Magico A3 Floorstanding Loudspeakers Review
Owning a Magico speaker is a dream for many HiFi enthusiasts. With the A3, that dream is closer to reality, as it offers many features of the larger Magico models at a more accessible price point.
Magico, based in Hayward in the San Francisco Bay Area, is known for taking unconventional approaches, sparing no effort for top results, and having a passion for detail. Their mission is to develop and build the best speakers in the world. Naturally, this comes at a cost, and the high price tags make Magico speakers a dream for many HiFi enthusiasts.
Build & Design
The Magico A3, the brand’s most affordable floorstanding speaker, still costs more than a pretty penny at $22,800 per pair, but it’s still within reach for some. It features elements from larger Magico models, which are unusual at this price point.
This includes the resonance-free, aircraft-grade aluminum housing. The trick: the 50 kg A3 not only sports an anodized “Full Metal Jacket” exterior in either black or silver, but internally, it is reinforced with a matrix of sturdy aluminum profiles. These ensure that the walls, as well as the base and top plates, remain stable even with powerful sound output, particularly from the two 17.5 cm woofers mounted in the lower third of the speaker. Less of their energy is wasted as vibration in the housing, instead, it’s directed toward producing sound pressure.
This attention to detail reflects Magico’s commitment to precision, which is not just an empty phrase. The A3 is a sealed-box design, not a bass-reflex system. Mastermind Alon Wolf opted to sacrifice some efficiency for deeper bass finesse, allowing the woofer duo to work against a defined air cushion.
Perfection in Spikes and Binding Posts
Two seemingly minor, often overlooked aspects show that Magico means business: the solid spike receivers. Where other manufacturers drill a simple thread into the base plate, Magico adds extra solid receivers. Instead of smaller screws, 19 mm nuts are included, which should be tightened with a wrench after aligning the speakers. If left only hand-tight, the performance across the frequency spectrum will immediately suffer.
The A3’s connection terminal is deceptively simple, featuring two modest-looking binding posts with plastic rings for banana plugs or spade connectors. While some might prefer flashy, gold-plated terminals, Magico opted for the less showy but far superior Nextgen connectors from WBT. These are much more expensive than similar flashy components from overseas but deliver significantly better sound quality.
The A3 has only one pair of WBTs, whereas most speakers in this class have a bi-wiring terminal to separately drive the bass and mid/high drivers. This choice wasn’t for cost-saving reasons. While those looking to bi-wire or bi-amp may be disappointed, most listeners use a single connection for bi-wired setups anyway, often having to rely on jumpers or adapters that degrade performance.
In short, we appreciate Magico’s single-terminal design, which avoids half-baked solutions. It ensures top performance from the start, especially with such high-quality components as the Mundorf capacitors used in the crossover, which divides the drivers with a steep 24-decibel-per-octave slope.
Carbon Fiber Drivers
It’s no surprise that the drivers embedded in the A3’s front panel play a key role. For both the woofers and the midrange driver (which operates in a sealed chamber to protect it from the bass drivers’ energy), Magico uses the same material for the cones: a tightly woven, multi-wall carbon fiber, refined in computer simulations and coated with Nano-Graphene for an ideal balance of weight, stiffness, and internal damping. The drivers’ 75 mm voice coils transmit force from oversized neodymium magnets to the cones, which are suspended differently depending on their role.
The 28 mm tweeter, borrowed from Magico’s ultra-expensive M series, features a shallow beryllium dome for maximum rigidity with minimal mass.
Fresh out of the box, the highly refined A3 may sound a bit stiff and brittle, but after a few hours of playtime, it loosens up. We ran the speakers continuously over a weekend before final positioning. The A3’s surprising bass power, considering the small woofers and slim profile, immediately stood out. They took the place in our listening room where larger, more robust speakers usually sit.
The A3’s mids are also strong, so it’s important not to place them too close together, as this could muddy the lower midrange and restrict the clarity of vocals and acoustic instruments. The aluminum speakers required more wall distance and a wider stance than other models of similar size. We also found they should be angled toward the listening position for optimal performance, achieving both fine, smooth treble and a solid, well-defined soundstage.
Ultimately, a speaker’s potential is clear when it rewards you for taking the time to set it up properly. During the setup process, we learned a lot about the A3’s strengths and quirks.
TEST DEVICES
Turntable: Transrotor Rondino Nero, Tonearms: TRA 9 / Ortofon AS-212R, MC-Cartridge: EMT JSD Novel Titan G / Brinkmann Pi
Phono Preamp: Brinkmann Edison Mk II
Streamer/Media Player: Aurender A200, T+A MP3100HV
Pre/Power Amp: Audio Research REF 6 SE / Accustic Arts Amp VI
Integrated Amp: Audionet Watt, Symphonic Line RG14 MK5 S Edition, T+A PA 3100 HV
Speakers: B&W 801 D4
Speaker Cables: Boaacoustic Black.sonic 25, Shunyata Research Theta
WHAT WE LISTENED TO
ERLEND ØYE: LA COMITIVA
Perfectly balanced, cheerful songs with fine timbre. Available only on LP or stream.
