McIntosh Celebrates Grateful Dead’s 60th With Stealie Speakers

The legendary jam band Grateful Dead, which debuted in 1965, has significantly influenced both music and culture. To celebrate its 60th anniversary, McIntosh has unveiled a limited edition of two of its wireless speaker systems— the RS150 and RS250— adorned with the Grateful Dead’s iconic “Stealie” skull and lightning bolt emblem.

This isn’t McIntosh’s first collaboration featuring Grateful Dead artwork. For Dead & Company‘s 2023 Final Tour, McIntosh showcased both the Stealie and the band’s well-known dancing bear design on the front panels of the RS150 and RS250 models.

McIntosh RS250 Wireless Loudspeaker: Grateful Dead 60th Anniversary Edition — McIntosh RS250 Wireless Loudspeaker, Grateful Dead 60th Anniversary Edition McIntosh

These limited edition speakers come at a premium price: the RS250 Wireless Speaker System: Grateful Dead 60th Anniversary Edition is priced at $3,500, which is $500 more than the standard RS250, while the RS150 Wireless Loudspeaker: Grateful Dead 60th Anniversary Edition costs $1,500, a $300 increase over the regular RS150 priced at $1,200. Who knew attending all those concerts would add up?

McIntosh RS150 Wireless Loudspeaker: Grateful Dead 60th Anniversary Edition — McIntosh RS150 Wireless Loudspeaker, Grateful Dead 60th Anniversary Edition McIntosh

While the cost may be high, these speakers deliver impressive power and features. Their Wi-Fi capabilities are compatible with Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, Google Cast, and AirPlay 2, offering a plethora of streaming options. Additionally, they support Bluetooth with codecs like aptX and aptX HD. Audiophiles will appreciate that these speakers function as Roon endpoints, enhancing their usability.

The RS150 serves as a straightforward 120-watt mono speaker featuring a woofer and tweeter, while the RS250 is a more sophisticated system that boasts eight drivers and delivers 650 watts of total power. There’s also the option to connect other wired devices using its phono input, HDMI ARC, or digital optical input, along with separate outputs for both a wired subwoofer and headphones.

The partnership between Grateful Dead and McIntosh dates back to 1973, when McIntosh engineered an extensive Wall of Sound speaker system for the band’s concerts, making it the largest concert audio setup ever constructed at the time.