I recently discovered this channel and enjoyed every video I watched. I love your style: honest, passionate, unpretentious. And I am blown away by the breath of your knowledge. Thank you.
Great video. I auditioned these at a local shop and was impressed. Full sound and dynamic. If I had not heard the Klipsch La Scala’s 1st I might of purchased them. IMO the La Scala’s were more of what I liked. The McIntosh do look amazing in person. Great build.
I've been intrigued by these speakers mainly because of the retro vibe they have. Reminds me of so many mid to late 70's models, my old Pioneer CS-99A's for example. Truthfully, I wasn't expecting to sit through such an enthusiastic review. Now you've got me thinking... (and that usually ends with an empty wallet). Thanks for taking the time.
You seem very enthusiastic and energized by this speaker. I get the feeling you "want them" in your listening room, and saddened to see them go. For some reason it's a feeling.....they inspire you to POSSIBLY find better, a BENCHMARK !!
I was able to hear these speakers paired with McIntosh integrated amp last year at Audio Advice Live and I have to say, I was absolutely blown away. When I found out the price I was dismayed but I’ve had these in the back of mind ever since and once I have $$ saved up, will most likely go for them + integrated amp. By the way, this was a very good review and it was a fascinating glimpse into small business strategy as well. Thanks much.
Sounds to me, that without the covers they are very detailed and more intense to listen to. Which is great when you want to. But if you're not in the mood for that and you just want easy listening. Throw the covers on. Best of both worlds!
Wow. I had a completely different experience. I just heard these 2 weeks ago. Outside of the build quality which was excellent, there was literally not one thing that I liked about these speakers. And at the price range there's a huge amount of competition. I agree that they are EXTREMELY detailed. But after a short period of time I was getting listener fatigue, the fastest I've ever gotten listener fatigue with any speaker. I would agree that these would make a good studio monitor, but IMO it's probably the best and only place for them.
"But after a short period of time I was getting listener fatigue, the fastest I've ever gotten listener fatigue with any speaker." - from Adrian's description I guessed that the speakers emphasize part of the presence region of the audio spectrum, and your comment doubles down on that. Everyone's hearing is slightly different compared to the next person, and perhaps Adrian's hearing appreciates a slight boost in the presence region.
Overall agree. I think the presence with these speakers were in your face vs. well, just being "present". I've always subscribed to the philosophy that the best speakers are the ones that disappear, which did not happen with these at all. If you were "analyzing" music, I can somewhat see the value in these speakers. If you're "listening" to music, these would be pretty close to the bottom of my list.
Were you listening to these powered by McIntosh components? I wonder if they’re specifically voiced to work well with a Mac front end, which might make them a bit bright on other gear. Just a thought.
Great video! I think these spkrs look beautiful I definitely depends on your room and decor. Some people are saying that they are too detailed and fatiguing, but with an equalizer, like you find in the McIntosh MA12000 integrated amplifier, couldn't you adjust things to suit your listening needs? And wouldn't tubes also alter the sound? I honestly think that these might be the speaker I'm looking for. These spkrs with the McIntosh MA12000 coupled with the MEN220 room perfect might be my perfect setup.
i really like the look of these speakers, with and without grills. and the sound profile could be something i could enjoy. and i always keep an eye out for sealed box designs, i know those are one of the best, maybe open baffle but have no experience with that.
VERY interesting review. one of the primary things i appreciate about Adrian's reviews is how candid he is about what he is discussing. I've read a couple other reviews and concerns were expressed regarding potential lobing due to the positioning of the mid and high drivers and the cabinet design. but listening to Adrian i didn't get the impression he was hearing anything that caused him to question if it was a result of the driver position or cabinet design. the only thing my brain was left wondering is if these happen to be so hyper detailed that they may eventually wear on your ears. but having him say that he was still blown away by the performance after 5 hours of listening pretty much dissuades that. if my Bryston front end is adequate and a good enough match it sounds like these are end game speakers.
Interesting review. I wouldn't expect much from those speakers either. Still wouldn't select these if I had 12K burning a hole in my pocket. Lots of competition...
Interesting - as always, Adrian :-) I too find that McIntosh has carried the "retro" vibe a little too far . . . the grilles which I don't care for either, make the speakers look not just retro, but OLD :-) Thanks for covering the whole gamut of qualities - the good, the bad and the ugly. IMHO, it is a great way to do business.
very interesting review Adrian, I recently acquired a pair of these Mcintosh and I am rediscovering my music, I left some Canton Reference 7k and moved on to these, I think they will be my definitive speakers. greetings
Thank you for your honesty. I fully agree that McIntosh do not make good speakers at all as compared to their other products. I keep getting disappointed each time I listen to their speakers. I will now go and audition these.
They had an absolute horror era for speakers. 1994 - 2004. There are a few reasons for this. Basically, an idiot was put in charge of the acoustics division,and the quality, engineering and reputation tanked. Thankfully their amps and sources were unaffected. I hope this helps.
McIntosh does not buy these in China by the thousands, they have a limited number they can make each month and until the dealer pipeline is filled, you might have a 6 week wait. Compared with supply chain problems during covid, 6 weeks is not bad at all.
