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It doesn't take special ears to become an audiophile... just perhaps some doctor's orders to listen to music. Join our marketing associate Jo for a week of product testing and reflection on what the word "audiophile" truly means.

Check out her previous entry here.

Wednesday, 3/4/15: McIntosh

Miles just helped me switch over to our McIntosh XR50 Speakers. What powerful sound.

I currently listen to Lana del Rey’s “Young & Beautiful.” It’s a poignant song with heavy timpani and strings, and Lana’s pouty voice just floats through past it all with a mere push of her lips.

These speakers are revealing so many sounds I hadn’t heard in this song before, specifically the strings in the bridge I’m now hearing. This is the sound that pulls empathy from me, that reaps emotion from my heart. I almost skipped playing this track because I’ve heard it so many times before (specifically on repeat in the summer of 2013 on my bedroom carpet and a sleeping pad when I first moved into my barren Towson condo) -- I’m so glad I didn’t.

I’m finding that high-end speakers strain the mud out of music. Sure, you can go get cheaper speakers that are super loud with great bass that are awesome just because they don’t crackle as they shake your tchotchkes and rattle your stainless steel kitchen appliances, but do they reveal as well as scream?

What I am really addressing with my cryptic ranting and questions is quality versus quantity. So far, these McIntosh speakers are blowing my mind because they are meticulously debuting sound where it’s meant to be, and its balance in reference to other pieces of the music. They hide nothing - and Lana del Rey sounds so different here than from my earbuds or car stereo. Turn the volume up and I lose nothing.

MCINTOSH VS. TOTEM

So, now that I’ve raved about Totem Speakers in a few posts, let’s compare. Note: I am not implying in this comparison that one is better than the other, and that my opinions are not subjective and very, very anthropomorphic.

Totem speakers are literal in that they, well, “speak,” in the words of Vince Brucceze, Totem Founder. They draw you in subtly, address you specifically, caress your ears as if you’re the only one who exists to them. They lead you to a world of soft introspection, nestle you comfortably in your brain because of how well they articulate and relax sound. I would say they’re ideal for softer sounds like jazz, guitar, grand piano, music that is crafted to soothe and make you think.

Meanwhile, McIntosh wants to envelope you in a way that makes you forget where you are. Your brain’s gone - they grab you by the shoulders and say “hey, listen, this sound is huge.” Music that plays from them becomes transcendental - it lifts you from the floor into a different place completely with its strength and definition of all its parts. Probably better for heavier music, orchestrated and multifaceted pieces, and for those who want to disappear into what the music makes them feel.

A recap, as I know I speak rather romantically:

• TOTEM: Introspective, mindful, feminine, personal and classic.
• MCINTOSH: Strong, transcendental, masculine, powerful and transformative.

Let me state again that as a budding audiophile, these are my opinions. I am romantic, figurative, and imaginative, so I understand these first impressions will vary from person to person. I also know that if I listen to every single genre out there and a multitude of songs on either of these systems, my opinions could very well evolve.

So if you don’t believe me, come in and visit us! If you’re looking for speakers there’s no better way to try them out than to chill in one of our listening rooms for ten minutes and listen to a few different tracks. There are obviously different speakers for everyone - and we’ve got a ton of them here for your listening pleasure.

Jo’s Recommendations for songs on McIntosh: “Young & Beautiful,” Lana del Rey “Video Games,” Lana del Rey “Elastic Heart,” Sia “Road to Perdition,” Thomas Newman Anything powerful and orchestral… think drama or action movie soundtracks.

Read Jo's next post on PSB speakers here!

Also, join us in early May for our Spring event, The Evolution of Audio, where you too can discover all the latest technology and listening experiences Gramophone has to offer. Click here for more information and to RSVP today!