McIntosh Labs RS250 Wireless Loudspeaker System
The RS250 delivers genuine stereo scale from a single elegant chassis, pairing tight, hard-hitting bass with a clear midrange and airy treble. Gramophone highlights its wide dispersion, effortless wireless operation and unusually complete connectivity—HDMI ARC, phono, optical and subwoofer out—making this a high-performance soundbar alternative and a remarkably versatile streaming hub.
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Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
87/100
Build Quality
75/100
Features Usability
90/100
Value for Money
94/100
Pros
Tight, forceful bass, clear midrange, and airy, detailed treble create a convincing stereo presentation.
Extensive connectivity—including HDMI ARC, phono, optical, and subwoofer output—supports TV, vinyl, streaming, and system expansion.
Wireless streaming is easy to use and works reliably, with AirPlay 2 and Chromecast support.
Cons
Its premium price is substantially above that of a typical soundbar.
The wide, thicker-than-average soundbar-style chassis requires careful clearance and placement planning around a TV.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 87/100
The available review hears the RS250 as a notably more convincing alternative to conventional soundbars, with real stereo capability rather than merely wide TV sound. It highlights tight, hard-hitting bass, clear midrange presentation and airy, detailed treble, although there is little direct discussion of its digital conversion or noise performance.
Tonal Balance Musicality
92/100
Gramophone describes bass as tighter and more forceful, the midrange as clear, and the treble as airier than soundbar-oriented alternatives. The reviewer also considers it a genuinely respectable stereo experience that avoids the usual complexity of assembling separate hi-fi components.
Resolution Detail
91/100
The review specifically calls out airier and more detailed treble, alongside clearer midrange reproduction. Its added width is also said to improve stereo dispersion, supporting a presentation that is more open and separated than a typical single-box TV speaker.
Digital Performance
76/100
The reviewer reports that the wireless facilities work very well in use, but does not directly assess DAC quality, clocking, noise floor or digital artifacts. The strong overall listening impression is encouraging, yet detailed evidence about the digital stage itself is limited.
FEATURES USABILITY PERFORMANCE 90/100
The RS250 is unusually adaptable for a single-box system, combining broad wireless streaming support with TV, turntable and subwoofer connections. The reviewer found its wireless functions dependable and singled out HDMI as an especially straightforward route to TV integration.
Streaming Software
89/100
Apple AirPlay 2 and Chromecast are specifically mentioned, and the reviewer says that the wireless features work really well. There is no detailed assessment of setup, control-app design, library management or long-term software support.
Features Connectivity
94/100
Connections include phono input, subwoofer output, optical input and HDMI ARC, while the specification also lists Ethernet, AUX and headphone outputs. This gives the RS250 credible scope as a TV system, streaming speaker and compact hub for a turntable or external sources.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
75/100
The review identifies the RS250 as a three-way design, with more elaborate driver architecture than the earlier two-way RS150. Reviewers say little about cabinet rigidity, finish quality, long-term durability or other aspects of physical execution.
Value for Money
94/100
At around $3,000, Gramophone calls what the RS250 achieves in the home “nothing short of impressive.” It is considered vastly superior to a soundbar while offering a more accessible route to substantial stereo performance than a conventional separate system.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
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Specifications
- Power Output
- 650 Watts (400 Watts to Tweeters/Midranges, 250 Watts to Woofers)
- Number of Channels
- 2
- System Driver Complement
- Two 20mm Titanium Dome Fluid-filled TweetersFour 50mm Titanium Inverted Dome MidrangesTwo 4 x 6 inch Long Throw Woofers
- Frequency Response
- 40Hz - 20kHz
- Crossover Frequency
- 275Hz4,000Hz
- Enclosure Finish
- High Gloss Black
- Grille Finish
- Black Knit Cloth
- Grille Attachment
- Mechanical
- Auxiliary Input
- 1
- Digital Optical Inputs
- 1
- HDMI (ARC) Input
- 1
- Phono Input Moving Magnet
- 1
- Wireless Input
- Apple AirPlay 2Bluetooth 5.0 A2DP with support for AAC, aptX HD and aptX Low LatencyChromecastSpotify ConnectTIDAL ConnectWi-Fi 802.11 a, b, g, n, ac 2.4/5GHz
- Wired Input
- 1 Ethernet
- Subwoofer Outputs
- 1
- Headphone Output
- 1
- Unit Dimensions (W x H x D)
- 24-13/16" (62.99cm) x 5-3/4" (14.48cm) x 12-5/8" (32cm)
- Unit Weight
- 29.5 lbs (13.3kg)
- Shipping Weight
- 35 lbs (15.8kg)
Manufacturer's Description — McIntosh Labs
- Easily add streaming music to any room
- Built-in casting: Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Apple AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, Chromecast, Roon Ready
- Control playback directly from your favorite compatible streaming apps - no dedicated control app needed
- 650 Watts of total power
- New, quick responding LED digital meters
The RS250 Wireless Loudspeaker System is our most advanced and most powerful home audio wireless speaker system. Similar to the mono RS150 Wireless Loudspeaker, the stereo RS250 is a stand-alone, complete wireless speaker solution.
A variety of casting technologies are integrated into the RS250, such as Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Apple AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, Chromecast, and Roon Ready. With all of these built-in technologies, you can easily stream to the RS250 from your smart devices. A worthy successor to the RS200 Wireless Speaker System, the RS250 does not need a special control app; instead, it can conveniently be controlled directly from your favorite streaming apps that use compatible casting technologies.
