The Magico M Series of loudspeakers represented the company’s Highest Echelon in Technologies, Materials, Parts and Manufacture,…therefore their Ultimate Expression in Performance.
When I received the Magico M2 loudspeakers from their Malaysia distributor, YY SOUND SYSTEMS SDN BHD, I was not really impressed with the size, compliment of drivers and especially the retail price (US$76,500 per pair),…more so after compared with the positively reviewed here, the Magico S3.
TK Han and his team at YY SOUND SYSTEMS SDN BHD explained that the 3-Way loudspeaker, M2 was a totally different ‘BEAST‘ in technologies, construction, materials , parts and performance. The M2’s cabinet/ enclosure was constructed with “Carbon (instead of aluiminium for the Magico S3) that featured monocoque enclosure (formed using multiple layers of carbon fiber adding up to a 3/8” thickness) which was similarly employed in their upper loudspeaker model, the M6 (and the F-35 fighter jet external shell). The M2 has an extremely rigid enclosure due to its internal three-axis matrix framework along with three tension rods running front to back internally. All four drivers in the M2 are acoustically integrated using Magico’s exclusive Elliptical Symmetry Crossover topology (24 dB Linkwitz-Riley) that includes state-of-the-art components from Mundorf of Germany”.
The Magico M2 employed the “same ultra-wide dispersion and ultra-low distortion Diamond coated Beryllium diaphragm tweeter (28-mm) used in the upper Magico M3 and M6 loudspeakers”.
“The newly designed Magico six-inch [6″] midrange and seven-inch [7″] bass driver cones found in the Magico M2 are both manufactured using Multi-Wall carbon XG Nanographene and an ultra-stiff proprietary new carbon weave which is 20% lighter and 300% stiffer than previous cone material they used in Magico loudspeaker offerings”.
They also delivered the Magico M2 with six [6] MPOD footers (three [3] MPOD per loudspeaker) which were said to be “a contributing element to the stunning overall sound performance. The MPOD was based on the scientific principles of Constrained Layer Damping (CLD) which was the most effective way (according to them) to channel unwanted vibrations away from a component and its platform. Operating under massive weight the MPOD was a noise channeling system that effectively dissipated resonance while maintained ultimate coupling properties to the floor that resulted in remarkable sonic results”.
I positioned the Magico M2 at the exact position and toe-in angle as the previously reviewed Magico S3, and connected the Magico M2 to my reference audio system; Hifi Rose RS150B, FM Acoustics 268C, Vitus Audio MP-M201AF, Skogrand Cables Silverspine SC, Skogrand Cables Stravinsky IC & AC, SteinMusic Balance Cables, and Audio Tech ‘Independant Passive Grounding‘ (by YF Fong) to ‘ground‘ the Magico M2 to ‘lower the noise floor‘.
FALLING FOR THE BEAST!
The initial impression cast by the Magico M2 was that its ability to present the music in a Bigger Picture/ landscape,…play Louder yet maintain the Flow and Accuracy,…dispense more Power/ Energy and,…Transparent to the Resolution of the recorded source/ soul/ material/ music,…
Truly, the worthy ‘Bigger Brother‘ and a ‘League Above Performer‘ than the already positively reviewed Magico S3.
In other words, if someone ‘Liked‘ the Magico S3 then that one would ‘Loved‘ the Magico M2.
Since listened to the ‘Fanfare for the Common Man‘ conducted by Eiji Oue of the Minnesota Orchestra (which I knew by heart), it confirmed the expansiveness of the soundscape that first captivated me,…
as if transported to another much Larger Venue than my Audio Den (which was sizable at 18’W x 8’H x 28’D),
…and from thereon, the captivation continued.
The soundstage was presented with that airiness that stretched to the very Width, Height and Depth of the audio den (and beyond),…and (even) presented the ‘usually elusive‘ musicians/ instruments at the furthest back of the stage.
Here, the main drum/ instrument were articulately presented and were given (more, comparatively) power, energy and dynamic that instantaneously spelled and impressed me the size, scale and directness thereof. The other instruments in the orchestra were segregated into their designated group, and each group was presented with its own space, delineation and distinctiveness.
Therefore, following the Flow of the ‘Presentation by the Orchestra‘ was Easy.
My usual go-to test track, ‘Poem of Chinese Drums‘ by Yim Hok-Man was impressively presented with (so much) resolutions at both the drums/ instruments and, the play of the drums. The drums sounded organic, wood-textured, layered, nuanced, dimensional and weighted, and…each hit at the drum was distincted, spaced and differentiated to exact the different note at play.
