McIntosh was the epitome of high-end audio methods after I was in faculty. Its distinctive emblem and vivid blue-backlit degree meters had been immediately recognizable, indicating that the proprietor was critical about sound.
Celebrating its 70th anniversary this yr, McIntosh continues to signify high-quality audio because it expands its portfolio to incorporate extra up to date merchandise. The RS200 is an ideal working example. This 2-channel wi-fi speaker presents all of the options we’ve come to anticipate in such a product, however sadly, its sound high quality doesn’t measure as much as the usual I had come to anticipate from McIntosh.
Features
Sporting a pair of the corporate’s iconic blue-backlit degree meters on the entrance panel, the RS200 is big for a wi-fi speaker, measuring 24.8 x 5.75 x 12.6 inches (WxHxD) and weighing in at a hefty 29.5 kilos. Its sloping undercarriage nearly makes it look like floating above its metallic base, which is fairly cool.
The traditional blue-backlit degree meters immediately establish this as a McIntosh product.
The driver complement consists of two 0.75-inch titanium-dome, fluid-filled tweeters and 4 2-inch titanium inverted-dome midrange drivers on the entrance face of the unit. Two 4×6-inch long-throw woofers hearth downward onto the metallic base beneath the sloping undercarriage. The woofers share a typical chamber, which is vented downward on the entrance of the unit.
The tweeters and midrange drivers are powered by a complete of 400 watts, whereas the woofers have a complete of 250W pushing them round. Overall frequency response is specified from 40Hz to 20kHz (-3 dB) with THD+N lower than 0.05% (mid-band).
Of course, the first technique of getting audio into the RS200 is wirelessly. It implements Bluetooth 5.0 with the A2DP profile and AAC, aptX HD, and aptX Low Latency codecs, that are typically thought of to be the highest-quality client codecs out there right now.
If you could have sufficient tablespace beneath a TV, the RS200 can function a soundbar.
In addition, audio will be despatched to the unit by way of Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n at 2.4 and 5 GHz) utilizing Apple AirPlay 2, DTS Play-Fi, and DLNA, permitting the RS200 to affix a whole-home wi-fi audio system. It may stream audio from a wide range of on-line suppliers, together with Tidal, Napster, Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, Internet Radio, iHeartworkRadio, and others. As if that weren’t sufficient, it could actually play audio from any of its inputs to different Play-Fi audio system.
Another fascinating Play-Fi characteristic is the flexibility to play the entrance three channels in a 5.1 surround-sound setup. Two Play-Fi wi-fi {surround} audio system full the {surround} bundle.
Physical connections embody a 3.5mm 2-channel analog-audio enter, optical digital-audio enter, USB Type B port, and HDMI ARC enter, which you’d hook up with the TV’s ARC enter in case you determine to make use of it. The HDMI ARC and ptical inputs suggest that the RS200 can be utilized as a soundbar, which it could actually, nevertheless it’s method too deep to slot in a good area beneath the display screen.
There’s additionally an RCA subwoofer output in order for you even deeper bass from a powered sub. Other connections embody a 12V set off output, information output that sends proprietary management alerts to different McIntosh units, and a USB service port for service techs solely.
All connections are discovered on the left of the again panel. The major energy change is subsequent to the AC power-cord receptacle on the proper.
Like most wi-fi audio system nowadays, the RS200 works with Amazon Alexa voice instructions. But it’s not a wise speaker in and of itself; you’ll want the Play-Fi app and an Alexa-enabled gadget to regulate it with voice instructions. A rising variety of on-line music companies reply to Alexa instructions, so in case you’re into that type of factor, it’s out there. The speaker doesn’t at the moment assist Google Assistant.
User interface
Three controls are additionally discovered close to the connections on the again panel. The EQ slider selects considered one of three preset equalization curves for placement close to a wall, on a desk, or fully freestanding. Placing the unit close to a wall acoustically boosts the bass, which the Wall EQ setting compensates for by chopping low frequencies from about 100 to 500Hz by just a few decibels.
I used to be a bit confused concerning the Free and Table settings; in spite of everything, the RS200 shall be positioned on a flat floor in any case. According to the guide, “The Table setting is to compensate for reflective surfaces that may be present if the unit is pushed back eight or more inches from the edge of a flat surface (like a table).” According to a McIntosh rep I spoke with, it cuts a narrower band of frequencies round 100Hz by a few decibels. The Free setting is designed to be used when the unit is near the sting of the floor on which it’s positioned.
The CEC Defeat button permits and disables HDMI CEC (Consumer Electronics Control), and since CEC doesn’t all the time work as anticipated, I like to recommend disabling it. As its identify implies, the Wi-Fi Reset button resets the Wi-Fi performance. The solely different management is the grasp energy change subsequent to the AC power-cord connector.
Two multifunction knobs flank the extent meters.
Two multifunction knobs that may be turned and pressed flank the extent meters on the entrance. The left knob selects the enter, initiates Bluetooth pairing, signifies Wi-Fi standing with a multicolored led, and controls the brightness of the extent meters’ backlight. The proper knob allows you to regulate the quantity, have interaction and disengage mute, and enter and exit Power Save mode. Holding each buttons for 10 seconds resets the unit to its manufacturing facility situation.
The RS200 comes with a comparatively easy IR distant. Controls embody energy on/off, quantity up/down, mute, enter choice, meter/LED lights on/off, and lip-sync improve/lower, which delays the audio as much as 150ms as wanted to synchronize the audio to the video picture. Three transport buttons embody play/pause and skip monitor ahead and again that work with appropriate sources.
