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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
acresverde
384 posts
 
@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.
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,366 posts
 
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.
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
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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lnitm
143 posts
 
I have the Revel Performa F228BE which are a little easier to push than Revel Studio or Ultima at 90 dB sensitivity vs 87 which is a pretty significant difference and they sound outstanding. I like to listen loud also, I have an SPL meter and can push at 103-105 decibels without breaking up at all with a Mark Levinson 532H amp that easily pushes out 350 wpc per Stereophile bench tests before clipping.
If you want even more spl at lower watts the Paradigm Persona are around 92-93 sensitivity and sound excellent, they have received excellent reviews as well. 
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