McIntosh celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Grateful Dead with Stealie speakers.

      McIntosh

      The legendary jam band Grateful Dead, which was established in 1965, has significantly influenced music and culture. To celebrate its 60th anniversary, McIntosh has introduced a new limited edition of two of its wireless speaker systems—the RS150 and RS250—featuring the Grateful Dead's well-known “Stealie” skull-and-lightning-bolt emblem.

      This isn't the first occasion McIntosh has adorned these speakers with Grateful Dead graphics. In celebration of Dead & Company’s 2023 Final Tour, McIntosh incorporated the Stealie and the band's famous dancing bear design on the front panels of the RS150 and RS250.

      However, for this release, the bears have been replaced by the official graphic of the band’s name, along with a new “60” variant of Stealie, encircled by the years “1965” and “2025.” The RS250 features additional text stating, “Sixty Years So Far,” possibly acknowledging that Dead & Company “is still a band,” as stated by co-lead vocalist John Mayer.

      As with previous limited editions, the special paint jobs come at a significant premium: the RS250 Wireless Speaker System: Grateful Dead 60th Anniversary Edition is priced at $3,500, which is an additional $500 over the standard RS250, while the RS150 Wireless Loudspeaker: Grateful Dead 60th Anniversary Edition is available for $1,500 (a $300 increase on the $1,200 price of the RS150). You might have thought that traveling to all those concerts was pricey.

      Although expensive, these speakers deliver impressive power and features. Their Wi-Fi connectivity is compatible with Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, Google Cast, and AirPlay 2, providing numerous options for music streaming. They also include Bluetooth support for both aptX and aptX HD Bluetooth codecs. Audiophiles will appreciate that these speakers can function as Roon endpoints.

      The RS150 is a straightforward 120-watt mono speaker with a woofer and tweeter. In contrast, the RS250 is a more complex system featuring an eight-driver stereo configuration with a total power output of 650 watts. You can also connect your favorite wired devices through its phono input, HDMI ARC port, or digital optical input. Additionally, it provides discrete outputs for a wired subwoofer and wired headphones.

      McIntosh has had a long-standing relationship with the Grateful Dead, dating back to 1973 when it built the massive Wall of Sound speaker array for the band's live performances. At that time, it became the largest concert sound system ever constructed.

      Simon Cohen is a contributing editor for Digital Trends' Audio/Video section, where he is passionate about the latest wireless audio advancements.

      McIntosh revisits the amplifier that powered Woodstock

      This year marks the 54th anniversary of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair—arguably the most renowned (or perhaps notorious) music festival ever. Featuring performances by iconic groups such as Jimmy Hendrix, The Who, Grateful Dead, The Band, and Janis Joplin, its role as a cultural milestone is undeniable.

      Remarkably, the four-day event attracted over 400,000 attendees and was powered by just 20 MC3500 amplifiers manufactured by McIntosh. The MC3500, which produced 350 watts of single-channel power, became integral to this historic concert.

      McIntosh's new $6,000 speaker is a vintage throwback

      While McIntosh is primarily recognized for its receivers and amplifiers—known for their signature blue-backlit VU meters—the American audio brand has also crafted high-quality speakers over the years. Recently, the company decided to bring back its very first model, the ML1, preserving the full vintage aesthetic of the 1970s with a boxy wooden enclosure while updating the audio components. The new ML1 MKII will come with a price tag of $6,000 for each speaker, excluding the cost of an optional (yet highly sought-after) matching wooden stand featuring aluminum McIntosh branding.

      Fans of The Grateful Dead—affectionately known as Deadheads—are keenly aware that this year might represent the last chance to witness the remaining original members of the band in action. Dead & Company, as they are currently known, is embarking on what they term their Final Tour—a 29-date tour across the U.S. from May 19 to July 16. To commemorate this occasion, McIntosh has launched limited editions of two of its wireless speakers, the RS150 (now RS150GD) and the RS250 (RS250GD), branded with Grateful Dead imagery.

      Each speaker closely resembles its standard counterpart, with the main differentiation being the inclusion of the band's two iconic symbols, "Stealie" (the skull adorned with a lightning bolt) and the dancing bears. These graphics are prominently displayed just below Mc