were very engaging & relaxing to listen to. They represent superb value for money but need a large space to accommodate them, which counts me out! Would be nice to hear with tubes, but those Gryphons are exceptional and aided that sense of musical rightness and listenability whatever the source. When playing via your latest tricked out music server, there was a level of refinement & ease I had not heard before. Well done!!

On 13/4/2025 at 3:57 PM, AccuTidal said:

I had an amazing time connecting with such seasoned individuals! Their wealth of experience truly made the gathering unforgettable.

Thanks for making the time Chan to share your fab system , really enjoyed my time there and experience such well sorted setup of tasty gear and more than meets the eye , cheers Steve for sharing.

 

Oh your room is superb , greeted with a nicely  balanced enormous overall soundstage , scary good imaging , that has you on the edge of your seat and just enveloped in the sound while tracing  the instruments pin point placements and more.

Amazing how cupping ones ears to focus sound made such minimal difference ….it shows how well the numerous room treatments reward the Magicos and or whatever speakers to reside to really bloom in such well sorted environment.

 

Later upping the anti with changing to the vintage Horns juiced with great vinyl transported me. To be continued …

 

happy days 


 

 

13 hours ago, teagle said:

Thanks Chanh for the chance to hear the horns on the end of your wonderful sounding system. Despite not being able to be set up optimally due to the presence of your Magicos hogging the likely spot, they were very engaging & relaxing to listen to. They represent superb value for money but need a large space to accommodate them, which counts me out! Would be nice to hear with tubes, but those Gryphons are exceptional and aided that sense of musical rightness and listenability whatever the source. When playing via your latest tricked out music server, there was a level of refinement & ease I had not heard before. Well done!!

Thank you for your valuable feedback, Terry! You have been with me since the beginning of my audio journey more than a decade ago, and you are well aware of how much it has advanced, as well as the countless hours of love and effort I’ve invested. At this stage, everything appears to be very satisfactory, and I hope to bring this phase to a conclusion soon. The future room will be based on these learning curves, and I look forward to having your feedback again! I’m considering dimensions of 8-10 meters width and 16-20 meters in length, with a ceiling height of 3-3.5 meters. 😍 🥳

Edited April 15, 2025Apr 15 by AccuTidal
Meters not millimeters

13 hours ago, La scala said:

Thanks for making the time Chan to share your fab system , really enjoyed my time there and experience such well sorted setup of tasty gear and more than meets the eye , cheers Steve for sharing.

 

Oh your room is superb , greeted with a nicely  balanced enormous overall soundstage , scary good imaging , that has you on the edge of your seat and just enveloped in the sound while tracing  the instruments pin point placements and more.

Amazing how cupping ones ears to focus sound made such minimal difference ….it shows how well the numerous room treatments reward the Magicos and or whatever speakers to reside to really bloom in such well sorted environment.

 

Later upping the anti with changing to the vintage Horns juiced with great vinyl transported me. To be continued …

 

happy days 


 

 

Cheers @La scala! I am glad you made it, and thank you for checking out these LM3 horn speakers in the right setting. Many of us form our opinions based on limited YouTube listening experiences without truly understanding their musical capabilities. However, when you have the opportunity to listen in an appropriate setup, it becomes so relaxing and engaging that we forget about the equipment and simply enjoy the music. These speakers are truly underrated and often misrepresented until you have experienced them yourself in real life. 

 

I look forward to reading your ongoing feedback! It's very intriguing, that's for sure.

Fantastic space you have.  Super jealous of a dedicated room compared to most people lounge corner. 

Oh wow, those Line Magnetic LM3 were music makers. The mood they create let’s you slip away into another realm.

Sure their initial impression makes you thing it’s laid back with a mellow top end and other non musical aspects differ from what the Magicos offer such as black backgrounds , focus , spatial information and recording artefacts etc.

But man o man these LM3 Horns take you away with their soundstage depth , life like dynamics and freaky transient response , however in such a relaxed ease that’s simply captivating.

Their naturalness , harmonic resolution , tone colour and liquidity engages you intimately  as only well excecuted horns can , it’s not Hi Fi anymore , I’d call it Lo Fi  for Lovely Fidelity.

 

If they were mine , I’d add to the top end / tweeter  projection to match the glorious mid horn +++ .

Be so much fun tuning these…still so much more potential to extract if so inclined and in doing so would potentially bridge any gaps in the qualities the Magicos offer to get the best of both worlds for truely incredible musical enjoyment.

Love em … and thanks again Chan for a memorable experience.

Happy days V 

Edited April 18, 2025Apr 18 by La scala

Cheers V! 

