Personal bias included I’d have to say that Magico hits well above Focal. The “house sound” certainly is different. The engineering built into Magico and used to build Magico is second to none. But of course you have to like the sound.
(My prior post was incorrect - you are right, in Borressen land 1’s are standmounts and 2’s are floormounts. There are 2’s much less expensive than the M2s!)
Same here. My bias leads me towards Magico sound. For everything under the Focal Utopia line, I’m in the Magico camp. The Utopia III’s are the only Focals I ever actually enjoyed. However, some triangulated equipment matching had me jamming to a bud’s Kanta No3’s. Though I’ve heard them before in other settings and didn’t enjoy them nearly as much.
Just realise u have the Magico S5. Will u be upgrading to the newer version? I wonder how close those newer are to the M series.
Just to give a bit of context, I previously owned a pair of Magico S3 MkII, which I was able to compare with the Magico M2 that I currently own.
I’ve also compared the newer S series with the M series.
In short, I’m quite familiar with what Magico has to offer.
The short answer is that the M series is significantly better.
That said, it does need to be put into perspective.
What does “significantly better” actually mean?
I won’t go into technical details that I don’t fully master myself, but broadly speaking the level of distortion, in all its forms, is lower with the M series.
Visually, this is reflected in the cabinet shape: the M series is more rounded, which allows for better dispersion and greatly reduces distortion caused by sharp edges.
You can clearly see this evolution across Magico’s three ranges : A, S and M.
The further up the range you go, the more the edges disappear.
And that’s just one example.
It’s really the sum of many such details that makes the difference between the M series and the other two ranges.
All those details have a major impact on performance… and on price.
But…
How does this translate into listening impressions?
Tonal accuracy, the quality and stability of the stereo image, speed, timing, and so on.
All of these aspects are noticeably better with the M series.
Is the difference huge, though?
Well, that depends.
It depends on the listening environment (the room) and on what you listen to (the type of music).
That naturally brings us to the question of price.
Is the M series too expensive?
That’s a question that comes up regularly, but in my view it’s not particularly meaningful. The Magico M series is their flagship range.
In terms of performance-to-price ratio, however, the sweet spot is quite clearly the Magico S3 MkIII.
To conclude, I’d say that, in my opinion, Magico’s offer is among the very best available.
You can certainly find something “different”, but it’s hard to find something genuinely “better” , within their respective price brackets.
Ultimately, it all comes down to individual taste and how one enjoys listening to music.
Sometimes, less “performance” can actually make for a more enjoyable listening experience.
I hope this answer your question.
Cheers,
Thomas
No I have zero motivation to sink that much $$$$$ into new speakers. $79k per pair incl. tax. I paid in the low 30’s for mine as my dealers floor demo pair and will enjoy that leverage!
M2’s are superb. Heard them a few times and even when the upstream equipment wasn’t 100% optimal, they always sounded special.
Hi @mech ,
I see there are only a few replies so far to your Q.
Here is my experience: In 2019, when considering to upgrade from my NAIM (amp) + LINN (loudspeaker) system and following lots of reading of reviews etc, I thought I really wanted a NAIM (amp) + FOCAL (loudspeaker) system.
However to be sure, I arranged a series of demonstrations (at various dealers) where I listened to Focal (Sopra 2 and 3) and Magico (S1 and S3) and other brands such as Wilson and Sonos Faber.
The dealers listening sessions had a clear outcome:- the Magico loudspeakers (S1 or S3) were the winner (in the bass). I think this is because of the Magico being infinite baffle loudspeakers, the cabinet design and construction and also the quality of the (internal) crossovers.
Finally, home demonstration was arranged. I have previously briefly described my journey with Magico selection here.
Good luck with your choosing…
Appreciated the breakdown. I am in the process of potentially gaining access to a pre-owned Statement at a good price pending my sales of 500 (if possible). So looking at my current Scala, I am thinking to also change it to Stella (all-out 
) or look at Magico M2 or Borresen M2. Undoubtable expensive, but wish to do it right 1-time this final time though, so asking around for Utopia vs M series experience if any has it.
I think probably the Magico S series is closer to compare with the Focal Utopia lower series like the Scala. And then for the M series is more comparable starting from Stella and up.
I do agree - and you are probably correct in your observation and suggestions re the comparisons.
However, the specific point I was wanting to convey was the fact that MAGICO are NOT bass reflex designs. This is where MAGICO consistently win over FOCAL. The downside is that the electrical load presented to the amplifier is more challenging than the FOCAL Bass Reflex designs and of types of loudspeaker.
BTW, I looked up some technical assessments of the FOCAL MAESTRO UTOPIA EVO (Stereophile magazine October 2023) and to my reading they are quite inferior to the MAGICO M series.
Hi @mech do you have the luxury of being able to listen to the different speakers locally?
