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  1. Home
  2. McIntosh Speakers
  3. Passive Floor-standing Speakers
  4. McIntosh XR100
McIntosh XR100 Review
McIntosh XR100 - Front View

Compare To

Main Features

  • 2" dome (x2) Tweeter
  • 0.75" Super Tweeter
  • 8 x 2.0" inverted dome (with neodymium-iron-boron alloy magnets) Midrange
  • 4 x 6.0" Polypropylene Woofer
  • 30-45k Hz Frequency Response
  • 87 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range: 75-600 watts
  • Weight: 68.50 lbs / 31.14 kg
  • Dimensions(HxWxD): 49-13/16"x11-5/8"x17" / 1266.0 x 296.0 x 432.0mm
MSRP: $5,500 (list price)
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McIntosh XR100 Review
McIntosh XR100 McIntosh XR100
Check price atAmazon›

Made by McIntosh · United States · since 1949 · sold through dealers

McIntosh XR100 is a 4-way Passive Bass Reflex Floor-standing speaker by McIntosh. It was released in 2017. It features a 2" dome (x2) Tweeter, 0.75" Super Tweeter, , 8 x 2.0" Midrange and 4 x 6.0" Polypropylene Woofer. The speaker has a frequency range of 30-45k Hz and a sensitivity of 87 dB. McIntosh XR100 has an MSRP of 11000$ per pair.

Room Size Suitability

The size of the room where you plan to use the McIntosh XR100 is a crucial factor in your decision. We have assessed its suitability for various room sizes based on its dimensions and maximum power output:

Listening Environment* Suitability
Near-fieldAre you nuts?
Small RoomPoor
Mid-size RoomAverage
Large RoomGood
Very Large RoomGood

(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2, Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: > 400 sq. ft / 36 m2. Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening position, speaker locations, etc.)

McIntosh XR100  Lifestyle
McIntosh XR100 Lifestyle

Frequency Response of the McIntosh XR100 Speaker

McIntosh XR100 has a Frequency response range of 30-45k Hz and Power Range of 75-600 watts. With a minimum frequency of 30 Hz, XR100 delivers deep bass that will likely satisfy most listeners, especially those who enjoy music. However, movie enthusiasts and music fans who prefer a full range of sound may still benefit from adding a subwoofer.

Here we have a comparison of how XR100's Low frequency value compares with the average, max and min Low frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
McIntosh XR100
Min
Average
Median
Thinking about a subwoofer for the McIntosh XR100?
  • Work out the crossover setting - it follows from this speaker's 30 Hz low end
  • Every powered subwoofer we cover, whatever the budget

Among the speakers in our database with a max MSRP price of 20000$ (Pair), these are the 5 Passive Floor-standing speakers that have the deeper bass levels than the McIntosh XR100's 30Hz:

  • PSB Synchrony T600 with Low Frequency of 24 Hz (Compare w/ XR100)
  • KLH Kendall with Low Frequency of 25 Hz (Compare w/ XR100)
  • Revel PerformaBe F328Be with Low Frequency of 26 Hz (Compare w/ XR100)
  • GoldenEar Triton Five with Low Frequency of 26 Hz (Compare w/ XR100)
  • Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G with Low Frequency of 27 Hz (Compare w/ XR100)

McIntosh XR100 Tweeter
McIntosh XR100's titanium tweeter with neodymium-iron-boron alloy magnet dome (x2) Tweeter

Crossover frequency of the McIntosh XR100?

XR100 is a 4-way speaker and its crossover frequency between the woofer and the midrange is set to 300 Hz and the crossover frequency between the midrange and the tweeter is set to 8000 Hz.

McIntosh XR100 driver frequency bands30-300Woofer 6"300-45kTweeter 2"20501002005001k2k5k10k20k40kHz, log scale

Impedance and Sensitivity

McIntosh XR100's nominal impedance level is 8 ohms and has a sensitivity of 87 dB.

Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
McIntosh XR100
Min
Average
Median

8 Ohms is pretty much the standard nominal impedance amongst stereo speakers and amplifiers so McIntosh XR100 is not considered a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective.

Sensitivity

With a sensitivity level of only 87 dB, McIntosh XR100 is a difficult to drive speaker from Sensitivity perspective, make sure to choose an amplifier with a high output if you like listening to your music at high volume levels. You may especially have a hard time using Tube amplifiers which are traditionally very low power compared to Class A/B or Class D amps. Work out how loud the McIntosh XR100 plays in your room →

What amplifier does the McIntosh XR100 need?

