Honest opinions on my two picks of loudspeakers


So I wanted to see what most of you thought or what your pick would be between the Revel Salon 2 towers and the McIntosh XR100's I'm torn between both with looks and performances with my choice leaning more toward Mac since I'd be powering them with the 452 and the whole matching thing, but I will also be pushing these quite hard at times (rock-metal) and I want a well built power capable speaker for the long haul..I was considering Wilson's as well and have not cut them out just wanted some respectable opinions on my two narrowed down choices we all are familiar with pricing and these two options have a considerable difference between the two so I'm torn which is the better bang for my bucks!! 

Thanks all..
128x128shawnscola
Good lord! Between the Revel 2s and McIntosh speakers????

For me that’s like "hmm...MBLs or Bose?"

The Revels are revered, rightly, as among the best speakers you can buy.

You don’t see a lot of audiophile (or engineer/DIY) reverence for McIntosh, I think for good reason. They may do good amps, but their speakers tend to suck eggs. Over the years they have been the single most reliable source of "head-scratching" encounters for me. I listen to those multiple-midrange-driver McIntosh speakers and the sound is so timbrally bland, it sounds like it’s made of a bunch of Bose drivers. I always wonder "how could they continue to make speakers that bad?"I’ve seen this puzzle echoed numerous times over the years from others who have heard the McIntosh speakers.

So if you are asking for MY PERSONAL opinion, it’s not even a question.The Revels.
BUT....if you’ve heard both and prefer the McIntosh, then such opinions as mine will be, and probably should be, ignored.


But, hey, you asked!


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Thanks everyone for your detailed responses and links I've enjoyed reading them all and after spending the day researching all of your suggestions I've decided to audition..well I've purchased the Klipsch Cornwall III Special Edition and special thanks to @mijostyn for the recommendation and I'll promise to listen carefully so as not to damage my hearing..lol I won't hold anyone responsible. I would assume there is a break in period with this would you agree...I'll post pictures and my thoughts once I've received these beauties and not a bad price either for a pair $6600. Thanks again all
And the initial PA for the Dead was 4x MC240 tube amps in mono :-) I still have a 1961 running rebuilt 1972 Cornwalls, certainly capable of high SPL

Alembic ( rip ) also helped w Wall of Sound engineering, it was much more complex and sophisticated than a pile of speakers and amps and also just about bankrupt the dead

fun