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Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: McIntosh XR200 Speakers by Karl W.

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REVIEW: McIntosh XR200 Speakers

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Model: XR200
Category: Speakers
Suggested Retail Price: $20,000
Description: Full range three way floor stander
Manufacturer URL: McIntosh
Model Picture: View

Review by Karl W. on August 18, 2010 at 01:05:22
IP Address: 70.157.6.68
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for the XR200


I have had these speakers for about 6 months. They took some time to break in. Wow! They are the best speakers that I have ever owned. What strikes me most is how well they do at low volume. Imaging is by far the best I have ever heard. In the last 10 years, I have never auditioned a speaker that could bring more depth and width to the presentation. Truly a remarkable job here. My previous speakers were the Mcintosh LS360. The bass response on those speaker was quite impressive with dual 10 inch woofers. However,Mcintosh has designed these speakers with three 8 inch woofers that offer even more output in a much smaller package. My wife loves the appearance and did not care for the LS360s. These speakers are truly full range. Bass output and accuracy are beyond the LS360. Pitch definition is just as good. The speakers are 8ohm and relatively easy to drive,at least with the MC501s that I am using. You need to drive them at higher levels, like most speakers, to really hear how dynamic they can be but they are still excellent at low levels unlike a lot of speakers.Presentation is very balanced with no part of the spectrum, glaring out. The use of multiple tweeters gives the speaker an almost electrostat quality with highs but without the loss of pinpoint imaging.

Transparency is also as good as I have ever heard. I listened to several Jazz recording. Note decay is done extremely well. Sting instruments are detailed without being strident. With the LS360 there seems to be a coloration in the mid-range with some recording. I hear absolutely not coloration with the XR200. Personally, I feel these are the best speakers Mcintosh has ever made!.Speakers are a personal preference. I suggest you audition them. They are on the expensive side at 20k BUT, you do get a truly full range speaker for your money.

One last comment. These speakers are point source and not line arrays like some other Mcintosh speakers.


Product Weakness: Ample bass output needs to be out from boundaries and may not work well in very small rooms.
Product Strengths: Extremely clean detailed highs and mid-range. Pitch accurate bass response.


Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Mcintosh MC501s
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Theta Six Shooter
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Marantz SA7s1
Speakers: Mcintosh XR200
Cables/Interconnects: Granite Audio IC470
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Jazz, Pop
Room Size (LxWxH): 24.5 x 17 x 9
Room Comments/Treatments: RPG Skylines, tube bass traps, fiberglass absorption panels
Time Period/Length of Audition: 6 months at two different locations
Type of Audition/Review: Home Audition




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Topic - REVIEW: McIntosh XR200 Speakers - Karl W. 01:05:22 08/18/10 ( 8)