XLS 340/360 comments?
- Thread starter dunlap1
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I love my xls340s....
...I actually auditioned them on a 252 but run them off of a 6900 for now. They sounded great with the 252 (obviously): spacious, detailed sound with noticably better headroom using the 252 versus my 6900. Thus a 402 is definitely in my future. I've become a big fan of the bezel array tweeter.
You will definitely need a sub and the Mac sub kicks butt. This of course means your'e looking at spending a total of 10 - 12 grand depending on which XLS model you go with. Might be something to think about.
...I actually auditioned them on a 252 but run them off of a 6900 for now. They sounded great with the 252 (obviously): spacious, detailed sound with noticably better headroom using the 252 versus my 6900. Thus a 402 is definitely in my future. I've become a big fan of the bezel array tweeter.
You will definitely need a sub and the Mac sub kicks butt. This of course means your'e looking at spending a total of 10 - 12 grand depending on which XLS model you go with. Might be something to think about.
Victor
Super Member
I had a pair of XLS360 speakers for about 3 months and they are great. You may ask, "if they are so great, why did I only have them for 3 months?" That is because I got the chance to upgrade to XRT30s for a price that was too good to pass up.
Now for the review. The XLS360s replaced my LS340s. At first I was using a MC162 amp. I found the LS340 speakers to have a beautiful relaxed natural sound. The LS340s were a joy to listen to but I was craving more detail so I upgraded to the XLS360s. The XLS360s did have more detail than the LS340 but I found the XLS360s to be overly bright (harsh) and in your face on the high frequencies. I actually liked the sound of the XLS360s with the grill covers on better than with the covers off. The bass on the XLS360s was much weaker than you would expect from 2 10" woofers per speaker.
Then I upgraded my MC162 amp to MC501s and wow the XLS360 speakers sounded fantastic. It was like the XLS360 speakers came alive with the MC501s. The high frequency harshness was gone, the imaging was fantastic and the bass was much better, but still a little weak. Even though I was only using a few watts, the MC501s were a huge improvement on these speakers over the MC162. I did not hear the MC252 with the XLS360 speakers but I would expect it to be much better than my MC162 but not as good as MC501s.
Next I got the C1000 preamp and had a true balanced signal from source to speakers and with this setup the XLS360s sounded like world class speakers. :yes: Moral of the story is that the XLS360 speakers will work great with first class electronics.
Even with the great deal I got on my XRT30 speakers I sometimes think that I should have kept the XLS360s or LS340s
Victor
Now for the review. The XLS360s replaced my LS340s. At first I was using a MC162 amp. I found the LS340 speakers to have a beautiful relaxed natural sound. The LS340s were a joy to listen to but I was craving more detail so I upgraded to the XLS360s. The XLS360s did have more detail than the LS340 but I found the XLS360s to be overly bright (harsh) and in your face on the high frequencies. I actually liked the sound of the XLS360s with the grill covers on better than with the covers off. The bass on the XLS360s was much weaker than you would expect from 2 10" woofers per speaker.
Then I upgraded my MC162 amp to MC501s and wow the XLS360 speakers sounded fantastic. It was like the XLS360 speakers came alive with the MC501s. The high frequency harshness was gone, the imaging was fantastic and the bass was much better, but still a little weak. Even though I was only using a few watts, the MC501s were a huge improvement on these speakers over the MC162. I did not hear the MC252 with the XLS360 speakers but I would expect it to be much better than my MC162 but not as good as MC501s.
Next I got the C1000 preamp and had a true balanced signal from source to speakers and with this setup the XLS360s sounded like world class speakers. :yes: Moral of the story is that the XLS360 speakers will work great with first class electronics.
Even with the great deal I got on my XRT30 speakers I sometimes think that I should have kept the XLS360s or LS340s
Victor
Victor, your comment on the LS340 is interesting. I have a pair of LS340 and I do enjoy the softness of the sound. But I found that the bass are also too weak. I decided to add a PS112 for the deep bass. I run it for the very low frequencies only and without adding too much gain as I want to keep the beautiful sound of the LS340. In fact I am trying to correct the "weakness" on the LS340 in the deep bass with the PS112.
I have to say that I now have a very good compromise: bass with punch where I like it, and clarity everywhere else.
So far I am happy with my choice.
Brice.
I have to say that I now have a very good compromise: bass with punch where I like it, and clarity everywhere else.
So far I am happy with my choice.
Brice.
Victor
Super Member
When I had the LS340s in my system I thought the bass was very good, nice and detailed without the bass bloat that many speakers in this price range have. But there is no question that the LS340s are not full range speakers and they are missing some of the low frequency energy. Even though I knew some low bass energy was missing with the LS340s, I was happy listening to them without a sub.
I sold the LS340s to a friend of mine and he has almost the same system as you (LS340, PS112 & MC275). He is a few years older than me and he has been a big music fan his entire life. He says this system with the LS340s is the best system he has ever had.
The LS340s are not the kind of speaker that will impress you in a short demo but you can listen to them for hours and hours and enjoy every minute.