ALLAN TAYLOR: THE ROAD WELL TRAVELLED
Touching singer-songwriter tunes with top-notch sound and music!
The A3 Sounds Bigger Than It Is
What we noticed during setup was confirmed during final listening: the Magico A3 sounds bigger than it is. Not only does it create a broad and deep soundstage, but it also extends above the speakers. Maria Pihl’s “Malvina” stood out clearly in front of the listener, with dark, brooding synth tones stretching far behind the speakers, while Pihl’s voice remained distinct between them.
The A3’s resolution is impressive, capturing every nuance of her voice with almost a declamatory quality. Precision is key across all frequencies, with no room for ambiguity. Despite its linear design, the Magico A3 doesn’t sound mechanical; instead, it delivers a cohesive, harmonious sound.
Light and Strong: The tweeter’s shallow dome is made from pure beryllium, with an optimized pressure chamber behind it to reduce reflections.
Carbon Fiber Cones: Like the woofers, the midrange driver has a tightly woven carbon fiber cone reinforced with a Nano-Graphene layer.
Sealed Chamber: The midrange driver is housed in a sealed chamber to protect it from the woofers’ pressure waves.
Closed Cabinet: The two woofers operate in a sealed cabinet, rather than a bass-reflex system, for maximum precision.
Solid Base for the Crossover: The aluminum base stabilizes the cabinet and serves as a foundation for the crossover.
The A3 effortlessly revealed subtle tonal gradations, particularly in the midrange, with a substantial, organic sound. It combined rich tonal colors and excellent resolution, despite a mildly recessed treble. The audience murmuring in Red Norvo’s live recording of “Saturday Night” was distinctly placed behind the band, which was clearly defined at the front of the imaginary stage.
Contrary to the belief that a speaker like the A3, focused on precision and dynamics, requires a warm, full-bodied system for harmony, the slim A3 performs best with fast, precise, and lean amplifiers and cables. It made a strong connection with Accustic Arts’ Amp VI, handling the woofers with ease. It also meshed well with Symphonic Line’s RG 14 integrated amp.
At both lower volumes and room-friendly listening levels, the A3’s tonal foundation and imaging shone. You didn’t feel the need to crank up the volume, yet the A3 proved itself capable of handling high sound levels with ease, shrugging off such challenges with its “Full Metal Jacket.”
Specs
Product Type / Price Class: Floorstanding Speaker / Over €20,000
Website: www.magicoaudio.com
Price: €21,800 per pair (approximately \$22,800)
Rating (Affordability): 6/10
Dimensions (W x H x D in cm): 113 x 23 x 27 (including spikes)
Weight (per unit): 49.8 kg
Design: Dynamic, 3-way, closed
Connection Terminal: Single-Wire (WBT Nextgen)
Recommended Placement: Free-standing
Sound Quality (60% weight)
Rating: Good (1.6 out of 10-point scale, equivalent to 8.4/10)
Comment: The sound is colorful, powerful, closed-box design, spatial, and finely nuanced.
Measured Values (15% weight)
Rating: Satisfactory (2.6 out of 10-point scale, equivalent to 7.4/10)
Frequency Response: Slight emphasis on the lower frequencies
Sound Pressure Level (SPL): Average (84 dB)
Impulse Response: Very good
Minimum Impedance: 2.27 ohms
Distortion Percentage at 63 Hz / 3kHz / 10kHz: Adequate (0.56 / 0.28 / 0.27)
Amplifier Compatibility: Especially suited for powerful transistor amplifiers
Features & Handling (20% weight)
Rating: Satisfactory (3.0 out of 10-point scale, equivalent to 7.0/10)
Setup: Simple
Manual Quality: Available on a USB stick, detailed with many setup tips but only in English
First Setup: Simple, just screw in the spikes
Sound Adjustment Possible: No
Available Finishes: Black / Silver
Included Accessories: Spikes, locknuts, washers
Build Quality (Feel/Finish): Very good
Service & Environment (5% weight)
Rating: Satisfactory (3.4 out of 10-point scale, equivalent to 6.6/10)
Warranty: 5 years
Packaging: Compact but secure, made from cardboard and plastic
Upgradeable: No
Gallery
Verdict
The Magico A3 is an outstanding option for those seeking a high-end speaker that balances affordability with performance. While $22,800 is still a significant investment, the A3’s meticulous design and superb sound quality make it worth considering for serious audiophiles. Its ability to deliver a detailed, immersive listening experience, combined with its robust build, solidifies its position in the premium speaker market.
- Sound Quality: 8.4/10 – Powerful, spatial, and finely nuanced sound with strong midrange.
- Build Quality: 9/10 – Premium construction with high-quality materials and components.
- Features & Handling: 7/10 – Easy to set up with a focus on performance over flashy design.
- Overall Rating: 7.9/10.
Even at $9,800/pair the Magico A3 speaker is a steal
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