XRT20 Speaker System Restoration (and questions)

[onwardjames]

As if this day couldn't get any better (met with my 82 year old Korean Vet friend and drank coffee, picked guitars) I was cruising about in my miata on a rare, comfortable Ky day, and found a MINTY copy of "IN ROCK" by Deep Purple on vinyl.

I should play the lottery.

 

[onwardjames]

Not shure I have heard stand up bass buzzes. Check for voice coil dragging or screws loose on woofers or cabinet or may have to put foam behind picture frames. I had a picture in my kitchen buzzing the wall.

It's in the recording. I checked with other sources/speakers. But yeah, much in the house will need to be battened down, haha!

 

[Velocityboat]

glue drops still drying on bottom left woofer, lol

View attachment 980448

Yeah those tell everyone you take your music seriously. Great picture.

 

[w1jim]

Now get a copy of the Telarc 1812 disc with the cannons - don't warn the neighbors.

 

[onwardjames]

Now get a copy of the Telarc 1812 disc with the cannons - don't warn the neighbors.

T'is a good'un, and I do have a copy somewhere. Several on vinyl.

I think once I trust my work, and everything is settled, I plan on turning them loose with "The Planet Krypton" by John Williams. That has an 18hz note, and the most massive crescendo I have ever heard.

But it probably won't get over 20 watts. I like these too much to do Cerwin Vega-level monkey business.

 

[Velocityboat]

T'is a good'un, and I do have a copy somewhere. Several on vinyl.

I think once I trust my work, and everything is settled, I plan on turning them loose with "The Planet Krypton" by John Williams. That has an 18hz note, and the most massive crescendo I have ever heard.

But it probably won't get over 20 watts. I like these too much to do Cerwin Vega-level monkey business.

They will soak up the power. Tony dumps 1200 watt peaks and his XRT22s have one less tweeter in each array. But at 200 watts they do come alive.

 

[c_dk]

While the inside joke was that Gordon green lighted Roger on these to cut tweeter warranty claims I would not push the issue until you get a amp with power guard. No sense having to find more replacement tweeters if you manage to burn a few out with a badly clipping 50 watt amp.

 

[C6Bill]

Congrats James !!!!

 

[damacman]

They will soak up the power. Tony dumps 1200 watt peaks and his XRT22s have one less tweeter in each array. But at 200 watts they do come alive.

Yep. These line array speakers can absorb huge amounts of power. I've played Marilyn Manson and Rage Against the Machine on them at levels that scared me.

MC2600s are rated to produce up to 4,400 Watts (5.9hp) on peaks per amp when run mono. Now, in my 20s, I'd of known exactly how loud that **** got. Today, when the meters hit the 60w marks (120w per amp), it's mental.

 

[damacman]

glue drops still drying on bottom left woofer, lol

View attachment 980448

Yeah, you've gotta' be just beside yourself today. About the only thing you may try is to un-toe the speakers. You definitely have a narrow space but it would be interesting to see what the effects on the sound stage are in comparison.

The speakers look just fantastic in the photo. Did you do much to the cabinets?

And FWIW, in a space like that, you could snag something like an MC754 (75 wpc with Power Guard) and be in heaven.

Have fun!

 

[Velocityboat]

Yeah, you've gotta' be just beside yourself today. About the only thing you may try is to un-toe the speakers. You definitely have a narrow space but it would be interesting to see what the effects on the sound stage are in comparison.

The speakers look just fantastic in the photo. Did you do much to the cabinets?

And FWIW, in a space like that, you could snag something like an MC754 (75 wpc with Power Guard) and be in heaven.

Have fun!

Yeah my XR290s do better with less toe in about 3/4 to 1 inch on bass cabinet inside distance to outside. To find this I let my daughter give me thumbs up as I moved the 350 lb speakers toe in. To do this you will have to take back foot of the tweeter array to get bass cabinets to the wall for best bass. I have been wanting to do this with the XRT20s but have not attempted yet.

 

[gmc]

Speakers look great and I'm excited for you!

And FWIW, in a space like that, you could snag something like an MC754 (75 wpc with Power Guard) and be in heaven.

Echo Audio just posted a pair today! Available individually, or as a pair with a slight discount. I'll PM you with a link.

 

[Velocityboat]

Speakers look great and I'm excited for you!

Echo Audio just posted a pair today! Available individually, or as a pair with a slight discount. I'll PM you with a link.

A Mcintosh 7106 is better deal for 200 WPC bridged and you have an extra two 100 WPC to drive outdoor, 2nd room speakers to boot if you want.

 

[onwardjames]

While the inside joke was that Gordon green lighted Roger on these to cut tweeter warranty claims I would not push the issue until you get a amp with power guard. No sense having to find more replacement tweeters if you manage to burn a few out with a badly clipping 50 watt amp.

No worries there, c_dk! That amp was just to hear them play, and I haven't pushed it at all. Lord knows I don't want to search for more tweeters.

Congrats James !!!!

Thanks so much!! I appreciate it!

Yeah, you've gotta' be just beside yourself today. About the only thing you may try is to un-toe the speakers. You definitely have a narrow space but it would be interesting to see what the effects on the sound stage are in comparison.

The speakers look just fantastic in the photo. Did you do much to the cabinets?

And FWIW, in a space like that, you could snag something like an MC754 (75 wpc with Power Guard) and be in heaven.

