McIntosh MC601 audio amplifier
Contents
1. FigureC Figure D Figure E How to Connect Caution Do not connect the AC Power Cord to the MC601 Rear Panel until after the Loudspeaker Connections are made and the protective Termi nal Connections Cover is installed Failure to observe this could result in Electric Shock The connection instructions below together with the MC601 Connection Diagram located on the separate folded sheet Mc1A is an example of a typical audio system Your system may vary from this however the actual components would be connected in a similar manner For additional information refer to Connec tor and Cable Information on page 4 1 For Remote Power Control connect a power control cable from the Audio Preamplifier or A V Control Center Power Control Output I to the Amplifier POWER CONTROL IN 2 Connect XLR cables from the Balanced Output I R refer to note 2 below of an Audio Preamplifier or A V Control Center to the Amplifier BALanced INput Place the INPUT MODE Switch in the BALANCED Position Notes I An optional hookup is to use unbalanced cable and place the INPUT MODE Switch in the UNBALanced Position 2 When multiple MC601s are used in a Stereo or Multichannel System match up the Preamplifier or A V Control Center Channel Output designation to each MC601 with Loudspeaker and the Loud speaker location in the room 3 Using a suitable tool remove the two screws from the MC601 Rear Panel and t2. POWER CONTROL INPUT MODE IN IN OUT 1 BALIN po BAL OUT Q unent MD ea gt ew Crea FA LE OUT 2 _ i i nm mn AE E 0R E a 42 Ko 20 120V Ru 50 60Hz 10AH 250V 4 OUTPUT 4 6 6 AMPS CLASS 2 WIRING Oo 0 Melntosh ET S A meson QUAD BALANCED WER AMPLIFI IER Cover Screws Figure 5 Inside USA and Canada 8 Attach the previously prepared bare wire cable ends into the banana plugs and secure the connections Refer to figure F 9 Rotate the top of the Output Terminal Post clockwise until it is finger tight Refer to figure G Then using the McIntosh Wrench rotate the top of the Output Terminal one quarter of a turn 90 Do not over tighten Refer to figure E 10 Referring to figure H connect the Loudspeaker hookup cables with ba nana plugs into the hole at the top of the MC601 Negative and Positive Output Terminals The terminals are indentified as 2Q ohms 4Q ohms Figure F Figure H or 8Q ohms connection to match the impedance of the Loudspeaker being careful to observe the correct polarities Note The illustration in figure 5 is connections for 8Q ohms Loudspeakers If the Loudspeaker s impedance is in between the available connections use the nearest lower imped ance
3. Insert the spade lug connector or prepared section of the cable end into the terminal side access hole and tighten the terminal cap until the cable is firmly clamped into the terminals so the lugs or wire cannot slip out Refer to figures 7 and 8 Cover Openings POWER CONTROL BALIN BALOUT INPUTMODE CLASS 2 WIRING NASI gist QUAD BALANCED OWER AMPLIFIER LJ Cover Screws Figure 6 Outside USA and Canada Figure 7 Figure 8 Note The illustration in figure 6 is connections for 8Q ohms Loudspeakers If the Loudspeaker s impedance is in between the available connections use the nearest lower impedance connection Refer to General Informa tion Note 4 on page 3 for additional information WARNING Loudspeaker terminals are hazard ous live and present a risk of electric Shock For additional instruction on making Loudspeaker Connections con tact your McIntosh Dealer or McIn tosh Technical Support 13 Attach the Terminal Connections Cover to the MC601 Rear Panel with the previously removed Screws Refer to figure 6 14 Connect the MC601 power cord to an active AC outlet Ile Output Terminals EE EE When connecting the Loudspeaker Hookup Cables to the MC601 Power Amplifier Output Terminals please follow the steps below 1 Rotate the top of the Output Terminal Post coun terclockwise unti
4. a single cycle tone burst at 2kHz Refer to figure 17 Voltage and current outputs are elec tronically measured multiplied and fed to a special circuit that accelerates the pointer move ment in the upward direction Refer to figure 25 on the next page When the pointer reaches its peak it pauses only long enough for the human eye to perceive its position then drops It is almost 10 times faster than a professional VU meter A front panel switch is provided to change the meter to the Watts Hold Mode of operation This al lows fast upward movement of the pointer but greatly increases Hold Time at the peak of its travel The highest power output of the source material is thus recorded DECIBELS POWER OUTPUT Figure 17 Protection Circuits The MC601 incorporates the McIntosh Sentry Monitor Output Transistor Protection Circuit Refer to Figure 18 There is absolutely no compromise in sonic perfor mance with this circuit and it ensures safe operation of the amplifier under even the most extreme operat 16 ing conditions The different types of protection circuits incorporated in the MC601 insure a long and safe operating life This is just one of the many character istics of McIntosh Power Amplifiers that make them world famous The MC601 also includes the unique patented McIntosh Power Guard circuit Power Guard eliminates the possibility of ever overdriving the amplifier into clipping Refer to figur
