Honest opinions on my two picks of loudspeakers

McIntosh amps are voiced laid back and mild in the midrange and upper mids. I have heard them sound very good with good speakers, such as Sonus Fabre and the like.  However, McIntosh amps paired with McIntosh speakers sound very dull, boring and lifeless.  There is absolutely no excitement or anything on this pairing.  I would not recommend it to anyone unless you really want that type of sound.

The Revel speakers are excellent and would pair much better with the McIntosh amp.  However, like everyone has said, they are not efficient (somewhat low at 86 db).

Some people here are recommending JBL compression and PA type speakers.  While these are good for live sound events, they are still really not an audiophile speaker.  If you are going this way with looking for a very efficient speaker, the new Klipsch Cornwall IV appear to be excellent.  With an efficiency of 102db/watt, you can drive them to maximum volume with 100 watts at 122db.  They will do much better then the other two speakers you are looking at for loud rock/metal type of sound.

There are others, but with the high power of the MC452, you should probably look in the 90-94 db efficiency range.

All the Mac speakers I've heard would fit into your music preference. 

Good lord! Between the Revel 2s and McIntosh speakers????

For me that’s like "hmm...MBLs or Bose?"

The Revels are revered, rightly, as among the best speakers you can buy.

You don’t see a lot of audiophile (or engineer/DIY) reverence for McIntosh, I think for good reason. They may do good amps, but their speakers tend to suck eggs. Over the years they have been the single most reliable source of "head-scratching" encounters for me. I listen to those multiple-midrange-driver McIntosh speakers and the sound is so timbrally bland, it sounds like it’s made of a bunch of Bose drivers. I always wonder "how could they continue to make speakers that bad?"I’ve seen this puzzle echoed numerous times over the years from others who have heard the McIntosh speakers.

So if you are asking for MY PERSONAL opinion, it’s not even a question.The Revels.
BUT....if you’ve heard both and prefer the McIntosh, then such opinions as mine will be, and probably should be, ignored.


But, hey, you asked!

Thanks everyone for your detailed responses and links I've enjoyed reading them all and after spending the day researching all of your suggestions I've decided to audition..well I've purchased the Klipsch Cornwall III Special Edition and special thanks to @mijostyn for the recommendation and I'll promise to listen carefully so as not to damage my hearing..lol I won't hold anyone responsible. I would assume there is a break in period with this would you agree...I'll post pictures and my thoughts once I've received these beauties and not a bad price either for a pair $6600. Thanks again all