The Dynaudio Arbiters are here

[egidius]

Why Sovereign?

Hi guys,

...with a pair of Sovereign Audio The Sovereign amplifiers

I must be very critical and ask, besides your collection of names: Why Sovereign.
I used to own a Sovereign Analysis speaker system, first run by a simple Aaron N.1 later a Sovereign Glory, but the amplification never caught my attention, nor the sub for that matter, even though i liked the satellites and the design, but why those amps???
Not impressed. Hard, cool.

Egidius

PS Maybe it is interesting that lots of people still consider my personal reference, the Berning ZH270 as cool, with which I disagree. But Sovereign was hard and cool.

 

[LL21]

Hi I own the Altair 2 (for about 60 days now) and have heard the Arrakis locally at a friends (he has the active version, external cross over with 4 VTL amps and 2 REL subs) We also have similar sized rooms (mine is 30 ft long by about 20 wide) I don't listen to a lot of recordings with super low bass (like pipe organs) I listen to mostly jazz and some chamber music and the typical current Norah Jones or Sarah Mclaughlin. I am very happy with my Altrairs with no sub and seem to be getting excellent deep bass. My room is also well treated via a custom Rives Audio plan...

I do feel that a simpler system has some advantages over a external cross over with more amps and connections...but this set up to has advantages...I suspect in dynamics and ease of presentation - once set up properly and tuned.

I have not heard the Magico Q7s or the Tidals. I have heard the Wilson Alexandria X2's and the large Focal's. One advantage that you have consider on the Wilson's and Focal's is their adjustability. Which can be a significant advantage in nearfield or far set ups.

How big is the room you plan to install these speakers? I think the issue is how far do you want to scale down ... Magic, Rockport, Tidal, Wilson, Focal all a top notch. I've never been a fan of systems with different amps types on the bass, mids, and top end. I am sure you can get all this to sound wonderful...but more time adjusting/tuning...and more variables to creep in like the speed or signature of diff amps. It's why I am a fan of Porsche 911's. You can get more power, better brakes or better this or that...the the package is very complete and does everything nearly the best. The sum of the parts is more that the whole...this car has balance of all the attributes you care about.

I've heard a set up frequently over the years...used to be Dali Megalines, custom external tube cross over, 4 VTL tube amps, 2 JL Audio subs, complete set of Purist Audio 25th anniversary cables everywhere. It was just a killer good system. Then he recently "downsized" to the top of the line Focal's - Grand Utopia EM's. No subs, just 2 VTL amps, no external cross over. Now the speakers changed...but I'd take this "simpler" system...to me it just sounds better (if you haven't heard the newer Focal's...this is speaker to add to your list)

HereView attachment 10387 is a pic of my room with the Rockport Altair's installed....

Beautiful system...and on your friends, presume that is Albert Porter?

 

[jfrech]

Beautiful system...and on your friends, presume that is Albert Porter?

yes on the focals...I can't wait to hear em more as they finish breaking in...really wonderful

 

[Roysen]

Here is a drawing of the Dimensions of my living room:



The listening position will be on the conrner of the walls with lengths of 4,8m and 3,55m facing the wall of 7,0m. The height of the room is 2,40m.

In regards to the Soveriegn I think it is a far stretch to compare the Aaron No.1 and the Sovereign Glory with the Sovereign The Sovereign. It would however be very useful to know Your impressions if you have heard the big The Sovereign. The Sovereign Analysis speakers would be of no interest to me.

 

[egidius]

sovereign

Here is a drawing of the Dimensions of my living room:

View attachment 10460

The listening position will be on the conrner of the walls with lengths of 4,8m and 3,55m facing the wall of 7,0m. The height of the room is 2,40m.

In regards to the Soveriegn I think it is a far stretch to compare the Aaron No.1 and the Sovereign Glory with the Sovereign The Sovereign. It would however be very useful to know Your impressions if you have heard the big The Sovereign. The Sovereign Analysis speakers would be of no interest to me.

..Ah, I am aware of that, Aaron is really their entry product. No, I never had the pleasure to hear Mr.Hoehne's system, it must be outstanding. As to his speakers: Even though they are also "entry", they have an elegance the amps fail to reach!!

Egidius

 

[MrAcoustat]

They look really great - it would be a fantastic match with a pair of Dynaudio Consequences mk2 I owned long ago, both in cosmetics and sound synergy. The Dynaudio's had exactly the same rosewood veneer and brass speaker metalwork.

For ME one of the nicest speaker Dynaudio as ever made period.

 

[Roysen]

The Magico Q7 is finally on its way to casa Roysen now. I will keep you posted with a full picture report on the progress.

BTW, I have also installed an SMT acoustical solution although to a much smaller degree than stereo.

 

[LL21]

The Magico Q7 is finally on its way to casa Roysen now. I will keep you posted with a full picture report on the progress.

BTW, I have also installed an SMT acoustical solution although to a much smaller degree than stereo.

Fantastic! I am going to PM you.

 

[jfrech]

The Magico Q7 is finally on its way to casa Roysen now. I will keep you posted with a full picture report on the progress.

BTW, I have also installed an SMT acoustical solution although to a much smaller degree than stereo.

Awesome and congratulations !! What electronics are going to mate them to?

 

[Elberoth]

Please post some images of the SMT stuff !

 

[Roysen]

If you don't mind I would like to wait with pictures until the speakers are here. Then everything will be revealed.

 

[LL21]

Please post some images of the SMT stuff !

