Need help: magico s5 or magico a5
 

Torn between a 2nd hand magico s5 or a brand new a5.

S5 after negotiation might go down cheaper at approximately
2k usd. Which one is better?

My equipment are the ff.

Vitus sia 025 mk2
Aurender n10
Chord dave/mscaler
NO vinyl

Cables:
Transparent reference xlr/speaker cables
Jorma unity/kubala sosna/furutech power chords

I listen to everything except classical and orchestra.
Room size is 15 ft by 23 ft.

Which one do you think is a better speakers?

Thanks
Elmer

I unfortunately have never heard a Magico. The A5 received a superb review in latest TAS. It employs the same mid as the M9. Seems to be a lot of speaker for the money with all that is good regarding the Magico sound signature.

Best

Charles

Need help: magico s5 or magico a5
 

I have only heard the S5 and not the A5. The S5 blew me away; I would love a pair! The local dealer here I believe has both.

If it's the original S5 then the A5 is a many years more advanced design in terms of drivers and crossover.

Thank you to all those who replied.

Let me answer some of my own questions after listening to both
Thru the courtesy of my dealer.

Both are great but i think the s5 is the better speakers overall.
The s5 has more air around the instruments, better dynamics,
Better soundstage depth and height(equal on width), lower
Noise floor, sweeter brighter extended highs, bigger broader
Pinpoint image and it just looks better. Though the a5 beats the
S5 on bass extension and slam:this might be due to the fact that
My vitus might be struggling to drive the less efficient s5, but the
Quality of the s5 bass is a lot better.

Even thought the s5 is the better speakers, i think the a5 might
Be “easier to live with” speakers in the long run due to the fact
That it is easier to drive, makes lesser quality recording much
Better, smaller in size thus easier to place and move,will
Not expose crappy components in the chain. Lastly and i really
Dont know why; why the hell is the a5 the more “MUSICAL”
Speakers to my ears?

I listened to both B&W 800 D3 and the A5 on the same day. Definitely preferred the A5. Unfortunately didn’t listen in same room and electronics which makes demo listening hard. I found the A5 imaging and 3D sound to be very incredible.

I’m happy to hear that you found bass slam on A5 was really good. I’ve gone through many speakers over the years and I love when speakers can move your pant legs:banana:. Yes I have a sub for movies, for stereo music I prefer not to use my sub.


Keep us updated.

Thank you. A5 is definitely very special!

I played the S5 first, i was bombarded with information from
The recording. It was a good listen but you end up analizing
The music and marvelling all the details being thrown at you.
Sometimes you dont realize that this kind of revealing sound
Can be amazing i guess for a while. But the a5 is definitely
A more “musical” speakers in my opinion, it just played the
Music like a whole if this makes sense.

The S5 to me is like
A 3d movie iregardless of what is playing: its a special watch
While the A5 is a movie worth watching because the movie
Itself is very special and you’re glued to the storyline.

A5 is definitely my front runner, but i still have a couple of
Speakers line up for demo.

Sure, many speakers in this range that have their own sonic sound. I’ve always been a B&W person, but the A5 was better all around. Having upgraded a few components, my B&W 802N’s have really raised the sound quality, imaging and bass drive/slam.
A5 are very much different league over my current speakers.

Google around and it seems that the A5 are very favourable over most speakers right now at their price range.

The A5 that i demoed only has about 50 hours of use while
The s5 is a used unit.

May i know from your experience how many hours and what
Are the changes after break in? Im afraid that it may turn into
A detail monster like the s5 and lose its musicality.

:DNot sure on the hours for the A5's I heard. Guessing more than 50 hrs. From what I read, the more hrs, the better the speaker sounded. Bass is the key factor that gets better over time?

So my 802N are now the best they will ever sound before I blow them up with my 28B's.:D