 

I visited Audio Connection in Sydney to listen to the Estelon Extreme speakers, powered by a brand new pair of Gryphon EVO monoblock amplifiers, with dCS DAC and Pandora preamps. The sound quality was outstanding—highly resolute, precise, accurate, and with amazing definition.

 

So far, I’ve noticed that there isn't much emphasis on dedicated and acoustically treated rooms; instead, the focus seems to be more on electronics. Not a single room I’ve visited so far appears to be properly acoustically treated. However, there is one room yet to come that features highly anticipated acoustic treatment. I am looking forward to it. 

4 hours ago, AccuTidal said:

Cheers V! 

 

I visited Audio Connection in Sydney to listen to the Estelon Extreme speakers, powered by a brand new pair of Gryphon EVO monoblock amplifiers, with dCS DAC and Pandora preamps. The sound quality was outstanding—highly resolute, precise, accurate, and with amazing definition.

 

So far, I’ve noticed that there isn't much emphasis on dedicated and acoustically treated rooms; instead, the focus seems to be more on electronics. Not a single room I’ve visited so far appears to be properly acoustically treated. However, there is one room yet to come that features highly anticipated acoustic treatment. I am looking forward to it. 

Did you get to sample their Burmeister BC-350 or Gryphon Trident whilst there to compare ! .

I agree in the lack of effort that’s made in room treatment optimisation in general , especially upon demo’ing speakers in that tax bracket. 
Shame nowhere to sample TAD Speakers which deserve high praise. 
Hope you get closer to finding your ideal speaker ear gasm …the hunt is the best part.

On 05/04/2025 at 4:51 PM, AccuTidal said:

 

I recently felt the urge to explore some new audio gear, so I made my way to Addicted to Audio in Subiaco, WA. Let me tell you, I was absolutely captivated by the Magico M series! The sound quality is nothing short of extraordinary, utterly surpassing the S-series in countless ways.

You have previous direct experience with M series. You heard my M3 years ago. A step above M2 at A2A I should think. Yeah, it's a big investment that's for sure. M3 = $175K RRP (about to be discontinued I'm told - they've been removed from A2A website).

On 04/04/2025 at 10:17 AM, AccuTidal said:

It has been a while since work and family have disrupted the focus I need in this space. However, I've resurrected it with additional furniture, enhanced cables, and a computer network powered by the Waserva smart hub and reference filter. It's astonishing how such seemingly small investments can dramatically improve sound quality; the difference is unforgettably noticeable.

Moreover, I'm now venturing into the enchanting world of high-end interconnects, speaker cables, and, incredibly, LAN cables from brands like Synergy Research and Siltech Royal Reference! I can hardly fathom how a single cable could cost more than my wife's diamond ring. If she finds out, I might be in some serious financial trouble!

Despite the current mid-fi gear sounding absolutely phenomenal, my plans for better speakers have hit a snag upon discovering that many are priced well over $350,000.00 MSRP. It's a bit of a reality check, but the journey into this audiophile realm is undeniably exciting!

Well don't get me started on the prices, it's taking the whole enjoyment out of the obsession. but is it really about quality? Do you think you are getting all the magic available out of the Magico? Different amps, of a certain quality, but not the ridiculous high end could yeild significant changes, benifits and enjoyment.

The system I heard at the toronto show was over a $1m and the quality was insane, but there was still a lot missing.

Yet my Harbeths with my Audio Research hit the spot in a much more engaging way, value not withstanding, i would take my speakers over the $250k ones any day of the week.

Then take my DIY speakers, the drivers and parts would cost as much as any of these high end designs, and they sound at least as good, parts not including timber and hours came to about $5k. (i'd put them up against anything)

Then take your speakers, about 50 seconds into Let it Rain, Patricia Barber someone leaves the venue by a door in the left rear corner, most systems you can't hear it at all (I think you need the SACD or Vinyl) your the first time I heard it, crystal clear, behind my left ear, I though someone came in, only for you to show me the wine celler with no exit there. I have never heard this anywhere else.

However you then added the white accoustic treatment and the sound sadly moved to the front of the stage.

The Magicos, cheaper than yours, that I listened to in Toronto, were superior to my ears. Of course you may not like them as much.

What i am saying is that the quality you have on hand in your speakers is plenty good enough, a change may be needed, but spending more probably not. Spending more does not equal better qulaity, or more enjoyment. Whats yoiur take on this?

I'm not putting forward any conclusive facts here, maybe just some things to ponder. 

11 hours ago, brodricj said:

You have previous direct experience with M series. You heard my M3 years ago. A step above M2 at A2A I should think. Yeah, it's a big investment that's for sure. M3 = $175K RRP (about to be discontinued I'm told - they've been removed from A2A website).

