MAG Theatron S6 Surround Speaker Review

[lewdish]

Def not great, other than Grimani, Danley, and probably Meyer how many others in the pro theater game are doing high measuring products out of the box. I'm really hoping someone w/ a pair of Alcons would be able to ship a set in to measure. So far not looking great for Mag's speakers, had somewhat high hopes for their products.

 

[Maiky76]

This is a review and detailed measurements of the MAG Theatron S6 home theater surround speaker. It was kindly drop shipped by a member and costs US $944 each.
View attachment 465826
This is a very compact speaker with super solid enclosure. So much so that the company ships it (and the M-12C I tested) come with no packing material! Speaker's normal configuration is with the tweeter below woofer and that is how I measured it (forgot to take its picture the same way). The waveguide is supposed to be asymmetrical, biased lower, to eliminate the need to tilt the speaker down (which would be inconvenient in in-wall applications). Connectors are commercial types with phoenix connectors and such.

Let's put it on our Klippel Near-field Scanner (NFS) and see how it performs (in free standing form). FYI company provides measurements that correlate well with him.

MAG S-6 Surround Speaker Measurements
As usual, we start with our CTA-2034 anechoic series of speaker frequency response measurements:
View attachment 465828
Story kind of starts OK in bass but roughness ensues followed by very uneven response from 1 to 3 kHz, followed by a large droop above 6 kHz. You don't need my expensive measurement system to see these as simple near-field measurements quickly show the same things:
View attachment 465829

Sensitivity is one of the marquee features of this speaker brand and it delivers to the tune of 93 to 94 dBSPL (average for speakers tested is around 86 dBSPL). This should reduce the need for amplification power although once you apply EQ to flatten the response, some of this advantage will be reduced.

As noted on the graph, directivity has problems which we see in early window response and later, in specific plots:
View attachment 465830

Resulting in predicted in-room response which assuredly will be colored:
View attachment 465831

Beamwidth measurement shows clearly what we are facing as far as directivity:
View attachment 465832
One usually associates use of horn/waveguide as an attempt at controlled directivity but there is no hint of that here. What there is, above 5 kHz, is very narrow making it less of a fit for surround duty where the listener angle may be acute. Our heatmap tells the same story:
View attachment 465833

We see those whisps which tend to implicate diffraction issues due to many sharp corners around drivers and enclosure itself.

Vertical directivity is usually bad in 2-way speakers so we can't complain too much about this one:
View attachment 465834

I ran sweeps at a number of SPL levels and stopped when I could audibly hear the speaker complaining (101 dBSPL):
View attachment 465835

If distortion remained proportional to the SPL, the graphs would all be on top of each other. Non-linear nature of speaker distortion means that distortion rises faster than level as we get closer to its limits. This presentation is new so we need to build a library of them to have a reference. For now, I declare 91 dBSPL still good enough as the gap is small. It is bothersome to see the broad distortion across the full spectrum though. Here is a more detailed break down:
View attachment 465836

Be careful when interpreting absolute distortion levels as the frequency response is not flat:
View attachment 465837


Impedance is on the low side but not very problematic:
View attachment 465839

Waterfall shows a number of resonances:
View attachment 465840

Step response demonstrates one of the faults with this measurement as it is highly sensitive to high frequency energy which this speaker lacks:
View attachment 465841

I was originally going to listen to this speaker and create EQ. But then decided there is little point to that. We know that its response is poor and could highly benefit from being flattened. You don't need me to confirm that.

Conclusions
Two things rule in commercial sound: reliability and ability to play loud. Both are required for live events. Fidelity just needs to be good enough. MAG speakers completely fall inline with that, providing very high sensitivity and presumably good reliability. Refinement is not in the vocabulary of the design. While companies like JBL have done well in blending these two factors, such is not here at all, despite the brands' targeting of home theater. Seeing how these problems show up in company's own measurements, I am surprised they did not put more attention on fixing them. I mean what is the value of that treble shelf? Clearly a design flaw that wouldn't help anyone in any situation.

I should say I admire the company at least providing the measurements. Anyone schooled on my our speaker measurements, should be able to read them and realize that they are a poor choice for high fidelity applications.

