Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
Product Strengths
- Built with high-quality materials, including a solid aluminum cabinet that minimizes resonances
- Great detail and technical performance make it a competent all-rounder speaker
- Its sealed cabinet design contributes to a taut and well-defined bass response that extends impressively low
- Exceptional imaging capabilities create a wide and well-layered soundstage
- The beryllium dome tweeter provides smooth and composed high frequencies without sounding bright or harsh
Product Considerations
- The price was raised after its original release and may be out of reach for some customers
- A high-current, high-quality amplifier is required to perform at its best
- At very high volumes, it sounded a bit looser at the very bottom of its range, from 35Hz down
- Although the manual gives instructions for best setup, it seems accommodating of less-than-perfect rooms and installation
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Technics Grand Class SB-G90, it has a far more linear treble response, a cleaner, tighter midrange, a better-defined stereo image, and faster—more concussive—bass
- Vs Vivid Audio's Giya G4, it sounded pretty similar to the Giya G4, with incredible clarity and purity through the all-important midrange, married to an uncannily articulated stereo image
- Vs Magico S1 Mk.II, its nearly full-range sound makes up for the S1 Mk.II's millimetric improvement in airiness
Takeaway: The Magico A3 is a precision loudspeaker that offers a genuine high-end audio experience with exceptional clarity and detail. It is a great option for those seeking a top-performing speaker that brings them closer to the music.
All
A3
reviews
Manufacturer details
- Driver Complement: 1 X 1.1" (2.79cm) Beryllium Dome Tweeter, 1 X 6" (15.24cm) Graphene Nano-Tec Midrange, 2 X 7" (17.78cm) Graphene Nano-Tec Bass
- Sensitivity: 88dB
- Impedance: 4 Ohms
- Frequency Response: 26 Hz – 50 KHz
- Recommended Power: 50 watt RMS (min) / 300 watts (max)
- Dimensions: 44"H x 11"D x 9.25"W (112cm x 27cm x 23cm)
- Weight: 110 lbs. (49.89 kg)
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- Magico enclosures are primarily constructed of aluminum, using complex internal bracing to minimize resonances and provide a rigid mounting platform for the drivers.
- The brand utilizes graphene-enhanced Nano-Tec cones in their midranges and woofers for a superior stiffness-to-weight ratio, contributing to exceptional clarity and detail.
- Trickle-down technology from Magico's flagship M-Series informs the design of other models, making significant engineering accomplishments available at lower price points.
- The company is known for its seamless blending of drivers and exceptionally wide sweet spot relative to other dynamic loudspeakers.
Select products
A-Series A5
- Positioning: A flagship model in the A-Series, designed for high performance with advanced technology.
- Description: Notable for its use of a 5-inch pure midrange driver and advanced Graphene Nano-Tech cones, offering exceptional stiffness-to-weight ratio. Compared to other models, it features a sealed aluminum enclosure similar to the Q-Series, providing enhanced resolution and dynamics. Ideal for those seeking high performance in medium to large rooms, it balances affordability with advanced technology.
S-Series S5
- Positioning: A premium model in the S-Series, offering advanced acoustic performance and design.
- Description: Stands out with its diamond-coated beryllium tweeter and Nano-Tec Gen 8 cone structure, providing superior midrange clarity and low distortion. It offers a larger cabinet and improved bass response compared to the A-Series, making it suitable for larger spaces and users willing to invest in higher build quality and acoustic sophistication.
M-Series M9
- Positioning: The ultimate flagship model in the M-Series, representing the pinnacle of loudspeaker design.
- Description: Features a unique carbon fiber and aluminum honeycomb core enclosure, offering exceptional structural stiffness and reduced weight. It surpasses other models with its advanced Nano-Tec cones and Beryllium-diamond tweeter, delivering extraordinary accuracy and dynamic range.
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Used
Magico
What if you spend more?
The all-new Alumine Two.Five is the exciting latest addition to the Alumine range. It is the first floorstander in the line‑up and slots between the bookshelf Alumine Two and the floorstanding Alumine Three.