That's a great review and thanks as always. I would venture a guess that these would pair well with the Mcintosh MA 12000. I would love to hear that combo. I wished you could sell to US customers as would like to buy my next system from a dealer such as yourself. Such great knowledge and having this many products in stock to audition is hard to find.
Dealer cost of audio gear is about 40% of MSRP.. so gross profit = 60% of MSRP. Some items, like cartridges are priced like jewelry where dealer cost is 20% of MSRP / gross profit is 80% of MSRP.. Let's take the 60% of MSRP gross profit as an example: For a $1000 item, gross profit is $600. The challenge is managing overhead like rent, electricity, personnel cost, inventory carrying cost etc that are supposed to be value added. Retail is a tough business.
You got me really interested in these speakers. I wonder how it's gonna sound with my 2 HSU ULS-15 sub? I have them so i might as well use them. My subs are sealed subs. They go down to 20hz. They are some nice speakers. I just placed an order for the new Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista pre amp and the Musical Fidelity PAM monoblocks.
A great video with passion about how the listening session went. Thank you. Would you share a list of the music you used to listen to these good looking - and apparently wonderful sounding speakers? Please continue to share your passion and observations of appealing equipment!
I listed some of the music I used. If you would like my playlist, donate at least $10 or more to your favourite charity and email the receipt to info@audioexcellence.ca
Maybe I missed it but can you please explain what these were run with? I am assuming by the back ground the lumin P1, D'agostino S250 and C49 Preamp? or did you run the lumin direct to the S250?
How would you compare them to the Borresen X3 Loudspeakers out of Denmark 🇩🇰 at around the same price point of $11,000 US trying to make a decision of which is the better of the two if I were to purchase either one…
I owned McIntosh equipment from 1976 to about 1990 when I went to surround sound. (Big error in hindsight). At that time the dealer i bought the McIntosh from (Flanner and Hafsoos) in Milwaukee they had top notch service. They would hold clinics every year where they would calibrate your equipment to spec while you waited and watched, and repair it if something was wrong, for free!!! A comment on Jack Welch. His nickname is Nutron Jack. Eliminate all the people save the hard assets 😢
Re Jack Welch, there's always going to be another side that is affected by ruthless priorities. I certainly feel for those that were laid off/fired, as that is the human and very real consequence. From the point of view of his business philosophy, he only wanted the best, so if you didn't fit that criteria, you were let go. If you were a stock holder, you would have been happy with his results. Those are the 2 sides unfortunately
I have a pair of older B&W 804s and I was thinking about buying a new pair of 804 D4s or these McIntosh ML1 MKII and I wanted to get your thoughts comparing the three? My listening room is only 14X11 feet or I would be looking at a lot of other speakers.
You should compare this with GR research Bully. I know that might basically destroy your business(in terms of this speaker) but a true audio connoisseur like you might just do it but knowing your personality you might do it. But true fans of AEC will definitely appreciate it.
I am 72 so I grew up with Peter Paul and Mary. I am a confessed "Folkie". Listen to Ian and Sylvia, especially the Vanguard label. Not high end recordings but clean, dynamic and not over produced. Left / Right spread excessive (Ian panned left - Sylvia panned right). Their tonal and dynamic range is wonderful. Sylvia's tone color is fantastic. Beside - they are Canadian. Ian is now gone.. Thanks
I own these. I agree mostly with what you said. Thanks so much for posting this! I'm curious about your opinion regarding how these speakers compare with other brands (Sonus Faber, Wilson, B & W, etc.). I actually feel that they are a great value proposition.
These are much more similar to Focal and B&W in terms of the high frequencies, but I find the ML1 mk2 to be far more insightful without fatigue. Having said that, it's a fine line, and some will find the highs a bit too much. Just depends on your sensitivity
The cabinets seem to be made by High School woodshop especially the speaker cover thick wood support (speaker diffraction issues?). Made be a throwback from the 70's? All it matters would be the sound is produces so I guess it's for someone.
100% agree. They look like a project from woodwork shop, and by a not particularly talented student as well. I absolutely hate the look, but that's my opinion of most of McIntosh stuff. And for $12K (that price has to be a joke, right?) there is a LOT of very impressive competition, from companies that are dedicated to speakers as well.
Love look of the speakers I have also qustion for you guys: I am currently using a McIntosh MA7000 and am thoroughly satisfied with its performance. What I particularly value is its smooth sound signature, which makes lengthy music sessions enjoyable without any listening fatigue. Despite my positive experience, I've encountered a range of opinions online regarding this amplifier and others equipped with autoformers. While these differing views don't significantly impact my satisfaction with the MA7000, and I have no intention of replacing it, my curiosity is piqued about the origin of such criticisms. In my personal experience, having compared it in listening tests with several contemporary devices, the MA7000 outperformed them. This leads me to question: why is there such criticism of this type of equipment?
This hobby is about yourself only buddy. If you are happy and satisfied that's all that matters. Don't need to give a damn what others think. I have an all tube McIntosh system. For the money and value I don't think anything compares to it. Enjoy !
@albert, Prefer the look of all loudspeakers with there grills on, but considering these it seems we both lose albert. I think /Harbeth or Spendor 🇬🇧 with those Mac 🇺🇸 tubes would be a better fit. If you already preordered then please forgive my ignorance and enjoy. It may just well be my poor lack of judgement has I have not auditioned a pair.
