For the McIntosh fans here. . .

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Hantra

For the McIntosh fans here. . .
« on: 18 Oct 2006, 09:00 pm »
You know who you are.   :thumb:

Supreme Mc System video

The theoretical noise floor has been demolished

I'll be listening to this system later in the week, and will be sure to report back. 

lonewolfny42

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Re: For the McIntosh fans here. . .
« Reply #1 on: 19 Oct 2006, 12:18 am »
For those going to RMAF....McIntosh will have two rooms there...1016/18 and 1104.... 8)

From the RMAF listing.... "Two listening rooms to enjoy with XRT28, XLS320 and XLS320 speakers MC275’s, MC501's, MA6300, C1000, C220, MDA1000/MCD1000, MCD201, MVP861 and MS300!"

Digi-G

Re: For the McIntosh fans here. . .
« Reply #2 on: 19 Oct 2006, 03:19 pm »
Wow!  I was just visiting Audio Etc. here in Dayton OH over the weekend and they have a brand new room with the system shown in the first video clip (the first pair of line array speakers shown in the video and a similar rack packed with green/blue lighted amps, pre's, etc.).  The room even looked similar - it's got the same carpet!

The 2 salesmen were busy with customers and I felt as though I had the place to myself.  I was wandering thru the store (which is quite big - at least 8-10 large rooms) and I heard what sounded like a live jazz band around a corner and down a corridor.   The drums and cymbals sounded like someone was playing in the same building.  I could tell from a distance what a large room I was approaching and I fully expect to see a dozen people watching some drummer setting up on a small stage doing a sound check.  To my amazement the room was empty, except for a couch, 2 MASSIVE line array speakers, and a rack of blue/green glowing electronics (everything was McIntosh, except the couch). 

My jaw was on the floor.  I've been to a few places and I've heard some systems,,, but nothing like this.  I took a seat in the sweet spot on the couch and took it in.  It had to be loud, yet I wasn't being assaulted and even though I was much closer to the 'source' now, the drums and cymbals weren't over-powering.  The music was BIG and W-I-D-E.  And it had (((De p tH)))!  Holy Shit.  This is amazing! 

I listened.  There were definitely drums.  And percussion.  Electric guitar and bass.  Highs reached the stratosphere, but not painfully so.  Bass was extended but didn't vibrate the room like a sub would.  A female vocalist - a black woman singing something that reminded me of Dark Side of the Moon.  She was mostly doing ooh, ahs, and sounding very emotional.  I could 'see' that she was standing at the mic eight feet in front of me.  Jazz isn't really my thing, but this had my hypnotized. 

Finally, I started taking inventory of exactly what equipment was making this wonderful sound.  The 2 big (and I do mean BIG) speakers, obviously.  The other equipment was harder to decipher (I couldn't tell what was actually being used and what wasn't).  Obviously 2 (maybe 4 - maybe 6) big monoblocks.  Something with green, glowing tubes - the pre would be my guess.  A CD player (possibly SACD, couldn't be sure).  I guessed the system cost a cool $250K and as I was leaving the salesman confirmed that it was $220K. 

It was very impressive.  I'm not sure if I'm glad for the experience or if I was content in my ignorant state beforehand.  My system at home is in the (apparently modest) $6000-$8000 range, so something approaching a QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS isn't even a glimmer in my eye unless I starting playing the lottery. 

For the record, I think the speakers are what really caught my attention.  Not so much the bulk or forboding size, but the effortlessness.  I realize everything in the chain contributed to this, but...  all of those drivers made a lot of music and didn't seem to work hard at it.

Now I'm torn.  Should I save my money.... or buy lottery tickets?  Good grief.

nathanm

Re: For the McIntosh fans here. . .
« Reply #3 on: 19 Oct 2006, 05:16 pm »
You can at least save money by not having to buy lamps with such a configuartion! :)

I remember being wowed by McIntosh gear as a little kid in some store.  They do know how to make a flashy front panel don't they? The green-lit tubes are definitely weird.

Hantra

Re: For the McIntosh fans here. . .
« Reply #4 on: 19 Oct 2006, 06:14 pm »
I remember being wowed by McIntosh gear as a little kid in some store. 

That happened to me too. 