EQ should help fix some of the issues here but not things like directivity. Company amplifiers have DSP and the manual provides a recording sheet to specify which is nice.

Overall, I can't recommend the MAG S-6 Surround Speaker. In our small spaces, we don't benefit much from high sensitivity. Nor is reliability that big of a factor as home theaters do not get many hours of use. We need a refined design where we put the finishing touches on with DSP. Not total redesign.

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As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.

Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/

Here is my take on the EQ.
Please report your findings, positive or negative!

For the score rational your journey starts here
Explanation for the sub score
The following EQs are “anechoic” EQs to get the speaker right before room integration.
If you able to implement these EQs you must add EQ at LF for room integration, that is usually not optional… see hints there.


The raw data with corrected ER and PIR:

Score no EQ: 2.2
With Sub: 5.8

Spinorama with no EQ:

• Ragged
• Very uneven
• No bass
• Sensitive but at what cost?
• No point in a domestic environment
• Could have been much better without the 1000 - 2000Hz anomaly

Directivity:
Better stay at tweeter height
Horizontally, better toe-in the speakers by 10/15deg and have the axis crossing in front of the listening location, might help dosing the upper range.

EQ design:
I have generated two EQs. The APO config files are attached.

• The first one, labelled, LW is targeted at making the LW flat
• The second, labelled Score, starts with the first one and adds the score as an optimization variable.
• The EQs are designed in the context of regular stereo use i.e. domestic environment, no warranty is provided for a near field use in a studio environment although the LW might be better suited for this purpose.

Score EQ LW: 4.2
with sub: 7.6

Score EQ Score: 5.0
with sub: 8.3

MAG S6 APO LW EQ 96000Hz
July282025-112122

Preamp: -4.70 dB

Filter 1: ON HPQ Fc 61.9 Hz Gain 0.00 dB Q 1.30
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 216.2 Hz Gain -2.38 dB Q 1.28
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 571.1 Hz Gain 1.08 dB Q 5.92
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 1325.7 Hz Gain -3.70 dB Q 2.10
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 1573.9 Hz Gain 2.83 dB Q 2.22
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 3076.7 Hz Gain -1.96 dB Q 1.91
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 5691.5 Hz Gain -1.77 dB Q 3.12
Filter 8: ON PK Fc 8588.4 Hz Gain 2.60 dB Q 2.20
Filter 9: ON PK Fc 13520.6 Hz Gain 4.32 dB Q 1.50


MAG S6 APO Score EQ 96000Hz
July282025-112122

Preamp: -3.70 dB

Filter 1: ON HPQ Fc 67.3 Hz Gain 0.00 dB Q 1.40
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 194.7 Hz Gain -2.67 dB Q 1.05
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 559.4 Hz Gain 1.72 dB Q 4.47
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 1278.9 Hz Gain -2.79 dB Q 1.75
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 1734.9 Hz Gain 2.05 dB Q 5.99
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 3126.7 Hz Gain -3.67 dB Q 1.77
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 5743.7 Hz Gain -2.09 dB Q 2.14
Filter 8: ON PK Fc 8219.4 Hz Gain 2.45 dB Q 2.85
Filter 9: ON PK Fc 13117.9 Hz Gain 3.63 dB Q 1.94

Spinorama EQ LW

Spinorama EQ Score

Zoom PIR-LW-ON

Regression - Tonal

Radar no EQ vs EQ score
Some improvements?

The rest of the plots is attached.

 

[amirm]

Def not great, other than Grimani, Danley, and probably Meyer how many others in the pro theater game are doing high measuring products out of the box.

JBL would be there, courtesy of a time when Revel group was merged with them. M2 and such were the results of that partnership.

 

[Lars Risbo]

??? I was making a point about high frequency response:

Someone not understanding signal processing might look at this graph and conclude that the tweeter level is nearly four times lower than woofer which would be very wrong. This is what I don't like about tests like this. The value they provide is minimal at best, yet the opportunity to misinterpret them is quite high.

ok, I was not aware of the possibility of such misinterpretation (beyond my imagination frankly) so in that light your statement made little sense to me. therefore I explained that the step response emphasises LF based on the mathematics. Maybe someone should thoroughly debunk that misinterpretation. Personally, replacing the step response with the phase response would be useful. That should eliminate the misinterpretation.

