McIntosh Labs XRT2.1K Floor Standing Loudspeaker
McIntosh’s XRT2.1K unleashes fast, subterranean bass, towering dynamic headroom and an enveloping line-array soundfield without losing low-level nuance. TONEAudio found its upgraded midrange notably clearer, while SoundStage Solo praised its pristine, unforced composure at extreme volume. With 81 drivers and tri-amp capability, it is a spectacular flagship for large-room, concert-scale listening.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
95/100
Build Quality
95/100
Value for Money
81/100
Pros
Deep, fast and controlled bass combines with exceptional large-scale dynamics.
Remains clear, detailed and unstrained at very high playback levels.
Immersive spatial presentation renders convincing height and physical scale.
Cons
Requires a large, carefully treated room and substantial distance from boundaries to avoid over-pressurizing the space.
Sharpest imaging is concentrated in one central sweet spot, despite balanced sound extending across several seats.
Benefits from very powerful amplification with ample control and headroom.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 95/100
Reviews describe an exceptionally large-scale, clear and enveloping presentation, combining line-array spaciousness with the low-level detail and composure expected of a flagship system. Its main caveats concern a comparatively narrow optimum imaging position and occasional treble hardness on certain material or at extreme levels.
Bass
97/100
The six 8-inch woofers are repeatedly praised for reaching very deep while remaining quick, powerful and controlled. TONEAudio calls the bass foundation solid and the woofers “fast, fast fast,” while SoundStage heard subterranean electronic bass reproduced with power, clarity and ease.
Mid
94/100
TONEAudio found a major improvement in midrange clarity, saying the cloudiness associated with earlier McIntosh line arrays had gone. SoundStage similarly heard voices and guitar as highly detailed, clean and lifelike, though Audiodrom found piano presentation somewhat mellow and muscular rather than fully relaxed.
Treble
89/100
The speaker is credited with very high levels of detail and clarity across recordings, but direct treble commentary is more qualified than the praise for its bass and midrange. Audiodrom heard some grain on vocals and a hint of synth shrillness on one version of a recording, while TONEAudio cautioned that very loud playback can become physically intense.
Soundstage Imaging
95/100
Its spacious, unusually deep and enveloping presentation is a recurring strength. TONEAudio praised its convincing rendering of height and physical space, while SoundStage heard stable central vocals and clearly visualized instrumental positions; Audiodrom notes that the most sharply focused imaging occurs in one central sweet spot.
Dynamics
97/100
Reviewers consistently describe effortless scale, wide dynamic swing and exceptional composure at high levels. TONEAudio highlights both miniature low-level detail and ease on the loudest passages, while SoundStage found the XRT2.1K pristine and unforced at levels that would congest most speakers.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
95/100
The XRT2.1K is widely presented as a striking, meticulously executed flagship, with a reinforced cabinet, substantial machined-metal elements, adjustable feet and deep piano-black finishing. TONEAudio calls it the best-executed XRT to date, and Audiodrom describes the 160kg loudspeaker as an industrial work of art.
