CEDIA 2022 in Dallas is only a few weeks away but the news about some very high-end home theater products is starting to trickle out. McIntosh Labs offers a rather wide and expensive range of loudspeakers for both stereo and home theater systems — but the new McIntosh Labs XCS1.5K Center Channel Loudspeaker might be one of its boldest releases in over 7 decades.
McIntosh Labs and the McIntosh Group were recently purchased by Highlander Partners. However, so far it looks like the powers-that-be are supporting their established direction as McIntosh has announced its latest speaker, the $40,000 XCS1.5K Center Channel Speaker.
The XCS1.5K is designed as a center channel speaker with the specific purpose of providing the ultimate in center channel speaker performance, as well as complementing the equally ultra-high-end companions already in McIntosh’s lineup: the XRT2.1K ($130,000/pair) or XRT1.1K ($60,000/pair) Floorstanding Loudspeakers.
XCS1.5K Core Features
Here is what $40,000 gets you with the XCS1.5K.
Speaker Design: 3-way/4-way hybrid design with a class McIntosh look. Intregal to XCS1.5K design is that is it tiltable. There are five preset angles so that the speaker can be optimally aimed to the listening desired position.
Speaker Drivers: There are 43 speaker drivers total mounted in an array distributed as follows:
- Woofers – Four 8-inch long throw carbon fiber sandwich cone woofers housed in a vented bass cabinet.
- Midrange – Fourteen 2.5-inch aluminum midranges
- Tweeters –Twenty-five 3/4-inch dome tweeters.
Connections: Three sets of solid cinch speaker binding posts are provided that allow for bi/tri-amping or bi/tri-wiring.
Crossover: McIntosh has selected its drivers strategically and supported them with a detailed crossover design to create a wider sound field. Crossover frequency points are 150Hz, 500Hz, and 3kHz.
High current capacity: McIntosh has incorporated capacitors and inductors that can handle the high-current demands placed on them from any power or integrated amplifier.
Power Handling: In addition to handling high current, the XCS1.5K can handle up to 1,500 watts of input power.
Impedance: 8 ohms
Frequency Response: 32Hz to 20kHz
Sensitivity: 88dB
Finish: 7 layers of high-gloss piano black paint. Removable black knit cloth speaker grill.
Dimensions (WHD): 49-31/23 x 17-3/16 x 21-7/32 inches (126.92 x 43.66 x 53.9 cm)
Weight: 178 lbs (74kg)
Price & Availability
As mentioned near the top of the article you can have the XCS1.5K for “just” $40,000. It is expected to be available in October 2022 through Authorized McIntosh Dealers.Â
When McIntosh Labs releases a product they expect it to be around for a long time, case in point:
McIntosh XR50, LCR80, XR100 Home Theater Speakers were introduced in 2012.
More on McIntosh Labs
Blue Skies And Green Glass: The World According To McIntosh
McIntosh Announces RS150 And RS250 Wireless Speakers
McIntosh MR89 AM/FM Tuner: Invisible Airwaves Crackle With Life
The McIntosh MCD12000 Might Be Your Last CD Player And DAC
McIntosh MX100 A/V Processor Adds Control4
McIntosh MX180 A/V Processor Supports 8K & 9.1.6 Dolby Atmos
ORT
September 15, 2022 at 12:15 am
While I am certain I can lift this fugly thing, I do not think that justifies its existence. This is something that Sheik Yerboutee would buy just because. Of course just because someone can do something doesn’t mean they should.
Don’t believe me? Here are just a few examples.
America Idol.
Little People, Big World.
Any Country’s Got Talent.
The Hallmark Romance Channel.
The McIntosh XCS1.5K Center Channel.
This speaker is about as useful as that empty box the Maroons of McIntosh are selling. Talk about ENC engineering…Most people cannot lift it themselves but then if you can afford this thing (like the great Sheik Yerboutee can!), you can afford to have someone install it for you.
But it is still stupid fugly and ridiculous. There are highlarious sayings for overkill such as this speaker but I dare not use them, let alone one of my own making. Why? Because some folk are such SNAGs these days.
Sensitive New Age Guys/Gals.
I will be in Hebrew-Hades (Sheol) for that one. 😉 Oh yes. “ENC” stands for Emperor’s New Clothes. My older brother taught me that one! It fits perfectly into the Wonderfully Wacky World of the frAudiophile, LOL!
ORT