The ultimate centre speaker? McIntosh's XCS1.5K weighs 80kg, boasts 43 drivers

[What Hi-Fi?]

If you're serious about home cinema, the newly-unveiled XCS1.5K Centre Channel Loudspeaker could be your dream speaker.

The ultimate centre speaker? McIntosh's XCS1.5K weighs 80kg, boasts 43 drivers : Read more

 

[Friesiansam]

I assume this is aimed at the same kind of knob that might buy a near 2000bhp, £2,000,000 electric hypercar, because bigger numbers, must be better…

Have always looked upon McIntosh products as being fine things but, this is just silly.

 

[WayneKerr]

Only the super rich or super stupid need apply... ridiculous!

 

[F8lee]

Hyperboly on the hoof, for sure.

But then again, I see ads on TV about the Range Rover (I think) coming with McIntosh "reference" sound systems - now considering road noise and wind noise are impossible to eliminate at the very least, the notion of some ultra-mega-super-duper high fidelity sound system is just as dumb as this.

But, for those with much more money than brains (and sadly I think that demographic is growing) this is just the thing! But...will it make "Real Housewives of whereever" a better show? I think not.

 

[talaerts]

For ultimate home cinema, I would much rather go to JBL's professional cinema speakers. For example check out JBL 4253 or 4722N, designed for small-medium cinemas, and hide them behind a big projection screen. A very different caliber of speaker, and surprisingly affordable for what they are. They blow these things out of the window. McIntosh has some interesting products, and many which are just silly.

 

[12th Monkey]

They blow these things out of the window.

Have you heard both?

 

[montekay1]

Interesting! If the tweeter/mid-range portion is a CBT it should work pretty well. If however it's just a short straight unshaded line array then probably not so much. Either way, I much prefer my DIY open baffle CBT line array center speaker over this.

 

[talaerts]

I heard the 4722N (I think) at a trade show, not the McIntosh. The pro JBL cinema speakers may not be "jewels" like the McIntosh yet it would be the choice for even high end cinemas.

This being said, it is a more sensible McIntosh product than their expensive cable drawer...