At the advice of many on this board, I purchased a pair of XR-5's several months ago. Needless to say, I love them. They are the most musical speaker I've ever heard. Now, for system #2, I want to replace my Klipsches. The room is not large, 14x22 and I run two pairs via 2100's. Since I like the XR-5's so much, I was thinking about XR-7's. I just love the mids and tweeters. Can anyone give me thoughts on XR-6's or 14's? Any others? Thanks in advance.
Mac Speaker question...
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twiiii
Lunatic Member
XR-7 was my favorite from that period and they worked great with 2200s and 2255's. The next step up is either the XRT20 or its update brother the XRT22. Then you are going to need a 2500 or 2600. XR7 will give you about another 4 db in output. Where the XRT 22 will give you another 9 or 10db with a 2600 over an XR-5. In other words twice is loud and being a line array speaker a lot more definition. A nice compromise is the XRT 19 between the 7 and the 22. You can always stack a pairs of XR-7, they were built to be stacked. Check Roger Russell's web site for details.
Imho the voicing of the XR14s and 16s is superior.....and bracket XR5s for room size match.
A non Power Guard pair of MC2100s will find the dome mids to damage when they inevitability clip.
Speaking of dome mids.....NY speaker has come up with their own kit to rebuild the 036-035 dome now that they ran out of the Mac kits.
A non Power Guard pair of MC2100s will find the dome mids to damage when they inevitability clip.
Speaking of dome mids.....NY speaker has come up with their own kit to rebuild the 036-035 dome now that they ran out of the Mac kits.
Velocityboat
Super Member
I started looking for XR-7s never found a pair after my XR-5. Then bought a XR19 with a XRT20 both are great by themselves and Roger Russell says XR19 is a step up from XR7. I did come across a stacked pair of XR7 in FL on craigslist. I don't know if anyone ever purchased. The XR5 and XR7 both have removable tops so base fits concealed and are designed to stack and look seamless. I would maybe pick up two pair of either to replace Klipsch.
Before you worry the stack will sound funny, do not. I run the XR19 and XRT20 stacked inverse XR19 bass cabinet upside down above XRT20. It is my XR290 wannabe but still works. They are fabulous and seamless sound. Most lifelike musical reproduction I have had. I have tried running both separate but once you have both playing together in a stack... You will accept no substitute! It is huge sound stage and imaging. The wall disappears if it is a orchestra recording and you are in the concert hall. If it is a studio recording every detail, instrument, separate voice jumps out. If it is sheet music turning or toe tapping it is all there in detail. If you want live venue band in front of you SPL and punch you in the chest bass, the stack is where it is at for that too.
I think the XR5 with the two peerless tweeters and the angled up and down would give the same experience on a smaller scale in a stack. The XR7 with peerless tweeter elipse like XR19 would also be great as a stack too or by themselves for wide soundstage and beginning of line arrays sound . If you want better imaging, vertically align the drivers with XR5 stack or buy a XRT20, XRT22 or XRT18.
Drivers in a vertical or horizontal line array give you consistent equal SPL volume no matter your distance from speaker. Look at a line of arced horn drivers at a theater or sporting venue. The venues run line arrays so all rows get the same sound level and can hear detail. Read Roger Russells site on line arrays. Then pick a direction of speaker purchase based on what you learn. Just buy a speaker Roger designed while there and it will be great. He talks highly of XR250 with low distortion woofers. If you want jaw dropping get one of his arrays or start stacking.
Last I found his speakers sound superb detailed with Yamaha high quality amps. The Mcintosh amp MC2500 further refined the sound not as edgy more natural voices less high sparkle until driven. I am going to try driving the XR19 with Yamaha pro amp and XRT20 with MC2500 today to see if 8 ohm load on each amp betters sound either running at a 4 ohm load driving both Mcintosh XR and XRT20. The Mcintosh amp easily out muscles yamaha at 4 ohm. But hey it is too hard to not tinker and find the next nirvana plateau.
twiiii
Lunatic Member
Velocityboat:
What you need is a pair of 1.2k or 4 MC 501's. Or if you are a real glutton 4 MC 601's. Then to complete the picture a C500 either tube or SS, just depends which sound you prefer. I would prefer the 1.2K with the SS C500, but you might prefer the 601's and the C500T. That 500T is a great unit. Then I'd throw in MEM220 to get everything right.
What you need is a pair of 1.2k or 4 MC 501's. Or if you are a real glutton 4 MC 601's. Then to complete the picture a C500 either tube or SS, just depends which sound you prefer. I would prefer the 1.2K with the SS C500, but you might prefer the 601's and the C500T. That 500T is a great unit. Then I'd throw in MEM220 to get everything right.
Velocityboat
Super Member
Twiiii,
I was looking at a MEN220 today for grins the price was big dollars. What does that give above a MQ104 or MQ107. Anybody have experience with MEN220?
I have yet to get the tube bug. The 1.2K and SS C500 is most likely my speed. I'll probably do another MC2500 first next since that will give 1K a channel. I am still liking autoformer Mcintosh driving the power hungry Mcintosh speakers over the Yamaha. It just gets better every listen.
