Magico S3 2023 UK Launch with Alon Wolf

Posted on 14th May, 2023
Magico S3 2023 UK Launch with Alon Wolf

Magico's new for 2023 S3 floorstanding loudspeaker was presented by Alon Wolf at London's KJ West One.

Magico's S3 has been so popular that the new model retains the name, albeit without a version number. The reasoning is that this is an entirely new loudspeaker, says Magico CEO Alon Wolf. So, welcome the Magico S3 2023, which stopped off at London's KJ West One showroom en route to High End Munich.

Magico S3 2023 UK Launch - KJ West One

Employing knowledge and technological advances gained in developing the flagship M9, and new state-of-the-art R&D capabilities, the S3 boasts a new enclosure, drivers and coupling system.

Firstly, the extruded monocoque design of the previous S3 has gone in favour of a newly engineered enclosure assembled from four separate extruded aluminium panels ranging in thickness from 1/2- to 2 inches, resulting in an overall edgeless shape. We're told this is easier to brace and dampen but more costly to produce.

Magico S3 2023 UK Launch - KJ West One

Alon Wolf, Magico's CEO

However, this change has made the new S3 enclosure 30% quieter than its predecessor. A dead thud from the knuckle-wrap test on the beautiful M-Coat blue pearl-finished demonstrators bears this out.

Magico S3 2023 UK Launch - KJ West One

A massive machined top plate is curved and has an upward pitch to minimise enclosure diffraction and break up vertical standing waves. Meanwhile, a more substantial baseplate incorporates a newly designed 3-point outrigger system and foot design, lowering the speaker's centre of gravity and increasing overall stability. Additionally, we are told that this also results in a lower noise floor and increased dynamics.

MAGICO S3 2023 DRIVERS

The midrange and bass drivers benefit from new chassis profiles for "ideal stiffness and damping properties", minimising resonant modes while also maximising airflow.

Magico S3 2023 UK Launch - KJ West One

The 5-inch pure midrange driver in the S3 features a honeycomb aluminium core sandwiched with outer and inner layers of graphene and carbon fibre for wider dispersion and greater midrange transparency. This advanced cone is supported by a custom basket assembly and innovative foam surround. Alon assured those present at the UK launch that this is a special foam which should last at least 25 years.

The all-new underhung neodymium-based motor system uses two extra-large magnets to facilitate a super-stabilised magnetic field and a pure copper pole cap that minimises eddy currents and maximises efficiency.

Magico S3 2023 UK Launch - KJ West One

The S3 sports a pair of 9-inch bass drivers featuring an enhanced version of Magico's Graphene Nano-Tec cone. Furthermore, it incorporates oversized components, including a 5-inch pure Titanium voice coil and a huge copper cap with 1/2-inch of linear excursion. In addition, thanks to a "super-stabilised" magnetic field, the S3 can "reproduce superior low bass output" (112dB @ 50Hz measured at 1 meter) while maintaining very low distortion and inductance below 0.25m.

Borrowing from the M9 tweeter platform, the newly designed S3 tweeter features the vaunted Magico 28mm diamond-coated beryllium diaphragm. Moreover, through optimised geometry, created using state-of-the-art Finite Element Analysis modelling tools, the S3's high-frequency reproduction is even closer to the M.

Magico S3 2023 UK Launch - KJ West One

By leveraging beryllium's physical properties, making the tweeter closer to the theoretical ideal without gaining the extra weight typically associated with a material such as diamond's specific gravity, Magico has increased the dome diameter from 26mm to 28mm. This, we're informed, improves many aspects of performance and allows even greater power handling and "vanishingly low distortion".

With a neodymium-based motor system, a new acoustically improved back chamber, and a custom shape to integrate into the curved front baffle, Magico boasts that its new S3 tweeter registers the lowest distortion measurements possible today from a high-frequency transducer.

Magico S3 2023 UK Launch - KJ West One

The new Magico S3 claims an 88dB sensitivity from its sealed three-way design and 4 Ohm impedance. In addition, we are told that the new floorstander covers a 24 Hz – 50 KHz frequency response from its 44- x 12- x 17-inch [HxWxD] system.

MAGICO S3 - FIRST IMPRESSIONS

The KJ West One Magico S3 presentation system also included dCS Vivaldi APEX DAC, Vivaldi Upsampler, and Vivaldi Master Clock, alongside a darTZeel NHB-18NS preamplifier going out to a pair of darTZeel NHB-468 mono power amplifiers all linked by Transparent Magnum Opus cables.

The main demonstration showed that the new S3 are highly competent loudspeakers with a clear, relaxed presentation. Because they are so unflustered, it could be easy to turn these up without realising just how loud they are. Amongst the test material was Brothers in Arms Live from Massey Hall, a track generally guaranteed to put me into temporary hibernation. However, this version is new to me, and even though it sounds like Mark Knopfler would rather be anywhere else than there on stage, the presentation was enthralling.

Magico S3 2023 UK Launch - KJ West One

The Magicos seemed to wring out every last drop of emotional content and lay it before us in the room. Thankfully, a few of us coaxed Alon to nudge the 'Pleasure Control' (volume dial) on the darTZeel higher while playing Boris Blank's Electrified. Now we're talking. The new bass drivers really punch out in a magically musical way, while the mids and top remain precise and packed with dynamic detail. But it is the sheer size of the soundstage that really impressed me. Even sat off-axis, the imaging is still remarkable. After this intimate listening session, it was obvious that it would be extremely difficult to wrong-foot these loudspeakers. The great news is that you can hear them for yourself if you're attending High End Munich. I know that I'll be listening to them again.

The Magico S3 2023 ships in Spring 2023 priced at £56,998 for the M-Cast finish, with the M-Coat option starting at £66,000.

Visit Magico for more information

Jay Garrett's avatar
Jay Garrett

StereoNET’s resident rock star, bass player, and gadget junkie. Jay heads up StereoNET as Editor for the United Kingdom and Europe regions. His passion for gadgets and Hi-Fi is second only to being a touring musician.

Posted in: Hi-Fi | StereoLUX!

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