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This review first appeared in the March 2013 issue of hi-end hifi magazine fairaudio.de of Germany. You can also read this review of Magnat speakers in its original German version. We publish its English translation in a mutual syndication arrangement with the publishers. As is customary for our own reviews, the writer's signature at review's end shows an e-mail address should you have questions or wish to send feedback. All images contained in this review are the property of fairaudio or Magnat - Ed.
Reviewer: Tobias Zoporowski
Sources: analog - Transrotor Insigne with Rega RB 300 tone arm and Goldring 1042 GX cartridge; Lehmann Audio Black Cube Statement; modified Sansui T-80 tuner; digital -
Lua Appassionato und Yamaha CD-S 1000 CD players, modified Advance Acoustic MiP-Station iPod dock; Musical Fidelity vDAC, Naim DAC
Amplification: Symphonic Line RG 9 MK IV, Yamaha A-S 1000
Loudspeakers: Magnat Quantum 905, Klipsch RF-82 II
Cables: in-akustik loom, Eagle Cable/WireWorld equivalents
Review component retail: €1.398/pr


With the arrival of their Quantum Series, my opinion on speakers from the house of Magnat had radically changed. With due apologies to the folks from Pulheim, that's because I did carry with me certain... um, heavy preconceptions. Their cause was the Power Bull subwoofer I'd heaved into the trunk of my first car in about 1992 replete with showy bumper sticker.
Despite—actually because—of this woofer's boominator prowess, as high-end brand I'd thereafter written off the firm's complete seriousness. Sins of youth. Then the leaf turned to 2005. I was a greenhorn contributor for Stereo staring down a pair of Quantum 905. Massively built, with a macho appearance and matching €2.000 tag which for the day also financially was quite the statement, sonics had followed suit. That box played with such nuanced subtlety and emotional generosity as to well exceed all of my expectations. My publisher was impressed. I was in lust. My wallet voted yes. Lust grew to mature love and I've not strayed since.


When today's Quantum 755 turned up, I was obviously pleased to welcome a cousin. Given that no direct bloodline exists, that's not quite an accurate tie-in. The Quantum 700 range has always occupied a lower rung than the 900. And those 9ers left the building with Elvis to make room for the new Quantum 1000 top-line models. Obviously today's 700ers benefit from trickle-down from that lot.


Think goodly dose of silkily fluid 'fmax' tweeters or high-output low distortion mid/woofers with their gleaming white ceramic/aluminium membranes. But the general voicing of the two ranges has always diverged. Where the 900 boxes were audiophile jacks of all trades, the 700 equivalents catered to Rock and Pop with a skoch more pep in the upper bass/lower mid band. Cosmetically the Quantum 705 played it more conservative than the bigger sister, predominantly by doing away with the physically separated two-tone baffle.


That latter construction detail has returned with the Quantum 755. It's now painted in high contrast with the real-wood veneer rest and more butch than ever. Magnat specifies a full 45mm thickness in fact. Obviously here cosmetics were the lesser reason and are trumped by additional box stiffness and a decoupled less resonant wave launch plate for the drivers. Magnat's project manager for home hifi Martin Gross claimed the same twin functionality for their decorative and broad aluminium trim rings. Particularly when the box is baffled a high-gloss black as my loaner was, the visual contrast really is most attractive. Yet the bolted connections of driver trim rings to the substrate is claimed to also reduce resonances to be far more than just skin-deep aftermarket chrome.