MENTIONING the name “Magico” during a conversation with your audiophile buddies is a sure-fire way of getting their attention – yeah, it is that kind of brand, in the same league as, say, Aston Martin. That’s the sort of impact the American loudspeaker manufacturer has made on the hi-fi industry in the relatively short span of a decade that it has been in business.
The price of Magico ownership, however, is about to get more affordable with the new S1, due to ship in the last quarter of 2012 and priced at a mere US$12,600 a pair. Many would still find that out of reach. The more discerning may, however, view it as a bargain, given the R&D, pedigree and quality of materials tagged with each Magico.
The S1 is a legacy of Magico’s first ever commercial loudspeaker, 2004’s MINI, which set the performance benchmark for what was possible using two drivers in a sealed enclosure. The new model comes in the heels of the recently-introduced S5, but at a barrier-cracking price for Magico.
The stylishly contoured cabinet features a monocoque 3/8-inch thick and 12-inch diameter extruded aluminum enclosure to minimise diffraction, internal resonance and damping requirements.
The floorstanding two-way model also uses an entirely new seven-inch Magico Nano-Tec® midbass driver with the same one-inch beryllium tweeter featured in the S5. The midbass driver’s dual-neodymium under-hung motor system with pure titanium voice coil-former is powerfully efficient and low in distortion.
Specifications include 86dB sensitivity, impedance of four ohms and a frequency response of 32Hz to 50kHZ, with 50 watts of amp power recommended. Each cabinet measures 109 x 22 x 25cm (h/d/w) and weighs a substantial 43kg.
The S1 is available in an array of Magico’s new M-COAT® paint blends, to ensure it blends effortlessly with any listening environment – Magico says the S1 is its most versatile and accessible product to date. No need for that additional mortgage then … just start saving.
