The wireless loudspeaker category is picking up steam as we glide into 2022 and few brands are as well positioned as McIntosh to benefit from the expanding interest in the segment. McIntosh Group has big plans for the category and expect something really unique from the company in Q1 aside from just the brand new McIntosh RS150 and RS250 Wireless Speakers. EIC Ian White has something under wraps that is going to blow your mind in late-January. Never bet against McIntosh Group. As we discovered during our recent factory tour in Binghamton, the brand is working overtime to expand into new markets and categories.
Greetings from Binghamton
The RS150 is a user-friendly and compact wireless speaker delivering a larger-than-life home audio sound performance. The RS250 is McIntosh’s most advanced and powerful home audio wireless speaker system to date.
Both the mono RS150 and stereo RS250 are stand-alone, complete wireless speaker solutions. The new models do not require a dedicated control app. Rather, each feature a variety of built-in streaming “cast-to” technologies including Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Apple AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, Chromecast, and Roon Ready – allowing users to easily stream from their smart devices.
RS150
- Serves as an entry-level experience of McIntosh’s legendary sound and performance standards
- Built in a moderate size that can fit in almost any home listening setting
- Updated version of the successful RS100, replacing the predeceasing unit with double the power output (from 60 Watts total power to 120 Watts total power)
- Directly connects to popular streaming apps that use compatible casting technologies
- Woofer enlarged from a 4″ to 5-1/4″ diameter driver, 90 Watts of power and a larger, reengineered encloser resulting in higher output with lower distortion and deeper bass extension
- Easily removable speaker grille if user prefers to expose the woofer and tweeter
- Bass control has also been added to fine-tune the low-end performance based on unique room characteristics and listening preferences
- The design resembles the traditional McIntosh aesthetic, with a glass front panel on the lower section of the speaker
RS250
- Includes virtually everything needed to enjoy music streaming from any device
- Features turntable connectivity via the dedicated phono input
- Ability to connect to television via an audio-only HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC) input for better audio performance when watching favorite shows, movies, or sports, the system further includes that connects to ARC compatible TV’s
- Offers a sizeable 650 Watts of total power that is delivered to two 4″ x 6″ woofers, four 2″ midranges, and two ¾” 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 with improved bass control to fine tune the low-end performance
- To enhance low frequencies even more, it can be connected to an external powered subwoofer
- To enjoy non-streaming music, the RS250 has an optical input to connect digital sources and a 3.5mm AUX input for connecting other music sources, also featuring a ¼” headphone jack on the front panel permits personal listening
- The RS250 is versatile enough to serve as the hub of a modern home audio and entertainment system
Shared Features
- Both can conveniently be controlled directly from favorite streaming apps that use compatible casting technologies.
- Compatible with TIDAL HiFi’s Hi-Res playback of 24-bit/192kHz high-resolution digital music files
- With their built-in high-resolution streaming capabilities, both are Roon Ready endpoint devices
- Use Bluetooth 5.0 with support for both the high bitrate Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) standard as well as Qualcomm® aptX™ HD for hi res audio playback, and Qualcomm aptX Low Latency for improved synching between audio and video
- A new illuminated digital output meter uses the same trusted circuits found in McIntosh’s analog meters to collect and process the audio signals; it then digitizes the results and outputs them into a pulsating, gradated bar that shares the curved shape of their familiar analog meters
- Include a wired ethernet port while also supporting Wi-Fi protocols a, b, g, n, and ac.
- Units are Google Assistant compatible for voice control
*Google Assistant voice control requires use of a third-party Google Assistant device with voice recognition (sold separately). The RS150 and RS250 do not have voice recognition capabilities. The RS150, RS250, and Google Assistant device must be on the same network.
Pricing and Availability
Orders for the RS150 and RS250 can now be placed with Authorized McIntosh dealers. Shipping to the United States and Canada is expected to begin in December 2021 for RS150, and January 2022 for RS250. Shipping to the rest of the world will follow shortly thereafter for each product.
Suggested retail price (VAT, shipping and any customs duties related to current standards of individual countries are excluded):
- RS150 – $1,200 at Crutchfield
- RS250 – $3,000 at Crutchfield