With Magico it is the music, your components and room; much less the speakers that you are listening to. However daft that may initially appear, I think most Magico owners will agree.
This is especially clear with bass, extending to upper bass and mids, the lack of colouration and distortion from the cabinet really allows you to enjoy every texture and the passion of the performance.
Each to their own of course, but almost every time I listen to different systems, first and foremost I hear the cabinet/enclosure or ports and as you’ve likely seen written, it is difficult to ‘unhear’ this as it is not how the instruments really sound.
The other thing that I would bear in mind is that to get the best of them you will want to pair with an amplifier capable of delivering drive (current) and control. Every step up has provided a significant benefit in this regard, to a level I hadn’t even appreciated was possible just a couple of years ago. I can only recommend that you consider your options alongside Naim as there are some outstanding contenders mentioned here in peoples systems. Exciting times and choices, I hope you get the best out of what you go for!
I agree with what’s been said previously.
@Edmund-of-Essex , that’s interesting , I actually followed a fairly similar path to yours. I originally intended to buy a pair of Magico S1s and ended up with M2s.
At the time, I had a full Naim 500 DR system and a pair of Jean-Marie Reynaud Abscisse speakers (priced at around 5500 euros back then).
I was very happy with the system overall, but the speakers were clearly showing their limits, especially with symphonic music and piano.
So I decided it was time to change speakers.
But changing speakers isn’t a simple matter.
I think it’s the hi-fi component people are most reluctant to change, which is rather paradoxical, given that it’s the one that has the greatest impact on the sound.
As I don’t enjoy going from showroom to showroom and I don’t read audio magazines, I didn’t really know where to start.
So I began at the obvious starting point: Focal.
I then tried other brands, including some well represented on this forum and even a Swiss brand.
To keep it short, I went from one disappointment to another.
The recurring issues were the bass, and sometimes the treble.
I told myself that by multiplying the price paid for the Jean-Marie Reynauds by 7 or 8, I’d end up with speakers that ticked all the boxes.
I was being rather naïve.
That was until someone recommended Magico, a brand I didn’t know at all at the time.
So I took a trip to Zurich.
And there, surprise! 
Bass that was tight and whip-crack fast, and treble that was both smooth and crystalline.
I listened to all the speakers available in the showroom.
My two favourites were the Magico Q7 and the Magico M2.
What a pleasure to listen to them! I won’t say more.
Quite frankly, I didn’t think that kind of performance was even possible.
Interestingly enough, I preferred the Magico M2 to the M6.
I went in for the Magico S1 MkII and left with a pair of Magico S3 MkIIs 
At the time, I felt the M2’s price was excessive.
The Magico S3 MkII were sublime!
Paired with the Naim 500 DR system, the result was truly wonderful.
But unfortunately, you can’t “unhear” what you’ve already heard…
Less than two years later, I ordered a pair of M2s. 
To @mech question : Are Magicos better than Focals?, I’d answer with a bit of hyperbole: Magicos are light-years ahead! 
For me, it was immediately obvious.
That said, I’m not claiming Magicos are the ultimate answer for everyone.
Listening pleasure varies from one person to another, and that, in the end, is the only thing that really matters.
Cheers,
Thomas
I would like to hear about your audition of these two speakers. They are SO different sounding.
My experiences listening to Borresen speakers is that they can create a very “holographic” sound. To use non-hi fi terms, Magico is a lot “dryer.” That may not make sense. But I expect you to hear 2 very different sounds.
I’ve always been curious as to what Borresen speakers would sound like in our home on my Naim 500 system - just out of curiosity – but have not arranged a demo.
My caution as always with auditioning speakers is that they can sound very different in different rooms. These are both ~75 kg speakers; not the easiest to throw in the back of your car for a home demo, unfortunately.
I am quite surprised my Scala being front ported is not too boomy even when close to my side wall. That is one relief I am currently not complaining 
Tks @Protegimus I sure hope to find my end-game speaker also. Not that the Scala got any issues. I am just toying with the idea that if I am lucky enough to sell my 500 for a pre-loved Statement, my next target will be a final speaker change!
Wow.. light year ahead ar.. hehe.. I got to have a listen. The M2 actually has smaller woofer driver to my Scala. 7” vs 10.5”. Just want to ask a stupid question. The size don’t matter right 
It sure is not easy to demo. What I like these 2 similarly sounding named speaker (both are M2 haha) is that both are so cute and small. And both at flagship highest-end and will sure give a good sound on a small sized room footprint. I am so glad they design smaller floorstander for us to audition!
That’s great to hear!
Actually, in choosing MAGICO M2s, I think Thomas and I have given ourselves the ‘problem’ of then needing lots of room treatment to contain and get the ultimate experience from the Magico sound.
Take a look at the consistent off axis performances of Magico M2 vs practically any other loudspeakers and you’ll perhaps see what I mean.
Magico need magic panels, maybe magic pills too.