At normal listening levels in a medium room, about 15–235 W per channel into 8 ohms. Set your own conditions and we will rank every amplifier we cover.

We check power, impedance safety and current delivery - not just watts.

Prefer to browse? See every integrated amplifier we cover.

Input Type

XR100 has Binding post type connectors and lets bi-amping/bi-wiring. Bi-wiring can enhance the overall transparency of your loudspeakers by using separate speaker wires for the low and high-frequency drivers from a single amplifier. Bi-amping, on the other hand, involves using separate amplifiers for the high and low-frequency drivers, potentially resulting in a greater dynamic range and reduced distortion.

Work out what gauge speaker cable this run needs →

McIntosh XR100 Back View
McIntosh XR100 Back View

McIntosh XR100 External Dimensions and Weight

McIntosh XR100 has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 49-13/16 x 11-5/8 x 17inch (1266.0 x 296.0 x 432.0mm ).

Base Surface Area
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited. The base area of McIntosh XR100 is approximately 1278.7cm2 / 198.2inch2.

To get a better perspective on the real life size of McIntosh XR100, let's compare it with a standard size Compact Disc which has a diameter of 4.7inch (120mm).

McIntosh XR100 Real Life Body Size Comparison
McIntosh XR100 Speaker Size Compared to a Compact Disc

Here we place the McIntosh XR100 virtually next to a standard width amplifier and turntable on a media center to get a better idea about the size.

McIntosh XR100 placed next to a Media Stand
McIntosh XR100 Floor-standing Speaker next to a Media Stand

Find speakers that fit your shelf or alcove →  ·  Work out where they should sit in the room →

Weight

The McIntosh XR100 weighs 31.14kg / 68.5lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how XR100's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.

Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
McIntosh XR100
Min
Average
Median
Weight
Floor-standing Speakers under $20000
McIntosh XR100
Min
Average
Max

Cabinet type and Materials

McIntosh XR100 has a Bass Reflex type cabinet and a Real wood veneer finish. Bass Reflex type loudspeakers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs.

McIntosh XR100  - Side View
McIntosh XR100 - Side View

Speaker Feet

McIntosh XR100 comes with the parts below which you can use to secure your loudspeaker on the surface that you are putting on:

  • 4 Feet
  • 4 Glides
  • 4 Tiptoes

It is always recommended to use some kind of feet under all types of speakers. Besides limiting the movement of the speakers, it also compensates for non-flat surfaces and limits the contact surface area of the speaker. Rubber based feet also help isolating the vibrations within certain frequency ranges.

McIntosh XR100  Feet
McIntosh XR100 Feet

Port Position

McIntosh XR100 is a rear-firing port speaker so you have to make sure you leave enough space between the back of the speaker and wall or bookshelf so that it has room to breathe.

Available colors

McIntosh XR100 is available in Red Walnut, Black and Pear Maple.

Does the McIntosh XR100 come with a Grille?

XR100 comes with grilles. The purpose of the grille is to protect the delicate driver elements from external impacts while still allowing the sound to pass as clearly as possible.

McIntosh XR100  with Grille
McIntosh XR100 with Grille

What's in the Box of McIntosh XR100?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of XR100:
  • Floorstanding loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • 4 Feet
  • 4 Glides
  • 4 Tiptoes
  • 4 Screws
  • Owners Manual

Recommended Accessories

Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the McIntosh XR100.

  • Speaker Cable and Connectors
    • Speaker Cables with Banana Plugs: If you know the lenght of the cable you need, this is the easier option to connect your speakers with your amp.
    • Speaker Cables without Connectors: If you are not sure about the lenght or need longer than standard cables with plugs, choose this option.
    • Banana Connectors and Plugs: If you chose the cables without connectors option or already have some cable around, pick the banana plugs separately.
  • Vibration Isolators: IsoAcoustics isolators are our favorite isolators but you may find more affordable options too.
  • Acoustic Panels and Treatments: Your room is as important as your stereo equipment so acoustic treatments goes a long way in improving the overall performance.

