The Well-Tempered Computer, an introduction to computer audio

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Magico Q1

US-based Magico is a relatively new comer in high end speaker scene but gained its reputation quite rapidly with several well known reviewers (especially TAS's) calling the Q5 "quite possibly the best loudspeaker in the world".  They are expanding the all-aluminum Q-range with a smaller Q3, and the stand mount Q1.


The Magico Q1 (US$24,950) is a 2-way stand-mounted monitor housed in a fully-braced, fully-damped, aluminum and copper, hard-anodized enclosure. The Q1 features a complete new set of agicodesigned drivers including a new 7” Nano-Tec® woofer that has been developed to deliver improved system efficiency and greater power handling. This allows the Q1 to be satisfactorily powered by high quality amplifiers with as few as 50 Watts

The Q1 is to replace the speaker that put Magico in the spotlight.  The iconic US$32,000 Mini II which stands as a classic, its influence rising far above the resulting industry disquiet. For Magico, it marks the starting point of an even greater pursuit. 



The Q1 is representative of this pursuit in both the demands it meets from a performance stand point and the technology it employs to achieve that. Tireless driver development has yielded two new drive units allowing for better power handling and an additional 7Hz of bass extension than the venerable Mini II. Continued research into the damping mechanism used in the Q platform has also resulted in addressing the common problem of resonance in the stand mount. Instead of attempting to add mass to the stand and decoupling the speaker, the Q1 is directly coupled and the stand itself is a damping mechanism.

As in most products, addressing problems with more precision allows us to carefully consider a broader range of demands. In the Q1, compromises of form factor, bass, power requirements, and versatility were not necessary due to eliminating inefficiencies in common problem solving design principles. The outcome is a compact, convertible stand-mounted/bookshelf loudspeaker with explosive, true full-range performance. It is the 2-way monitor that has never before been built, by our company or any other.

Driver Complement:

1 x 1” MBe 1 Tweeter
1 x 7” Nano-Tec Bass

Sensitivity: 86dB
Impedance: 5 Ohms
Frequency Response: 32 Hz – 50 KHz
Minimum Power: 50 Watts
Dimensions Including Stand: 44” H x 15.2” D x 10” W (112cm x 37cm x
25cm)
Weight:120 lbs. (54 kg)

We will getting a loaner unit of its bigger brother Q3 soon, although not a subject of this blog, but we want to have the best equipment to review all the digital gears.  Stay tuned!