The iconic Alumine Two changed speaker design and redefined what was possible from a bookshelf speaker. It achieved this by combining elements that have served as the basis for every Stenheim speaker since: aluminum cabinets, highly efficient drivers and sophisticated crossovers that are designed to be as unobtrusive as possible. The Alumine Two achieves its astonishing musicality partly by virtue of being a two‑way design, the crossover only having to deal with two drivers, the tweeter and the bass.
In audio, simplicity is the holy grail but extremely difficult to achieve. Now the Alumine Two.Five takes these same design concepts and applies them to a floorstanding cabinet for greater internal volume and bass extension. The design is still a two‑way, eschewing the compromises that may result from a more complicated crossover required to handle multiple different drivers.
The purity and simplicity that created the success of the Alumine Two is maintained, but the double bass drivers ensure room‑filling sound in larger spaces whilst giving greater extension in the low frequencies. The easily driven Alumine Two.Five is suitable for a wide range of high‑quality amplification and is the ideal partner for even modestly powered systems, such as tube amps, to deliver enthralling music with typical Stenheim clarity, detail and liveliness.
It is hand‑assembled in our manufacture in Switzerland with quintessential Swiss attention to detail and quality and is designed to perform for decades.
The classically elegant, slim cabinet makes it a beautiful addition to any listening space or living room, complementing any decor, without seeking to be the center of attention. That is the role performed by the sublime music it produces the moment you hit play.
The Alumine Two.Five is simply beautiful, however you look at it or listen to it.
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Our summary
Product Strengths
- Impressive build quality with all-aluminum cabinets
- High sensitivity of 93dB, making them easy to drive with a variety of amplifiers
- Tremendous dynamics
- Bass that others close in size could not dream of providing
- Clean, dynamic, and sophisticated sound with warmth and emotion, and a well-balanced tonality
Product Considerations
- Very heavy at 100 pounds each
- Do not come with grilles
- Might not be as stable as some competitor speakers, even with the feet installed
- Brutally simple and minimalist design might not appeal to everyone
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Bowers & Wilkins 804 D4: Both are open-sounding, dynamic and engaging, but the Stenheim Alumine Two.Five has punchier bass
- Vs Magico A3: Comparable (perhaps a small increment better) dynamics, but are more expensive overall
Takeaway: The Stenheim Alumine Two.Five is a high-performance speaker that delivers evolved musical resolution and can fit into smaller spaces. It is easy to drive and makes the music important by getting out of the way.
Video review
Our take on the brand
The Alberich2 system is completely made of Metal This loudpspeaker consists of two handcrafted components: A set of Voxativ Hagen2 Metal monitors equipped with Voxativ AF-2B drivers which then sits upon a Voxativ Alberich2 Metal bass module. Both housings are completely made from Aluminium plates that are properly welded together. No wood is on this speaker system. The weight is 182 lbs (90kg).
Alberich2 plays wonderfully without any amplification. This is caused in the nature of our new premium black cone 5" driver. The AF-2.6. This driver combined with the complete resonance free housing will make you forget about other possibly bigger speakers. Closing your eyes strings and voices will drive you to tears and the bass makes your ceiling oscillate. Hope your neighbors are are real friends of yours.
But also at low volumes this is a wonderful new speaker that will amaze you due it's excellent musical balance caused by the ultra level Voxativ black series widebander. Given the high-efficiency nature of our drivers, Alberich2 pairs nicely with low wattage tube amps that also offer pre-amp RCA outputs to connect to the active bass module.
We do offer Alberich2 as a package. The inclusion of your choice of three integrated amps: A Voxativ T-211 Integrated tube amp to be included as a bundled system A Lyric Ti100 Integrated tube amp, special Voxativ modified, to be included as a bundled system. The Symphonic Line RG14, Voxativ version if you prefer solid state.
Our summary
Product Strengths
- The revised Hagen2 is purpose-tuned as part of the Alberich2 system, which improves the sound
- Ripol subs are faster and better tuned than other available subs
- Compact double decker packs the aces on bandwidth, LF control, and cosmetic footprint
- Physical separation of bass bin from light-coned main driver
- Dedicated bass volume control and adjustable filter hinge for in-room tonal balance
Product Considerations
- Client complained of the total cost when added to Hagen2 pair
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Alberich2 is head-on competitive with Cube Audio's Nenuphar v2, packs the aces on bandwidth, LF control, and cosmetic footprint
Takeaway: The ALBERICH2, when combined with the Hagen2, creates a purpose-tuned speaker system that improves the sound. The ability to adjust bass volume and filter settings allows for tonal balance, and its size is compact for its class.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Most affordable way into the true 800 series form factor, with the solid aluminum turbine head and the fully curved matrix-braced cabinet
- Features a one-inch diamond dome tweeter, which is a standout strength
- Midrange and vocal region from the Bowers favor a leaner, more technically accurate sound, going for outright clarity, and vocals sound particularly clear and clean
- Bases have casters integrated or built into them, making them easy speakers to move around for optimal positioning, and integrated spikes can then be used to securely position them
- Show-stoppingly gorgeous and sound simply fantastic
Product Considerations
- A much fussier speaker in every regard and require more thought and work to get the sound balance right
- Possible to come across maybe a little bit too lively in the treble
- Amplifier power, quality, and capability is hugely influential—hugely important for these speakers
- Due to their revealing nature, they don't play particularly well with poorer recordings such as metal and older rock
- Tweeter can get fairly harsh when the volume is turned to the extreme, pushing 90+ db for louder music
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Bowers & Wilkins are a much fussier speaker in every regard than the Mission 770
- Paradigm Persona 5H is a little more "liquid" sounding
- Wilson Audio SabrinaX's finish is superior to that of the Bowers & Wilkins, dynamic, easy to drive, with a very familiar and very resolute sound
- Bowers & Wilkins 803 D4s are refined like an Aston Martin, and Tekton Ulfberhts are more like a Corvette C8
- Bowers & Wilkins 805D4 lacks the midrange prowess that the 803 has, and will most definitely need a subwoofer for even mild extension into bass
Takeaway: The 803 D4 speakers offer a fantastic listening experience with clear vocals and a grand soundstage, making music more engaging. They are an investment that can potentially improve over a long period of time through system upgrades and continued optimization.
Video review
Our take on the brand
The flagship of The Reference Series is the model that all other high-performance loudspeakers compare themselves against. Now with the extraordinarily capable 12th generation Uni-Q® driver array with MAT™, Reference 5 Meta exemplifies the passion for innovation that underpins KEF’s design philosophy.
Product Strengths
- Delivers a large, detailed—and scalable—sound that doesn't lose quality at different volumes
- Excels in creating a wide and deep soundstage, enhancing the listening experience with a sense of expansiveness
- Is emotionally engaging, creating a connection between the listener and the music
- The Uni-Q driver with Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT) significantly improves sound quality by absorbing unwanted frequencies, resulting in clearer and more accurate high-frequency reproduction
- Offers customisation for bass tuning with different port options to suit various room acoustics
Product Considerations
- Is a large and heavy speaker, requiring a substantial space and stable flooring
- Represents a significant investment
- While generally easy to drive, benefits from high-quality amplification to reveal its full potential
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Audiovector R6 Arreté: R6 Arreté sounds extremely weightless and transparent, but doesn't have the same depth of bass as the Reference 5 Meta
- Vs Sonus Faber Serafino Tradition: The Serafino deliver the music nicely wrapped in a warm envelope that's very addictive, while the Reference 5 Meta focuses on detail and transparency
Takeaway:
The KEF Reference 5 Meta is a high-end loudspeaker that provides a detailed, emotionally engaging—and expansive—sound experience. With its advanced technology and customizable features, it is a great option for those looking to invest in a top-tier audio system.
Video review
Our take on the brand
What competes at this price?
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Elegant design with slim aluminum housings
- High-quality transducer technology
- Remarkable flexibility in feed options, including wireless
- Precise and controlled reproduction with highest impulse fidelity due to closed construction and DSP linearisation
- Room calibration ensures detailed, dynamically balanced, and natural sound even with imperfect room acoustics
Takeaway: The Piega Premium Wireless Series Gen2 offers a simple way to create a modern, premium hifi system. It provides high sound quality without sacrificing much space, offering all the functions expected from a modern hifi setup.
