AXPONA 2019

Magico M6 Speakers and Dan D'Agostino Momentum HD Preamp

Jason Victor Serinus  |  Apr 12, 2019

Illinois dealer F1 chose the sonically challenged, glass-encased Nirvana Lounge, on the second floor of the Renaissance Schaumberg's Convention Center, to stage its $428,871 crate-décor system complete with an important premiere: the Dan D'Agostino Momentum HD preamplifier. Alas, the hard sound and moderately booming bass, whether on a recording of Bach's Suite No.1 for unaccompanied cello or some driving fusion, made for a less than auspicious start to the show—but surely no one could have made a good sound in that space. On top of that, as I soon discovered, many visitors to these huge Convention Center spaces were more interested in chatting than listening.

Be that as it may, there was no question that the system—Magico's M6 speakers ($172,000/pair) and Q-Sub 18 subwoofers ($72,000/pair), fed by the above-mentioned Dan D'Agostino preamplifier ($40,000) mated with D'Agostino Momentum M400 monoblocks ($65,000/pair), Chord Dave D/A processor with stand ($14,483) and MScaler ($4995), and Roon Nucleus server ($1398), connected by Transparent reference-series cabling ($54,000) and supported by a Mapleshade audio rack ($1995)—could fill the space with ease.

COMMENTS
Stephen Scharf's picture
Submitted by Stephen Scharf on April 12, 2019 - 7:16pm

"Alas, the hard sound and moderately booming bass, whether on a recording of Bach's Suite No.1 for unaccompanied cello or some driving fusion, made for a less than auspicious start..." and, "could fill the space with ease"

Huh? What you're saying isn't at all clear, Jason. The best I can figure out is that you're saying is that, in the words of Mike Moffat, it sounds like *ss, but it fills the space, sounding like *ss, with ease?

drblank's picture
Submitted by drblank on April 15, 2019 - 11:18pm

Look at the wall behind the speakers. It's all hard wood with nothing but reflections. They probably have ZERO room treatment. The downfall of most of the rooms at these trade shows.

Stephen Scharf's picture
Submitted by Stephen Scharf on April 16, 2019 - 10:27am

What I expect is an accurate report representative of the performance by gear on display. Its very clear from the photo that the space is very far from adequate. Jason mentioned that the sound was not good at all...but to summarize a system that did not sound good, for whatever reason, with the phrase "filled the space with ease" is ambiguous and contradictory (what does "filled the space with ease" mean, anyway?). Reading between the lines its like saying, "Well, this system in this setting sounded like sh*t, but I have to say something nice, anyway, so here goes..." I'm reminded of a quote by legendary American race car builder Carroll Shelby, "Just because you stick a candle in a cowpie, doesn't make it a birthday cake."

Josh Hill's picture
Submitted by Josh Hill on April 16, 2019 - 4:47pm

Yep. Would have loved to hear these and the Dave under better circumstances, but the acoustics were lethal.

Lorton's picture
Submitted by Lorton on April 18, 2019 - 6:05pm

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/axpona-2019-andrew-quint-on-loudspeakers-under-20000/

Looks like some reviewers understand the difference between Best Sound and Best Demo.

Not sure why would anyone would listen to Bach cello suite in what is essentially an open arena with swarms of people around.
This showcase was clearly not for any serious listening. I was there; it was fun. If you wanted good sound, you should have gone to Magico own M2 room.

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