Magico Speakers with Naim

[Middle]

@Dfreshness

How do you like the 222?

I’m a big fan. I think the 222 is an absolute marvel, and I’m not sure why it doesn’t seem to have the gushing love in this forum that I would expect. Here’s why I like the 222, and some caveats that you might use to appropriately discount my experience:

Comparing down:
I came to the 222 from a HiCap-202-ND5xs2 configuration. Compared to that, the 222 has given me much, much better sound quality (significantly superior disaggregation of complicated music, e.g.) and much better user experience (more stable) and superior real estate ergonomics (1 instead of 3 boxes). However regarding sound quality, you should know that I also moved my system across the room when I did the 222 switch over, so it’s not exactly apples to apples. That said, there are ways that the 222 beats the prior sources, for example in that disaggregation of musical complexity, that I don’t think would be highly impacted by the room. But I could be wrong.

Comparing up:
I listened in a dealer’s room to an NPX300-222-250NC and then listened to a 300-300-333-332-350-350, into some Wilson Audio loudspeakers. The 300-series system sounded better, to my ear … but it was close, especially when the dB level was kept constant. And the 300-series seemed better to me in ways that might tie back more to the amps, such as speed, edge-of-note definition, bass control, etc. I am sure that the 333-332 combination beats the 222, I just didn’t hear enough to make me think that the 333-332 should my next upgrade. The 350s, on the other hand, are definitely at the top of the upgrade list (assuming that I stay in the Naim ecosystem), and an NPX300 to feed the 222 might be #2 on that list.

Of course, this is just my experience, my ears, two specific rooms, etc.. There are certainly a number of people here on the forum who would tell you to sell a kidney to upgrade to 300-series sources. As always, you should listen for yourself and make your own decisions!

[Bart]

Im glad to hear that you’re enjoying the A5s! I liked ours a lot too, but we just wanted “more” speaker after moving house and having a much bigger room.

I continue to think that Magico and Naim are a good pairing, with the proviso that Magico speakers DO require significant current to drive properly. As you say, the stark neutrality of the Magico speakers really lets you hear the Naim music.

[Dfreshness]

Thank you for sharing your experience. I have ndx2 lp12 sn3 hicap dr now powering wilson sabrina x. For me the lp12 is a novelty somewhat and am wondering if i shouldnt swap it for a supercap. there are many permutations my wife is wanting lower box count. The sabrina x is a fabulous speaker for my space. They dont look so great for my revolutionary war era house. Wife is giving it some time but she like harbets and spendor classics which i could cerainly live with. My system seems to be something of a fantasy baseball team.

[Middle]

Piano, through the Magicos, is amazing.

[Middle]

It is remarkable to me how well my 250DR drives the Magico A5s. Given the tricky impedance of the A5s, I had expected that listening to them powered by the 250 would be frustrating. This has not been the case. My SPLs are modest, typically 55-85 dB-C, and while I am sure that higher dB could expose the amp more, at my listening levels the system sounds good!

That said, I am aware of some fuzz/softness in “big” low mids (e.g., during that cello/bass attack in Beethoven 5), and perhaps some compression when the big tuttis push into the 90+ dB range, although that could be my ear fritzing out rather than my hifi system. So I likely will be upgrading my amplification.

All in all, though, I would encourage those interested in Magico not to be too scared off by their “hard to drive” reputation! A 250 through them produces terrific music.

[Middle]

With the Lincoln Center season having started, over the last 4 weeks I have heard the New York Philharmonic in Geffen Hall 4 times and the Met Opera orchestra in the Metropolitan Opera House once. This is probably a stretch, but I think the Magico A5s might appeal more to people who like the NY Phil / Geffen sound: clear, immediate, fast, energetic, precise, low/moderate reverb, huge dynamics, lots of informational content on the front edge of the music. The Opera House: enveloping sound, euphonic blend rather than clarity, massive scale, lots of “bloom” in the music. Like I said, probably a stretch …

[Middle]

OK, Magico Speakers with Naim contributors, having lived with the A5s being fed by an NSC 222 into a NAP 250DR for several months, here is what I am thinking of upgrading to:

Grimm Mu2 → Naim NAP 350 monoblocks → Magico A5s

Thoughts?

(And @Protegimus, apologies, the Pilium was absolutely the best set of electronics feeding the A5s that I heard, but unfortunately the weight and size and warmth just won’t work in my room. Sigh. When I move, though …)

[Thomas]

@Middle

Grimm Mu2 → Naim NAP 350 monoblocks → Magico A5s

Thoughts?

If your budget allows, then go for the S series (S2 or S3).
IMO, the S series offers the best price-to-performance ratio.
In fact, the tweeter alone makes it worthwhile!

Cheers,
Thomas

[Middle]

Don’t disagree, but the deal I got on the A5s was too good to pass up. And they are awesome, too! (Just not quite as much awesome…)

[naimophile]

demoed the S2… on a simple system . Wow already sound so good ..

[Thomas]

@naimophile

demoed the S2… on a simple system . Wow already sound so good ..

What’s great about Magico speakers is that they are very little “coloured”, or very transparent. I’m not quite sure how best to put it

In short, they barely alter the sound.

You get a very linear frequency response with bass that’s tight, clean and precise.

It’s a real pleasure to listen to.

I’ve owned 2 pairs of Jean-Marie Reynaud speakers and 2 pairs of Magicos.

I’ve also auditioned other well-known brands in showrooms. They’re all coloured to some extent. Some more than others.

