TONEAudio Magazine
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<p><strong><a rel="attachment wp-att-11806" href="http://www.tonepublications.com/review/mcintosh-mcaire/attachment/1-69/"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11806" title="1" src="http://www.tonepublications.com/media/184.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="355" /></a>As I unbox the new McAire wireless music system, from that <em>other</em> apple of my eye—the one in Binghamton, N.Y.—the similarities between it and something from the Apple of Cupertino, Calif., are uncanny.* Mixing old styles with new styles, the McAire’s outer packaging and quick-start guide look suspiciously West Coast, but I’ve opened enough McIntosh hi-fi gear to recognize the owner’s manual instantly—and this one is pure McIntosh Labs.</strong></p>
<p>A few years ago, with its F80, British manufacturer Meridian broke the price barrier for a high-performance compact audio system.* Now a serious American brand offers an alternative to the Bose Wave radio, and the McAire is equally as intriguing as the F80, both in terms of performance and aesthetics.</p>
<p>McIntosh’s Ron Cornelius says, “It’s expensive for a dock, but it’s a really affordable McIntosh <em>system.</em>”<em> </em>The McAire retails for $3,000</p>
<p><strong>It’s Heavy and It Rocks</strong></p>
<p>While the McAire is an amazing wireless player for your iPhone, iPod or iPad, it’s so much more than that.* This 31-pound one-piece system features the same titanium tweeters and inverted-dome midrange drivers with NRT magnet structures found in the brand’s flagship XRT speakers. *In the McAire, McIntosh couples these to a pair of 5-inch slot-loaded woofers that produce formidable bass.* The system features Class-D amplification, but McIntosh doesn’t list a specification for power output.* Suffice it to say the McAire really rocks.</p>
<p>I begin the audition with “Who,” the lead track from the new David Byrne & St. Vincent album <em>Love This Giant</em>, which instantly establishes the bass response of the McAire.* The tabletop quakes, as the big, blue McIntosh meters swing merrily to the beat.* This thing fills the room with sound!</p>
<p>Next up: “Hail Bop,” from the self-titled Django Django album. *With so much spacey, synthesizer sounds, twangy guitars and ethereal harmonies, this track shows the McAire’s ability to set a gigantic soundfield—doing so on our art director’s desktop.* The sound is so big that she takes control of the remote to slow the pace down a bit, switching to some classic Michael Hedges.* The McAire proves equally adept with acoustic guitar, before we take a walk on the wild side with Marc Ribot’s <em>Silent Movies, </em>a record full of empty space, feedback and distortion.* I end the first of many listening duals with AC/DC’s “Rock ‘n’ Roll Damnation,” leaving everyone in the office impressed with the McAire.</p>
<p><strong><a rel="attachment wp-att-11807" href="http://www.tonepublications.com/review/mcintosh-mcaire/attachment/2-67/"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11807" title="2" src="http://www.tonepublications.com/media/279.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="319" /></a>Well Connected</strong></p>
<p>The McAire is Apple-certified, so you can connect any iDevice via USB cable or wirelessly via AirPlay.* The initial setup is straightforward, requiring just your device and the small supplied remote.* The Ikea-like quick-start guide walks you through the process in a few minutes.* Those not wanting to have their device floating around on the tabletop, or in their pocket, can take advantage of the McIntosh ST-1 stand (sold separately; $50), which fits any of Apple’s portable devices.</p>
<p>You can stream music to the McAire using your home’s Wi-Fi network and iTunes on your Mac or PC—but why bother when you can utilize the McIntosh app for your iPhone or iPad?* Using the app gives you similar functionality to iTunes, but turns the screen of your device into yet another McIntosh blue meter!* What could be cooler than that?</p>
<p>An auxiliary audio input on the back panel lets you get really wacky if you want, by connecting a turntable or other source unit to your McAire system.* We didn’t take things <em>that </em>far, but we did plug in a vintage McIntosh MR-71 FM tuner.* This requires a bit more shelf space, but the tube tuner is a nice addition to the system, if you’re listening to FM radio.</p>
