McIntosh XR50 Owner's Manual

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McIntosh Acoustic Engineers have achieved in the de-
sign of the XR50 Loudspeaker System, a level of high 
performance. The XR50 provides superior spacious-
ness sound reproduction with unusual sound stage 
depth in a full range system. 
The XR50 utilizes a three-quarter 
inch Titanium Dome Tweeter and 2 two 
inch Midrange Inverted Titanium Dome 
Drivers. Refer to figures 1 and 2. Since 
the audio power is distributed among all 
the drivers, each driver does not have to 
work as hard, resulting in greater 
power handling capability, dra-
matic reduction in distortion and 
greater dynamic range.
The Low Frequency Section 
of the System consists of a newly 
designed six inch Woofer. Refer to 
figure 3.
The Woofer incorporates McIntosh’s Patented LD/
HP
®
 
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 Magnetic Circuit Design. Finite Element Analy-
sis and testing resulted in a design concept which 
utilizes a pair of aluminum shorting sleeves in the 
magnetic circuit. Refer 
to figure 4. The sleeves 
greatly reduce the nega-
tive influence of the fluc-
tuating voice coil field 
on the permanent magnet 
field. This results in lower 
distortion due to more 
linear magnetic flux in 
the voice coil gap. Refer 
to figure 5. 
Additional 
benefits are 
less volume 
compres-
sion due to 
improved 
heat trans-
fer through 
the sleeves 
and a cooler 
operating 
voice coil. Both measurements, as well as critical 
listening, reveal ten times less distortion than previ-
ous designs. A good example of this low distortion is 
incredible smoothness and clarity in the reproduction 
of the human voice.
The Crossover Network used in the XR50 Loud-
speaker System is designed to ensure an even fre-
quency response over the entire audible range. The 
Second Order Designed Network utilizes Capacitors 
and Inductors with high current capacity. Refer to fig-
ure 6. The XR50 uses low loss (DCR) Inductors in the 
crossover network. The type of Inductor used in each 
section of the crossover network has been chosen for 
high linearity, even at high power levels. This prevents 
distortion of the music at any frequency. The Capaci-
tors used are the low loss (ESR) types. The Network 
also utilizes self resetting high current PTC Fuses to 
provide an extra measure of protection.
The enclosure is an important part of the XR50 
Loudspeaker System. It has a front to back and side to 
side internal brace to form a dampened rigid Loud-
speaker enclosure. The Loudspeaker’s small footprint 
allows for a variety of different placements in a room.
Introduction
Figure 6
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 5
Figure 4
LD/HP
Conventional
1
LD/HP Pat. No 5,151,943