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McIntosh XCS1.5K launched

3125b

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What a monstrosity.

They barely managed four drivers on the speaker Erin reviewed, so I have my doubts.
 

Apesbrain

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"Separate pairs of binding posts are available for the mid/high, low, and subwoofer frequencies to allow for bi- or tri-amping or bi- or tri-wiring."

FFS, it's a center channel. Clearly targeted to people with more money than sense: $40,000.
 

MarcT

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I'm your huckleberry. If only I had a few hundred thousand dollars to blow on speakers!
 

Vacceo

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Some day they'll release height speakers... And they will need a complete ceiling to be installed.
 

Vacceo

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For forty large you'd think they could at least throw in a blue meter. Or a tube with some green LEDs in the socket.
At those prices, RGB at least. Flashy RGB is a +10db SINAD just as in PC, it's +10 FPS.
 

AwesomeSauce2015

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They claim a power rating of 1500w...
The horizontal directivity will either be really impressive, or it will completely suck with that driver arrangement. Probably the latter...
If I was blowing that much on speakers, I'd build a proper room with a false wall, and not need a center channel of that type, so this model has priced itself out of the market.
Also, if I had the budget for this center, I wouldn't be using these. I'd have a JBL Synthesis dealer come in and build the system for me, with horn tweeters, not lines of domes.

Conclusion: Rich idiots is the target market for this speaker. It is also designed to sell massive (and therefore crazy expensive) amps.

But note: If they made a model of that turned 90deg, to operate like a normal line array, it would probably be incredible, given the obvious tweeter headroom. (Assuming that McIntosh can actually make good sounding speakers). - Note 2: Although it would be incredible, I still would rather have a single compression driver + horn tweeter. It would get just as loud and not have the directivity issues that this arrangement will have.
 

617

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I mean in theory that thing could have beastly output and very controlled dispersion. Would be fascinating to see measurements.

It does look pretty cool, so I give them points for that.
 
OP
P

poxymoron

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But note: If they made a model of that turned 90deg, to operate like a normal line array, it would probably be incredible, given the obvious tweeter headroom.
You mean like these:
 

AwesomeSauce2015

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You mean like these:
Yeah... I guess... Looking at them the design still seems flawed.
2x 6.5" midmidbasses, yet they have 6x 8" midbasses? What's the point!?!?!?
I guess I'm just not impressed by these kinds of things anymore. They could probably get similar SPL out of 2x 12" midbass and 2x 8" mid drivers.
I guess the conclusion is that these are trying to sell to those who think more drivers = better... ridiculous.
 
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poxymoron

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I mean in theory that thing could have beastly output and very controlled dispersion. Would be fascinating to see measurements.

It does look pretty cool, so I give them points for that.
Fully agree. Would love to see measurements of their speakers to see if the crazy driver overkill and array actually delivers anything worthwhile.
 

Vacceo

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They claim a power rating of 1500w...
The horizontal directivity will either be really impressive, or it will completely suck with that driver arrangement. Probably the latter...
If I was blowing that much on speakers, I'd build a proper room with a false wall, and not need a center channel of that type, so this model has priced itself out of the market.
Also, if I had the budget for this center, I wouldn't be using these. I'd have a JBL Synthesis dealer come in and build the system for me, with horn tweeters, not lines of domes.

Conclusion: Rich idiots is the target market for this speaker. It is also designed to sell massive (and therefore crazy expensive) amps.

But note: If they made a model of that turned 90deg, to operate like a normal line array, it would probably be incredible, given the obvious tweeter headroom. (Assuming that McIntosh can actually make good sounding speakers). - Note 2: Although it would be incredible, I still would rather have a single compression driver + horn tweeter. It would get just as loud and not have the directivity issues that this arrangement will have.
With that money just for a center, I'd fly Amir over the ocean and have him design my audition room in my manor.
 

sarumbear

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It is a line array but it is orientated to have wide dispersion in vertical (up/down) but narrow in horizontal (left/right). Bizarre. You want the opposite…
 

617

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It is a line array but it is orientated to have wide dispersion in vertical (up/down) but narrow in horizontal (left/right). Bizarre. You want the opposite…
It's a complex array, who knows what the hell is going on. The fact that it's a flat baffle with no dsp sort of limits what magic can be performed of course.
 

sarumbear

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It's a complex array, who knows what the hell is going on. The fact that it's a flat baffle with no dsp sort of limits what magic can be performed of course.
I is not any more complex than the JBL CBT speakers, especially this one, which @amirm had measured. They are also passive speakers.
 
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thewas

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Yamaha YSP sound projector soundbars have even more complex arrays of drivers since now almost 2 decades, only that they are all controlled by separate DSP/delay and amps and thus can steer the sound direction to cleverly use the side and rear room walls for the fraction of the price, I have one for my TV, quite impressive engineering.
yamaha_ysp_5100_soundbar_1593317938_0925fa8b_progressive.jpg


 
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