Then it happened again a little over a year ago.  I guess that's why I once had 2k posts in one year, and this year I've had like 4 here.   :shh:

carusoracer

Re: For the McIntosh fans here. . .
« Reply #5 on: 20 Oct 2006, 12:27 pm »
Wow!  I was just visiting Audio Etc. here in Dayton OH over the weekend and they have a brand new room with the system shown in the first video clip (the first pair of line array speakers shown in the video and a similar rack packed with green/blue lighted amps, pre's, etc.).  The room even looked similar - it's got the same carpet!

The 2 salesmen were busy with customers and I felt as though I had the place to myself.  I was wandering thru the store (which is quite big - at least 8-10 large rooms) and I heard what sounded like a live jazz band around a corner and down a corridor.   The drums and cymbals sounded like someone was playing in the same building.  I could tell from a distance what a large room I was approaching and I fully expect to see a dozen people watching some drummer setting up on a small stage doing a sound check.  To my amazement the room was empty, except for a couch, 2 MASSIVE line array speakers, and a rack of blue/green glowing electronics (everything was McIntosh, except the couch). 

My jaw was on the floor.  I've been to a few places and I've heard some systems,,, but nothing like this.  I took a seat in the sweet spot on the couch and took it in.  It had to be loud, yet I wasn't being assaulted and even though I was much closer to the 'source' now, the drums and cymbals weren't over-powering.  The music was BIG and W-I-D-E.  And it had (((De p tH)))!  Holy Shit.  This is amazing! 

I listened.  There were definitely drums.  And percussion.  Electric guitar and bass.  Highs reached the stratosphere, but not painfully so.  Bass was extended but didn't vibrate the room like a sub would.  A female vocalist - a black woman singing something that reminded me of Dark Side of the Moon.  She was mostly doing ooh, ahs, and sounding very emotional.  I could 'see' that she was standing at the mic eight feet in front of me.  Jazz isn't really my thing, but this had my hypnotized. 

Finally, I started taking inventory of exactly what equipment was making this wonderful sound.  The 2 big (and I do mean BIG) speakers, obviously.  The other equipment was harder to decipher (I couldn't tell what was actually being used and what wasn't).  Obviously 2 (maybe 4 - maybe 6) big monoblocks.  Something with green, glowing tubes - the pre would be my guess.  A CD player (possibly SACD, couldn't be sure).  I guessed the system cost a cool $250K and as I was leaving the salesman confirmed that it was $220K. 

It was very impressive.  I'm not sure if I'm glad for the experience or if I was content in my ignorant state beforehand.  My system at home is in the (apparently modest) $6000-$8000 range, so something approaching a QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS isn't even a glimmer in my eye unless I starting playing the lottery. 

For the record, I think the speakers are what really caught my attention.  Not so much the bulk or forboding size, but the effortlessness.  I realize everything in the chain contributed to this, but...  all of those drivers made a lot of music and didn't seem to work hard at it.

Now I'm torn.  Should I save my money.... or buy lottery tickets?  Good grief.

Good to hear about another store in OH....What other equipment do they have are they a friendly store with knowledgeable sales people?  Sounds like fun...I'm in Central,OH.

Hantra

Re: For the McIntosh fans here. . .
« Reply #6 on: 20 Oct 2006, 01:55 pm »
That store is one of nine in the country who are Platinum dealers.  They are the only ones that can carry the 2K line of gear. 

We have one in NC called Tri-City Electronics in Conover.  I was there last night, and got to meet the man who designed the 352, 402, 501, 602, 1000, 1200, and 2KW.  He's also the President of the company, Charlie Randall.  Very smart guy just loaded with knowledge. 

I wasn't sure what to expect from the President of McIntosh.  I figured he would be some random guy that D&M "installed", but this guy's been there for 19 years, and was the cheif designer before President.  That's a great thing for a brand, if you ask me. 

Nevertheless, the 2K system is simply amazing!  If you get the chance to hear it, take it.  It's the closest thing to a live show I've ever heard from a system.  Charlie started off his three song set with Devil Went Down to Georgia by another Charlie.

