Considered by many as the sweet spot in Magico’s mid-tiered ‘S’ Series, the new S3 is now the recipient of the company’s advanced technologies derived from the no-holds-barred M9 flagship.
Magico has dropped the ‘Mk’ denomination in the new S3 (the new speaker would have been the Mk III) and now consolidates the naming structure. While that aspect of the S3 is simplified, nothing can be further from the truth when it comes to the engineering and construction of the new speaker.
Magico has aimed at capitalising on its substantial R&D and Klippel system to improve every aspect of the S3’s make-up, including but not limited to the most crucial elements such as the redesigned enclosure, new drivers and bespoke coupling system. Starting with the cabinet design, Magico uses its Laser Vibrometer to plot a grid of over 1000 points per panel, then proceeds to calculate the aggregate SPL profile of each panel. This allows a very focused concentration of attention to specific resonance areas in order to control and/or cancel them altogether. Magico claims the new S3’s enclosure is 30% quieter than the S3 MkII. The images provide an inside story which shows superb construction and a complex matrix of reinforcement and aluminium bracing. In addition, Magico has designed a custom isolation footer system for the new speaker.
Magico is renowned for its driver quality and the applied technologies, materials and construction. The company claims it spent the last three years re-engineering its drivers to adopt in the S3. The new tweeter adopts a number of strategies applied to the M9’s own. It features an ultra-low distortion 28mm diamond-coated beryllium dome (Finite Element Analysis (FEA) has been used to achieve the desired geometry), a neodymium motor system and a specially-designed back chamber.
The midrange is handled by a new 130mm (5 inches) driver featuring Magico’s trademark advanced materials. The driver uses a honeycomb aluminium core sandwiched between outer and inner layers of graphene and carbon fibre. The driver basket is customised specifically for this driver as is the new foam surround which optimises the crucial interface with the diaphragm. A new underhung motor system features two large neodymium magnets for high flux and stable magnetic field and incorporates an eddy current-minimising pure copper cap.
Two FEA-designed 225mm (9 inches) graphene ‘Nano-Tec’ cone drivers handle the low frequencies. Magico explains that graphene, a hexagonal lattice of carbon, has 50 times the tensile strength of high-carbon steel while being super light. This of course, makes for an ideal cone material. It’s a honeycomb aluminium core sandwiched with outer and inner layers of CF graphene making for a well-damped, stiff and light diaphragm. The drivers are capable of 13mm (0.5 inch) of excursion aided by the 130mm (5 inches) pure titanium voice coil and massive motor system capped with a large copper plate.
The S3’s sensitivity is said to be 88dB while its impedance runs at a nominal 4 ohms. Frequency response is stated as spanning from 24 Hz to 50 kHz (no parameters provided) while recommended power is 50 watts to 750 watts. The speaker weighs in at a massive 100kg (222 pounds).
Alon Wolf told SoundStage! Australia, “in the new S3 achieve a purity of sound and measured performance that surpassed our expectations. The new Magico S3 shatters the boundaries of performance for a speaker in its class.”
The new Magico S3 will be available in Q1 2023 via importer Absolute Hi End and its Australia-wide network of audio specialist dealers.
Magico S3 Loudspeakers
Price: AU$78,000 (AU$89,500 for M-Coat)
Australian Distributor: Absolute Hi End
+61 488 777 999
www.absolutehiend.com
