SONIC DREAMBOATS The latest luxury AirPlay speakers promise domestic and aural bliss—and are extremely easy on the eyes

Among audiophiles, McIntosh (not to be confused with Apple's Macintosh) is best known for its hand-built amplifiers, which are huge, heavy and have a distinctly smooth sound. While a traditional McIntosh rig might consist of a stack of components, the McIntosh McAire packs all of the 21st-century essentials into one compact package, complete with full-range stereo speakers with 4-inch woofers. True to its analog heritage, the McAire does wonders at taking the harsh edge off digital music, somehow buffing synths, brass and auto-tuned vocals to a warm, velvety sheen without adding so much as a wisp of noise. If the McAire's sound isn't enough to win you over, its looks will lure you in. The soothing blue glow and flutter of its analog meters have sent many swooning.

(By F. Martin Ramin / The Wall Street Journal / October 19, 2012)

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