 

[welwynnick]

Personally, replacing the step response with the phase response would be useful. That should eliminate the misinterpretation.

100%
Phase vs freq is a fundamental, core characteristic, just like amplitude vs freq (though not as important as the latter).
Amplitude and phase response together give us secondary characteristics like impulse and step response etc.

 

[AdrianusG]

? how do you put a bookshelf speaker in a car

Simple,

First install the bookshelf, sorry, just couldn't let this go.

 

[heflys20]

I just wanted to say, these are not intended as bookshelf speakers. Lol. Whether they can placed in a car...Lol.

 

[srkbear]

2 door Hatchback with folding seats to make a flat floor shelf.

I tried to do this sort of thing when I was like in 9th grade I think—until I discovered that they actually make speakers designed for car audio that sound a whole lot better and won’t fly out of the back seats and decapitate me when I slam on the brakes.

 

[beagleman]

I tried to do this sort of thing when I was like in 9th grade I think—until I discovered that they actually make speakers designed for car audio that sound a whole lot better and won’t fly out of the back seats and decapitate me when I slam on the brakes.

Same here.
I think that was my first realization about Impedance and sensitivity.
My bookshelf speakers (8 ohm) sounded FAR better than car speakers (4 ohm) in doors, but would NOT play loud at all...lol

 

[Binford]

Hello!

Thank you for the detailed measurements of this speaker.

I have a question about the measurements themselves. First of all, I'm not a speaker developer or a measurement expert.

What I'm interested in is why the measurements were taken at 2.83V (according to the diagrams), since it's a 4-ohm speaker? This should be measured with 2V to get correct information about the sensitivity.

Sorry if I missed or overlooked something. I may also have the wrong assumption.

Thanks and Regards

(Google Translation)

 

[DearSX]

I tried to do this sort of thing when I was like in 9th grade I think—until I discovered that they actually make speakers designed for car audio that sound a whole lot better and won’t fly out of the back seats and decapitate me when I slam on the brakes.

Lol, yes me too. Im aiming for a speaker that has a great crossover, directivity and decent efficiency. Polk XT20 looks decent for example but maybe the Polk MM components make more sense or the MM 6x9s. Im going to give them a try. Plan is to bolt them down no matter the choice.

Im using the DIYsound group Volt-6 right now, but looking at measurements by Erin I see why they sound bright. They did sound good at a big hall, but also bad at my house. They sound good with Michael Jackson and 80s music though.

 

[TurtlePaul]

What I'm interested in is why the measurements were taken at 2.83V (according to the diagrams), since it's a 4-ohm speaker? This should be measured with 2V to get correct information about the sensitivity.

Voltage sensitivity is measured because amps are voltage amplifiers. It lets us know how much gain and how much voltage is needed to reach a certain volume.

Power and current limits are more nuanced. The 4 ohm and 8 ohm labels on speakers are useless. Instead, this review includes the actual impedance and phase curve of the speaker. The impedance curve shows what are the problematic frequencies (low impedances with high phase slopes).

 

[MAG Audio]

Dear Amir and the Audio Science Review Community,

We have thoroughly outlined our company’s position, MAG Theatron, regarding the interpretation of measurements in another thread, so we’ll provide a link to avoid repetition:

MAG Theatron M12-C Speaker Review

Even though it is about the same price. No, it is half the price. The JBL cost was for a pair, not a single speaker as is the case with MAG. It also has wide (compared to MAG) directivity that is textbook perfect.

audiosciencereview.com

Regarding the S6, we believe it’s worth reiterating and adding the following points:

DSP Dependency: Our systems are not designed for use outside a meticulously engineered home theater setup with DSP, presets, and proper calibration. Therefore, the frequency response is intentionally not flattened via passive filters or other methods — this role is assigned to processing. Without it, measurements are not representative.

Directivity: Due to the intended stealth installation (in a niche, parallel to the wall), the coverage has a trapezoidal pattern, directed downward to better fill the nearfield space while avoiding unnecessary wide sound projection into the far field. Specifications: 60°-90° H / +5° to -35° V coverage control HF horn, with the vertical axis tilted 15° downward.