Make sure you keep the grilles on at all times. The speakers were voiced and designed to sound best with it on. I have the same speakers in all tube McIntosh system.
I always leave the grills on for a couple of reasons. They sound terrific like that and actually sound a little too bright with them off. Also, they look better with them on as well.
@@jaycoleman8062 This is not new. Alan Shaw of Harbeth also does the same thing. This is why Erin's Audio Corner review of Xr50 can't be taken too serious as his analysis ( both objective and subjective) were obtained with the grilles off.
The million dollar question is, is this the future sound of mcintosh speakers across their line? Or is this geared toward a particular audience? The sound of this speaker is so unlike mcintosh and perhaps Their looking to change the way their speaker lineup is perceived in the future . Thanks !
The XR50 sounds great. I have them in all tube Mcintosh system. When people think of McIntosh first thing comes to peoples minds are amps and preamp but their speakers are very underrated. They been making speakers since the 1970s. But I can also see why more people will try other brands before Mcintosh. That's just too bad.
I'm curious, are there brands that you want or wanted to represent in your store but for whatever reason the manufacturer or distributor will not let you, other dealers nearby, you are representing competitors, etc? I'm not interested in what brands, just whether this is something you face as an audio retailer.
I played a number of Classical tracks including Rachmaninoff, Beethoven, Mahler and my findings are the same. Superb insight into the music and performance, but won't hide the flaws of the recording quality
Even in real life all your listening impressions are (physically) 2D, remember that (hopefully) your ears are on axis. The sense of threedimensionality comes from volume differences between accoustical events of which your brain "knows" its natural volume. For example: If you listen to 2 singers and one's voice is slightly more silent, maybe with a slightly different echo, your brain will add the conclusion that one singer is further away (from you in a virtual listening position within the recording studio or concert venue) Same is true with left to right placement, so in total that summs up to the sense of a room instead of a line. All that implies that you sit at roughly the right place between the speakers. Why all "audiophiles" are raving about soundstage, in my opinion, is because those subtle differences are hard to reproduce. So you can easily live a whole life without experience it once in reproduced music. Most people do, while they jam their ears with 5 dollar in-ears... Disclaimer: I haven't studied any of this. Just like to listen, and hope that your question was serious and answered by that in a sort of way. Cheers.
Digital-to-analogue conversion is excellent these days. A high end CD player will have a very good converter and you won't have much to worry about there. It sounds natural.
If they just weren't so fugly... I know - a lot of people dig this kind of design but for me they are a nuisance to almost every living room besides my grandparent's one...
You need lots of power power, and understand that they radiate much of their sound off the back walls, so they need to placed about 3-4 feet out from the back wall. Also the composition of the materials (windows, curtains, sheetrock, etc) on the back wall will make more of a difference than a box speaker that only radiates forward.
@@Mark-rw3kw 👍Right on. I was thinking (hoping) the sound wouldn't be affected as much as a box by the small room size. I am converting a small bedroom to a dedicated listening room. I have several speakers I like to change around, but of course always searching for the optimum experience and the Maggie's definitely are intriguing. I may still get them for my main set up. Power isn't an issue, I have a couple good amps, but if I get the LRS I plan on matching them with a set of Schiit Tyr that I would like to get. People are saying they are a good match and great price. I'm not quite at the McIntosh budget level, if I can't buy it outright it's too expensive for me.
@@ericnortan9012 I am not sure that McIntosh is the best amp for LRS+ anyway, especially in terms of price performance. The Tyr should work, and people say Hegel is good with LRS+. The LRS+ could fit in that room depending on the what 's on the back wall.
@@Mark-rw3kw Ya, the problem is the closet is on the back wall. Plan on putting in a heavier door with some sort of treatment. Other than that there is a standard small bedroom window, drywall walls, 8' ceiling and very padded carpet ( just seems soft to me, but nice on the old feet). The window is of quality and is solid, but I will treat that too if necessary. This is my best option, L shaped family/dining room isn't cutting it anymore, so I plan on messing with the room until I get it right.
@@ericnortan9012 Maybe get a loaner and try it out. But they are so cheap that you could also sell it if it didn't work out and not lose too much money.
I love hearing your thoughts Adrian!! I'll have to make it a point to these these out. You were thinking of an ARP synthesizer. Too bad there are so many distracting, unnecessary, and useless video inserts and effects.
Traditionally true. But many/most outside of our echo chamber don't buy to resell. Just did a service for a client who has owned her McIntosh system for 45 years, and wants to keep them going!
@@thomasfi1275 I don't think so. The Mac speakers don't have the horn character. Dynamics are similar though the Klipsch is likely more dynamic. I also find the Klipsch to be more directional, ie I can locate the speakers more easily. As always, YMMV
The mouse click sounds in the video are really annoying. I don't remember you having them in previous videos, and it would be nice to get rid of them. Since I listen on a revealing set of speakers, they're really loud and shrill.
These wouldn't be for me in this price range, I listen to too many poor recordings to own speakers like these, I also hate the way these speakers look, they are just ugly. I like the Vintage look, but I prefer speakers to still have a touch of elegance such as Harbeths.
I like your reviews - But your channel really soared when your employees critiqued a component - it def added another dimension - i would pull people off the street for an hour - let them listen and critique - having someone other than yourself - really made this channel what it is!
