2022 Golden Ear: Magico M9 Loudspeaker

Magico M9 Loudspeaker

$750,000

This new flagship from Magico breaks fresh ground in loudspeaker design and performance. The M9 is a four-way, six-driver dynamic speaker in a sealed enclosure measuring 80″ tall. The drive complement consists of dual 15″ woofers, dual 11″ mid/bass drivers, a 6″ midrange, and a 1.1″ tweeter. The 120Hz crossover transition between the 15″ woofers and the rest of the speaker is performed at line level in an outboard analog two-way active crossover. This means the M9 must be driven by four amplifier channels. The M9 is astonishing in the way it completely disappears—in several aspects—as a sound source. First, it is tonally colorless in that it has no characteristic sound of its own. As a result, timbres are incredibly realistic—rich and dense in texture and completely free from any artificial patina. Second, the M9 disappears spatially, throwing a huge, continuous, and three-dimensional soundstage completely untethered to the speakers. But perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the M9 is the way it can effortlessly portray the most bombastic orchestral music with the power and impact of the huge speaker that it is, as well as the nuances and expression of small-scale music with the delicacy of a two-way mini-monitor. A landmark achievement. 

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