If I had the liberty to tweak with words, I’d call XCS1.5K a bullhorn. The center channel loudspeaker was recently unveiled by McIntosh, a company that needs no introduction. Setting bars in audio excellence and luxury sound since 1949, McIntosh’s steady rise in home theatre system innovations is further expanded by their latest audio statement piece which looks no less than a boom box.
Coming in Piano Black finishes, their latest speaker is designed to complement its iconic XRT2.1K and XRT1.1K floor-standing loudspeakers and is an integral part of McIntosh’s home cinema system. When synced together, they create an unforgettable home theatre set-up like no other. As evident in the pictures, it is a unique hybrid design of both a 3 and 4-way speaker.
The XCS1.5K features a line array design similar to the floor-standing speakers where the midranges and tweeters are installed in front of the bass cabinet. Loaded with 43 drivers, the speaker handles 1,500 Watts of power and delivers exceptional rich and detailed sound. Digging its driver aspect even deeper, the speaker system four 8-inch long throw carbon fiber sandwich cone woofers in the vented bass cabinet. The 80kg body boasts 25 quarter-inch dome tweeters and fourteen 2.5 aluminum midranges.
Every single driver is placed in such a manner that it creates a wider sound field across the room. In addition, there are five preset angles on to which the XCS1.5K can be tilted based on preferred listening position.
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The only turn-off for me is its whooping price. This lavish speaker would cost $40,000, a price for which I could actually buy twenty Omnia’s from Sonus Faber. Nevertheless, the choice is yours to make as the first units are set to hit the US market in October 2022.