5 hours, approx 4 mins per track except for classical, means 75 tracks. Let's say 60 tracks in succession. All music that I am very familiar with. Certainly with time, some thoughts may change or evolve, but I doubt too much
painfully long-winded and yet uninformative this store carries Wilson Sonus Faber Magnepan yet not a single comparison at the $10 to 15K mark.... not to mention the AJ speaker
Consider this Part 1. And yes, I am sometimes long winded, but my excuse is that I am completely blown away by them in the areas I specified. And of course, you are free not to watch
@TascamTascam . . . Maybe you are new to Adrian's reviews but he has dissed or criticized products that he used to carry and or still does - this, knowing full well that he might turn SOME folks away from a potential sale for a particular product. But this M.O. builds trust that brings people into his shop for OTHER purchases. Having said that, in THIS case IMHO, McIntosh has carried the "retro" vibe a little too far - these speakers don't just look retro - they look OLD :-) At minute 20:00 he DOES go into some of their drawbacks . . . BUT McIntosh is bound to introduce something decent - they are big boys, knowing that there are REALLY great speakers out there and that they'd BETTER come out with something decent to compete or they will sink before they even get into the swimming pool. So I don't agree that his review is worthless nor is he being cagey - Even though I'm not a McIntosh fan for any of their products, their reputation speaks well and that is why Adrian carries the brand. One last point - he does these reviews not so much because he's going to make a fortune selling them from a video but more because he has quite the following and these "fans" of his clamour for his reviews and really enjoy seeing the products out of curiosity despite the fact that many of the products are often out of reach for perhaps many of his followers. I live way too far away from Adrian's shop to make it viable for me to be a client but I have met him at an audio show and I can tell you that the vibe I get from him both here and in person is one of integrity. He IS in business after all and just like you and me, I don't think that WE would advertise something to sell on Marketplace or Kijiji and write that we are selling a piece of crap in our ad :would we : -) I think people are smart enough to see for themselves that he is only talking about something that he himself might like and let people take it from there.
I recently discovered this channel and enjoyed every video I watched. I love your style: honest, passionate, unpretentious. And I am blown away by the breath of your knowledge. Thank you.
Thanks!
Adrian's reviews are amazingly helpful and understandable. A real talent, if you ask me.
Very nice to listen to Adrian
Great video. I auditioned these at a local shop and was impressed. Full sound and dynamic. If I had not heard the Klipsch La Scala’s 1st I might of purchased them. IMO the La Scala’s were more of what I liked. The McIntosh do look amazing in person. Great build.
Congrats!
WOW, sounds like a must have speaker. Love the looks by the way. Thanks for the review
My pleasure
I've been intrigued by these speakers mainly because of the retro vibe they have. Reminds me of so many mid to late 70's models, my old Pioneer CS-99A's for example. Truthfully, I wasn't expecting to sit through such an enthusiastic review. Now you've got me thinking... (and that usually ends with an empty wallet). Thanks for taking the time.
He does the best reviews of the equipment he sells.
You seem very enthusiastic and energized by this speaker. I get the feeling you "want them" in your listening room, and saddened to see them go. For some reason it's a feeling.....they inspire you to POSSIBLY find better, a BENCHMARK !!
I was able to hear these speakers paired with McIntosh integrated amp last year at Audio Advice Live and I have to say, I was absolutely blown away. When I found out the price I was dismayed but I’ve had these in the back of mind ever since and once I have $$ saved up, will most likely go for them + integrated amp. By the way, this was a very good review and it was a fascinating glimpse into small business strategy as well. Thanks much.
Sounds to me, that without the covers they are very detailed and more intense to listen to. Which is great when you want to. But if you're not in the mood for that and you just want easy listening. Throw the covers on. Best of both worlds!
Wow. I had a completely different experience. I just heard these 2 weeks ago. Outside of the build quality which was excellent, there was literally not one thing that I liked about these speakers. And at the price range there's a huge amount of competition. I agree that they are EXTREMELY detailed. But after a short period of time I was getting listener fatigue, the fastest I've ever gotten listener fatigue with any speaker. I would agree that these would make a good studio monitor, but IMO it's probably the best and only place for them.
"But after a short period of time I was getting listener fatigue, the fastest I've ever gotten listener fatigue with any speaker." - from Adrian's description I guessed that the speakers emphasize part of the presence region of the audio spectrum, and your comment doubles down on that. Everyone's hearing is slightly different compared to the next person, and perhaps Adrian's hearing appreciates a slight boost in the presence region.
Overall agree. I think the presence with these speakers were in your face vs. well, just being "present". I've always subscribed to the philosophy that the best speakers are the ones that disappear, which did not happen with these at all. If you were "analyzing" music, I can somewhat see the value in these speakers. If you're "listening" to music, these would be pretty close to the bottom of my list.
Were you listening to these powered by McIntosh components? I wonder if they’re specifically voiced to work well with a Mac front end, which might make them a bit bright on other gear. Just a thought.
Yes, 100% Mac setup
I concurred.
This speaker sounds fatiguing.
It looks cool though if you're into 70's styling.
Your next video should be on how the hell you function in life by coming into the store at 2:30am.