Once you’ve had a taste of Magico, it’s impossible to go back to more “conventional” speakers. You immediately hear what’s “not right”.

So if you like the Naim sound, Magico speakers will give you exactly that.

Cheers,
Thomas

[naimophile]

It’s a very very refined speakers.. one of its kind.. and very very quiet

[Middle]

@Thomas

So if you like the Naim sound, Magico speakers will give you exactly that.

100%. The Magicos have let me hear what “Naim” sounds like for the first time.

I understand why some people - you, I think, included? - move away from Naim after getting Magicos. The Magicos can go places that are not on the Naim sonic map. On the other hand, they also give you a great view from where Naim takes you. There are no solutions (not even Soulutions), only tradeoffs.

[Thomas]

@Middle

100%. The Magicos have let me hear what “Naim” sounds like for the first time.

I understand why some people - you, I think, included? - move away from Naim after getting Magicos. The Magicos can go places that are not on the Naim sonic map. On the other hand, they also give you a great view from where Naim takes you. There are no solutions (not even Soulutions), only tradeoffs.

Yes, Magico speakers really are very much a “what you feed in is what you get” kind of design.

So yes, if one likes the Naim sound, Magico speakers are an excellent choice. Quite possibly one of the very best.

I recently saw, on the What’s Best Forum, in the thread “Introducing Olympus & Olympus I/O – A new perspective on modern music playback” , a member with a genuinely lovely system:

Naim Statement, Taiko Olympus + Taiko Olympus I/O XDMI and Magico M7.

The post is number #6,771 from Dec 1, 2025.

A superb source, top Naim amplification, and speakers that simply get out of the way and let the Naim sound bloom

I didn’t leave Naim because I didn’t like the Naim sound, quite the opposite.

The Naim sound is very enjoyable, very addictive.

If I’d had the space to keep two systems, I would have done so.

The NAP 500 DR in particular, in its later iterations, is a truly magnificent amplifier.

Unfortunately, the NAC 552 DR / NAP 500 DR combination lacks power and is quite coloured.

That can be very pleasant when listening to Pink Floyd, or jazz to a certain extent.

But I mainly listen to classical music.

With large-scale classical works, the NAP 500 DR tended to lose its way a little.

My reference track for judging whether a system can cope with the complexity of a full symphony orchestra is this one:

• Anton Bruckner : Symphony No. 8 in C minor – IV. Finale

Jaap van Zweden

—> Spotify

That’s the reason why I moved to Soulution : power and transparency.

What best defines Soulution is its incredible speed, dynamics and transparency, especially the new 727 preamp paired with the new 717 power amp.

I’m not quite sure how to describe the 727/717 combination. It’s a long way from the brand’s early models, which didn’t appeal to everyone. This really is something new.

Both the preamp and the power amp have been completely redesigned.

In short, that’s why I moved to Soulution : classical music.

Cheers,
Thomas

[frenchrooster]

Naim, Ear Yoshino, Gryphon…are indeed coloured, as they have their own distinctive character. It’s the reason many like them, as myself.
Other, like Esoteric, CH Precision, Constellation, Soulution….are more neutral. Magico tend to go in that direction too.
We have here the big difference and opposite tastes and spirit on how listening to music.
For me, having heard Magico with Ch Precision, Soulution and Constellation, with dacs from the same brand, left me totally cold. But for other it’s Nirvana.

Anyway, those liking Naim should first listen how the match with Magico is. Very risky to buy blindly.

[Middle]

Another way of putting what you said, I think, is that the match between Naim and Magico is great … if you like the Naim sonic signature. Magico speakers are about as close to a neutral transducer as I’ve heard.

If you don’t like the Naim sound as it comes out of the tin, then you can use more “colored” speakers or switch to less “colored” electronics, depending on which way you want to twist the dial. No right or wrong, as you said, just taste. In other words, I think I’m coming down where @Thomas has been: If the question is “Magico speakers with Naim?”, the answer is, “Yes, if you like the Naim sound for most of the music that you listen to.”

[Thomas]

That’s exactly it !

[Middle]

@Thomas

In short, that’s why I moved to Soulution : classical music.

Most of my listening is also classical music. My sonic reference is David Geffen Hall, which offers a fast attack and is pretty transparent/precise for a live concert venue. That thing the New York Philharmonic does when it’s on – playing like a track car at the limits of adhesion, with an almost violent energy – is just intoxicating live in that hall.

Not a surprise that I can’t get that from my 250DR. It’s not so much a question of dynamics (at home, I don’t listen at levels where the 105+ dB-c live transients are a limiting factor), as it is speed and the ability to present complex music, especially chamber music, without feeling congested.

The electronics that I’ve heard that best match what I’m after (to my ear!): Pilium. At the suggestion of @Protegimus, I listened to the Pilium Leonidas → Magico A5 combination at a dealer, and it was amazing. However, the ergonomics of Pilium gear makes it unsuitable for my situation right now. So, I’m trying to convince another dealer to loan me a set of Naim 350s to see how they do.

Have not tried the ultra-transparent, Soulution-style amps though. Perhaps I should!

[frenchrooster]

In theory yes, but they may also give a less Naim character because for some, too neutral is analytical and cold. Naim works generally well with Proac , Apertura, Spendor…because those are on the warm side a bit.
As Naim tendency is to sound a bit bright sometimes, too neutral speakers can exacerbate this character.

[Richard.Dane]

Not sure I’d call Naim sound bright FR. If anything it’s a bit on the darker side, albeit lively and never laid back. Trying some other amps can initially sound shockingly bright by comparison I find.