Just installed 11/19/24, first time I'm hearing them in the wild (outside of a show). Big shout out to the gang at Soundings in Denver, Colorado.
I have to comment that I did travel twice to hear and see them. First in April to AXPONA 2024 (4/12-4/14) and then to T.H.E. Show in Costa Mesa (Saturday, June 8). AXPONA doesn't count because it was a meaningless (for me) static display. First listen was in Costa Mesa at T.H.E. Show but that ended up not counting either. The S5 2024 was being used as a prop in a room to demo Synergistic Research devices. The sound was, ahem, disappointing. Fortunately, I had two reasons to persevere; my very positive experience with the Magico A5 at home and my time spent auditioning the Magico S3 2023. I remained undaunted. My experience once again confirmed for me that the only place to properly experience an audio product is in your own listening environment.
I am migrating some of my comments from the Magico S5 2024 thread elsewhere on WBF in an effort to not hijack that thread.
The install was somewhat plug and play. First the equipment layout and speaker positioning was already optimized for the A5 (a remarkable speaker IMHO). Although it ended up further into the room and slightly closer together than it's little cousin, it did not take long to position the S5 2024 to make good sound. Second, the A5 took >400 hours of breakin to reveal its voice in the room. I expect the S5 to require a similar length of time to do the same. The main goal now is to get some playing time and enjoy the process.
Normally I don't comment on "the sound" of devices newly introduced into the room. New equipment has ups and downs. It changes slowly (or not so slowly) over time, as does one's physical and emotional perception of the sound. The challenge for me is to be patient and let the process unfold.
But 2 things struck me at the outset. After a few hours of run-in, like its sibling the S3 2023, I was taken by the transparency of the S5. Not certain at this point exactly what I am responding to but my main instinct is a relaxed and calm one.
Second is this speaker can reproduce scale. I heard that with orchestral music and in complex multi-instrument recordings like the Pat Metheny Unity Band 2014 recording Kin (<->). If this type of music is appealing to you, try the track Rise Up. The A5 was incapable of this but the S5 makes the venue's size and the music's presence felt in the room. Looking forward to how this quality evolves over time.
Enough said for now, attached are some obligatory images. I included one of the commemorative Magico 20th Anniversary presentation case. A caveat to anyone receiving a pair of S5's that includes this item; the foam revealed upon opening the aluminum case sheds tiny black particles on anything it contacts. You've been warned.
I have to comment that I did travel twice to hear and see them. First in April to AXPONA 2024 (4/12-4/14) and then to T.H.E. Show in Costa Mesa (Saturday, June 8). AXPONA doesn't count because it was a meaningless (for me) static display. First listen was in Costa Mesa at T.H.E. Show but that ended up not counting either. The S5 2024 was being used as a prop in a room to demo Synergistic Research devices. The sound was, ahem, disappointing. Fortunately, I had two reasons to persevere; my very positive experience with the Magico A5 at home and my time spent auditioning the Magico S3 2023. I remained undaunted. My experience once again confirmed for me that the only place to properly experience an audio product is in your own listening environment.
I am migrating some of my comments from the Magico S5 2024 thread elsewhere on WBF in an effort to not hijack that thread.
The install was somewhat plug and play. First the equipment layout and speaker positioning was already optimized for the A5 (a remarkable speaker IMHO). Although it ended up further into the room and slightly closer together than it's little cousin, it did not take long to position the S5 2024 to make good sound. Second, the A5 took >400 hours of breakin to reveal its voice in the room. I expect the S5 to require a similar length of time to do the same. The main goal now is to get some playing time and enjoy the process.
Normally I don't comment on "the sound" of devices newly introduced into the room. New equipment has ups and downs. It changes slowly (or not so slowly) over time, as does one's physical and emotional perception of the sound. The challenge for me is to be patient and let the process unfold.
But 2 things struck me at the outset. After a few hours of run-in, like its sibling the S3 2023, I was taken by the transparency of the S5. Not certain at this point exactly what I am responding to but my main instinct is a relaxed and calm one.
Second is this speaker can reproduce scale. I heard that with orchestral music and in complex multi-instrument recordings like the Pat Metheny Unity Band 2014 recording Kin (<->). If this type of music is appealing to you, try the track Rise Up. The A5 was incapable of this but the S5 makes the venue's size and the music's presence felt in the room. Looking forward to how this quality evolves over time.
Enough said for now, attached are some obligatory images. I included one of the commemorative Magico 20th Anniversary presentation case. A caveat to anyone receiving a pair of S5's that includes this item; the foam revealed upon opening the aluminum case sheds tiny black particles on anything it contacts. You've been warned.
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