Have fun!

If I am ever to relax and simply enjoy, I'm going to have to get an amp with a Power Guard. Yes, I'm very very happy, and no, aside from a nice wipe-down with Restore-a-Finish and some Feed N Wax, not too much. Some small chipping in the usual places, nothing I care much about. The BIG issue was the screens. Lots of nits, pulls, but about 1 hour with my electric razor and I got most of it.

Yeah my XR290s do better with less toe in about 3/4 to 1 inch on bass cabinet inside distance to outside. To find this I let my daughter give me thumbs up as I moved the 350 lb speakers toe in. To do this you will have to take back foot of the tweeter array to get bass cabinets to the wall for best bass. I have been wanting to do this with the XRT20s but have not attempted yet.

Best bass?? Man, I am not suffering from a lack of bass, lol, but yes, I'll be sure to experiment with the toe-in and whatnot. Thanks!

Speakers look great and I'm excited for you!

Echo Audio just posted a pair today! Available individually, or as a pair with a slight discount. I'll PM you with a link.

Sure appreciate that link, but fun money is dependent on getting rid of heaps and heaps of stuff that these displaced. Now I know about Echo Audio, and will be peeking in from time to time.


Sorry for the quote-heavy reply, but you all share my enthusiasm, and have been integral to my decisions and my end result. I am indebted. Thank you.

 

[onwardjames]

a few more pics of each cabinet top

 

[onwardjames]

Wife went to walmart, I'm keeping my throttle down on this test amp (WHY OH WHY DOESN'T HE HOOK UP SOMETHING ELSE?? Because the music is like a tractor beam!)

and I'm spinning Bjork - "Pagan Poetry". Don't know if anyone here is a fan (good god but I am) but this song sounds positively tectonic on these.

 

[damacman]

Welcome to McIntosh my good man. I've owned and enjoyed the brand for 27 years now.

I first heard the XRT20s in the mid '90s. My buddy Mike had traded another buddy out of them. He had them set up flanking his fireplace with the tweeter columns hung on the wall and the woofer cabs sitting on the hearth flat against the wall. Power was courtesy of an MC7300. He put Seal's first album on and played Killer followed by Crazy. The soundstage was so huge, so wide, so tall - just intoxicating. I was mesmerized. Mind you I had great sound at home with a pair of large format Altec studio monitors and McIntosh electronics. But the soundstage from the XRT20s was like nothing I'd ever heard before.

Mike sold the XRT20s a few years later. He offered them to me but I had moved to Texas and didn't have the room for them. I looked for a pair on and off for the next 15 years. I found numerous pair, even came across two pair local to me in Phoenix, but never the right pair at the right time. Two years ago, I found the XRT22s at Audio Classics and jumped at the chance to own them. Only a pair of XR290s could get me to turn them loose ...

The McIntosh line arrays are among the finest designs ever conceived for domestic settings.

 

[Velocityboat]

Welcome to McIntosh my good man. I've owned and enjoyed the brand for 27 years now.

I first heard the XRT20s in the mid '90s. My buddy Mike had traded another buddy out of them. He had them set up flanking his fireplace with the tweeter columns hung on the wall and the woofer cabs sitting on the hearth flat against the wall. Power was courtesy of an MC7300. He put Seal's first album on and played Killer followed by Crazy. The soundstage was so huge, so wide, so tall - just intoxicating. I was mesmerized. Mind you I had great sound at home with a pair of large format Altec studio monitors and McIntosh electronics. But the soundstage from the XRT20s was like nothing I'd ever heard before.

Mike sold the XRT20s a few years later. He offered them to me but I had moved to Texas and didn't have the room for them. I looked for a pair on and off for the next 15 years. I found numerous pair, even came across two pair local to me in Phoenix, but never the right pair at the right time. Two years ago, I found the XRT22s at Audio Classics and jumped at the chance to own them. Only a pair of XR290s could get me to turn them loose ...

The McIntosh line arrays are among the finest designs ever conceived for domestic settings.

Well I bet that could not do it.

I can't even turn my XRT20s or XR19s loose after finding a mint pair of XR290s. All three still get used everyday.

I am going to be in MI next Saturday meeting with Ken Haig to audition the IDS-25, Roger Russell's last line array that he builds and sells.

I am a little fearful to listen. But it is like a moth to a flame.

 

[onwardjames]

I am going to be in MI next Saturday meeting with Ken Haig to audition the IDS-25, Roger Russell's last line array that he builds and sells.

I am a little fearful to listen. But it is like a moth to a flame.

I got to hear those at AKFest in 2008. You're in for a real treat. Even better, I got to hear MY OWN RECORDING of "What a Wonderful World" which can be found here at the 20:27 mark.

Funny thing, I could hear the squeak of my office chair.

 

[Velocityboat]

I got to hear those at AKFest in 2008. You're in for a real treat. Even better, I got to hear MY OWN RECORDING of "What a Wonderful World" which can be found here at the 20:27 mark.

Funny thing, I could hear the squeak of my office chair.

Sounds like you were impressed enough with IDS-25 line arrays to buy the XRT20s. I am interested enough to see how they compare to the my XRT20s and XR290s in detail and soundstage but realize the SPL can't compete to the XR290s or XRT20s.

So after a weekend are you still loving them and have you hauled out the big amp yet?