5. normally or has been dropped Do not expose this equipment to dripping or splashing and ensure that no objects filled with liquids such as vases are placed on the equipment To completely disconnect this equipment from the a c mains disconnect the power supply cord plug from the a c receptacle The mains plug of the power supply cord shall remain readily operable Do not expose batteries to excessive heat such as sunshine fire or the like Connect mains power supply cord only to a mains socket outlet with a protective earthing connection Thank You aS ee eS ee eee eee Your decision to own this McIntosh MC601 Quad Balanced Power Amplifier ranks you at the very top among discriminating music listeners You now have The Best The McIntosh dedication to Quality is assurance that you will receive many years of musical enjoyment from this unit Please take a short time to read the information in this manual We want you to be as familiar as pos sible with all the features and functions of your new McIntosh Please Take A Moment E The serial number purchase date and McIntosh Dealer name are important to you for possible insurance claim or future service The spaces below have been provided for you to record that information Serial Number Purchase Date Dealer Name Technical Assistance If at any time you have questions about your McIntosh product contact your McIntosh Dealer who is familiar
6. Amplifier One Power Control OUTput I to Amplifier Two POW ER CONTROL IN 3 Connect XLR cables from the Balanced Output I R refer to note 2 below of an Audio Preamplifier or A V Control Center to Amplifier BALanced IN put Place the INPUT MODE Switch in the BAL anced Position Notes 1 An optional hookup is to use unbalanced cable and place the INPUT MODE Switch in the UNBALanced Position 2 When multiple MC601s are used in a Stereo or Multichannel System match up the Preamplifier or A V Control Center Chan nel Output designation to each MC601 with Loudspeaker and the Loudspeaker location in the room 4 Connect XLR cables from Amplifier One Audio BALanced OUTput to Amplifier Two BALanced INput 5 Using a suitable tool remove the two screws from the MC601 Rear Panel and temporarily place them in a safe place Refer to figure I POWER CONTROL UNBALIN BALIN aa BALOUT INPUT MODE IN OUT I FR BAL OUT C unea I sa ra AY TB 7 UNBAL OUT Remove Screws AL E f ES R o soasiasoy POVANSDGOM CLASS 2 WIRING o o gp MC601 QUAD BALANCED POWER AMPLIFIER MeINTOSH LABORATO JAY ING BINGHAMTON NY 13903 MADE IN USA Figure I This McIntosh MC601 Quad Balanced Power Ampli fier is designed for Loudspeakers with an impedance of 2 ohms 4 ohms or 8 ohms Connect a single Loud speaker only to the Outp
7. C601 Power Output Meter indicates the actual power delivered to the loudspeakers by responding to the combination of current and voltage output Input Mode Switch The Input Mode Switch which is located on the Rear Panel of the MC601 allows selection of either the Balanced or Unbalanced Input INPUT MODE Refer to figure 11 UNBAL HW BAL Figure 11 vite Technical Description McIntosh Laboratory the company who introduced the world s first amplifier that could be called High Fidelity has done it again The McIntosh engineering staff has created a power amplifier without compro mise using the most advanced McIntosh circuit design concepts e JE EEE EG E CEE EE UH EEEE AEE LENE Seeeee sgot ALLL LIPO GG BRLL Te eeeed TL ieee M tIniosk FREQUE QUAD BALANCED POWER AMPLIFIER Mcintosh Laboratory Inc Binghamton New York Made in U S A 96 bala 94 unbal y Figure 12 14 LL EE ERR OR uren SPONSE to The MC601 has a continuous average power output rating of 600 watts and with a peak output current of 90 amperes making this one of the most advanced amplifiers available today The distortion limits for the MC601 are no more than 0 005 at rated power output for all frequencies from 20Hz to 20 000Hz Typical performance at mid frequencies is less than 0 002 The true distortion readings on the MC601 are so low it takes special measuring techniques to make accurate re