I have to admit, at first I was thinking that this was just going to be a system that played LOUD, and that was the goal.  The CDB track was quite loud, but as it went on, I noticed that the sound was as if the band was right in front of us.  It had the energy of a live show, and the drums and cymbals were recreated with a ferocity that no system I've heard can match.  That's what stuck out to me on this track.  The cymbals were just unreal.  Yes. . . they could be peaky and at times were just damned loud and tippy.  But that's how cymbals are when you're sitting a few feet away.  And that's remarkable in my experience!

Next up Charlie wanted to demonstrate McIntosh's Power Guard technology.   :rock:  So he puts on the familiar Money For Nothing from Dire Straits.  The volume is at 80.  I knew it was going to be loud, but I was unprepared for what happened when the needles on the amp passed the 2000 watt mark.  When the Power Guard light finally came on, we were approaching 130dB+. 

This should hurt.  And it probably would have if we'd left the volume there for a few more minutes.  But strangely enough, it was so incredibly clean and free from distortion, it was just loud, and not the least bit offensive like it would be at a 120-130dB live show.

Next up was some male vocal action followed by all our own discs we brought.  What really struck me as we got into the rest of the tunes is how incredibly silent the system was.  Even at very high volume, the system had a silence that defied any experience I've ever had.  This was almost eerie at times, and I had a few episodes of uncontrollable laughter during this b/c I was just so amazed.  It was as if I had just won the lottery, and had no one there to tell.  I was just dumbfounded really. 

The system loaded the room very well.  You would expect this from 7 foot tall speakers with 110 drivers each.  And one thing that continues to amaze me about McIntosh amplifiers is that the more power they make, the more delicate and nuanced they become.  You'd think they'd just be big bruisers, and they are when called for.  But they have a delicate touch and micro detail resolution that is so important, and so rare in this playing field.  I felt this when I bumped power from my 402 and went to 501's.  I felt it again last night as we were listening to a 2000 watt amplifier, and even the 1201's we listened to later in the evening were exhibiting this.

As everyone sort of broke off and started grabbing food and drinks, I pulled my demo disc out and went over to the system nextdoor.  It was the XRT30's with the MC1201 monos.  This was using a C45 preamp with the MS300 server.  I was again very impressed with this system, and I just sat there for a long time listening to some Garcia Band.

Afterwards, I went into the food room and was just mingling when someone fired up the 2K system again.  As impressed as I was with the XRT30 system, it just was so immediately apparent from the other room that the XRT2K system was leaps and bounds beyond it.  In fact, it was leaps and bounds beyond anything I've heard, including systems costing much more.

If the room had been better, I might have had to make a deal with the devil.  :evil:  It was about 20x40 and the system was off to one side on the long wall.  As good as the line arrays are at taming room issues, a better room would take it to another level IMO.

If you're considering that new F-430 Spider, you might want to stop and listen to this first.  For a bit more money, this might make you much happier.   :thumb:  Then again, if you truly are considering either, just buy both.   :lol:

Pics?  OK.  Since you asked nicely. . .











« Last Edit: 20 Oct 2006, 02:27 pm by Hantra »

nathanm

Re: For the McIntosh fans here. . .
« Reply #7 on: 20 Oct 2006, 03:41 pm »
Excellent photos! :thumb:
It's nice that they put out a LARGE PRINT edition of those power meters for people who have poor eyesight. :wink:

tigzstudio

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Re: For the McIntosh fans here. . .
« Reply #8 on: 20 Oct 2006, 10:14 pm »
wOw!  whats teh total cost of equipment in that room.... lol   

Would like to be able to hear all that. 

ZooDog

Re: For the McIntosh fans here. . .
« Reply #9 on: 20 Oct 2006, 11:42 pm »
Pretty nuts.  I'd love to own a pair of "mega-speakers" one day.

George

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Re: For the McIntosh fans here. . .
« Reply #10 on: 21 Oct 2006, 12:28 am »
 :o

Pure Audio Porn.

SET Man

Re: For the McIntosh fans here. . .
« Reply #11 on: 21 Oct 2006, 12:31 am »
Hey!