Video review
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Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Very clean sound, precise imaging qualities, and unfatiguing
- Incredibly fast, open and well-resolved after a few days of use
- Superb driver integration, and temporally and tonally coherent across a wide range of music
- Full, deep and well-controlled bass
- Resolving powers that provide detail and information
Product Considerations
- At 45kg each, unpacking and locating them was not easy
- The outrigger feet are £450 per speaker
- The cost is £14900
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The larger Piega Coax Gen2 811 retails for £26400, and it shares many of the features of the 611—but it has a larger cabinet and bass drivers
Takeaway: The Piega Coax Gen2 611 is an impressive speaker with speed, accurate timing, and excellent imaging. It provides detailed yet powerful sound, making it a great choice for an end-game speaker in the average UK listening space.
Video review
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Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Exceptional imaging and soundstage.
- Detailed high-frequency reproduction.
- Tight and accurate bass.
- Elegant design and high-quality build.
- Good value for the price.
Product Considerations
- Midrange response may have a 'hole' or 'scoop'.
- Sweet spot is narrow.
- Amplifier matching benefits from good current delivery.
- Positioning requires careful attention.
- Speakers are only available in black or white.
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs GoldenEar Technology T66—the X3's tweeter is in 'a whole other class of high-frequency reproduction'.
- Vs PureAudioProject Duet 15s—the X3 was faster, clearer, and had better transient response.
- Vs KEF Reference 3 Meta—the X3 seems like a faster, clearer, more transparent speaker.
- Vs Audiovector R3—the X3 has more pronounced and deeper bass.
- Vs Audiovector R6—the R6 offers more visceral dynamics and seems to go lower.
Takeaway: The Børresen X3 is a well-built and visually appealing loudspeaker known for its exceptional imaging, detailed highs, and refined sound. It is a compelling option for those seeking a high-performance speaker in its price range.
Video review
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Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Striking aesthetic design is repeatedly praised, seamlessly blending into living spaces
- Exceptional soundstage and imaging are consistently highlighted as standout features
- Balanced presentation across the frequency range offers a smooth integration of bass, midrange, and treble
- Well-controlled and detailed bass integrates well with the other drivers
- Clear and detailed midrange and treble contribute to a fast presentation of vocals and instruments
- Connectivity options are solid
Product Considerations
- The Aura's impedance can drop to a low 2 ohms at 58 Hz, making it a demanding load for amplifiers
- Bass output may not suit all tastes, particularly those who prefer bass-heavy music or have larger rooms
- System matching with warmer components may be necessary to achieve a preferred sound balance
- The placement of the binding posts and the tight space around them are a bit challenging when connecting speaker cables
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to SVS Titans, the Aura is a clear step up in clarity and transparency, but the Titans deliver more bass output
- Compared to YG Acoustics Peaks Ascent, the AURA speaker has a very different frequency profile
Takeaway: The Estelon Aura speakers combine striking aesthetics with high-end sound, offering a balanced and engaging listening experience that works well in various rooms. They are a strong contender for audiophiles seeking a speaker that is both visually appealing and sonically refined.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Clarity and seamless presentation, along with excellent dynamics and punch
- Impressive bass power, agility, and grip
- The design makes it less obtrusive in a domestic setting than most alternatives
- AMT tweeter provides a crisp, revealing treble
- Damping feature allows for a degree of flexibility in matching the speaker with amplifiers
Product Considerations
- The design lacks the visual elegance of other high-end Audiovector speakers
- Stereo imaging could be more expansive
- The Freedom Grounding cable is expensive as an optional purchase
Takeaway: The Audiovector Trapeze Reimagined combines retro inspiration with modern technology, creating a speaker that puts entertainment first with clarity, dynamics and impressive bass. With its unique design and adaptable sound, it's a great pick for music lovers that want fun and high-end performance.
Video review
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