Victor
Agree 100%. And the LS360 are too big for my living room
So I went with the sub, and now I have a very good sound: I agree with your friend.
sully1801
Well-Known Member
I think McIntosh took a big step backwards when they changed the lines from the LSxxx to the XLSxxx. There's no way you can get the same or better bass response out of those new enclosures. The cabinets used in the LS models were extremely well made, but as I understand, very costly. From what I hear, they just couldn't make the margin that they wanted to be competive in that price range of spreakers. I've had a pair of LS360's for about 3 years now & like 'em a lot. At first I was driving them with a MC2205 & they really needed more power. Now that I've got a MC500 in the mix, they want for nothing. I have a really big space to fill; my listening room is part of what would be refered to as a great room that includes the dining room & kitchen, pretty much the entire 1st floor of my house, so the LS360's aren't overpowering, but I can see where they would be for some rooms. I'd recommend the LS over the XLS. I know they've been discontinued for quite awhile, but you should be able to find a pair of NOS or previously enjoyed if you look.
william.keith
Super Member
sully1801
Well-Known Member
Has anyone (Victor?) compared ....
....single wiring to bi-wiring on the XLS340/360? Mcintosh says that the jumpers should be used for low power applications, but they don't say what is considered a low power situation. Is my 6900 considered "low power" at 200 watts per channel? Anyone with experience here?
....single wiring to bi-wiring on the XLS340/360? Mcintosh says that the jumpers should be used for low power applications, but they don't say what is considered a low power situation. Is my 6900 considered "low power" at 200 watts per channel? Anyone with experience here?
Victor
Super Member
I only have the setup guide for XLS320s. In that guide it says for "low power amps" (up to 250 watts) to put the jumper on the positive posts. For "high power amps" (over 250 watts) put the jumper on the negative posts.
I think this setup is only used for single wire speaker wires. If you are using bi-wire speaker wires, I would not use the jumper at all.
Victor
I wasnt gonna use the jumper while bi-wiring....
....But I wasn't sure what was meant by "low power amplifier". Does this mean I shouldn't be bi-wiring my 340s while running em off my 6900???? What am I losing??
I also don't know why I'd be using a jumper on merely the negative posts or positive posts. I thought the jumper was merely to connect the Tweeter side with the woofer side during single -wiring runs.
....But I wasn't sure what was meant by "low power amplifier". Does this mean I shouldn't be bi-wiring my 340s while running em off my 6900???? What am I losing??
I also don't know why I'd be using a jumper on merely the negative posts or positive posts. I thought the jumper was merely to connect the Tweeter side with the woofer side during single -wiring runs.
Victor
Super Member
There is no problem bi-wiring your XLS340s. You are not loosing anything.
There was some technical description which I have forgotten describing why when using single speaker wires there is a difference for which posts the jumpers go on. If you are using bi-wire speaker wires I would not recommend using any jumpers.
The XLS320 setup guide I have says created by Ken Zelin at the bottom, you could try emailing him through the McIntosh contact page or I would think Chuck Hinton "chinton" with technical support would also know the answer.
http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/contact.aspx
Victor
There was some technical description which I have forgotten describing why when using single speaker wires there is a difference for which posts the jumpers go on. If you are using bi-wire speaker wires I would not recommend using any jumpers.
The XLS320 setup guide I have says created by Ken Zelin at the bottom, you could try emailing him through the McIntosh contact page or I would think Chuck Hinton "chinton" with technical support would also know the answer.
http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/contact.aspx
Victor
FZfan
Zulch is the Auto Works
My super nice local dealer loaned me a pair of XLS-360's for a weekend and while they were very detailed and had outstanding transient attack, they could produce some fatigue on longer listening sessions. I already have a pretty decent sub so the very low end is covered but as a stand alone pair, they may be a little bass shy for heavy metal, home theater explosions, pipe organ bottom notes and (god forbid) rap.
I didn't have time to properly place them or to play with the tweeter array focal options so I'm sure they weren't perfectly dialed in for my wierd shaped/large room although they are easy to move and have a small footprint so getting them in the right spot should be a relatively easy one person job. The WAF wasn't thrilled with the industrial styling and/or height but the speakers could be wall mounted or even in-wall which may solve the issue.
The other point I can't remember (my niece's wedding reception last night may have something to do with my poor recall) is whether I tried them with the MC-207 or if I had the MC-501's at that point - if Victor says the amp makes a difference then you can bet you bottom dollar it does - I just can't freakin' remember which amp I was using at the time...
In any case, I ended up with Sonus faber Cremona floor standers, very high WAF (and she had a good ear for sound) and I'm very happy with the results.
I didn't have time to properly place them or to play with the tweeter array focal options so I'm sure they weren't perfectly dialed in for my wierd shaped/large room although they are easy to move and have a small footprint so getting them in the right spot should be a relatively easy one person job. The WAF wasn't thrilled with the industrial styling and/or height but the speakers could be wall mounted or even in-wall which may solve the issue.
The other point I can't remember (my niece's wedding reception last night may have something to do with my poor recall) is whether I tried them with the MC-207 or if I had the MC-501's at that point - if Victor says the amp makes a difference then you can bet you bottom dollar it does - I just can't freakin' remember which amp I was using at the time...
In any case, I ended up with Sonus faber Cremona floor standers, very high WAF (and she had a good ear for sound) and I'm very happy with the results.
Victor, here are some of my options. You have experience with the Mc-252, (I also have the older 7270 a 270/ch autoformer). I can get a NOS pair of LS-240 boxed for 3300, a new XLS-340 for 6,000.00. I really like the 252, and due to its size and weight, I would like to keep it as my main amp for now. From comments I have read here and other threads, some feel the 360 can get a little harsh. I do not know how well a 252 can drive SF Cremonas, and based on other threads I feel B&W's are out. I listen to mostly chamber classical music, jazz, and classic rock. Your comments are always very welcome!
I do recall your speaking very highly of these speakers! My only experience with SF was concertinos over 10 years ago. I have found a dealer that will demo these on Mc amps. I will try to get out there this week or weekend and hear what others are talking about. Thanks for your post and your interest!