As expected, the placement of those drums was presented within a soundstage that stretched the soundscape beyond the boundaries of my audio den, and…to near the listening seat,…
thus projected an ‘illusion‘ of the EVENT-LIVE.
Similarly, at the track, ‘Piano Concerto No.21 in C Major, K. 467 “Elvira Madigan”: II. Andante‘, the impressive transparency to the resolution of the backing orchestra was a ‘Given‘ (as expected) from the Magico M2. Here, what touched my musical soul (more) was the transparency to the play at the individual instrument, the ‘grand piano‘ by the famed American Pianist Eugene George Istomin,…which for me, was due to the ‘revelation‘ of the distance between the keys at the grand piano itself. Thus, vividly illustrated the size, scale, dimensions and structures of the grand piano,…therefore each note was presented tangibly, weighted, defined, and spaced,…and the flow of the music was easy to follow/ appreciate,…that ensued musicality.
Therefore, the Magico M2 was Transparent in both play and flow of a single musician/ instrument and, multitude of musicians/ instruments in an Orchestra,…
thus projected the ‘Musicality of the Play‘.
At my other test track, ‘Ballad of the Runaway Horse‘ where it was obvious to me that the vocal of Ms.Jennifer Warnes was ‘faithfully‘ presented with the recorded nuances, layerings and textures,…and the (unexpected) minute resolution of her expression,…mannerism, utterance, voicing, pronouncement, articulation, assertion, etc,…
In addition, there was that organic thus natural characteristic to the presentation of her vocal/ voiceation,…which for me, sounded ‘human‘,…
in other words, Magico M2 projected (more) the voiceation of Jennifer Warnes, instead of a facsimile thereof.
As expected for Rob Wasserman‘s play at his double bass, eventhough the notes were (supposedly) of darker tones,…which accurately sounded low, (yet) lyrical, alive, energetic and, never bright.
Even the drum played by Steve Smith, being pushed to higher than normal volume, did not faze the Magico M2,…which handled the presentation with such clarity, detail, dynamic, energy, liveliness and excitement. That sensation of the presentation was loud (never bright), hard-hitting (to the chest) and (yet) intimate.
Confidently, the Magico M2 made the whole presentation ‘A WALK IN THE PARK‘.
There was never a hint of being overdriven from the Magico M2 (maybe I did not torture it enough?).
I found even an Electronic Dance Music (EDM) such as, ‘Animal‘ by Martin Garrix played louder than the above, was presented with all the necessary grunt, dynamic, energy, and yet revealed layers of resolutions that I must have ‘missed‘ with other loudspeakers under review including the Magico S3. There was clarity and articulation at the differing bass and notes and,…
with the Clear and Easy to follow Tempo, which was Fast and LIVELY!
At the drum/ bass heavy and demanding track, ‘Portal‘ by Alan Silvestri (Avengers: Endgame soundtrack) where it was presented with all its ‘Awesomeness‘ (as the movie was). The drums were beating hard and backed by the full orchestra, were presented with fullness of detail, definition, nuace, distinctness, delineation, articulation, space, air, weight, energy, power and flows of excitement,…within and without an impressive soundstage and soundscape.
It could be deemed that the Magico M2 was the ‘Endgame in Transparency‘ to even Demanding Musical Presentation!
ENDGAME!
For me, the only way to discover the weakness in performance of an Ultra End loudspeaker such as the Magico M2, was to compare it side by side, with a better performing Ultra End loudspeaker that would definitely cost (much?) more than the retail US$76,500 (per pair),…unless Technologies reached another level, for me,…
the Magico M2 represented the ‘ENDGAME’ of what was ‘Audio-bly’ Possibly at the Price,…IMPRESSED!
SPECIFICATIONS
Driver Complement:
1 X 1” (2.8cm) Diamond Coated Beryllium Dome Tweeter
1 X 6” (12.24cm) Graphene Nano-Tec Midrange
2 X 7” (17.78cm) Graphene Nano-Tec Bass
Sensitivity: 88dB
Impedance: 4 Ohms
Recommended Power:
Minimum 50W rms
Dimensions:
45″H x 17.5″D x 18W
(114.3cm x 44.45cm x 20.32cm)
(including MPod 3-Pt Stand)
Weight: 165 lbs. (75 kg)
.