Flagship research brought into a more attainable Magico

The current Magico S3 applies lessons from the company’s M9 program to a three-way floorstander sized for real listening rooms. Its driver array comprises a 28-millimeter diamond-coated beryllium tweeter, a 5-inch Gen 8 midrange and two 9-inch Gen 8 woofers. The system is specified to reach 24 Hz while maintaining an 88 dB sensitivity, giving it useful bass extension without demanding the physical scale of the larger S5 or S7.

Four machined aluminum extrusions form the enclosure, with panel thickness varying from one-half inch to two inches. Rounded external geometry and a curved top plate reduce diffraction and break up internal standing waves. Magico measured as many as 1,000 points on each panel with in-house laser interferometry, then applied bracing and damping where the structure actually required it. The resulting enclosure is reported to be 30 percent quieter than its predecessor.

The 5-inch midrange uses an aluminum honeycomb core between graphene and carbon-fiber skins, supported by an underhung neodymium motor and a copper pole cap. Each 9-inch woofer combines the same basic cone strategy with a 5-inch titanium voice coil and one-half inch of linear excursion. Magico used finite-element analysis to study the mechanical, electromagnetic and thermal behavior together rather than treating each design problem separately.

A three-point outrigger system lowers the center of gravity and controls the connection between cabinet and floor. The 4-ohm load and 50-watt minimum rating still leave amplifier quality and current delivery important. Command Performance AV can compare suitable amplification, establish speaker and listening positions, and measure bass behavior so the S3’s low cabinet noise and broad radiation translate into a stable soundstage in the room.