I would like to clarify that with my current setup, if you're playing a poor recording, you're unlikely to fully appreciate the system's capabilities. It has a way of revealing every flaw in the audio. However, when you play a high-quality recording, you’re truly in for a delightful experience.

 

I’ve had numerous guests come through with subpar recordings. Some even brought in burned CDs containing MP3 files converted back to CD audio format, only to criticize the system's sound quality. One individual remarked that his several-thousand-dollar bookshelf setup produced far better sound. It's important to consider the source when judging audio quality!

 

 

2 hours ago, AccMagi7s said:

I believe the differences in sound really come down to the positioning of the speakers, influenced by room acoustics. After months of tweaking, the S5s are finally in their sweet spot! On the other hand, the LM3s are not well-placed, they haven't been optimised yet. This might lead to some distortion in the midbass and lower bass notes, making them sound a bit unfocused or fuzzy, which could explain the lack of resolution some might hear. However, the LM3s shine like stars from 400Hz upward, with a speed and clarity that’s hard to beat!

 

Also, the distance between the LM3s’ is much closer compared to the S5s, which makes it a bit unfair to judge the LM3s in this setup. Conducting a quick A vs. B comparison is a logistical challenge, and getting the LM3s set up just right like the S5s is essential for an accurate assessment.

 

Personally, I'm a fan of all of them, depending on the recording or genre at play! With classical orchestras, the S5s deliver breathtaking accuracy and pinpoint sharpness, allowing each instrument to stand out in a stunning 3D soundscape. In contrast, the LM3s really struggle to keep up with the urgency and timing of the lower frequencies. However, when it comes to relaxing vocals or simpler genres, the LM3s truly shine, letting me immerse myself in the music without getting distracted by the tech!

 

I can't help but feel excited about what’s next! The upcoming candidates could blend the best of both worlds. Stay tuned for more updates!

 

 

You are right Chanh, it’s hard/impossible to have two sets of speakers(especially of that size) in one room and have both setup correctly. Furthermore with the size of those woofers they might act as passive radiators when not in use, influencing the bass frequencies. 

34 minutes ago, AccMagi7s said:

I would like to clarify that with my current setup, if you're playing a poor recording, you're unlikely to fully appreciate the system's capabilities. It has a way of revealing every flaw in the audio. However, when you play a high-quality recording, you’re truly in for a delightful experience.

 

I’ve had numerous guests come through with subpar recordings. Some even brought in burned CDs containing MP3 files converted back to CD audio format, only to criticize the system's sound quality. One individual remarked that his several-thousand-dollar bookshelf setup produced far better sound. It's important to consider the source when judging audio quality!

 

 

 

I do agree with this 100% Chanh and of course when you fork out the cash for a hi-end system such as yours you do so with the idea to reproduce the music that you enjoy to it's very best. What sometimes flummocks me is that audiophiles can often be horrified at the prospect of hearing anything other than the very purest of recordings on their system and consequently end up listening to a narrow and boring sample of music.

 

I think my reference recordings, (that you have indeed suffered in the past) such as Fionna Apple 'On the Bound', Chemical Brothers 'Sunshine Underground' or Cinematic Orchestra 'All Things to all Men' are real tests for a system just because they re not audiophile recordings as such. They are fabulous tracks that a great system should make sound great. A system fails if it only sounds good with recordings of an audiophile nature. (Though never ripped CD's or MP3's of course)

 

I know your Magico's will not fail and will reproduce such studio treated, processed music and unnatural instrumentation just as the artists intended and sound just as good as I remember a Dean Martin track from the sixties that I once heard at a GTG simply because it was a great recording, not because it was appreciated musically. There was a real character on SNA a decade or two ago who fine-tuned his system with all manner of exotic capacitors, resistors and tubes to play the narrowest of genre's, Elvis sounded great but just terrible with any larger sound. More than a piano, acoustic guitar and drums, it fell apart.

 

What a rant! sorry, but I passionately believe a system must be able to reproduce ALL music genre's to be considered quality Hi-fi. Hope I'm not banned from the next gathering now.

11 hours ago, Grimmie said:

 

I do agree with this 100% Chanh and of course when you fork out the cash for a hi-end system such as yours you do so with the idea to reproduce the music that you enjoy to it's very best. What sometimes flummocks me is that audiophiles can often be horrified at the prospect of hearing anything other than the very purest of recordings on their system and consequently end up listening to a narrow and boring sample of music.

 

What a rant! sorry, but I passionately believe a system must be able to reproduce ALL music genre's to be considered quality Hi-fi. Hope I'm not banned from the next gathering now.