The input-selection button is surrounded by a hoop with the numerals 1 by way of 4. Pressing these numerals remembers considered one of as much as 4 Play-Fi presets. (Four touch-sensitive “buttons” on the highest of the RS200 can be used to recall the presets.) As of this writing, you possibly can assign presets to Internet Radio, iHeartworkRadio, Tidal, Spotify, and Pandora, however extra companies shall be added sooner or later.
The included distant is straightforward however serviceable.
Setup
Setting up the RS200 was not a easy course of for me. When I first plugged it in and turned it on, the Net mild was pulsing, indicating that it was able to be linked to a Wi-Fi community. I wished to start out with Bluetooth from my iPhone XS, so I did what the guide instructs: “Place the RS200 in pairing mode by pressing and holding the left knob for two seconds.” When I did that, nothing occurred after two seconds, and I didn’t see the RS200 within the checklist of Bluetooth units on my cellphone.
Next, I attempted to attach it to my Wi-Fi community utilizing the Wi-Fi settings on my cellphone. I noticed the gadget labeled PlayFi2Device within the checklist of networks—not units—so I chosen it, however the Net mild saved pulsing like nothing had occurred. Also, my cellphone was now disconnected from the community.
I spoke with a McIntosh technical rep, who tried the identical procedures on his iPhone 8, and he reported extra success than I had. He beneficial that I obtain the Play-Fi app and attempt to join the RS200 to my Wi-Fi community by way of the app, which labored—type of. The Play-Fi app reported that gadget was not found and to strive once more, nevertheless it truly was found and linked to the community. After disabling Bluetooth on my cellphone, I used to be in a position to play music from my cellphone by way of AirPlay over Wi-Fi.
Regarding Bluetooth pairing, he instructed me to carry the left knob for 2 seconds after which launch it, which labored after I re-enabled Bluetooth on the cellphone. (I ought to have learn the following sentence in that part of the guide: “Release the knob.” Duh…)
The RS200 requires a pretty big flat floor.
Performance
I positioned the RS200 on the fringe of a desk away from partitions and chosen the Free EQ preset to start with. I began my listening with “One” from Esperanza Spaulding’s album Emily’s D+Evolution. The sound was fairly congested and veiled, particularly within the bass. I attempted all three EQ presets, however all sounded fairly boomy.
I referred to as the McIntosh rep about it, and he helped me uncover that the firmware wanted to be up to date from model 3.48 to 3.64. Apparently, the newest firmware tweaks the EQ, particularly the Wall setting. I downloaded the McIntosh Updater app, which is now out there for iOS and shortly for Android. It took about 15 minutes to replace the firmware.
After the replace, the sound improved considerably, however not dramatically. After listening to all three EQ presets, I ended up preferring the Table setting, despite the fact that the unit was sitting on the fringe of a desk. It minimize the bass a bit in contrast with the Free setting, however not as a lot because the Wall setting, which sounded barely wimpy to me.
In the realm of world music, I began with “House of the Ancestors” from the album Sound Magic by Afro Celt Sound System, which blends Celtic and African devices and influences. The RS200 sounded wealthy general with tubby bass. The vocals sounded fairly good, although considerably recessed.
The similar was true for “Farewell” from the Yuval Ron Ensemble’s album Tree of Life. This monitor options oud (Middle Eastern lute), duduk (Armenian clarinet), hand percussion, and feminine vocals. The oud sounded thick and congested, however the hand percussion vocals sounded fairly good and wealthy.
With the entrance grilles off, you possibly can see a tweeter and two midrange drivers on either side.
Turning to jazz fusion, I listened to “Bright Lights” from the album Fast Forward by Spyro Gyra. Overall, the sound was wealthy and thick, with congested bass and drums. On the opposite hand, the vibes and saxophone sounded fairly good. Moving on to nation rock, “Pickin’ Up the Pieces” from the album of the identical identify by Poco additionally sounded thick and wealthy with boomy bass, although the vocals had been good.
Finally, I attempted a few classical tracks. Placido Domingo sings “Aranjuez” (an adaptation of the second motion of Concerto de Aranjuez, initially for guitar) on his album Encanto del Mar. Domingo’s voice is wealthy on the RS200, although a bit recessed within the combine and barely congested. In the accompanying devices, the harp, guitar, bass, and percussion had been very congested, although the soprano sax and clarinet had been fairly good.
As I had come to anticipate, the low-mid vary was fairly congested listening to Molly on the Shore by Percy Grainger as carried out by the London Wind Symphony beneath Denis Wick on their album Grainger: A Lincolnshire Posy. However, the upper devices had been good and clear, although actually wealthy general.
Comparison with Urbanears Rålis
For comparability, I additionally performed all tracks on the Urbanears Rålis, which I reviewed here. At $180, it’s a mere six p.c the price of the RS200, nevertheless it’s one of the best wi-fi speaker I’ve readily available.
In all instances, the Rålis sounded lighter, brighter, and extra open than the RS200. The bass was not as deep, whereas vocals sounded extra ahead. Which one you favor comes all the way down to a matter of style; I typically most popular the sound of the Rålis.
Bottom line
I used to be absolutely ready to like the sound of the McIntosh RS200—and shocked that I didn’t. Overall, it has some traits of high-end, audiophile sound: wealthy and opulent, with a clear mid-to-high vary. But the congestion within the bass and decrease midrange actually detracts from the constructive qualities, and vocals are considerably recessed. By distinction, the Urbanears Rålis sounds considerably thinner however extra open and higher balanced.
Then there’s the dimensions—the RS200 is humongous! I struggled to discover a place it would slot in my home for this assessment, and I’ve no place I might put it on a everlasting foundation.
At $3,000, the RS200 is certainly a high-end product with distinctive construct high quality, and it has a pleasant characteristic set. Given the shortcomings in its sound high quality, nonetheless, I can not suggest it.