User's Manual

For more information about how to setup, use and maintain the McIntosh XR100, use the direct link below to download the official manual document:
Download User Manual for McIntosh XR100

Official Brochure

Here is a link to download the official brochure for the McIntosh XR100 speaker:
Official Brochure for McIntosh XR100

Official Product Page

Official manufacturer's product page for the McIntosh XR100 speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for McIntosh XR100

Warranty

5 Years of parts warranty and 5 Years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.

McIntosh XR100 Alternatives in Passive Floor-standing Speakers
Model Type Sensitivity Impedance Frequency
B&W 603
Compare
3-way 88.5 dB 8 ohms 48-28k Hz
B&W 702 S2
Compare
3-way 90 dB 8 ohms 46-28k Hz
B&W 702 S3
Compare
3-way 90 dB 8 ohms 46-28k Hz
KEF R11
Compare
3-way 90 dB 8 ohms 46-28k Hz
GoldenEar Triton One.R
Compare
3-way 92 dB 8 ohms 13-35k Hz
Revel PerformaBe F328Be
Compare
3-way 91 dB 8 ohms 26-40k Hz
Focal Kanta No.2
Compare
3-way 91 dB 8 ohms 35-40k Hz
Klipsch R-610F
Compare
2-way 94 dB 8 ohms 45-21k Hz
Frequently Asked Questions about McIntosh XR100

What amplifier do you need for the McIntosh XR100?

McIntosh rates the McIntosh XR100 for 75-600 watts of amplifier power. It is an 8-ohm speaker, the usual nominal load, so almost any amplifier or receiver can drive it.

Is the McIntosh XR100 easy to drive?

The McIntosh XR100 has a sensitivity of 87 dB. That is about average for a home speaker, so it is neither hard nor especially easy to drive.

Does the McIntosh XR100 need a subwoofer?

The McIntosh XR100 reaches down to 30Hz (full range 30-45k Hz). That is genuinely deep bass - a subwoofer is optional unless you want home-theatre effects below that.

What drivers does the McIntosh XR100 use?

The McIntosh XR100 is a 4-way design using a 2" dome (x2) tweeter, 8 x 2.0" midranges and 4 x 6.0" Polypropylene woofers.

Is the McIntosh XR100 sealed or ported?

The McIntosh XR100 uses a Ported enclosure. A ported design uses a tuned vent to get more low-end output from the same driver, but it wants some breathing room behind it.

Can the McIntosh XR100 be bi-wired or bi-amped?

Yes. The McIntosh XR100 has two sets of terminals, so it can be bi-wired or bi-amped: bi-wiring runs separate cable to the treble and bass sections, bi-amping gives each its own amplifier channel. It uses Binding post terminals.

Can the McIntosh XR100 be wall mounted?

The McIntosh XR100 does not include a wall-mount bracket or keyhole, so it is designed to sit on a stand, shelf or the floor.

Does the McIntosh XR100 come with grilles?

Yes. The McIntosh XR100 comes with removable grilles.

How big and heavy is the McIntosh XR100?

The McIntosh XR100 weighs 31.14kg / 68.5lbs each and measures 49-13/16 x 11-5/8 x 17inch (HxWxD).

How much does the McIntosh XR100 cost?

The McIntosh XR100 has a manufacturer's list price (MSRP) of $11,000 per pair.


McIntosh XR100 Detailed Specifications

General
BrandMcIntosh
Full Model NameMcIntosh XR100
Speaker Type4-way Floor-standing
Power Range75-600 watts
Sensitivity87 dB
Impedance8 ohms
Frequency Response30-45k Hz
Release Date2017
DRIVERS
Woofer Size6.0-inch
Woofer CompositionPolypropylene
Woofer SurroundRubber
Tweeter Size2-inch
Tweeter Typedome (x2)
Midrange Size2.0-inch
Crossover freq300Hz, 2000kHZ and 8000kHZ
Port Positionrear

CONNECTIONS
Connector TypeBinding post
Biamp InputsYes
Port Positionrear
PHYSICAL SPECS
Height1266.0mm ( 49-13/16-inch)
Width296.0mm ( 11-5/8-inch)
Depth432.0mm ( 17-inch)
Height1266.0mm ( 49-13/16-inch)
Weight31.14 kg (68.5 lbs)
EnclosureBass Reflex
FinishReal wood veneer
Available ColorsRed Walnut, Black, Pear Maple
Mounting BracketNo
GrilleYes
Moisture ResistanceNo
OTHER
Handheld RemoteNo
Parts Warranty5 Years
Labor Warranty5 Years
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