8. L NUMBER MC601 QUAD BALANCED POWER AMPLIFIER McINTOSH LABORATORY INC BINGHAMTON NY 13903 MADE IN USA OUTPUT Connections for Fuse holder refer to information a 4 ohm Loudspeaker on the rear panel of your MC601 to determine the correct fuse size and rating next Power Amplifier Input OUTPUT Connections for OUTPUT Connections for Connect the MC601 power a 8 ohm Loudspeaker a 2 ohm Loudspeaker cord to a live AC outlet Refer to the rear panel to determine the correct voltage Caution The Loudspeaker Negative Connections are above chassis ground Do not combine any connections together ground them or connect with another MC601 Ile Output Terminals EE Ek When connecting the Loudspeaker Hookup Cables to the MC601 Power Amplifier Output Terminals please follow the steps below 1 Rotate the top of the Output Terminal Post coun terclockwise until an opening appears Refer to figures A and B 2 Insert the Loudspeaker hookup cable into the Output Terminal Post opening or the cable spade lug around the center post of the Output Terminal Refer to figure C 3 Rotate the top of the Output Terminal Post clockwise until it is finger tight Refer to figure D i 4 Place the supplied McIntosh Wrench over the top of the Out put Terminal and rotate it one N quarter of a turn 90 to secure the Loudspeaker Cable Connec tion Do not over tighten Refer to figure E Figure A
9. McIntosh Laboratory Inc 2 Chambers Street Binghamton New York 13903 2699 Phone 607 723 3512 www mcintoshlabs com 60 60 66 eo So 2 2 600 DECIBELS POWER OUTPUT The lightning flash with arrowhead within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated dangerous voltage within the product s en closure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons IN BW NY WARNING TO REDUCE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRICAL SHOCK DO NOT EXPOSE THIS EQUIPMENT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS PLEASE READ THEM BEFORE OPERATING THIS EQUIPMENT Read these instructions Keep these instructions Heed all warnings Follow all instructions Do not use this apparatus near water Clean only with a dry cloth Do not block any ventilation openings Install in accordance with the manufacturer s instruc tions Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators heat registers stoves or other appa ratus including amplifiers that produce heat Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polar ized or grounding type plug A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other A grounding type plug has two blades and a 10 11 IZ 13 14 CAUTION RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN A AV S RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE NE PAS OUVRIR NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS IN
10. SIDE REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL third grounding prong The wide blade or the third prong are provided for your safety If the provided plug does not fit into your outlet consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs convenience receptacles and the point where they exit from the apparatus Only use attachments accessories specified by the manufacturer Use only with the cart stand tripod bracket or table specified by the manu facturer or sold with the appa ratus When a cart is used use caution when moving the cart apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip over Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time Refer all servicing to qualified service person nel Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way such as power e LEN wy The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance servicing instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance 15 16 Li 18 19 To prevent the risk of electric shock do not remove cover or back No user serviceable parts inside supply cord or plug 1s damaged liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture does not operate
11. USA and Canada Figure 7 Figure 8 Note The illustration in figure 6 is connections for 8Q ohms Loudspeakers If the Loudspeaker s impedance is in between the available connections use the nearest lower impedance connection Refer to General Informa tion Note 4 on page 3 for additional information WARNING Loudspeaker terminals are hazard ous live and present a risk of electric Shock For additional instruction on making Loudspeaker Connections con tact your McIntosh Dealer or McIn tosh Technical Support 15 Attach the Terminal Connections Cover to the MC601 Rear Panel with the previously removed Screws Refer to figure 6 16 Connect the MC601 power cord to an active AC outlet 11 Ic Front Panel Displays and Controls LED indicates when the Amplifier POWER GUARD circuit activates Meter indicates the Output Standby Power of the amplifier On Indicator pi a s_ eee POWER OUTPUT METER POWER WATTS REMOTE gel HOLD He ntos h OFF ON MC601 QUAD BALANCED POWER AMPLIFIER SEE METER Switch selects POWER Switch Turns AC Power Off the display modes of the Remote AC Power On Power Output Meter and Meter Illumination 12 How to Operate How to Operate Power On To have the MC601 automatically turn On or Off when a control center turns on or off rotate the power switch to the Remote position For manual operation rotate the power switch to the On or Off position as desir