Haha, I trust you’ve fully recovered. 
 

I want to clarify the misconception about transparency versus coloration. A coloured setup often produces sound that, while perceived as more pleasant, may actually compromise acceptable tolerances.

As for the character you mentioned, we certainly miss him! 😂

Edited May 5, 2025May 5 by AccMagi7s

Some great reading thanks to you Chanh for opening your doors to share and give inspirations to this great hobby. 

 

* Re poor recordings sound so crappenhouser on SOTA systems: 

 

My solution from experience on the subject of highly resolving systems that tend to fall short / ruthlessly expose less than optimal recordings playback has proven to be due to a non SOTA Pre Amp, its the one component area that is fairly ignored until discovered and only available in tiny numbers as its such a delicate painstaking component to get Simply Right hence their ludicrous asking prices.

 

Imagine the delight when virtually everything sounds beaut and engaging, be it old school treble rich low bass tunes or those cherished recordings that just sound lifeless and unlistenable come to life with rich rythem and timing never heard of before.  Then those top notch recordings just leave you floored in awe and transport you way deep into audio euphoria....No its not just music anymore, its an experience.

 

Well, I feel ever so fortunate to discover this phenomena after wasting decades on numerous well regarded pre amps.... for me they offer the magic sauce.

Ever so beyond delighted with the Conrad Johnson Premier 7 and Audio Research SP11 mk2 Pre Amplifiers. Yes these are ancient relics and cost a house and land package in their day.

Sure these vintagers lack remote and balanced options , however their sonics make this an utterly acceptable compromise to how radically these transform ones system.

 

When everything sounds great, life is grand lol

Happy Days Studio 23

 

Thank you for that, Volka. Interestingly, I’ve previously owned several CJ preamps, including the CT6, ET3, ET5, and their flagship model, the GAT. The CT6 has a wonderfully mellow character, especially when compared to the more dynamic ET versions. My ET preamps came from Rob (Rocky500) in Yokine, and while they’re quite impressive, I’ve noticed an irritated hum resonating through my speakers.

 

In my earlier days, I paired them with a set of Wilson Benesch ATC speakers. I believe in maintaining a setup that remains dead quiet, even at maximum volume with nothing playing. This preference holds true for the high-end Absolare preamp as well. It was noisy and hum noticeably. If you delve back into this thread from 2019, you’ll find that I auditioned a plethora of preamps, including the flagship Goldmund, Vitus, Soulutions, Gryphon, and Audio Research. Only Accuphase, with the exception of C3800 from Tasso, truly achieved the overall best signal-to-noise ratio among them.

 

From this exploration, I decided to invest in the latest edition of C3900, which at the time was priced at a staggering $45k directly from Pierre.

 

 

I would also like to thank you Chanh, for another wonderful visit. 
So great to experience the two vastly different speakers using identical electronics and cables.

Im very much in line with Adrian on the differences and the preference for the S5s but as was discussed yesterday the horns would be an absolutely great pick if listening over extended periods in a casual setting.

I also think that their physical presence attributed somewhat to my appreciation of them as well, something to consider.

All up, a fantastic way to spend a Sunday, great to catch up with my good friend @Midorias always and wonderful to meet @AdrianRa. My wife has  been eagerly awaiting to hear this set up as well so she was super chuffed to have a listen.

Thanks for the wine and steak as well mate, great effort.

19 minutes ago, mtf said:

I would also like to thank you Chanh, for another wonderful visit. 
So great to experience the two vastly different speakers using identical electronics and cables.

Im very much in line with Adrian on the differences and the preference for the S5s but as was discussed yesterday the horns would be an absolutely great pick if listening over extended periods in a casual setting.

I also think that their physical presence attributed somewhat to my appreciation of them as well, something to consider.

All up, a fantastic way to spend a Sunday, great to catch up with my good friend @Midorias always and wonderful to meet @AdrianRa. My wife has  been eagerly awaiting to hear this set up as well so she was super chuffed to have a listen.

Thanks for the wine and steak as well mate, great effort.

Thank you for your awesome feedback, Mark!

 

You’re the last one to audition! These speakers are about to find their forever home!

 

For ages, I've dreamed of discovering a set of speakers that will carry me all the way to retirement and beyond. I've tried out a bunch, but nothing has come close to the Magico S5s—they’ve been my trusty companions for nearly a decade! 

The countdown is on—the new king is almost here! Get ready for an epic sound experience!

On 31/3/2024 at 8:23 AM, brodricj said:

 

He's gonna sell both and order M7's. I see it in the stars, that free delivery offer is too good to pass on.

