Magico S1 Inspired Nano Neo

[shudson105]

This is my Nano Neo build inspired by the Magico S1's. I had started a NN build a few years ago in typical boxes but never finished them. I was looking for something new to do with them recently as I did not want more bookshelf speakers since I already have 6 of them. When I saw some orange Magico S1's at one of the audio shows I thought that design would be perfect as a fun project to turn the NN into neat towers. Also I'm a fan of Mid-Century Modern design so the orange color would fit my decor.

I lost my build photos so I'll describe the build. The front panel and a few inches of the sides are made of 3/4" MDF and the back is 6" PVC pipe cut in half and glued to the MDF with Locktite Instant Grip Construction adhesive. The top and bottom plates are double layers of 3/4" MDF and the bottom third of the enclosure is filled with sand. There are two braces, form fitting to the complex shape inside. One brace is the top of the sand enclosure and the second holds the top of the port. Everything is flush trim routed and all gaps were filled with either wood glue or drywall joint compound. It is ported with flared ends inside and out. The paint is Sherwin Williams Emerald Trim rolled on with 1/4" nap roller.



Listening Impressions:

Like everyone says, these things really do sound like $1000+ speakers and the bass is truly amazingly full sounding. They are setup in my open basement and will obviously not fill it with bass and you cannot really feel any impact, but wow do they sound full. They can play literally anything at about 92db from an 8ft listening distance. I had Carmina Burana's O` Fortuna playing and the tympani was completely present. Organ notes, kick drums, bass guitars, synthesizers, everything is there. They have more bass than any bookshelf I own and go deeper than my 3 way Peerless creation with its three 6.5" woofers or Zaph's Seas TMM with its dual 7" woofers.

Helped by the enclosure shape these speakers completely disappear as sound sources. They image very well, and present a deep (but not very tall) soundstage; almost as deep as Jeff Bagby's Continuums. I can hear the positions and layers of the groups in O` Fortuna and I can hear the solid positions of the Eagles on stage in the live version of Hotel California. In my room (well...basement) the treble rolls off quickly above 8Khz at the listening position so there isn't much 'air' and they do sound dark, but it is a very pleasing sound that I can listen to all night long. Due to recessed treble and budget nature of the drivers they don't present a very large soundstage nor do they pull out much inner detail.

These are my favorite small speakers and I now prefer them to all of my bookshelfs, except the Continuums. (Those of course far exceed the Nano Neos in terms of imaging, soundstaging, resolution, transparency, naturalism and vivid tonality).

[shudson105]

[andykriech]

Wow, very nice edition of the NN! Well done and looks to be a great listening room, to boot. i would love to have a dedicated audio space outside the garage (or rather inside...).
Andy.

[Chris Roemer]

You are welcome

[bullittstang]

Great choice on the color and design - much more exotic than my typical rectangular painted box. I like the dramatic lighting and angles of your photos too, adds a nice touch!

I think the NNs were my third experience with DIY, after the OS and Classic. To this day - I listen to them almost daily and they are the first pair of speakers I audition a rehab'd, or repaired amp.

Thanks again Chris R. - these are a fantastic bang for your buck speaker.

[shudson105]

to Chris!

[Jeff F.]

Those look cool! They remind me of chrisn's Clockwork speakers
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[craigk]

"They have more bass than any bookshelf I own and go deeper than my 3 way Peerless creation with its three 6.5" woofers or Zaph's Seas TMM with its dual 7" woofers." if this is the case you have issues with your system. they make great bass for what they are, but in no way can they make more bass than a correctly designed speaker with three 6.5's or two 7's. just not happening.

[Chad2]

Those are awesome but not only that, your room there is awesome!

[shudson105]

Hey Craig,

We are both correct. I was precise but perhaps not specific enough in my description, they do indeed make more bass than any of my bookshelf speakers. They do not make more bass than my towers, obviously, but in room they do go a few hertz lower or deeper than my towers at, for me, normal listening levels. I can hear this best on recordings with naturally recorded deep bass instruments. For example, on an O-Zone Percussion album or a Blue Man Group album, with both the NN's and Peerless towers at say 86 or 88db, the NN's recreates the deepest notes more prominently. This is not as obvious with synthesizer based sounds. The louder I push the NN's past about 92db at the listening position they seem to stop getting louder in the bass while the mids and treble get louder with greater amounts of distortion.

[craigk]

Hey Craig,

We are both correct. I was precise but perhaps not specific enough in my description, they do indeed make more bass than any of my bookshelf speakers. They do not make more bass than my towers, obviously, but in room they do go a few hertz lower or deeper than my towers at, for me, normal listening levels. I can hear this best on recordings with naturally recorded deep bass instruments. For example, on an O-Zone Percussion album or a Blue Man Group album, with both the NN's and Peerless towers at say 86 or 88db, the NN's recreates the deepest notes more prominently. This is not as obvious with synthesizer based sounds. The louder I push the NN's past about 92db at the listening position they seem to stop getting louder in the bass while the mids and treble get louder with greater amounts of distortion.

That makes more sense.