   Man! that is one hell of a system there. :o That is so American way of which "More is More" and "Bigger is Better"  Well, it is after all a McIntosh of which is still "Made in the USA" :wink:

   You know... That system scared the hell out of SET and Single Driver speaker user like me! :lol:

Take care,
Buddy :thumb:

ekovalsky

Re: For the McIntosh fans here. . .
« Reply #12 on: 21 Oct 2006, 02:42 am »
I recently got to hear the XRT2K / MC2KW system at L&M Home Entertainment in Tempe, AZ which is another of the nine Platinum dealers.  Other rooms there feature the mbl 101E, Dali Megaline, Sonus Faber Strativari Homage, Linn KOMRI, and Martin Logan Summit. I've seen the Legacy Helix there too in the past.  Needless to say there are a lot of great systems on display there and each room is very nicely done and dedicated to the resident system.  The owner is incredibly easy going and very knowledgable.  It is likely I will engage him to do a complete remodel/expansion of my media room in the not too distant future.

My visit was mainly to hear the mbl 101E.  Neat speakers but overall disappointing.  Bass support was very mediocre and soundstaging was confused, although the image did remain remarkably stable everywhere in the room.  The presentation was very different from my digitally corrected line arrays which cast a huge and razor sharp image, but only in one location.  Like my old Apogees there had very poor efficiency but will play loud if given watts.

To be brief the big McIntosh system really blew me away.  I'd rate it a 10/10 on dynamics, bass support, imaging, pace/rhythm, and timbral accuracy.  The very unusual line array (two columns of mids flaking a column of tweeters) casts a very stable image over a surprisingly large sweet spot and the engineers definitely did their homework as the the comb filtering and lobing issues I would have expected could not be heard.  That the system sounded this great without any room correction made it that much more impressive.  The large size of the room (20' x 30') certainly didn't hurt but it was untreated.  The woofers system is nothing short of awesome, the last word in bass.

The MC2KW are simply the most impressive amps I've seen.  Three humongous chassis per side (fully balanced design with separate boxes for the output stage and each phase of the power supply) with 2,000 watts continuous output, peaks up to 8,000 watts.  And believe me the speakers can take it all -- I heard distortion free sound with the amps running near full throttle.  Can you say permanent hearing damage ?!?  I asked the proprietor about that, he said he thinks hearing damage is more related to distotion products than actual volume.  Apparently he listens very loud on a regular basis and has no hearing loss (yet) -- good for him but call me a cynic!!!  But if you want re-create the sound of a close range thunderbolt or jet engine with its afterburners on in your listening room then this is your system.

These days I find myself listening to live recordings more and more.  Having heard a lot a different types of high end speakers (point source dynamics like the Wilson MAXX2, electrostats like SoundLab and Martin Logan, all sorts of ribbon hybrids) I have come to the conclusion that nothing beats a line array in the ability to re-create a live performance.  The XRT2K system currently stands at the top of my list in this category.  I believe it surpassed my current rig with the exception of soundstaging, the shorter mid/tweeter array flanked by expanded bass array of the Alon system gives solo instruments a more realistic image size (for instance, a grand piano spans left to right and not up and down, and a guitar doesn't sound stretched vertically).  My system also had a much more precise image which I attribute to the room correction process and the resulting perfect channel balance across all frequencies.

Hantra

Re: For the McIntosh fans here. . .
« Reply #13 on: 21 Oct 2006, 03:16 am »
wOw!  whats teh total cost of equipment in that room.... lol   

Somewhere in the $230k range for that particular system. 

It is quite incredible.  The MC2KW's are actually 2 1000 watt balanced monos.  One drives each leg of the signal and then gets summed in the big meter box.  Each box has a power cord, and each of the amp boxes needs its own 20 amp line.  It is physically impossible to pull anywhere near 2000 watts from one 20 amp line. 

From what Charlie was saying, this system is in the new Stereophile coming soon.  Reading about it, and seeing it in pictures is great.  But as ekovalsky can attest, you've just GOT to hear this one.

Zero

Re: For the McIntosh fans here. . .
« Reply #14 on: 21 Oct 2006, 03:19 am »
B,

You lucky bastard. I feel like I am in the desert of audio hell over here..  Good stuff 6 hours above me and 6 below and little in-between! Will join you in the Mac world shortly.. 

Hantra

Re: For the McIntosh fans here. . .
« Reply #15 on: 21 Oct 2006, 02:37 pm »
Bring it on down here man.   :thumb: