Honest opinions on my two picks of loudspeakers


So I wanted to see what most of you thought or what your pick would be between the Revel Salon 2 towers and the McIntosh XR100's I'm torn between both with looks and performances with my choice leaning more toward Mac since I'd be powering them with the 452 and the whole matching thing, but I will also be pushing these quite hard at times (rock-metal) and I want a well built power capable speaker for the long haul..I was considering Wilson's as well and have not cut them out just wanted some respectable opinions on my two narrowed down choices we all are familiar with pricing and these two options have a considerable difference between the two so I'm torn which is the better bang for my bucks!! 

Thanks all..
128x128shawnscola
Spec wise, they’re pretty similar.  You’re not going to suffer with either choice,   I’d go for the Mac’s simply because they’re $10K cheaper.

 (PS:  I own a set of McIntosh LS350 from the 1990’s.  They’re amazing - and huge.    I don’t currently use them because they’re super inefficient and I’m in a tube phase.  PPS: I’m not college educated or a doctor or lawyer but I have a few on my payroll.)
@steakster       Really enjoyed the read you linked on Owsley. The guy seems to have been extraordinarily perceptive (high or not). My understanding of the man and what he was about definitely took a leap forward. Lotta good s##t went down in the '60s, Nam notwithstanding.
I wonder how many of you have really heard McIntosh speakers? Most likely, not many.  I have heard 4 pairs of McIntosh speakers at Audio Classics, three on the lower end (up to 25K) and one of the much more expensive ones and WOW, they did not sound like what I thought. While they wouldn’t fit in our décor, they will give any good brand of speakers an excellent run for the money. I find it truly irritating, that in 2019 McIntosh still has the stereotype of being a Doctors and lawyers speaker. It sounds like you people are still stuck in the 70’s and 80’s. Welcome to the 21st Century.
I heard the McIntosh speakers last year at RMAF.  They were being driven by the big 1.2kw monoblocks, but I was just not impressed at all.  Dull and boring.  However, I heard the McIntosh integrated paired with Sonus Fabre bookshelves and that was very nice, even though it was still the "laid back" McIntosh sound.
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