Value for Money
81/100
At approximately $130,000 per pair, this is an uncompromising luxury purchase rather than a conventional value proposition. Audiodrom characterizes its cost as the price of a small country house, although TONEAudio regards it as a lasting system anchor for buyers able to build around its considerable demands.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
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Specifications
- Impedance Nominal
- 8 Ohms
- Power Rating
- 2,000 Watts
- Frequency Response
- 12Hz - 45kHz
- Sound Pressure Level, 2.8V/1m
- 90dB
- Crossover
- 150Hz, 450Hz, 2.1kHz
- Number of Woofers
- 6
- Woofer Size
- 8"
- Woofer Type
- Nanocarbon Fiber/Nomex Honeycomb Long Throw
- Number of Midranges
- Low Frequency: 2Upper Frequency: 28
- Midrange Size
- Low Frequency: 6.5"Upper Frequency: 2"
- Midrange Type
- Low Frequency: Nanocarbon Fiber/Nomex Honeycomb Long ThrowUpper Frequency: Aluminum–Magnesium Dome
- Number of Tweeters
- 45
- Tweeter Size
- 3/4"
- Tweeter Type
- Aluminum–Magnesium Dome
- System Type
- Ported 4-Way Floor Standing
- Grille
- Black knit cloth, magnetically attached
- Available Finishes
- Piano Black
- Unit Dimensions (W x H x D)
- 22-11/16" (57.66cm) x 83-7/32" (211.2cm) (including feet) x 25-27/32" (65.6cm)
- Unit Weight
- 354 lbs (160.2 kg)
- Shipping Weight
- 468 lbs (212.2 kg)
Manufacturer's Description — McIntosh Labs
- 2,000 Watt power rating
- Ported 4-Way; Tri-amp & Tri-wire
- Line Array design with 81 drivers
The XRT2.1K Loudspeaker represents the next evolution of McIntosh home audio speakers. Borne from our 45+ years of designing speakers, the XRT2.1K is a full range system that provides spacious sound reproduction with an unusually deep sound stage. Standing 7 feet (2.1 meters) tall, a pair of them will grab the attention of every person in the room. But when the music starts, the only thing people will pay attention to is the enveloping sound they are experiencing.
The XRT2.1K utilizes our renowned line array speaker principles to produce an even sound dispersion pattern. Listeners closer to the speaker will not be overwhelmed by extremely loud sound while those further away will notice hardly any drop off in sound level. The resulting sound is smooth and wide for all listeners, producing exceptional stereo imaging in nearly all listening positions.
A 4-way speaker, the XRT2.1K produces excellent sound quality at all levels of the human audio spectrum. The unique left and right speaker each use a total of 81 drivers consisting of (6) 8” woofers, (2) 6.5” low frequency midranges, (28) 2” upper frequency midranges and (45) ¾” tweeters, to deliver a nearly unparalleled sound reproduction. The woofer and low frequency midrange drivers, housed in the large bass enclosure cabinet, are brand new designs that were specifically created for the XRT2.1K. Their extremely stiff yet lightweight diaphragms combined with a very long throw design ensures amazing extension on low frequencies. Located on the line array are the Aluminum–Magnesium upper frequency midrange and tweeter metal drivers, which have been specially customized for the XRT2.1K and feature neodymium magnets.
The crossover network is engineered to ensure an even frequency response over the entire audible range. It utilizes capacitors and inductors with low loss and high current capacity. The type of inductor used in each section of the crossover network has been specially chosen for high linearity, even at high power levels. This prevents distortion of the music at any frequency.
Visually, the XRT2.1K is as striking as it sounds. The reinforced bass cabinet is a combination of brushed and black aluminum and is finished with 7 layers of high gloss piano black paint. The line array mimics the timeless McIntosh front panel appearance with a glossy black center section and 2 silver aluminum end caps. It is suspended from the front of the bass cabinet via steel spiders that are capped with magnetically attached covers that look like a McIntosh control knob. The removable speaker grilles are attached via magnets and feature black knit cloth with high gloss trim. The cabinet pedestal is made of machined aluminum and glass; it is supported by 4 adjustable feet that allow the speaker to make perfect contact with your floor, thus eliminating a possible source of distortion or vibration.
Our patented, gold-plated Solid Cinch speaker binding posts easily but securely attach your speaker cables to prevent them from coming loose while also ensuring a quality signal is delivered to your loudspeaker. Separate pairs of binding posts are available for the mid/high, low and subwoofer frequencies to allow for tri-amping or tri-wiring. The McIntosh logo on the front of the base plate can be illuminated green with the use of our Power Control technology found in our amplifierspreamplifiersintegrated amplifiers and other products. Contact your local dealer to learn more.
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Authorized dealers for McIntosh Labs XRT2.1K Floor Standing Loudspeaker
- 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)
and 225 more verified dealers