Hi everybody,
Here's an interesting review of the McIntosh XR50 published today on a Danish website:
McIntosh XR50 | Lyd & Billede
In a nutshell, the article is titled "Small powder kegs" and is overwhelmingly positive: the XR50s play way above their relative small size, with especially a very good and strong bass. In that respect, that makes them superior to the Sonus Faber Olympica I the reviewer says.
It does also say that their looks are not their strong point, and that you need a pretty powerful amp to take full advantage of the XR50s (81dB sensitivity): the reviewer initially connected them to a Quad II tube amp (2x25w) and found the sound ok, but no more. Then he connected them to a McIntosh MHA100 and claims that in that case, it became possible to take the sound to a pretty good level. When he finally used an MA8000, he says the XR50s really gave all their potential.
The speakers are said to be very lively and the reviewer finally says that it's been a while since he's had that much fun with loudspeakers of that size.
Klaus