AMERICAN HIFI BRAND MAGICO HAS ANNOUNCED THE NEW S3 SPEAKER FOR 2023

The knowledge and technological advances gained in the development of Magico’s flagship loudspeaker, the M9, have been applied to the new Magico S3 2023.

Magico has redesigned the S3 Mk II loudspeaker, giving it a new enclosure, drivers, and coupling system.

MAGICO S3 2023 ENCLOSURE TECHNOLOGY

The new Magico S3 features an appearance that is refined and fortified. It has a newly engineered enclosure assembled from four separate extruded aluminium panels ranging in thickness from 1/2” to 2 inches. Each panel, including the front baffle, is carefully machined to take on an overall edgeless-shaped perimeter.

A massive machined top plate is curved and has an upward pitch to minimize enclosure diffraction and break up vertical standing waves. A thicker and more substantial baseplate incorporates a newly designed 3-point outrigger system with a new foot design that lowers the centre of gravity of the speaker and increases overall stability.

The Magico S3 2023 Loudspeaker

Magico’s new in-house 3D laser interferometry system measures each S3 enclosure panel, up to 1000 points a side, and calculates the aggregate SPL resonance of the entire enclosure. This analysis enables Magico to compare the enclosure resonance contribution in relation to the acoustical output of the transducers and strategically apply internal bracing and damping techniques to optimize the overall sound performance of the S3 in its finished form.

ACOUSTIC DESIGN

The Klippel Near-Field-Scanner (NFS) uses a single microphone that rotates around a loudspeaker enclosure that is suspended in free-air. The microphone analyses the environment space first, and then takes fully automated 3D acoustic measurements (on and off axis) in a minimal amount of time without the need for an anechoic chamber. The 360-dgeree sphere of measurement points are then calculated with the initial room measurements deducted from the equation. The Klippel Near-Field-Scanner provides Magico with data and allows them to predict the in-room reflections and response of each loudspeaker in a standard listening room environment.

Inside the new Magico S3 Loudspeaker

DRIVER TECHNOLOGY

Three years of engineering research brings a new generation of transducer chassis designs. New chassis profiles have been developed for the S3’s midrange and bass drivers.

MAGICO S3 2023 TWEETER HIGHLIGHTS

Using key elements of the M9 tweeter platform, the newly designed S3 tweeter features the Magico 28mm diamond-coated beryllium diaphragm. Optimized geometry, created using Finite Element Analysis modelling tools, has been applied. This was achieved by leveraging beryllium’s physical properties, making the tweeter closer to the theoretical ideal without gaining extra weight. This applied technology allowed Magico to increase the dome diameter from 26mm to 28mm. Combined with a neodymium-based motor system, new acoustically improved back chamber, and customized shape to integrate into the curved front baffle, the new S3 tweeter registers very low distortion measurements.

MIDRANGE DRIVER HIGHLIGHTS

The 5-inch pure midrange driver in the S3 features an advanced cone material formed of a honeycomb aluminium core sandwiched with outer and inner layers of graphene and carbon fibre. The advanced cone is supported by a customized basket assembly and foam surround. The all-new underhung neodymium-based motor system uses two extra-large magnets to facilitate a super-stabilized magnetic field and a pure copper pole cap that minimizes eddy currents and maximizes efficiency.

MAGICO S3 2023 BASS DRIVER HIGHLIGHTS

The 9” bass driver in the S3 features an enhanced version of Magico’s Graphene Nano-Tec cone. Graphene, a hexagonal lattice of carbon, achieves 50 times the tensile strength of highcarbon steel. The new cone is formed using a honeycomb aluminum core sandwiched by outer and inner layers of CF Graphene, which combine to achieve the highest possible stiffness-toweight ratio, ideal damping properties, and  low distortion. The new bass unit incorporates oversized components including a 5-inch pure Titanium voice coil and huge copper cap with 1/2” of linear excursion. The super-stabilized magnetic field enables the S3 to reproduce low bass output (112dB @ 50Hz measured at 1 meter), while maintaining very low distortion and inductance below 0.25m.

Rear of the Magico S3 MKII Loudspeaker

MAGICO S3 2023 SPECIFICATIONS

Driver Complement

1 1.1” MB5FP pure Beryllium, Diamond coated tweeter

1 5” Gen 8 Midrange driver

2 9” Gen 8 Bass driver

Sensitivity: 88dB

Impedance: 4 Ohms

Frequency Response: 24 Hz – 50 KHz

Recommended Power: 50 – 750 Watts

Dimensions : 44H” x 17D” x 12W” (17” outrigger)

Weight: 222 lbs

MAGICO S3 2023 PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

Ship Date: Q1 2023

In the UK the new S3 will be distributed by Absolute Sounds, UK pricing is as follows:

UK RRPs for M-Cast and M-Coat finish options are £56,998 and £66,000 per pair respectively.

M-Cast – Textured Powder Coat finish. M-Coat – High Gloss Paint finish

HiFi Pig Says: There is a lot of technology packed into these new Magicos, we can’t wait to hear them!