Velocityboat
Super Member
I initially set up my XR290s last night after unloading. I was lazy at first not wanting to tear down the old system and rewire my MC2500s to run 8 ohm. So I just wired to the Lyngdorf TDAI 2200 integrated amp outs and slid them in front of my XRT20 stacked XR19. Played two songs Santana Oye Como Va and Led Zep Stairway to Heaven. The sound was just as incredible but soon had hit the limits of what the digital amp could muster.
I quickly knew these puppies need big McIntosh amps and went for the bridged MC2500s. The difference in dynamics with effortless sound was immediately noticed. My wife took over playing her favorite lossless iTunes library.
Which ranged from Bill Withers,, Cat Stevens, Josh Groban, Yo Yo Ma, original Cast Les Miserables, and Miss Siagon.
Though I love the stack the XR290s whoop them in voice accuracy and low and mid bass, mids and smoothness and different voice articulation in harmonies. Abilty to articulate both different and similar instruments better and such a relaxed smooth and natural sound. Symphony in particular leaves you wondering how can they duplicate real experience so well. All listening was done with Room Perfect room correction off.
My daughter remarked that I have now ruined music for her she will not want to listen to anything else. She felt she had been blind but the XR290s let her see what she was missing. We were all mesmerized.
The only thing my stack bests the XR290 is in soundstage width and sharper highs. But Soundstage maybe width of tweeter arrays or XR19 dispersion of highs. Sharper highs are not necessarily as natural sounding for non amplifed percussion. The twenty four tweeters in the stack in horizontal array on XR19 are likely influencing both.
One thing noticeable is need to be wary of exceeding safe dB levels with XR290. It is so enveloping even at 1000 Watts. The sound never gets stressed. So smooth and clear at any level.
I can't wait to get MC1000s in the system and speakers back at wall and try out the C39.and try to see if room perfect improves experience.
So far they are worth every penny.
I quickly knew these puppies need big McIntosh amps and went for the bridged MC2500s. The difference in dynamics with effortless sound was immediately noticed. My wife took over playing her favorite lossless iTunes library.
Which ranged from Bill Withers,, Cat Stevens, Josh Groban, Yo Yo Ma, original Cast Les Miserables, and Miss Siagon.
Though I love the stack the XR290s whoop them in voice accuracy and low and mid bass, mids and smoothness and different voice articulation in harmonies. Abilty to articulate both different and similar instruments better and such a relaxed smooth and natural sound. Symphony in particular leaves you wondering how can they duplicate real experience so well. All listening was done with Room Perfect room correction off.
My daughter remarked that I have now ruined music for her she will not want to listen to anything else. She felt she had been blind but the XR290s let her see what she was missing. We were all mesmerized.
The only thing my stack bests the XR290 is in soundstage width and sharper highs. But Soundstage maybe width of tweeter arrays or XR19 dispersion of highs. Sharper highs are not necessarily as natural sounding for non amplifed percussion. The twenty four tweeters in the stack in horizontal array on XR19 are likely influencing both.
One thing noticeable is need to be wary of exceeding safe dB levels with XR290. It is so enveloping even at 1000 Watts. The sound never gets stressed. So smooth and clear at any level.
I can't wait to get MC1000s in the system and speakers back at wall and try out the C39.and try to see if room perfect improves experience.
So far they are worth every penny.
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