Munich High End 2024 Show Highlights
Magico S5
The new Magico S5 was presented in the same room as last year (Atrium 4.1, Room F-115), in a similar setting, with what seemed like the same acoustic treatments. This is great as it provides a consistent basis to reach relatively safe conclusions. The only obvious difference was the absence of the two Magico subwoofers.
Three Artesania Exoteryc racks were filled with an Antipodes Oladra server, Wadax Atlantis Reference DAC, Pilium preamp, and Telos earthing system, and in front, a huge Pilium power amplifier.
In many ways, the S5 sounded like a bigger S3, especially in terms of treble delicacy, midrange sweetness, uniformity, lack of edge, and overall naturalness. On the other hand, the S5 sounded less tight and nimble than I recall the S3 being last year. The S5 bass is fuller in body, which also makes for a more voluminous lower midrange that seems a little darker and warmer than that of the S3.
With a quoted bass extension down to 20Hz (in-room), the S5 could easily fill the room with deep and robust bass. I did notice some mild room mode behavior, which was not there last time with the S3s when two subwoofers were also part of the demo. This does not say anything negative about the S5s but illustrates the benefits of well-implemented subwoofers as part of a precisely calibrated system. They are not just for extending bass; they can actually help linearize the bass response.
Pilium is a brand that is used by many exhibitors with widely varying systems. Even though I have heard the brand many times in various settings, I have yet to put my finger on any recognizable sonic fingerprint. And that is a very good thing!
Wadax Studio Player
Magico S3, driven by Audio Research KT-170-equipped Reference 330 mono power amplifiers, with the brand new and visually stunning Wadax “Studio Player” CD player and streamer. Retail price for this new beauty is expected to be 42.990 euros in the Netherlands.
It’s not yet set in stone, but I may do an in-depth review of the Studio Player here on HFA.
This system sounded absolutely gorgeous. It was sweet, rich, fluid, and spacious yet linear and transparent, as well as tight, articulate, fast, and well-controlled. Visually, too, I found this to be a beautiful and simple but obviously very high-performance system.
Magico S3 with MSB Cascade DAC
This time, the Magico S3 is powered by a full MSB front end, including the new MSB Cascade DAC, with an Oladra server as a source (used with Roon and Squeeze).
The sound was supremely delicate, transparent, refined, and surprisingly fast and explosive, if not quite as engulfing or organic as the other S3 system. Visually, another beautifully simple yet deceivingly esoteric system.
Frank Vermeylen of Very Fine Solutions provided interesting backstories for the music he played. For one of the pieces, he forewarned the audience that some listeners fell out of their chairs due to the sudden dynamic impact. I figured that would probably have been an overstatement… Boy, was I wrong! I think I even shrieked when I literally jumped my chair…
Great coverage, Christiaan. Are you certain that the new Halcro preamplifier was hooked up and in the signal path? Several show photos show XLR in (analog source) and out on the back of the new MSB Cascade DAC. The volume display on the DAC also suggests that it was acting as both DAC and (passive) volume control.
Good question! As it turns out, the Equinox was indeed not used all the time. Part of the demos have been done with the volume control of the DAC directly connected to the monos. Alas, I can no longer ascertain if what I heard had the Equinox in the signal path or it it was the MSB Cascade DAC connected directly.