new Magico speakers the Q5

No marketing hype ... yeah, riiiight.

Minis were marketed from the start as the most expensive two-way in the world. That was their way of getting attention. Sure, they used some high quality parts (x-over), birch ply, Scan-Speak ring radiator tweeter, ATD midwoofer etc, but nothing out of ordinary, that haven't been used before. And for what they were, they were grossly overpriced.

I still remember the stories they told about supposedly 'their' midwoofer design ('the only one in the world to combine Titanium skins with a bonded foam layer for self-damping. There's only one man on the planet willing and capable of making it' blah, blah, blah) that made laugh anyone who knows anything about drive units and the italian company ATD that used to manufacture those.

And no not even get me started about those monster 'reference' horns ...

To my ears, Magicos are one of the most overhyped products on the market right now. Time will tell how long they will be able to sustain interest in their products.

Sure, and Area 51 is landing aliens daily. When you say “they” who are you referring to? A guy in his garage building speakers? Hundreds if not thousands have done the same. So just because "they" said their monitor is the most expansive one they have risen to the top? BTW, It is complete BS since I have never heard "them" saying that, not to mention, that it is not true.

I for one would like to hear the sonic difference of aluminum enclosure compared to horizontal and vertical layers of extremely stiff, laminated, Baltic birch plywood.

Just for fun I recommend reading Romy the Cats site and his views on the Magico mini, the Model 6 and the Magico "press" in general. It's hilarious. Start under general audio.

Roypan,

Please define "real" and "value." Do you refer to intrinsic, inherent or instrumental value? Do you refer to social reality or to some objective reality as Searle distinguishes? Is raw material cost the defining characteristic of any product? What about design costs? What about R&D? What about inefficient R&D and production costs? What about lack of statistical quality control that leads to manufacturing inefficiencies and waste that lead to higher prices for the end user? Input side is a part but intermediary steps very much affect outcomes as does the cost of living and working in the San Francisco Bay Area.

I do believe you tread into philosophical depths beyond your erudition when you castigate others who confound valuation with preference. Perhaps some time understanding the philosophical foundations of perception or the vast and growing neuroscientific research into consciousness, emotion, cognition and valuation/valencing will enable you realize that value and the stuff between ones ears are quite intertwined.

In what way has Magico risen to the top? Of what? Is there a hierarchy of loudspeakers that towers above us into the sky, that is there for anyone in the world to apprehend?