FrontRunners November 2014: MACHINES AND GEAR

Standing more than 4.5 feet tall and weighing more than 300 pounds each, the limited-edition Magico M Project speakers (magico.net) were introduced this year to mark the Hayward, Calif., company’s 10th anniversary. They require minimal internal dampening and exhibit very little cabinet resonance, which is an exceptional feat considering the large amount of air that the drivers move. The speakers feature three 10-inch bass drivers—each with about 2 inches of peak-to-peak excursion—that deliver low-frequency responses down to 20 Hz. Like the cones of the bass units, the midrange drivers are made from Magico’s patented Nano-Tec material, a sandwich weave of extremely lightweight yet durable carbon nanotubes, which allows for clean and quick mid-frequency responses. For crystalline highs, the speakers utilize a lone diamond-coated beryllium tweeter that is 2 mm larger than those of previous Magico speakers. The M Project speakers are priced from $129,000 per pair, and production will be limited to 50 pairs.