12. With Power Guard Figure 21 Power Supply Circuits To compliment the design of the MC601 Power Am plifier Circuitry there is a high current high voltage Technical Description con t Block Diagram of the Power Supply LIGHTING BACKUP POWER SUPPLY INRUSH AC Power FUSE CURRENT LIMITER Figure 23 power supply Refer to figures 22 and 25 The very large Power Transfomer can supply over 13 amps of current Refer to figure 23 golf ball 1s for size com parsion It is enclosed in the legendary McIntosh Potted En closures and weighs 28 lbs The two super size main filter capacitors can store over 140 Joules of energy which is necessary for the wide dynamic range that Digital Audio demands Refer to figure 24 POWER CONTROL CONTROL LOGIC MAIN RELAYS Figure 22 POWER SWITCH LOW VOLTAGE SUPPLY POWER TRANSFORMER MAIN SUPPLY Figure 24 The power amplifier draws high current from the AC power line Therefore it is important that they plug directly into the wall outlet Also most owners desire one power switch for the whole audio system The MC601 is equipped with a circuit that provides remote Power Control from a McIntosh A V Control Center Refer to figure 25 Figure 25 When the A V Control Center is switched On a 45V signal operates the power relay in the MC601 The MC601 also has two remote Power Control Out Jacks Th
13. a These Power Transistors are the very latest 1n semiconduc tor technology and incorporate a new design known as ThermalTrak Refer to figure 13 This allows for the instantaneous and accurate monitor ing of the Power Transistor Temperature The MC601 Power Output Circuitry has a specially designed bias circuit to take full advantage of the ThermalTrak Power Transistors and thus precisely controls the power amplifier operation over a wide range of music conditions with the benefits of lower distortion and cooler operation Precision metal film resistors and low dielectric absorption film capacitors are used in all critical circuit locations The output signals of the two balanced circuits are coupled together in the unique McIntosh MC601 Output Autoformer It provides low distortion power transfer at frequencies from below 20Hz to well Figure 13 Technical Description beyond 20 000Hz with optimum impedance points of two ohms four ohms and eight ohms The unequaled Block Diagram of the Power Amplifier expertise of McIntosh in the design and manufactur ing of autoformers is legendary in the high fidelity industry The high efficiency circuit design of the MC601 contributes to low operating temperatures More than 1400 square inches of heat sink area keep the MC601 operating safely with convection cooling No fans are needed Refer to figure 14 Autoformers All solid state power amplifier output
14. abinet Cutout MC601 Side View in Custom Cabinet i y 43 18cm Installation _ 8 0 80 80 8 Fe 44 1716 xx 37 30cm Cabinet Front Panel Cutout Opening for Custom Mounting ees 6 Cabinet 15 24cm Front Panel ei Opening Pr for Ventilation a ene Cm MC601 Bottom View NG 12 3 4 in Custom Cabinet 32 38cm 1 Cutout Opening ss for Ventilation Note Center the cutout Horizontally on the unit For purposes of clarity the above illustration is not drawn to scale Rear Panel Connections and Switch POWER CONTROL IN UNBALanced INput INPUT MODE switch receives turn On Off for an audio cable selects between Unbal signals from a McIntosh BALanced INput for from a Preamplifier or BALanced OUTput for anced or Balanced Input a audio cables from a ae Control Center an audio cable to the next Preamplifier or A V i a Power Amplifier Input Control Center audio output POWER CONTROL OUT POWER CONTROL ai UNBAN sour aes UNBALanced OUTput I and 2 send turn On Off for an audio cable to the Ry 7 N UNBAL BAL E signals to the next McIn M LO CN L tosh Component a O UNBAL OUT 120V v 50 60Hz 6 6 AMPS 10AH 250V AVIS risque DE cHoc VRIR ELECTRIQUE NE PAS OU C SERIA
15. adings The MC601 can deliver the best possible performance from any type of high quality loudspeaker system Refer to figure 12 Creating an amplifier with this level of performance did not come easily Many months of design testing and measur ing were required Extensive controlled listening tests the ul timate form of measuring were made before the final design was accepted HES NHH ETTE ga Design Philosophy z The design philosophy incor porated in the MC601 involved several different techniques all based on sound scientific logic Every stage of voltage or current amplification must be as linear as possible prior to the use of negative feedback McIn tosh engineers know how to properly design negative feedback circuits so they contribute to the extremely low distortion performance expected from a McIntosh amplifier The typical McIntosh owner would never accept the approximately 100 times higher distortion of many non feedback designs Double Balanced Push Pull design is used from input to output Each half of the amplifier contains complimentary balanced circuitry The resulting Quad Balanced configuration cancels even order distortion Refer to figure 15 All transistors are selected to have nearly constant current gain over the entire current range they must cover Output transistors in particular have matched uniform current gain high current bandwidth prod uct and large active region safe operating are