<p>For seasoned McIntosh aficionados, or those discovering the brand for the first time, the McAire compact system is an excellent idea for adding high-performance audio to any room in the house.</p>
<p>McIntosh McAire</p>
<p>$3,000</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/">www.mcintoshlabs.com</a></p>
[Source: http://www.tonepublications.com/review/mcintosh-mcaire/]
<p>A few years ago, with its F80, British manufacturer Meridian broke the price barrier for a high-performance compact audio system.* Now a serious American brand offers an alternative to the Bose Wave radio, and the McAire is equally as intriguing as the F80, both in terms of performance and aesthetics.</p>
<p>McIntosh’s Ron Cornelius says, “It’s expensive for a dock, but it’s a really affordable McIntosh <em>system.</em>”<em> </em>The McAire retails for $3,000</p>
<p><strong>It’s Heavy and It Rocks</strong></p>
<p>While the McAire is an amazing wireless player for your iPhone, iPod or iPad, it’s so much more than that.* This 31-pound one-piece system features the same titanium tweeters and inverted-dome midrange drivers with NRT magnet structures found in the brand’s flagship XRT speakers. *In the McAire, McIntosh couples these to a pair of 5-inch slot-loaded woofers that produce formidable bass.* The system features Class-D amplification, but McIntosh doesn’t list a specification for power output.* Suffice it to say the McAire really rocks.</p>
<p>I begin the audition with “Who,” the lead track from the new David Byrne & St. Vincent album <em>Love This Giant</em>, which instantly establishes the bass response of the McAire.* The tabletop quakes, as the big, blue McIntosh meters swing merrily to the beat.* This thing fills the room with sound!</p>
<p>Next up: “Hail Bop,” from the self-titled Django Django album. *With so much spacey, synthesizer sounds, twangy guitars and ethereal harmonies, this track shows the McAire’s ability to set a gigantic soundfield—doing so on our art director’s desktop.* The sound is so big that she takes control of the remote to slow the pace down a bit, switching to some classic Michael Hedges.* The McAire proves equally adept with acoustic guitar, before we take a walk on the wild side with Marc Ribot’s <em>Silent Movies, </em>a record full of empty space, feedback and distortion.* I end the first of many listening duals with AC/DC’s “Rock ‘n’ Roll Damnation,” leaving everyone in the office impressed with the McAire.</p>
<p><strong><a rel="attachment wp-att-11807" href="http://www.tonepublications.com/review/mcintosh-mcaire/attachment/2-67/"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11807" title="2" src="http://www.tonepublications.com/media/279.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="319" /></a>Well Connected</strong></p>
<p>The McAire is Apple-certified, so you can connect any iDevice via USB cable or wirelessly via AirPlay.* The initial setup is straightforward, requiring just your device and the small supplied remote.* The Ikea-like quick-start guide walks you through the process in a few minutes.* Those not wanting to have their device floating around on the tabletop, or in their pocket, can take advantage of the McIntosh ST-1 stand (sold separately; $50), which fits any of Apple’s portable devices.</p>
<p>You can stream music to the McAire using your home’s Wi-Fi network and iTunes on your Mac or PC—but why bother when you can utilize the McIntosh app for your iPhone or iPad?* Using the app gives you similar functionality to iTunes, but turns the screen of your device into yet another McIntosh blue meter!* What could be cooler than that?</p>
<p>An auxiliary audio input on the back panel lets you get really wacky if you want, by connecting a turntable or other source unit to your McAire system.* We didn’t take things <em>that </em>far, but we did plug in a vintage McIntosh MR-71 FM tuner.* This requires a bit more shelf space, but the tube tuner is a nice addition to the system, if you’re listening to FM radio.</p>
<p>For seasoned McIntosh aficionados, or those discovering the brand for the first time, the McAire compact system is an excellent idea for adding high-performance audio to any room in the house.</p>
<p>McIntosh McAire</p>
<p>$3,000</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/">www.mcintoshlabs.com</a></p>
[Source: http://www.tonepublications.com/review/mcintosh-mcaire/]