This directivity shaping technology is a point of pride for us and a standout feature of many of our solutions, which is why installers choose our speakers

This raises a significant question: at what point and angle were the measurements taken?

Target Audience: Many forum members have noted that this system isn’t for them and would prefer another model, which we completely understand. The MAG Theatron S6 is not a bookshelf Hi-Fi system for casual enthusiast setups. It’s a specialized professional surround speaker designed for high sound pressure, delivering the dynamics and energy of a true cinema experience in rooms typically 5-10 meters wide. The S6 is not sold on Amazon or in regular stores; it is supplied exclusively through our distributors as part of projects handled by professional audio engineers.

With respect,
The MAG Theatron Team

 

[amirm]

This raises a significant question: at what point and angle were the measurements taken?

Klippel Near-field scanner (in this instance) measured nearly 1000 points in 3-D space. Using that, it solves the wave equations for the speaker. Once there, it is able to then show measurements at any distance or angle. With respect to directivity, as noted on the graph, it is 3 meters:

I can change that to any distance although the difference will be marginal to non-existent. Your own measurements show the same:

Further, both your measurements and mine show the extremely uneven directivity which means strong variations for different seating positions.

See this measurement of JBL 708i as a stark comparison: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/jbl-708i-monitor-review-dsp-part-2.40650/

 

[amirm]

Target Audience: Many forum members have noted that this system isn’t for them and would prefer another model, which we completely understand. The MAG Theatron S6 is not a bookshelf Hi-Fi system for casual enthusiast setups. It’s a specialized professional surround speaker designed for high sound pressure, delivering the dynamics and energy of a true cinema experience in rooms typically 5-10 meters wide. The S6 is not sold on Amazon or in regular stores; it is supplied exclusively through our distributors as part of projects handled by professional audio engineers.

I have measured plenty of speakers similar targeted. I don't think anyone is confused thinking this is for free-standing, 2-channel listening. That said, the requirements for flat on-axis and smooth directivity does not change for either application. See the JBL 708i measurement above. As you well know, it took is designed for that kind of performance instead of looks:

 

[rynberg]

Appallingly bad for $1900/pair(!!!) Nightmare aesthetics, assembly that would be embarrassed by any half-decent DIY-er, and piss-poor performance. Yikes.

 

[Matt_Holland]

I prefer to see constructive criticism in the comments section and a measure of respect towards the manufacturer. Amir sets the standard in that regard.

Let’s remember that MAG have built a business with their products and whilst they may not perform to ASR member typical standards, have no doubt many satisfied customers. Said customers will in virtually all cases see a very different value proposition to what most members here see.

 

[welwynnick]

I prefer to see constructive criticism in the comments section and a measure of respect towards the manufacturer. Amir sets the standard in that regard.
Let’s remember that MAG have built a business with their products and whilst they may not perform to ASR member typical standards, have no doubt many satisfied customers. Said customers will in virtually all cases see a very different value proposition to what most members here see.

Didn't you know that the World is full of brave keyboard warriors, idly waiting to pounce at a moment's notice on anything not measuring up to their expectations?

 

[srkbear]

I prefer to see constructive criticism in the comments section and a measure of respect towards the manufacturer. Amir sets the standard in that regard.

Let’s remember that MAG have built a business with their products and whilst they may not perform to ASR member typical standards, have no doubt many satisfied customers. Said customers will in virtually all cases see a very different value proposition to what most members here see.

In general I agree, and I think MAG is a manufacturer that deserves that diplomacy. There are some audio manufacturers who are not scrupulous however (most of us know who they are), and in those cases voicing criticism without being stifled by tone policing, especially if you’re a consumer who has fallen prey to predatory and dishonest tactics, shouldn’t be shamed in my opinion (obviously within reason).

I appreciate MAG Audio for engaging with this forum in a congenial manner, and for responding to the review with integrity. That approach is a vote of confidence for me in their brand.

 

[amirm]

I appreciate MAG Audio for engaging with this forum in a congenial manner, and for responding to the review with integrity.

I should say I appreciate this as well. Their US distributor has also been very forthcoming in making sure the product got in my hands and such. MAG folks also offered to chat with me post review. But I turned it down as I didn't think it would impact how I tested their product. So was happy that they post their thoughts here.