16. circuits work best into what is called an optimum load This op timum load may vary considerably from what a loudspeaker requires In the case of more than one loudspeaker connected in parallel the load to the power amplifier may drop to two ohms or even less A power amplifier connected to a load that is lower than Figure 15 optimum causes more output cur rent to flow which results in extra heat being generated in the power output stage This increase in temperature will result in a reduced life expectancy for the amplifier The special Balanced Winding Autoformer cre ates an ideal match between the power amplifier output stage and the loud speaker Refer to figure 16 There is absolutely no performance limita tion with an Autoformer Its frequency re sponse exceeds that of the output circuit itself _ and extends well beyond the audible range Its m distortion level is so low it is virtually impos sible to measure In the rare event of a power amplifier out put circuit failure the McIntosh Autoformer provides absolute protection from possible damage to your valuable loudspeakers The unequaled expertise of McIntosh in the design and manufacturing of Autoformers is legend ary in the high fidelity industry McIntosh engineers know how to do it right Figure 16 vite Technical Description con t Power Output Meter The McIntosh MC601 has a large Output Watt Me ter that responds 95 full scale to
17. connection Refer to General Information Note 4 on page 3 for additional information WARNING Loudspeaker terminals are hazardous live and present a risk of electric shock For additional instruction on making Loudspeaker Connections contact your McIntosh Dealer or McIntosh Techni cal Support 11 Attach the Terminal Connections Cover to the MC601 Rear Panel with the previously removed Screws Refer to figure 5 12 Connect the MC601 power cord to an active AC outlet Spade Lug or Wire Connections 13 Locate the Terminal Connections Cover from the inside of the MC601 shipping carton Insert the just prepared Loudspeaker hookup cables thru the cover opening on the right side Refer to figure 6 14 Connect the Loudspeaker hookup cables to the MC601 Negative Output Terminal and Positive Output Terminal indentified as 2Q ohms 4Q ohms or 8Q ohms connection to match the impedance of the Loudspeaker being careful to observe the correct polarities Insert the spade lug connector or prepared section of the cable end into the terminal side access hole and tighten the terminal cap until the cable is firmly clamped into the terminals so the lugs or wire cannot slip out Refer to figures 7 and 8 Cover Openings POWER CONTROL BALIN 4 BALOUT INPUT MODE MC601 QUAD BALANCED POWER AMPLIFIER LJ Cover Screws Figure 6 Outside
18. e Power Control signal from these jacks are delayed by a fraction of a second so that the turn on power surge of the next power amplifier occurs at a later time This helps prevent power circuit overload that could trip circuit breakers or blow fuses a very impor tant feature in a high power Home Systems employing multiple MC601 Power Amplifiers Specifications Power Output Minimum sine wave continuous average power output iS 600 watts into 2 ohm load 600 watts into 4 ohm load 600 watts into 8 ohm load Output Load Impedance 2 4 or 8 ohms Rated Power Band 20Hz to 20 000Hz Total Harmonic Distortion 0 005 maximum harmonic distortion at any power level from 250 milliwatts to rated power 20Hz to 20 000Hz Dynamic Headroom 1 8dB Frequency Response 0 0 25dB from 20Hz to 20 000Hz 0 3 0dB from 10Hz to 100 000Hz Input Sensitivity for rated output 4 8 Volts Balanced 2 4 Volts Unbalanced Signal To Noise Ratio A Weighted 96dB Balanced 124dB below rated output 94dB Unbalanced 122dB below rated output 18 Intermodulation Distortion 0 005 maximum if the instantaneous peak power output does not exceed twice the rated power output for any combination of frequencies from 20Hz to 20 000Hz Wide Band Damping Factor Greater than 40 Input Impedance 22 000 ohms Balanced 22 000 ohms Unbalanced Voltage Gain 29dB 8 Ohms 26dB 4 Ohms 23dB 2 Ohms Power Guard Less than 2 Total Harmonic Distort