I will soon audition the M7s in Melbourne. They also have the M9s available, but I won’t be pursuing that opportunity due to insufficient cash flow. Depending on the asking price and the quality of my hearing, there may be a gathering in a more casual setting.

10 hours ago, russell66 said:

Do you think you are getting all the magic available out of the Magico? Different amps, of a certain quality, but not the ridiculous high end could yeild significant changes, benifits and enjoyment.

Those Gryphon monos are actually a very good match with the Magico.

I agree with the comment above about 845 or 211 tubes for the horns but for the Magico those Gryphons are perfect.

10 hours ago, russell66 said:

What i am saying is that the quality you have on hand in your speakers is plenty good enough, a change may be needed, but spending more probably not. Spending more does not equal better qulaity, or more enjoyment. Whats yoiur take on this?

 

Usually spending higher up the range gives you less compromise and sometimes more advanced technology.

It's rare that a lower model in a speaker range is better and is usually due to restricted room size.

True, Chan's system is extremely good and he doesn't really need to upgrade if he doesn't want to however part of this hobby/passion can almost be the art of striving for perfection.  Even though this is not possible to achieve, through doing so however hopefully you are able to create something amazing.

On 15/4/2025 at 9:03 AM, AccuTidal said:

The future room will be based on these learning curves, and I look forward to having your feedback again! I’m considering dimensions of 8-10 meters width and 16-20 meters in length, with a ceiling height of 3-3.5 meters. 😍 🥳

Hi Chan, I hope you are well.

I'm glad to see your system going from strength to strength.

That is a size of room that I could only dream of... 😁

Going that large though I wonder if you lose the intimacy in the sound with your system?

Edited April 18, 2025Apr 18 by Martykt

5 minutes ago, Martykt said:

Going that large though I wonder if you lose the intimacy in the sound with your system?

that is a very good question, I wonder my self

1 hour ago, AccuTidal said:

I will soon audition the M7s in Melbourne.

I've always said M7 would be ideal choice for your speaker upgrade. I tried to audition M7 in Melbourne but it couldn't be arranged unfortunately.

1 hour ago, Martykt said:

Hi Chan, I hope you are well.

I'm glad to see your system going from strength to strength.

That is a size of room that I could only dream of... 😁

Going that large though I wonder if you lose the intimacy in the sound with your system?

 

57 minutes ago, AdrianRa said:

that is a very good question, I wonder my self

My personal experience suggests that a larger room would enhance intimacy and presence. We frequently encounter speakers that excessively amplify the room’s volume, resulting in distortion that we mistakenly attribute to speaker inefficiency. In reality, the opposite is true. I have personally heard small bookshelf speakers in a 5x8x2.4 meter room produce remarkably open and spacious sound. Conversely, room of the same volume with a set of full floorstanding speakers often sound inferior. I highly recommend that you try this out, as it could be an intriguing experience.

 

Last evening, I had the opportunity to experience intimacy at Murli’s setup. I resided there until midnight, hesitant to depart. The setup is remarkable and undoubtedly a testament to my enlightenment in adopting it. The sound quality is exceptional, realistic, and immerses me in the ambiance of a live performance. I highly recommend reaching out to him for an authentic experience. While I have extensively viewed and listened to his YouTube recordings, the most recent one left me astounded with numerous instances of jaw-dropping astonishment. Even the familiar tracks I had never noticed before were captivating.

I would like to express my gratitude to Murli for making the effort to pick me up from Sydney CBD.

 

9 minutes ago, AccuTidal said:

 

My personal experience suggests that a larger room would enhance intimacy and presence. We frequently encounter speakers that excessively amplify the room’s volume, resulting in distortion that we mistakenly attribute to speaker inefficiency. In reality, the opposite is true. I have personally heard small bookshelf speakers in a 5x8x2.4 meter room produce remarkably open and spacious sound. Conversely, room of the same volume with a set of full floorstanding speakers often sound inferior. I highly recommend that you try this out, as it could be an intriguing experience.

 

Last evening, I had the opportunity to experience intimacy at Murli’s setup. I resided there until midnight, hesitant to depart. The setup is remarkable and undoubtedly a testament to my enlightenment in adopting it. The sound quality is exceptional, realistic, and immerses me in the ambiance of a live performance. I highly recommend reaching out to him for an authentic experience. While I have extensively viewed and listened to his YouTube recordings, the most recent one left me astounded with numerous instances of jaw-dropping astonishment. Even the familiar tracks I had never noticed before were captivating.

