Short answer: the McIntosh XR50 ranks #55 of 84 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $4000; the Audio Craftsmen Victoria ranks #67 at $4000. Close enough in price that the sound-quality gap is the deciding factor.
What the McIntosh XR50 offers: The compact XR50 produces unexpectedly authoritative bass: Erin measured F3 at 43Hz and praised its low-end weight. Watch for: Erin measured roughly 80–81dB sensitivity, making the XR50 exceptionally power hungry despite its nominal eight-ohm rating.
What the Audio Craftsmen Victoria offers: Two-way bass-reflex design with a 180mm mid-base driver and 29mm tweeter in a distinctive slit-pattern cabinet, well-built overall. Watch for: A notably thin, hollow midrange - a dip roughly 1-2 octaves wide - reduces vocal fullness and “thump,” seemingly from a baffle-step compensation shortfall in the crossover design.
Buy the McIntosh XR50. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Audio Craftsmen Victoria at the same price, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Audio Craftsmen Victoria. It ranks near the bottom of the 84 bookshelf speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| McIntosh XR50 | Audio Craftsmen Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4,000/pair | $4000 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #55 of 84 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #67 of 84 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 65Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | ~81dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 83.7dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal | 8 ohms nominal, 7.3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 6-inch woofer; dual 2-inch inverted-dome mids; 0.75-inch titanium dome | 1" tweeter + 4" woofer |
| Dimensions | 17H x 8W x 11.75D inches | 15.9"H x 9.1"W x 14"D (405.0 x 230.0 x 355.0 mm) |
| Weight | 19.5lb each | 37 lbs / 16.8 kg |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 45Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported, rear |
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- Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 vs Pylon Jasper Monitor 18
- Audio Craftsmen Victoria vs Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2
- Yamaha NS-800A vs McIntosh XR50
The Two Speakers In Full
McIntosh XR50: $4,000/pair Audio Advice
Pros: The compact XR50 produces unexpectedly authoritative bass: Erin measured F3 at 43Hz and praised its low-end weight. Horizontal radiation is exceptionally wide, and the four-driver three-way layout holds distortion and compression together reasonably well through the midband. The sealed-back 2-inch inverted-dome midranges isolate vocals from woofer pressure, while the heavily braced nonparallel cabinet, premium terminals and five-year warranty are genuinely high-grade.
Cons: Erin measured roughly 80–81dB sensitivity, making the XR50 exceptionally power hungry despite its nominal eight-ohm rating. A broad treble excess sounds bright and sibilant on-axis; at least 20° toe-out or EQ is needed, but toe-out increases reflected energy and trades away image focus. Direct and reflected responses diverge through parts of the treble, limiting perfect EQ correction. At $4,000/pair, its tonal flaws and low efficiency are hard to excuse as merely the cost of premium construction.
Full McIntosh XR50 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 17H x 8W x 11.75D inches |
| Drivers | 6-inch woofer; dual 2-inch inverted-dome mids; 0.75-inch titanium dome |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | ~81dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 19.5lb each |
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Audio Craftsmen Victoria: $4000 Discontinued
Pros: Two-way bass-reflex design with a 180mm mid-base driver and 29mm tweeter in a distinctive slit-pattern cabinet, well-built overall. Wide, enveloping horizontal radiation of about ±70° through the midrange and lower treble. Low, well-controlled distortion overall, staying below about 1% up to roughly 100Hz at both 86dB and 96dB. Easy to drive electrically (minimum impedance about 7.3 ohms, minimum EPDR 4.4 ohms), fine for most Class AB amplifiers. Best placed closer to the rear wall (about 6 inches to a foot) rather than the typical 1-meter recommendation, reducing a mid-range cancellation dip that worsens with more wall clearance.
Cons: A notably thin, hollow midrange - a dip roughly 1-2 octaves wide - reduces vocal fullness and “thump,” seemingly from a baffle-step compensation shortfall in the crossover design. Very light bass overall; a subwoofer is recommended for both deep bass (30-40Hz) and even basic mid-bass kick (50-80Hz). Highly aiming-dependent in the treble: toeing the speaker away from the listener (about 30°) causes a significant loss of high-frequency shimmer and detail. A crossover handoff mismatch between the mid-woofer and tweeter shows up in directivity measurements, correlating with the midrange dip. Multitone distortion becomes elevated around 1kHz at higher output levels, confirmed through careful band-pass diagnostic testing and independently corroborated by another reviewer’s similar impression. Limited dynamic range below about 100Hz at higher volumes - driver excursion appears suspension-limited, causing real compression above roughly 90dB for a pair at typical listening distances. Below-average sensitivity (about 84dB versus a typical 85-86dB for bookshelf speakers) partly offsets its easy-to-drive impedance. Not well suited to listening beyond about 10 feet or much above 85-90dB. Discontinued.
Full Audio Craftsmen Victoria review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 45Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 65Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 15.9"H x 9.1"W x 14"D (405.0 x 230.0 x 355.0 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 1" tweeter + 4" woofer |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 7.3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 83.7dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 37 lbs / 16.8 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons