Magico's new S7 money-no-object speakers were acoustically refined using robotics — and I'm desperate to hear them

• Magico's S7 2026 speakers are in, replacing the original S7 to top the S Series
• This is mid-tier territory, nestling between the A Series and flagship M Series
• …but 'mid-range' is relative — they start at £159k per pair (around $212,790; AU$301,600)

If you've spent any time around elite audio kit, you'll know that it's not for the strapped of cash — and if you haven't spent any time around aspirational hi-fi but would like to, don't worry! We went to Bristol's most recent Hi-Fi Show to give you a run-down of the high-end kit being showcased there.

But know this: these kinds of speakers, within the right system, can sound exceptional.

And some of the most expensive and sonically gifted audiophile speakers are made by Magico. For a quick rundown, the Californian firm's flagship M9 floorstanders come in at just shy of a million dollars; the smaller M7s within that top-tier range will set you back just north of $550,000 and the 'mid-range' S3 we heard in 2023 come in at around £60k, $71,330 or AU$106,860, depending on the finish you choose.

Oh, and the company's "entry level" December 2024-issue Magico S2 floorstanders cost from £41,500 to £49,998 a pair (roughly $52,990 to $63,840). Got all that? Good.

So what do you get for £159,000 per pair (up to £178,000 per pair depending on the finish you choose — so starting at around $212,790 or AU$301,600, give or take) which is the MSRP for the all-new, "built from the ground up" S7 2026?

Strap in; it's a lot.

Magico S7 2026: what you need to know

Since Magico's first commercial product 22 years ago, the Californian audio outfit has been continually harnessing science and engineering to deliver some of the best-sounding speakers on the planet. If you're thinking about heritage braced wooden boxes with bass reflex ports, made to tried-and-tested age old recipes in a traditional workshop among rolling hills, that's not Magico.

During development, Magico tells me a near-field scanner (NFS) robot was employed, to "perform comprehensive acoustic measurements across the entire 3D sphere surrounding the loudspeaker". This exhaustive analysis was used to create a "complete acoustic map" of the S7, enabling Magico engineers to refine its performance. That is the level of incremental gains we're talking about here; Magico cares about improvements always. And that makes me desperate to hear them…

The S7 2026 (for that is the model's full name) replaces the original S7 at the top of the S Series — Magico’s "middle-tier" range nestling between the A Series and aforementioned mighty M Series — wherein those million-dollar speakers reside.

But this is Magico, so while the 2026-edition speaker bears the same name as the previous S7 (discontinued in 2025 after 10 years of production), it is an entirely new model that has apparently been "engineered from the ground up".

Of course, the new model benefits from previous Magico innovations, and Magico is quick to tell me that this model uses the same treble unit as the flagship M9, with a 28mm diamond-coated beryllium diaphragm.

This time, it's been put together with a 15.24cm (6-inch) midrange driver and three 25.4cm (10-inch) bass units, all featuring Magico’s unique Gen 8 Nano-Tec cones.

Other highlights include Magico’s proprietary Elliptical Symmetry Crossover plus a "beautifully sculpted aluminum enclosure", that stands an imposing 1.42m tall and weighs a huge 174kg or 384lbs (so do consider shipping costs from Magico’s facility in the San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California, where every pair is made). On this, the Magico S7 2026 will begin shipping in Q3 of this year, available in your choice of 12 color options and two finish levels.

Honestly? I need to hear them. I will move mountains to hear them; to be in a room where they are being showcased and listened to.

The best stereo speakers all budgets

➡️ Read our full guide to the best stereo speakers
1. Best overall:
Q Acoustics M40 HD
2. Best compact:
Dali Rubikore 2
3. Best desktop speakers
Creative Pebble Nova
4. Best budget buy:
Q Acoustics M20 HD

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