McIntosh might be best known for its receivers and amplifiers — the ones with the iconic blue-backlit VU meters — but the American audio brand has also produced some fine speakers over the years. Today, the company has decided to resurrect its very first model — the ML1 — by maintaining the full vintage vibe of the 1970s era with a boxy, wooden enclosure, while bringing the audio components fully up to date. Acquiring the new ML1 MKII won’t be cheap; each speaker will sell for $6,000 — and that doesn’t include the cost of the optional (but highly desirable) matching wooden stand, complete with aluminum McIntosh badging.
“While we have been making loudspeakers for over five decades,” said McIntosh President Charlie Randall in a press release, “the ML1 will always be our first and holds a special place in our hearts here at McIntosh.”
On the outside, the MKII bears a very strong resemblance to the original, with oiled American walnut solid wood cabinets and satin finish veneers. The removable grille sports the same distinctive wooden crossbeam and black acoustic fabric.
Inside, it’s a different story. The MKII, which can be bi-amped or bi-wired thanks to the twin set of gold-plated binding posts on the rear of the cabinet, is a four-way speaker with five separate drivers: one 12-inch woofer in a sealed enclosure with a polypropylene cone and dust cap with synthetic rubber suspension; two 4-inch lower midrange drivers in a sealed sub-enclosure also with polypropylene cones and dust caps with synthetic rubber suspension; one 2-inch soft dome upper midrange; and one 3/4-inch titanium dome tweeter.
A custom crossover network ensures that each of these drivers gets the right set of frequencies, including that huge woofer, which McIntosh claims can dig all the way down to 27Hz, which approaches the limits of low-frequency human hearing. The company suggests that most folks will feel no need to add a subwoofer.
McIntosh also points out that the four-way design and crossover network give the MKII a much wider dispersion than traditional loudspeakers, which should make the sweet spot as big as an entire room.
These components can handle up to 600 watts of amplification. Unlike the originals, they use a fully symmetrical layout, so there’s no need for a dedicated left or right speaker — the MKII can be used for either side. Another departure from the 1970s-era ML1 is the ability to drive the MKII without any additional external equalizer. The first-gen ML1 was somewhat notorious for needing a McIntosh-built EQ unit in order to hear the speaker’s full potential.
McIntosh also recently released a new Dolby Atmos AV receiver, as well as limited edition, Grateful Dead wireless speakers.
The ML1 MKII will be available through authorized McIntosh dealers for $6,000 per speaker ($12,000 per pair) starting July 2023. The company hasn’t yet released the price of the optional speaker stands.
Editors’ Recommendations
- McIntosh trots out limited-edition wireless speakers for well-heeled Deadheads
- McIntosh brings huge, 24-channel sound to 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer
Simon Cohen covers a variety of consumer technologies, but has a special interest in audio and video products, like…
Hurry and bag this 65-inch 4K TV for $380 at Best Buy today
Want a 65-inch 4K TV for only $380? That’s the deal at Best Buy right now for the Toshiba C350. Its normally $600, so this is a nice $320 price cut. This is a great TV and one of the best TV deals we’ve found today, so don’t let it get away from you. When it comes to Best Buy TV deals, it’s better to be safe than sorry — they can end their discounts on a whim.
Why You Should Buy the 65-inch Toshiba C350 4K TV
These days, you really can’t get by without having a streaming device or streaming platform to rely on, whether you want to watch Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Paramount+, or even something like FuboTV. This Toshiba Smart Fire TV includes Amazon’s Fire TV streaming platform built-in. You’ll get instant access to all of your favorite streaming apps, movies, and shows, provided you connect the TV to your home WiFi. Fire TV also includes support for Alexa, Amazon’s smart voice assistant, which you can use to search for new content, control media playback, and interact with connected smart home devices like a series of smart lights, switches, or a smart doorbell.
Amazon’s new $50 Echo Buds take aim at Apple’s AirPods
Amazon is back with a new set of Echo Buds. Though they bear the same name as the first- and second-gen Echo Buds, these new Echo Buds offer an entirely different, semi-in-ear, stem-based design that has more in common with Apple’s second-gen AirPods than it does with Amazon’s previous designs. The latest Echo Buds are also surprisingly affordable at just $50.
While the decision to keep the name the same may be confusing, the decision to create a set of wireless earbuds with a semi-in-ear shape makes a lot of sense. Fully in-ear buds like the second-gen Echo Buds, the AirPods Pro, and Sony’s WF-1000XM4, provide distinct advantages for sound quality and they also set the stage for active noise canceling (ANC). However, lots of people find these earbuds uncomfortable to wear. The silicone tips increase the sensation of having an object wedged in your ear, and some folks complain of a sucking feeling, especially when ANC is turned on.
Amazon’s new Echo Pop brings Alexa for $40; Echo Show 5 gets a revamp
In addition to new Echo Buds, Amazon today also announced new entries in the speaker and display categories, with the Echo Pop, a new Echo Show 5, and a new Echo Show 5 Kids.
“Customers around the world love Alexa as their trusted, personal AI — they’ve now purchased well over half a billion Alexa-enabled devices, and use of Alexa increased 35% last year,” Rohit Prasad, senior vice president and head scientist for Alexa, said in a press release. “These new devices give customers more options and more utility at an incredible value. And as with every Echo we’ve shipped, these devices will only continue to get better as we add even more generative AI-powered experiences for Alexa throughout the year.”
The Echo Pop looks like someone shaved the top off an Echo Dot, and the price is appropriately shaved as well. It’s $10 less expensive than the Echo Dot, landing at $40 … a pop. The front-facing speaker is directional, so maybe don’t expect it to fill a room. But Amazon still says it has “full” sound. It also has support for Amazon’s Eero mesh router network built in, with an Echo Pop able to extend a network up to another 1,000 square feet. The Echo Pop is available in Lavender Bloom, Midnight Teal, Charcoal, and Glacier White.
The post McIntosh’s new $6,000 speaker is a vintage blast from the past | Digital Trends first appeared on www.digitaltrends.com
![Nothing Phone (2) renders show curved edges and some lighting tweaks [Gallery]](https://i0.wp.com/9to5google.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/06/nothing-phone-2-render-3.jpg?resize=1200%2C628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