It's a function of getting old ... you don't need as much sleep lol
@@adrianlow2114Not always true. Trust me on this.
One of the reasons why he is so successful?
Great video! I think these spkrs look beautiful
I definitely depends on your room and decor. Some people are saying that they are too detailed and fatiguing, but with an equalizer, like you find in the McIntosh MA12000 integrated amplifier, couldn't you adjust things to suit your listening needs? And wouldn't tubes also alter the sound? I honestly think that these might be the speaker I'm looking for. These spkrs with the McIntosh MA12000 coupled with the MEN220 room perfect might be my perfect setup.
Great review! As much as I love Adrian I really miss Lewis and Mike... What gear was used when you listened to these speakers?
McIntosh C53 preamp with D'Agostino Progression stereo amp and Lumin P1 as a streamer. I didn't get to try other amps but will do so
@@adrianlow2114What happen to Lewis and Mike ? Are you going solo now on all videos ?
i really like the look of these speakers, with and without grills.
and the sound profile could be something i could enjoy.
and i always keep an eye out for sealed box designs, i know those are one of the best, maybe open baffle but have no experience with that.
VERY interesting review. one of the primary things i appreciate about Adrian's reviews is how candid he is about what he is discussing. I've read a couple other reviews and concerns were expressed regarding potential lobing due to the positioning of the mid and high drivers and the cabinet design. but listening to Adrian i didn't get the impression he was hearing anything that caused him to question if it was a result of the driver position or cabinet design. the only thing my brain was left wondering is if these happen to be so hyper detailed that they may eventually wear on your ears. but having him say that he was still blown away by the performance after 5 hours of listening pretty much dissuades that. if my Bryston front end is adequate and a good enough match it sounds like these are end game speakers.
Interesting review. I wouldn't expect much from those speakers either. Still wouldn't select these if I had 12K burning a hole in my pocket. Lots of competition...
Certainly lots of competition, but for some, these may be the end game speakers
Interesting - as always, Adrian :-) I too find that McIntosh has carried the "retro" vibe a little too far . . . the grilles which I don't care for either, make the speakers look not just retro, but OLD :-) Thanks for covering the whole gamut of qualities - the good, the bad and the ugly. IMHO, it is a great way to do business.
Thanks
very interesting review Adrian, I recently acquired a pair of these Mcintosh and I am rediscovering my music, I left some Canton Reference 7k and moved on to these, I think they will be my definitive speakers. greetings
Thank you for your honesty. I fully agree that McIntosh do not make good speakers at all as compared to their other products. I keep getting disappointed each time I listen to their speakers. I will now go and audition these.
Let me know what you think
They had an absolute horror era for speakers. 1994 - 2004. There are a few reasons for this. Basically, an idiot was put in charge of the acoustics division,and the quality, engineering and reputation tanked. Thankfully their amps and sources were unaffected. I hope this helps.
Watching from Minnesota, and got to give props to the Western gear!!
LOL
Great review. Are these speakers hard to get? My local dealer is out of it already.
McIntosh does not buy these in China by the thousands, they have a limited number they can make each month and until the dealer pipeline is filled, you might have a 6 week wait. Compared with supply chain problems during covid, 6 weeks is not bad at all.
Ramp up is slow unfortunately, and apparently demand is strong
@@adrianlow2114 thanks for the response.
Thanks for another informative video. Love your 5 business priorities. Keep sticking to your values. Merry Christmas!
Thanks, and Merry Christmas to you and yours
That's a great review and thanks as always. I would venture a guess that these would pair well with the Mcintosh MA 12000. I would love to hear that combo. I wished you could sell to US customers as would like to buy my next system from a dealer such as yourself. Such great knowledge and having this many products in stock to audition is hard to find.
Thank you
Dealer cost of audio gear is about 40% of MSRP.. so gross profit = 60% of MSRP. Some items, like cartridges are priced like jewelry where dealer cost is 20% of MSRP / gross profit is 80% of MSRP.. Let's take the 60% of MSRP gross profit as an example: For a $1000 item, gross profit is $600. The challenge is managing overhead like rent, electricity, personnel cost, inventory carrying cost etc that are supposed to be value added. Retail is a tough business.
You got me really interested in these speakers. I wonder how it's gonna sound with my 2 HSU ULS-15 sub? I have them so i might as well use them.
My subs are sealed subs. They go down to 20hz. They are some nice speakers. I just placed an order for the new Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista pre amp and the Musical Fidelity PAM monoblocks.
Thank you for all your fine videos, I have learned a lot from them
Thanks!
A great video with passion about how the listening session went. Thank you. Would you share a list of the music you used to listen to these good looking - and apparently wonderful sounding speakers? Please continue to share your passion and observations of appealing equipment!
I listed some of the music I used. If you would like my playlist, donate at least $10 or more to your favourite charity and email the receipt to info@audioexcellence.ca
Maybe I missed it but can you please explain what these were run with? I am assuming by the back ground the lumin P1, D'agostino S250 and C49 Preamp? or did you run the lumin direct to the S250?