I would like to express my gratitude to Murli for making the effort to pick me up from Sydney CBD.

 

Very nice!

17 minutes ago, AccuTidal said:

My personal experience suggests that a larger room would enhance intimacy and presence. We frequently encounter speakers that excessively amplify the room’s volume, resulting in distortion that we mistakenly attribute to speaker inefficiency. In reality, the opposite is true. I have personally heard small bookshelf speakers in a 5x8x2.4 meter room produce remarkably open and spacious sound. Conversely, room of the same volume with a set of full floorstanding speakers often sound inferior. I highly recommend that you try this out, as it could be an intriguing experience.

True, a large room is good as it lets the speakers breathe. 

 

Unfortunately my room that I'm finally setting up is very much on the smaller side. (4.2 x 3.6 x 2.4)

Definitely on the other extreme of making a large system work in a small space. 

Just for reference, afaik Floyd Toole estimates the "large room" acoustic properties to start at somewhere around 280-300 cubic meters. Below that size, Toole argues, small room "modes" and early reflections are more varied plus non diffuse reverberation, and require different treatment than in "large" rooms.

The volume is only a rough guideline, for Toole a small room is one in which low-frequency standing waves dominate and reverberation is not statistically uniform. A large room is one where modal density is high, and sound decays smoothly with a reverberant tail. [1]

 

 

[1] It's a Schroeder frequency line of reasoning: fs=2000× square root of RT60/V

Edited April 19, 2025Apr 19 by Steff

On 18/4/2025 at 10:27 PM, russell66 said:

Well don't get me started on the prices, it's taking the whole enjoyment out of the obsession. but is it really about quality? Do you think you are getting all the magic available out of the Magico? Different amps, of a certain quality, but not the ridiculous high end could yeild significant changes, benifits and enjoyment.

The system I heard at the toronto show was over a $1m and the quality was insane, but there was still a lot missing.

Yet my Harbeths with my Audio Research hit the spot in a much more engaging way, value not withstanding, i would take my speakers over the $250k ones any day of the week.

Then take my DIY speakers, the drivers and parts would cost as much as any of these high end designs, and they sound at least as good, parts not including timber and hours came to about $5k. (i'd put them up against anything)

Then take your speakers, about 50 seconds into Let it Rain, Patricia Barber someone leaves the venue by a door in the left rear corner, most systems you can't hear it at all (I think you need the SACD or Vinyl) your the first time I heard it, crystal clear, behind my left ear, I though someone came in, only for you to show me the wine celler with no exit there. I have never heard this anywhere else.

However you then added the white accoustic treatment and the sound sadly moved to the front of the stage.

The Magicos, cheaper than yours, that I listened to in Toronto, were superior to my ears. Of course you may not like them as much.

What i am saying is that the quality you have on hand in your speakers is plenty good enough, a change may be needed, but spending more probably not. Spending more does not equal better qulaity, or more enjoyment. Whats yoiur take on this?

I'm not putting forward any conclusive facts here, maybe just some things to ponder. 

Hello Russell,

 

I continue to favour wooden cabinet speakers. After all, we observe that all string instruments are constructed in wood or timber with a resonant chamber sound that is more pleasing to the ears. You would have experienced my room with wooden treatment, and such treatment sounded not bad. I took the tour to the opera house two days ago, and the acoustic treatment in their main orchestra hall is nothing but timber and fibreglass acoustic treated.

 

Magico’s founder has developed a scientific theory that resonation should not occur within the speakers’ cabinet, and with this finding, they have advanced their speakers with a philosophy of eliminating the resonant from the speakers’ cabinet by introducing a more rigid material like aluminium. While this approach has provided an accurate sound, perhaps not always perceived as pleasant to the musical ear.

Edited April 19, 2025Apr 19 by AccuTidal

56 minutes ago, AccuTidal said:

I continue to favour wooden cabinet speakers. After all, we observe that all string instruments are constructed in wood or timber with a resonant chamber sound that is more pleasing to the ears. You would have experienced my room with wooden treatment, and such treatment sounded not bad. I took the tour to the opera house two days ago, and the acoustic treatment in their main orchestra hall is nothing but timber and fibreglass acoustic treated.

@AccuTidal, have you ever seen Hamer Hall in Melbourne?

It has some of the most stunning wooden acoustic treatments.

 

1 hour ago, AccuTidal said:

I continue to favour wooden cabinet speakers

I also find the material of the drivers make a big difference too.

My personal preference would be for paper drivers as they sound the most natural to me.

@AccuTidal I have attached some photos from a Magico Speaker based auditioning (treated) room from a Magico retailer in Korea for your reference. Not sure whether you will like it though.