McIntosh XR250 (Late 1970s)
The McIntosh XR250 is a large three-way, four-driver floorstanding loudspeaker from the late 1970s, part of the company's early push into the emerging high-end speaker market. It was the top model in a family that included the XR5, XR7, XR14, and XR105, and was developed in-house rather than derived from another brand's design. The speaker uses a vertical array of drivers intended to provide coherent radiation and point-source behavior, with careful attention to time alignment. McIntosh's own advertising touted the "LD/HP Driver Technology" (patent pending), claiming it reduced harmonic and intermodulation distortion by over 10 dB compared to conventional designs. HiFI-Stereo (December 1991, p.105) ran the same introductory advertisement, describing the XR250 as driven by the desire to accurately reproduce original music.
The cabinet is a sealed ("closed box") design with a passive crossover inside. Reseller listings consistently describe a complement of two 10-inch woofers, a 5-inch midrange, and a 1-inch dome tweeter, though the fact sheet notes driver sizes aren't formally confirmed by the manufacturer. What is corroborated across multiple sources: power handling of 100 watts maximum, 8-ohm nominal impedance, frequency response of 30–20,000 Hz, and dimensions of 16.5 inches wide by 35.5 inches high by 15 inches deep. Weight is commonly cited around 52–53 pounds, though those figures are estimates from resellers rather than factory specifications.
Period reception was mixed at first. The Hifi-Writer retrospective notes the design was met with skepticism from reviewers when released, and that early demonstrations were "notoriously difficult." The speakers are revealing of ancillary electronics — a poor amplifier match brings out their worst, and they sound thin with low-power amps. They also need substantial power to wake up and are physically large enough to dominate a room.
That same retrospective, written by a long-term owner, is far more enthusiastic with the benefit of time: the XR250 is described as "one of the finest loudspeakers I have ever owned," with imaging that "embarrasses many modern speakers," room-filling bass with real authority, and a sense of scale on large orchestral works that is "genuinely breathtaking." The balanced view notes they aren't the last word in micro-dynamics, have a slightly forward tonal balance, and the finish isn't flawless by modern furniture standards.
Collectors should know two things. First, replacement diaphragms for the midrange driver are unobtainable — a real concern if one is damaged. Second, the woofer foam surrounds will eventually need replacement, as with virtually all speakers of this vintage. No production years, original retail price, or production numbers have been confirmed in any source.
- Type: 3-way, 4-driver floorstanding loudspeaker
- Drivers: two 10" woofers, 5" midrange, 1" dome tweeter (per reseller listings)
- Power handling: 100W maximum
- Impedance: 8 ohms
- Frequency response: 30–20,000 Hz
- Dimensions: 16.5" W × 35.5" H × 15" D
- Weight: approximately 52–53 lbs (estimated)
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