How would you compare them to the Borresen X3 Loudspeakers out of Denmark 🇩🇰 at around the same price point of $11,000 US trying to make a decision of which is the better of the two if I were to purchase either one…
I owned McIntosh equipment from 1976 to about 1990 when I went to surround sound. (Big error in hindsight). At that time the dealer i bought the McIntosh from (Flanner and Hafsoos) in Milwaukee they had top notch service. They would hold clinics every year where they would calibrate your equipment to spec while you waited and watched, and repair it if something was wrong, for free!!! A comment on Jack Welch. His nickname is Nutron Jack. Eliminate all the people save the hard assets 😢
Re Jack Welch, there's always going to be another side that is affected by ruthless priorities. I certainly feel for those that were laid off/fired, as that is the human and very real consequence. From the point of view of his business philosophy, he only wanted the best, so if you didn't fit that criteria, you were let go. If you were a stock holder, you would have been happy with his results. Those are the 2 sides unfortunately
The clinics were run by Dave O'Brien. They stopped them eventually because sales weren't high enough but they were extremely popular.
I have a pair of older B&W 804s and I was thinking about buying a new pair of 804 D4s or these McIntosh ML1 MKII and I wanted to get your thoughts comparing the three? My listening room is only 14X11 feet or I would be looking at a lot of other speakers.
You should compare this with GR research Bully. I know that might basically destroy your business(in terms of this speaker) but a true audio connoisseur like you might just do it but knowing your personality you might do it. But true fans of AEC will definitely appreciate it.
I remember building a hafler pre amplifier with low pass output 100 hz for magies, duo 8 in subwoofers yamaha provided the amp. 1975 it rocked.
they do have three mid range drivers .perhaps that explains the clarity .may be inefficient as sealed? vs electrostatics would be interesting
I’ve listened to them a little bit…yeah they sound totally different with and without grills.
I am 72 so I grew up with Peter Paul and Mary. I am a confessed "Folkie". Listen to Ian and Sylvia, especially the Vanguard label. Not high end recordings but clean, dynamic and not over produced. Left / Right spread excessive (Ian panned left - Sylvia panned right). Their tonal and dynamic range is wonderful. Sylvia's tone color is fantastic. Beside - they are Canadian. Ian is now gone.. Thanks
I own these. I agree mostly with what you said. Thanks so much for posting this! I'm curious about your opinion regarding how these speakers compare with other brands (Sonus Faber, Wilson, B & W, etc.). I actually feel that they are a great value proposition.
These are much more similar to Focal and B&W in terms of the high frequencies, but I find the ML1 mk2 to be far more insightful without fatigue. Having said that, it's a fine line, and some will find the highs a bit too much. Just depends on your sensitivity
@@adrianlow2114 Thanks very much for replying! I've been waiting for this review for a long time, and you certainly delivered.
@@adrianlow2114 I also wonder if there is synergy with an all Mac system. E.g., does going all tube or bi amping with MC901s soften the highs a bit?
@@dacatman2518 I wouldn't be surprised. Will connect the Mc1502 at some point to see
The cabinets seem to be made by High School woodshop especially the speaker cover thick wood support (speaker diffraction issues?). Made be a throwback from the 70's? All it matters would be the sound is produces so I guess it's for someone.
Ditto.
Ya not big on the clunky look vintage style of these
@@Audiodreamer192-24 From Tannoy who is a Speaker company. If Mac is going with an Reto look, for 12K it's a miss for cosmetics.
100% agree. They look like a project from woodwork shop, and by a not particularly talented student as well. I absolutely hate the look, but that's my opinion of most of McIntosh stuff. And for $12K (that price has to be a joke, right?) there is a LOT of very impressive competition, from companies that are dedicated to speakers as well.
Great review. With the tweeter height being below ear level by quite a ways the soundstage must be very low, no?
No, the speakers are angled up
Any comments on how they would match up with the Maria 350?
Thank you for your honest review Adrian. Careful when using the Maxell ad cause they use JBL t
lol thanks
Thanks for the video.
my pleasure
Let's hear it from the boys as well!
Thank you
Love look of the speakers I have also qustion for you guys:
I am currently using a McIntosh MA7000 and am thoroughly satisfied with its performance. What I particularly value is its smooth sound signature, which makes lengthy music sessions enjoyable without any listening fatigue. Despite my positive experience, I've encountered a range of opinions online regarding this amplifier and others equipped with autoformers. While these differing views don't significantly impact my satisfaction with the MA7000, and I have no intention of replacing it, my curiosity is piqued about the origin of such criticisms. In my personal experience, having compared it in listening tests with several contemporary devices, the MA7000 outperformed them. This leads me to question: why is there such criticism of this type of equipment?
Some prefer different sound to what McIntosh offers. Chocolate vs Vanilla?
This hobby is about yourself only buddy. If you are happy and satisfied that's all that matters. Don't need to give a damn what others think. I have an all tube McIntosh system. For the money and value I don't think anything compares to it. Enjoy !
very nice. compelling!
Thanks
Love the look of these with the grills off
@albert, Prefer the look of all loudspeakers with there grills on, but considering these it seems we both lose albert. I think /Harbeth or Spendor 🇬🇧 with those Mac 🇺🇸 tubes would be a better fit. If you already preordered then please forgive my ignorance and enjoy. It may just well be my poor lack of judgement has I have not auditioned a pair.
It sounds like a description of the classic Yamaha NS-1000 sound, only with realistic bass response.