MEN 220 is like having a permanent on site acoustician.
MQ 104/107 etc need to be set up by a professional, tailored to the system, speaker placement and room acoustics.
Velocityboat
Super Member
MEN 220 is like having a permanent on site acoustician.
MQ 104/107 etc need to be set up by a professional, tailored to the system, speaker placement and room acoustics.
Researching MEN 220 further, what does it give one above a MX processor with the room perfect? It does seem like a bargain compared to those.
I would like to hear from someone who have used a MQ104/107N MEN220 and a MX processor. Old school versus the new digital trend.
damacman
Resident Psycho
MQ104/107 are incredibly powerful tools that require a bevy of sophisticated tools to set up. IE - it took me an entire weekend to set up one channel of an MQ104 for my subwoofer system two homes ago. I used an SPL meter and plotted response at 1/9th ovtave (9 plots per octave). The results allowed me to achieve flat reaponse to 28hz (tuning frequency of the enclosures).
I likely could have achieved same with an MEN220 in less than an hour.
I likely could have achieved same with an MEN220 in less than an hour.
Velocityboat
Super Member
Thanks Damacman,
Probably beyond my patience level. But time versus cost it is probably a wash. Lot's to pay for technology for a single set up. I wonder how MEN 220 compares to a AV processor craigslist find?
damacman
Resident Psycho
That I cannot tell you. Traditional parametric EQs have few bands. And, each has the following per band:
boost / cut control
center frequency control (select center frequency of boost / cut)
q control (width of band to be boosted / cut)
The MQ104 has you do the two latter with plug in capacitors. It's more precise but can be a PITA. I actually bought a bunch of caps that weren't included in the kit so that I could be VERY precise with my equalization. In the last home, I pulled out an Audio Control RTA and quickly discovered that all of the work I had done for the former home was incorrect for that listening space (gee, like no big surprise there). So, it was back to the drawing board.
I sold the MQ104 a while ago. If I have to do any eqing in this home, rest assured that it will be done in the digital domain with much more modern gear and a lot less effort.
boost / cut control
center frequency control (select center frequency of boost / cut)
q control (width of band to be boosted / cut)
The MQ104 has you do the two latter with plug in capacitors. It's more precise but can be a PITA. I actually bought a bunch of caps that weren't included in the kit so that I could be VERY precise with my equalization. In the last home, I pulled out an Audio Control RTA and quickly discovered that all of the work I had done for the former home was incorrect for that listening space (gee, like no big surprise there). So, it was back to the drawing board.
I sold the MQ104 a while ago. If I have to do any eqing in this home, rest assured that it will be done in the digital domain with much more modern gear and a lot less effort.
Velocityboat
Super Member
Snappahead,
Did you ever pick up a set of XR7's or find another favorite Mcintosh speaker yet?
Not yet Velocity-
I found a pair relatively local but the gentleman can't seem to get his act together. He has a pair of XR-7's which I want but he also has a bunch of other Mac gear and he wants to sell it as a package. Of course he's asking for the sun, the moon and the stars. He calls me about once a week telling me he's going to get it all set up so I can come take a listen, but this has been going on since January. If it ever comes to fruition, I'll take the ride with a pocket full of cash and make him a one time offer. If it doesn't pan out I'll just buy from AC's like I always do. I'm always looking and eventually something will pop up.
T
Velocityboat
Super Member
As long as your handy with troubleshooting and determining if wquipment is good. That is sometimes the way a bargain is discoverered.
Some people are just way too busy but will motivate once cash is there. the XR7s are not that common to come across. So I would check it out.
Or offer to bring my amp and source material.
Some people are just way too busy but will motivate once cash is there. the XR7s are not that common to come across. So I would check it out.
Or offer to bring my amp and source material.
He's an older gentleman who inherited the stuff from his brother. He says he cannot move the stuff where he can set it up because it's too heavy and needs his son to come help him. He also says due to all the snow and ice we have here it's been a problem getting it done. I do believe him but I also don't think he's a motivated seller either. He has (2) 2205's, a C-32, an MR 77 and a pair of XR-7's. He wants top dollar which I won't pay from a private seller. I'll throw a pile of cash at him at what I think is fair. More often than not a pile of Ben Franklins gets it done.
You're right. Unless the stuff is very clean and priced fairly, it isn't worth the headache. I have bought Mc gear for 50 cents on the dollar and then it's worth it. But I won't pay used retail from a private seller. I don't do my own repairs other than cosmetic stuff so to ship it back and forth for repairs / refreshening isn't worth the risk. If I want something I just call the guys at AC's. They always discount whatever I buy as a repeat customer and I know what I'm getting.
kingstoneage
Active Member
XR50 speakers - What is better 8 or 4 ohm?
Hi guys,
i use a MA6600 amplifier rated 200 watts at 8 ohm.
This amp is connected with my XR50 speakers.
What ohm-terminal of my amp i should use too get ghe best out of my speakers?
Hi guys,
i use a MA6600 amplifier rated 200 watts at 8 ohm.
This amp is connected with my XR50 speakers.
What ohm-terminal of my amp i should use too get ghe best out of my speakers?
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