What does 620 Pounds of Vintage McIntosh Speakers Sound Like?

You are in for a real treat this week. Kevin goes over a super rare set of McIntosh Speakers that will literally blow you away.

These are a set of McIntosh XRT 20 and XR 19 speakers stacked on top of each other creating an incredible "wall of sound". These things need to be heard to truly grasp their massive sound. We've never heard anything like them!

We had some of the guys around the shop sit in on some listening sessions. Everyone was left almost speechless. Goose bumps all around.

These things are so large that Kevin keeps them in storage. Someday he hopes to have room for them to do their thing, either at home or in the shop. You almost need to build a room to get the most out of these towering speakers.

Let us know if you have ever seen or heard these things before. Maybe you have a pair in front of you right now! We love to read the comments! Don't be shy!

Enjoy!

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#vintagehifi #mcintosh #vintagestereo

[scottcass]

I've had my XRT20's for 35 years. Love them.

[JayRCela]

I worked for a guy that owned a complete Mac system, including these speakers. I have to say this much, it was breathtaking to listen to. Dark Side of the Moon, all master cut pressing LP's and Super Tramp - Breakfast in America, Steely Dan - Aja, and Dire Straights, that was the first and only time I heard this mind blowing HiFi rig. Thanks for the memories.

[WayneSchowalter]

It just makes sense that in the world of audio, you should own these speakers. I think they might be your crowning achievement. Keep them and, when you do eventually expand, have that dedicated room for people to bring their absolute favorite record to listen to all the way through. But, you have to charge an admission. Kidding. But, seriously, you possess a pair of speakers unlike any other. Please keep them. You deserve them!

[SodapopTheOutsider]

I truly appreciate you getting these rare monsters out and making a video to share with us all. As beautiful as they are and as great as they must sound, the size and weight make them too inconvenient to own for most people out there..Including myself! Thanks lots, Kevin..Enjoy the remainder of your Sunday!

[jimmyBside]

Hey SA… I’m a lucky XRT-18 owner loving this one…XRT-20’s with an XR-19 hat…that’s crazy. You’ve almost got a XRT-30; (my Holy Grail set-up). Cool to see everyone’s reaction and a little McIntosh love. Kevin at 7:23…love the passion, that’s why we watch the channel. 🍻

[billsmith]

The first time I felt that wall of perfect sound fog wave through the body experience was with my Polk SDA-SRS speakers. I will never sell them because they're perfect, and not only that, but they're really not worth anything close to what they are. They will also never be duplicated by anything that I can afford. I've never heard speakers that sound as good. I'm happy for you and your magic speakers. I'm sure they're amazing.

[jim]

Heck, the Pass Labs Amp was just as impressive. That thing is a monster! Great video.

[diapason]

Roger Russell is smiling from above. I have the ML1C and though nobody else likes them, I do. I emailed him while he was alive and he was immensely gracious. I'm happy to see his Magnum Opus get this kind of respect. Gosh, I'd love to hear them.

[edrenas]

I worked at a McIntosh dealer in the eighties and we sold a pair of these to the son of the owner of a now defunct shoe store chain. He invited us over to his home for a listening party. I thought they looked awesome and sounded pretty good, but not amazing, McIntosh speakers were not known to be amazing back then. The house was way too small for speakers like those, but he didn’t care, he had his toy. He even had a pair of Bozak Concert Grands in the master bedroom, there was almost no room for the bed, hilarious.

[bareknucklesu]

Just discovered this channel a few days ago. I'm not into vintage hifi but I love your videos. I have watched at least 20 of them over the past 4 or 5 days. You are a great guy to listen to. Great perspectives on audio.

[PatrickGoodspeed]

I think I have an idea of what you were talking about with a wall of sound.
I got a chance many years ago to listen to a set of Infinity reference standard 1 speakers at audio store (Pacific Audio I think.)
At the time I was there they had it connected to a open reel tape deck playing at 15in per second. I listened to two pieces of music one was Toccata and Fugue in D minor and the other was some jazz piece I didn't recognize. With the organ piece, the whole room shook with the deep organ notes and was airy and detailed in the upper notes. With a jazz piece it felt like I was in front of a live orchestra. Overall, it just had this massive presence that made the music just come alive. It's one of my fondest audio memories I have.

[Sunrayman]

Being a speaker-freaker I was excited to sit down and listen to this video. I have been too busy to watch your videos for awhile, but this popped up on my feed, so thanks for doing the video! You need to KEEP these, and years from now you will be so glad you did !!! They will serve as a great reference for anybody claiming they have found the holy grail of speakers....

[toddclarke]

I’ve experienced what you are talking about,
“ musical Scale “ is the word I used to describe them.
I could be in any room of the house, and the scale of sound took the entire home over, and not in just volume .
It is an emotional evoking experience. At any volume, Every song goes right through the homes foundation and into your heart and mind.
Mine were the 180lb each Epicure M 1000s.

[CraigHollabaugh]

Those are a true treasure - unique, beautiful and functional. Love this story, thanks Skylabs.

[rancosteel]

I used to work at a loudspeaker in Rhode Island from 1978 to 1981. The company was called Avid Corporation. They manufactured acoustic suspension sealed cabinet systems. They had a comparison room from different manufacturers for the employees to listen to as a blind test. I always liked sealed systems better than ported or vented. It was definitely IMO a more realistic sound. The bass instruments sounded more natural. Play Sarabande (From "Barry Lyndon The City of Prague Philaharmonic Orchestra) and Sycamore Trees by Jimmy Scott on those McIntosh speakers. Sealed sounds so great. No low-frequency huffing.

[Iowaclass]

As a XRT owner, my experience mirrors yours. They bring a 'live concert' experience to my listening. I think that for years
(1970's-1980's) the unremarkable McIntosh traditional floor standing box speakers set the reputation for their speakers. The line array design was a game changer for them.

[stereoniche]

As a collector of several sets of BAS (Big Ass Speakers), I can confirm they take up a LOT of space. There were some very cool, but large, speakers made in the late 70's and early 80's timeframe, but due to their cost, very few were sold. These are great examples of those TOTL speakers of that era.

[patrickzarate]

Uber cool Kevin! Also that you have kept them all this time and are intent on keeping till you can really enjoy them. Agree, money not everything !

[blacksand]

Love seeing your videos for the variety of equipment you've shown us. Those Macs are worth hanging on to, I'd definitely regret letting them go before fully experiencing them.Thanks for sharing.

[MickeyMishra]

I still have my old magazine that have these featured in the advertisement section. Always wondered what it would be like to listen to them.
Even 30 years later I still finally remember opening up stereo file magazine and a few others and seeing the advertisements inside for these speakers and I'm still amazed by them till this very day