I matched my MA-252 with their XR50 speakers and only wish I could have done it sooner. A perfect match, imo.
Make sure you keep the grilles on at all times. The speakers were voiced and designed to sound best with it on. I have the same speakers in all tube McIntosh system.
I always leave the grills on for a couple of reasons. They sound terrific like that and actually sound a little too bright with them off. Also, they look better with them on as well.
@@jaycoleman8062 This is not new. Alan Shaw of Harbeth also does the same thing. This is why Erin's Audio Corner review of Xr50 can't be taken too serious as his analysis ( both objective and subjective) were obtained with the grilles off.
You are right about it is nothing new I was just responding to someone asking me how I had mine set up.
If you don't mind, please provide more details on where one can purchase McIntosh tower speakers for $3-5K.
I was referencing old vintage Mac speakers. They come up from time to time. We've sold some in the last few years
The million dollar question is, is this the future sound of mcintosh speakers across their line? Or is this geared toward a particular audience? The sound of this speaker is so unlike mcintosh and perhaps Their looking to change the way their speaker lineup is perceived in the future . Thanks !
The XR50 sounds great. I have them in all tube Mcintosh system. When people think of McIntosh first thing comes to peoples minds are amps and preamp but their speakers are very underrated. They been making speakers since the 1970s. But I can also see why more people will try other brands before Mcintosh. That's just too bad.
I've heard a lot of terms in this video that usually have to do with raised treble.
Instinctively I would agree, but there's more to it, I believe
They look great, I need a bigger house!
YES!!! haha
So they need a Schiit Lokius added to them!
The one thing I dislike is the white or silver pieces running vertical in the inside edge of the grill covers.
I think they want to match some of their components. I own the C8 tube pre-amp & MC830 monoblocks and they have the same silver trim on them.
I'm curious, are there brands that you want or wanted to represent in your store but for whatever reason the manufacturer or distributor will not let you, other dealers nearby, you are representing competitors, etc? I'm not interested in what brands, just whether this is something you face as an audio retailer.
I've covered this before in a condensed way but I may do a video on it in future. Thanks
McIntosh XR100 speakers 🔊 are excellent!
But is the sound "boxy" or confined?
I didn't find that
I’d like to know how it does on orchestral music for instance, Maurice Ravel for me that’s the most important thing big space acoustic instruments
I played a number of Classical tracks including Rachmaninoff, Beethoven, Mahler and my findings are the same. Superb insight into the music and performance, but won't hide the flaws of the recording quality
They look nice, really cool w/o covers on.
How can one hear 'soundstage' if the recording is in zeroes and ones? How is depth or soundstage reproduced from a 2D source? I'm genuinely curious.
Even in real life all your listening impressions are (physically) 2D, remember that (hopefully) your ears are on axis.
The sense of threedimensionality comes from volume differences between accoustical events of which your brain "knows" its natural volume. For example: If you listen to 2 singers and one's voice is slightly more silent, maybe with a slightly different echo, your brain will add the conclusion that one singer is further away (from you in a virtual listening position within the recording studio or concert venue) Same is true with left to right placement, so in total that summs up to the sense of a room instead of a line.
All that implies that you sit at roughly the right place between the speakers.
Why all "audiophiles" are raving about soundstage, in my opinion, is because those subtle differences are hard to reproduce. So you can easily live a whole life without experience it once in reproduced music. Most people do, while they jam their ears with 5 dollar in-ears...
Disclaimer: I haven't studied any of this. Just like to listen, and hope that your question was serious and answered by that in a sort of way. Cheers.
Digital-to-analogue conversion is excellent these days. A high end CD player will have a very good converter and you won't have much to worry about there. It sounds natural.
If they just weren't so fugly... I know - a lot of people dig this kind of design but for me they are a nuisance to almost every living room besides my grandparent's one...
Would those LRS be a good speaker in a small room? (10'x12')
You need lots of power power, and understand that they radiate much of their sound off the back walls, so they need to placed about 3-4 feet out from the back wall. Also the composition of the materials (windows, curtains, sheetrock, etc) on the back wall will make more of a difference than a box speaker that only radiates forward.
@@Mark-rw3kw 👍Right on. I was thinking (hoping) the sound wouldn't be affected as much as a box by the small room size. I am converting a small bedroom to a dedicated listening room. I have several speakers I like to change around, but of course always searching for the optimum experience and the Maggie's definitely are intriguing. I may still get them for my main set up. Power isn't an issue, I have a couple good amps, but if I get the LRS I plan on matching them with a set of Schiit Tyr that I would like to get. People are saying they are a good match and great price. I'm not quite at the McIntosh budget level, if I can't buy it outright it's too expensive for me.
@@ericnortan9012 I am not sure that McIntosh is the best amp for LRS+ anyway, especially in terms of price performance. The Tyr should work, and people say Hegel is good with LRS+. The LRS+ could fit in that room depending on the what 's on the back wall.
@@Mark-rw3kw Ya, the problem is the closet is on the back wall. Plan on putting in a heavier door with some sort of treatment. Other than that there is a standard small bedroom window, drywall walls, 8' ceiling and very padded carpet ( just seems soft to me, but nice on the old feet). The window is of quality and is solid, but I will treat that too if necessary. This is my best option, L shaped family/dining room isn't cutting it anymore, so I plan on messing with the room until I get it right.
