Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: McIntosh LS-360 Speakers by Karl W.

Model:	LS-360
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$7000
Description:	3 way floor standing speaker
Manufacturer URL:	McIntosh
Manufacturer URL:	McIntosh

Review by Karl W. ( A ) on December 05, 2002 at 01:22:25
IP Address: 67.26.41.65

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I heard these speakers first, about a year ago. I remember thinking that they sounded very good, detailed and extremely clear. At the time, I was focused on another product and to be frank didn't take Mcintosh speakers too seriously. I think that my bias caused me to miss an excellent speaker. Recently while taking my wife on a shopping trip, had to butter her up for my next speaker purchase, lol, I spent several hours on two different days auditioning the speakers. In comparison to the popular B&W N802, I'd say that this speaker clearly has a better tweeter set-up. The bessel tweeter array with five tweeters is able to provide EXTREME detail, a very smooth response that extends over the entire room with a very wide sweet spot, and at the same time is not too bright. I can hear out to 20k. My hearing has been tested. I notice treble detail a lot. Around this price point, this is the best I have heard. The JM Labs Electra series is as good in the detail department but too bright for my taste for long term listening. The Ls-360 use two 10 inch woffers for bass. In some speakers like the JM Labs Electra 946, which also uses two tens, I felt that the bass over-powers the midrange and makes it sound cloudy. The B&W N802 does a better job a midrange clarity than either of these speaekers and has a better more neutral midrange than the LS-360. However the Mcintosh, outclass the N802 also in bass definition and the bass sounds more natural. You can indeed hear pitch changes which isn't that common with ported designs. I'd still say that sealed designs are still better in this department though the Mcintosh makes it a minor issue. The Ls-360 is a different sounding speaker. I noticed that there is a different tonal quality in the midrange compared to other speakers I have heard. It's difficult to discribe it. It actually sounds more natural but I'm not sure that it is as I've never heard the actual voices of the performers whose recordings I used to auditon the speakers. I was fortunate to be able to demo the N802 in the very next room from the Mcintosh speakers. The same recordings lacked this slight tonal quality. I'm not sure but I'm guessing the B&W are just more neutral with a better midrange. It also could have been the Mcintosh electronics used with the Ls-360. I'm not sure about this either. I've been a very big fan of the B&W N802s but wasn't sure I could live long term with the tweeter. Mcintosh has managed to provide me with the tweeter detail that was high on my list of priority and at the same time made it sound natural. This speaker may not be for everyone. It's a hard speaker to get a handle on because is sounds a bit different than most of the speakers I have heard. I'd love to hear it with more neutral electronics. Right now this speaker is at the top of my list. I'm guessing that I will love the sound even more with different electronics. Macintosh has made a truly excellent speaker. I'd tell anyone to take Mcintosh very seriously and not just glance over this speaker. It's a WINNER.

Product Weakness: Extremely detailed highs that are at the same time not bright. Awesome bass that does not over power the midrange and pitch changes are clearly audible.
Product Strengths: Slight tonal coloration in the midrange

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Mcintosh MC-602
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Mcintosh C-34
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Mcintosh dvd player, latest.
Speakers:	Mcintosh LS-360
Cables/Interconnects:	Audioquest
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Jazz, Old R&B
Room Size (LxWxH):	18 x 14 x 10
Room Comments/Treatments:	none
Time Period/Length of Audition:	2 hours on two separate days
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	none
Type of Audition/Review:	Dealer Demo

Product Weakness:	Extremely detailed highs that are at the same time not bright. Awesome bass that does not over power the midrange and pitch changes are clearly audible.
Product Strengths:	Slight tonal coloration in the midrange