Wow, Brodric! Isn’t it truly remarkable? I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about it after a whole year!

 

17 minutes ago, AccMagi7s said:

Wow, Brodric! Isn’t it truly remarkable? I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about it after a whole year!

goose bumps for a whole lifetime.

Exciting news! I just got an email from a friend at Gryphon Audio, and it’s got me buzzing—I can upgrade my current AS monos to the incredible 5th-generation Antileon Signature! 😍 

 

It’s a thrilling time, as shifting financial investments towards health and well-being can have its costs, but this upgrade feels totally worth it! Maybe?!? 😜

6 minutes ago, AccMagi7s said:

Exciting news! I just got an email from a friend at Gryphon Audio, and it’s got me buzzing—I can upgrade my current AS monos to the incredible 5th-generation Antileon Signature! 😍 

 

It’s a thrilling time, as shifting financial investments towards health and well-being can have its costs, but this upgrade feels totally worth it! Maybe?!? 😜

Oh my word, that would be amazing! The theater of the design alone is worth the upgrade, don't even want to imagine the sonic difference.  That is art right there!

1 hour ago, AccMagi7s said:

...I can upgrade my current AS monos to the incredible 5th-generation Antileon Signature! 😍

 

You will also need to upgrade your air conditioning in time for summer.

Given you are in a generous upgrade frame of mind, how about you upgrade my dm88's to Halcro Eclipse mono?

On 05/05/2025 at 8:06 AM, AdrianRa said:

..The thing that striked me on the Magico was just the enormous sound stage and how much information, resolution and imaging was present, without being harsh...

You 'aint heard nothing yet. Look at his SNA avatar, now there's a clue. Even I'm drooling at the prospect of what might be in the Chanh skunk works.

16 minutes ago, brodricj said:

You 'aint heard nothing yet. Look at his SNA avatar, now there's a clue. Even I'm drooling at the prospect of what might be in the Chanh skunk works.

Oh I know about those! Dream land territory!

Proper amp.

No single ended inputs to be found.

Although I doubt if it is going to make significant improvement to your setup, if any. The current one is not too shabby either.

2 hours ago, rockeater said:

Proper amp.

No single ended inputs to be found.

Although I doubt if it is going to make significant improvement to your setup, if any. The current one is not too shabby either.

The upgrade with trade-in is $90k, maybe?!? 🤤

Edited May 7, 2025May 7 by AccMagi7s

4 minutes ago, AccMagi7s said:

The upgrade with trade-in is $90k. 😞

 

$90K will get you Esoteric M1X or Halcro Eclipse mono. No need to upgrade the aircon if you had either of those.

22 minutes ago, rockeater said:

Proper amp.

Yes indeed. And requires 2 x 20A C19 power cords. You don't see that very often.

37 minutes ago, AdrianRa said:

Oh I know about those! Dream land territory!

Chanh listened to me, dream no more...

Go for it, Chanh!

 

Looks like it comes with a pre-melted plastic toy on top - think of the saving!

1 hour ago, brodricj said:

 

$90K will get you Esoteric M1X or Halcro Eclipse mono. No need to upgrade the aircon if you had either of those.

The current aircond is definitely sufficient —perhaps a bit too powerful for @AdrianRa during his visit, as he asked us to turn it off.

On another note, I was quite taken aback when I saw that Marten debuted their new $350k Coltrane Quintet at the Munich Hi-Fi show last year, paired with the Halcro Eclipse mono amps. Clearly, there are some impressive qualities in them, especially for such a significant event. 

If any of you plan to be in Munich next weekend, don't miss the Gryphon camp and share with me your thoughts on those Antileon Revelation power amps. For me personally, committing is a Revelation. At that price point is nothing short of a revelation in itself!

Edited May 7, 2025May 7 by AccMagi7s

2 hours ago, brodricj said:

 

$90K will get you Esoteric M1X or Halcro Eclipse mono. No need to upgrade the aircon if you had either of those.

Where you lose on aircon costs Chanh will save on heating costs during winter !! 😎

58 minutes ago, AccMagi7s said:

..share with me your thoughts on those Antileon Revelation power amps...

I'm not sure what you're trying to do with the Signature upgrade. That is a discontinued model, right?

3 minutes ago, Martykt said:

Where you lose on aircon costs Chanh will save on heating costs during winter !! 😎

My last power bill was over $500 for two months. And I have solar. I couldn't believe it. I would not contemplate a power hungry Class A power amp. My Esoteric Grandioso gear uses very little power. From memory the master clock runs at 10 watts, the mono DAC's about 20 watts each, same for the pre-amplifier and SACD transport.