Hey Elberoth...just heard your S5s driven by Soulution 710...wow. That is one awesome speaker...detailed, balanced, weighty...really weighty. I was surprised at the price...in a good way. I often find Magico pricey for what you get. Yes, their Q series is exceptional in some ways, but I find I wish for a slightly different balance with them. I know how much people speak of the clarity of Q series, etc...and I get that. I really do...but the balance of the S5 is so satisfying. If I listen to Q, I love what I hear...who knows, maybe I love the details even more than with S5 (I cannot say)...but I will still be left wanting to hear MORE with the Q...more bass, more fullness, more slam. (This is the Q1-5 that I have heard a few times, not heard Q7.)

No such problem with S5 upon the one brief audition. Congrats on getting such a great speaker...

 

[asiufy]

lloyd,

The S5 has been called the "gateway drug" into Magico land, for Wilson fans
It has brought A LOT of Wilson owners to Magico, and I believe it's due to that warmth, the "weight" bit you mentioned. And, of course, the price helps too.
Just don't expect to hear some of those attributes you heard on the S5 on the Q series, though.


alexandre

 

[LL21]

lloyd,

The S5 has been called the "gateway drug" into Magico land, for Wilson fans
It has brought A LOT of Wilson owners to Magico, and I believe it's due to that warmth, the "weight" bit you mentioned. And, of course, the price helps too.
Just don't expect to hear some of those attributes you heard on the S5 on the Q series, though.


alexandre

I could completely see that...especially being a Wilson owner. And yes, I do not hear the Q in its voicing. I admit to being more and more curious about what happens if I stick a Q7 in with my electronics...almost certainly not curious enough to buy right now...but certainly curious enough to want to learn.

 

[Hyperion]

I've been evaluating the Magico kid brother S1 for a couple of weeks now, partnered with Simaudio Moon Evolution electronics and Nordost Valhalla 2 cabling. I'm very, very impressed by this speaker. I haven't been a big fan of the Q-series. They put a lot of demands on partnering equipment, setup, room integration etc....at at very premium price. The result is almost always to analytical, clinical and unnatural to these ears. The S-series are different though, with a much more organic and homogenic presentation. The balance inbetween a focus on individual details, and the flowing nature of natural music seems to be just right.

I will receive the Wilson Duette 2 within a week. Let the games begin

 

[LL21]

I've been evaluating the Magico kid brother S1 for a couple of weeks now, partnered with Simaudio Moon Evolution electronics and Nordost Valhalla 2 cabling. I'm very, very impressed by this speaker. I haven't been a big fan of the Q-series. They put a lot of demands on partnering equipment, setup, room integration etc....at at very premium price. The result is almost always to analytical, clinical and unnatural to these ears. The S-series are different though, with a much more organic and homogenic presentation. The balance inbetween a focus on individual details, and the flowing nature of natural music seems to be just right.

I will receive the Wilson Duette 2 within a week. Let the games begin

Look forward to your notes about the shoot-out!

 

[Hyperion]

I'm establishing a new audio retail business in Scandinavia (dealer alert for anyone potentially within the region), focusing on compact, elegant, high performance systems suitable for demanding music lovers and Scandinavian interiors. That's the pitch right there

I will have the Magico S1 (+ the forthcoming S3), Wilson Duette 2, Raidho D1 and Sonus Faber Futura + Olympica II on permanent demo - amongst others.

Looking forward to discuss performance, combinations, synergies and setup with you guys!

 

[LL21]

I'm establishing a new audio retail business in Scandinavia (dealer alert for anyone potentially within the region), focusing on compact, elegant, high performance systems suitable for demanding music lovers and Scandinavian interiors. That's the pitch right there

I will have the Magico S1 (+ the forthcoming S3), Wilson Duette 2, Raidho D1 and Sonus Faber Futura + Olympica II on permanent demo - amongst others.

Looking forward to discuss performance, combinations, synergies and setup with you guys!

Wow! A very nice selection. Good luck!

 

[asiufy]

I've been evaluating the Magico kid brother S1 for a couple of weeks now, partnered with Simaudio Moon Evolution electronics and Nordost Valhalla 2 cabling. I'm very, very impressed by this speaker. I haven't been a big fan of the Q-series. They put a lot of demands on partnering equipment, setup, room integration etc....at at very premium price. The result is almost always to analytical, clinical and unnatural to these ears. The S-series are different though, with a much more organic and homogenic presentation. The balance inbetween a focus on individual details, and the flowing nature of natural music seems to be just right.

I will receive the Wilson Duette 2 within a week. Let the games begin

Hyperion,

Frankly, I don't hear it that way.
The Q series can be split in 2: the earliest models, Q5 and Q1, and the more recent, Q3 and Q7. The earlier ones are hard to drive, with low efficiency. The latter models are just the opposite. The Q3 is roughly the same size as the S5, with more drivers, and it's actually easier to drive than the S5.
I just think it's great that Magico was able to cater to a wider audience, with the S series, while keeping them cheaper too. That's why I think the "gateway drug" approach is great. Get people hooked up with the S series, and get them curious to try the more refined Q series later on, once they're used to all that transparency and the sealed box bass.


alexandre

 

[asiufy]

I could completely see that...especially being a Wilson owner. And yes, I do not hear the Q in its voicing. I admit to being more and more curious about what happens if I stick a Q7 in with my electronics...almost certainly not curious enough to buy right now...but certainly curious enough to want to learn.

There's a guy in Audioaficionado with a Q7 that just bought a Gryphon Mephisto, IIRC.
I'm biased, as I like Magico, but I don't see how the results could be anything but fantastic, with your Gryphons.
I think the major hurdle for you would be to get used to the sealed box bass of Magico speakers. Typical Wilson fans don't "get it", just see what Fremer did with the Q5... But if you're going to use subs anyway, you might just get the best of both worlds here.


alexandre