@@ericnortan9012 Maybe get a loaner and try it out. But they are so cheap that you could also sell it if it didn't work out and not lose too much money.
How do they stack up against the Cornwall 4
no idea
@@adrianlow2114 thank you
I love hearing your thoughts Adrian!! I'll have to make it a point to these these out.
You were thinking of an ARP synthesizer.
Too bad there are so many distracting, unnecessary, and useless video inserts and effects.
Yes ARP. Had a senior moment. The inserts and effects are there to break up the visual monotony of just watching me have verbal diarrhea ...
Better love them because you’ll take a 2/3 hit trying to unload them.
Traditionally true. But many/most outside of our echo chamber don't buy to resell. Just did a service for a client who has owned her McIntosh system for 45 years, and wants to keep them going!
Based on looks I would not buy them . And certainly not for $12000.00 us dollars.
So are these Klipsch clones?
Completely different in design
@@adrianlow2114 Of course. I meant sonically.
@@thomasfi1275 I don't think so. The Mac speakers don't have the horn character. Dynamics are similar though the Klipsch is likely more dynamic. I also find the Klipsch to be more directional, ie I can locate the speakers more easily. As always, YMMV
The mouse click sounds in the video are really annoying. I don't remember you having them in previous videos, and it would be nice to get rid of them. Since I listen on a revealing set of speakers, they're really loud and shrill.
Same here. I generally abhor un-necessary 'sound effects' in youtube clips.
These wouldn't be for me in this price range, I listen to too many poor recordings to own speakers like these, I also hate the way these speakers look, they are just ugly. I like the Vintage look, but I prefer speakers to still have a touch of elegance such as Harbeths.
There is a low hum on the recording of the video.
Could be his HVAC unit cycling.
Yes it's the HVAC
@@adrianlow2114 I was wondering what it was, I thought it might have been the new Brian Eno Lp
@@metatron-007 haha!
I like your reviews - But your channel really soared when your employees critiqued a component - it def added another dimension - i would pull people off the street for an hour - let them listen and critique - having someone other than yourself - really made this channel what it is!
Good feedback thanks
On the category of looks....these speakers are turn around and walk out the store. They could sound amazing but I could never look at them everyday.
Did anyone else laugh to themselves when he said "fingering"...?
He listened to the pair for only a few hours and is reviewing? 🤐 Wait and see to find more which comes with time.
5 hours, approx 4 mins per track except for classical, means 75 tracks. Let's say 60 tracks in succession. All music that I am very familiar with. Certainly with time, some thoughts may change or evolve, but I doubt too much
I am intolerant of two things, bad recordings....and the Dutch
Intolerant of a bad recording? Lord, all speakers are.
Widowmaker bike.
yes!
Jack Welch business model has lead to the downfall of America society all in effort to serve shareholders over all
so overpriced!!
AMERICANO DA CHINA ????? KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
painfully long-winded and yet uninformative
this store carries Wilson Sonus Faber Magnepan yet not a single comparison at the $10 to 15K mark.... not to mention the AJ speaker
Consider this Part 1. And yes, I am sometimes long winded, but my excuse is that I am completely blown away by them in the areas I specified. And of course, you are free not to watch
McIntosh do not make great sounding speakers.
These may change your mind. Or not
I wish I afford 12grand for speakers 😅 sound like great speakers
If I had 12k of loose change I'd just go crazy and build my own....they probably would be at least as good and quite possibly better.
A review of something you sell. Worthless biased so called review
@TascamTascam . . . Maybe you are new to Adrian's reviews but he has dissed or criticized products that he used to carry and or still does - this, knowing full well that he might turn SOME folks away from a potential sale for a particular product. But this M.O. builds trust that brings people into his shop for OTHER purchases. Having said that, in THIS case IMHO, McIntosh has carried the "retro" vibe a little too far - these speakers don't just look retro - they look OLD :-) At minute 20:00 he DOES go into some of their drawbacks . . . BUT McIntosh is bound to introduce something decent - they are big boys, knowing that there are REALLY great speakers out there and that they'd BETTER come out with something decent to compete or they will sink before they even get into the swimming pool. So I don't agree that his review is worthless nor is he being cagey - Even though I'm not a McIntosh fan for any of their products, their reputation speaks well and that is why Adrian carries the brand. One last point - he does these reviews not so much because he's going to make a fortune selling them from a video but more because he has quite the following and these "fans" of his clamour for his reviews and really enjoy seeing the products out of curiosity despite the fact that many of the products are often out of reach for perhaps many of his followers. I live way too far away from Adrian's shop to make it viable for me to be a client but I have met him at an audio show and I can tell you that the vibe I get from him both here and in person is one of integrity. He IS in business after all and just like you and me, I don't think that WE would advertise something to sell on Marketplace or Kijiji and write that we are selling a piece of crap in our ad :would we : -) I think people are smart enough to see for themselves that he is only talking about something that he himself might like and let people take it from there.
Yet, you've commented on almost 30 videos??
I guess you didn’t actually listen to the whole video….. this dude is as honest and unbiased as you tube reviewers get…..
I can get these at dealer cost and I am still thinking about going with others at retail
@@davecollins8136good for you