Created with streaming music in mind, the RS250 includes virtually everything you need to enjoy music streamed from your handheld devices, online music services, or a local computer. And in a case of old meets new, a turntable can be easily connected via the dedicated phono input for listening to your vinyl collection. You can even connect it to your TV for better sound performance when watching your favorite shows, movies, or sports.
The RS250 offers a sizeable 650 Watts of total power that is delivered to two 4" x 6" woofers, four 2" midranges, and two 3/4" tweeters. The midranges and tweeters are front firing, while the woofers are down firing with the sound emanating from under the main chassis just above the base plate.
The woofer enclosure has been reengineered to reduce distortion, and a more user-friendly bass control has been added that can be used to fine tune the low-end performance. To enhance low frequencies even more, the wired subwoofer output can be used to connect an external powered subwoofer.
For improving the sound from your TV better than a soundbar can, the RS250 has an audio-only HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC) input that connects to ARC compatible TVs. ARC allows compatible TVs to send audio data to the RS250 via an HDMI cable, eliminating the need for a separate audio cable and making it easier to bring improved sound to your television viewing. For TVs that are not compatible with ARC, an optical input is included which can be used to connect it to the RS250.
The RS250 is compatible with TIDAL HiFi Lossless Quality playback (up to 1411 Kbps). It also supports file streaming of up to 24-bit/192kHz high-resolution digital music files. Thanks to its built-in high-resolution streaming capabilities, the RS250 is also a Roon Ready endpoint device. Roon Ready network devices have Roon’s streaming technology built in, and are certified by Roon Labs to provide the highest level of quality and performance in network streaming.
For streaming via Bluetooth, the RS250 utilizes Bluetooth 5.0. It supports both the high bitrate Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) standard as well as Qualcomm aptX HD for hi res audio playback. It also includes Qualcomm aptX Low Latency, which improves audio transmission speed to deliver sound in sync with applicable visual media. Another included streaming option is Apple AirPlay 2, a technology designed to control home audio systems and speakers in any room – with a tap or by just asking Siri – right from an iPhone, iPad, HomePod, or Apple TV. It offers multiroom audio, Siri voice control, and enhanced playback.
To enjoy non-streaming music, the RS250 has an optical input to connect digital sources such as CD Players; a Moving Magnet phono input; and a 3.5mm AUX input for connecting various other music sources. A 1/4" headphone jack conveniently located on the front panel permits personal listening sessions. To connect the RS250 to your network, it has a wired ethernet port and supports Wi-Fi protocols a, b, g, n, and ac. It is also Google Assistant compatible for voice control. Simply speak to your Google Assistant control device to operate your RS250.
The RS250 includes a pair of our new, quick responding illuminated digital output meters. Exclusive to the RS150 and RS250, these meters are more than simple LED indicators. These fast-responding meters use the same trusted circuits found in our analog meters to collect and process the audio signals; they then digitize the results and output them into pulsating, gradated bars that shares the curved shape of our familiar analog meters.
The RS250 is versatile enough to accommodate the audio needs of almost any room in your home. It is designed primarily for streaming audio but has enough thoughtful features and connectivity to allow it to serve as the hub of a modest home audio and home entertainment system. It features classic McIntosh design elements such as a black glass front panel, illuminated logo, and control knobs. Contact your local dealer to learn more.
1) The HDMI ARC input will only play audio from a compatible TV. It will not pass video to or from a TV, or play audio from any non-TV source. 2) Requires use of a third-party Google Assistant device with voice recognition (sold separately). The RS250 and Google Assistant device must be on the same network.
The RS250 is compatible with AirPlay 2. iOS 11.4 or later is required. To wirelessly stream music to the RS250 via Apple AirPlay 2, a wireless router is required. Router not included. Apple, AirPlay, Apple TV, Apple Watch, iPad, iPad Air, iPad Pro, iPhone, and Lightning are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. The trademark “iPhone” is used in Japan with a license from Aiphone K.K. The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by McIntosh Laboratory, Inc. is under license. Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners. Google is a trademark of Google LLC. Qualcomm is a trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated, registered in the United States and other countries. aptX is a trademark of Qualcomm Technologies International, Ltd., registered in the United States and other countries. Qualcomm aptX is a product of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Non-McIntosh-Provided Services: Embedded and/or non-embedded services, e.g. those listed above, are necessary for full functionality, are provided by companies unrelated to McIntosh, and are beyond McIntosh’s control. McIntosh cannot and does not warrant against interruption, discontinuance, unsatisfactory performance, reduced Product functionality, or damages of any kind attributable to such services or their providers. All services may not be available in all regions; certain services may not yet be enabled for all apps; subscriptions may be required.
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- Absoulute Audio plus Video — in-store — Aiken, South Carolina, United States (website)
- Holt Hill — online and in-store — Andover, Massachusetts, United States (website)
- Resolution A/V — in-store — New York City, New York, United States (website)
- A Tube High Fidelity — online and in-store — Almere, Flevoland, Netherlands (website)
- Abt Electronics — online and in-store — Glenview, Illinois, United States (website)
- Acoustic Designs Inc. — in-store — Scottsdale, Arizona, United States (website)
- Advance Audio — in-store — Wichita, Kansas, United States (website)
- Ahead Stereo — in-store — Los Angeles, California, United States (website)
- Ajasom — online and in-store — Amadora, Lisboa, Portugal (website)
- Alen Audio — in-store — Extramurs, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain (website)
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