19. e amplifier from being over driven into clipping with its harsh distorted sound that can also damage your valuable loudspeaker e Sentry Monitor and Thermal Protection McIntosh Sentry Monitor power output stage protec tion circuits ensure the MC601 will have a long and ThermalTrakTM and ON Semiconductor are trademarks of Semi conductor Components Industries LLC trouble free operating life Built in Thermal Protection Circuits guard against overheating e Special Power Supply A very large Power Transformer and Large Capaci tors ensure stable noise free operation even though the power line varies e Illuminated Power Meter The Illuminated Power Output Watt Meter on the MC601 is peak responding and indicates the true power output of the amplifier The Peak Watt Hold Mode allows the meter to temporarily stay at the high est power output and then slowly decay The Front Panel Meter Illumination may be switched Off at any time e McIntosh Custom Binding Posts McIntosh patent pending gold plated output terminals deliver high current output They accept large diam eter wire and spade lugs Banana plugs may also be used only in the United States and Canada e Fiber Optic Solid State Front Panel Illumination The even Illumination of the Front Panel is accom plished by the combination of custom designed Fiber Optic Light Diffusers and extra long life Light Emit ting Diodes LEDs e Glass Front Panel and Super Mirror Chas
20. ed Refer to figure 8 Note There must be a power control connection between the MC601 and the Audio Preamplifier or A V Con trol Center in order for the remote power turn on to Figure 8 function POWER REMOTE OFF ON Meter Selection Rotate the meter mode switch to select the meter op eration mode you desire Refer to figures 9 and 10 Lights Off Meter illumination is switched Off and the meter will continue to indicate the power output METER WATTS LIGHTS HOLD OFF Figure 9 Note When Power Control Input of the MC601 is connected to a Audio Preamplifier or A V Control Center with Remote Meter Illumi nation Control the Meter Illumination will automatically be remotely controlled On Off with the METER Switch set to the WATTS or HOLD position POWER OUTPUT Figure 10 Watts The meter responds to all the musical information being produced by the am plifier It indicates to an accuracy of at least 95 of the power output with only a single cycle of a 2000Hz tone burst Hold The meter pointer 1s locked to the high est power peak in a sequence of peaks It is electronically held to this power level until a higher power peak passes through the amplifier The meter point er will then rise to the newer higher indication If no further power peaks are reached the meter pointer will very slowly return to its rest position or lower power level The decay rate is approximately 6dB per minute Note The M
21. emporarily place them in a Safe place Refer to figure 1 a POWER CONTROL UNBALIN IN OUT 1 BALIN A BALOUT INPUT MODE NY 9 unen fil an N y gt o 6 our2 G Remove Screws MC601 QUAD BALANCED POWER AMPLIFIER MeINTOSH LABORATORY INC BINGHAMTON NY 13903 MADE IN USA 3 FG g 2 o 3 o2 dg 3 N N o Figure 1 This McIntosh MC601 Quad Balanced Power Ampli fier is designed for Loudspeakers with an impedance of 2 ohms 4 ohms or 8 ohms Connect a single Loud speaker only to the Output Terminals When connecting Loudspeakers to the MC601 it is very important to use cables of adequate size so there is little to no power loss in the cables The size is specified in Gauge Numbers or AWG American Wire Gauge The smaller the Gauge number the larger the wire size Loudspeaker Cable Distance vs Wire Gauge Guide Loudspeaker Impedance 25 feet 50 feet 100 feet 7 62 meters 15 24 meters 30 48 meters or less or less orless 20hms 12AWG 10AWG 8AWG 40hms 14AWG 12AWG 10AWG 80hms 16AWG 14AWG 12AWG 4 Prepare the Loudspeaker Hookup Cable for attach ment to the MC601 Power Amplifier Bare wire cable ends Carefully remove sufficient insulation from the cable ends refer to figures 2 3 amp 4 If the cable is stranded carefully twist the strands together as tig
22. es 19 20 and 21 An overdriven amplifier can produce both audible and inau dible distortion levels exceeding 40 The audible distortion 1s unpleasant to hear but the inaudible ultrasonic distortion is also undesirable since it can damage valuable loudspeaker system tweeters You will never experience the harsh and damaging distortion due to clipping The Power Guard circuit is a waveform compara tor monitoring both the input and output waveforms Normal Operating Area Sentry Monitor Safety Area Output Transistor Failure Figure 18 Input Test Signal 14kHz amp 15kHz Figure 19 Under normal operating conditions there are no differences between the shape of these waveforms If the amplifier is over driven there will be a difference between the two signal waveforms When the difference exceeds 0 3 the Power Guard activates the PG light and a dynamic electronic attenuator at the amplifier input reduces the input volume just enough to prevent any further increase in distortion The Power Guard circuit acts so fast that there are absolutely no audible side effects and the sonic purity of the music reproduction 1s perfectly preserved The MC601 Power Amplifier with Power Guard is not limited to just the rated power output but will actually produce distortion free output well above its rated power due to the McIntosh philosophy of conservative design Without Power Guard Figure 20
23. es with ba nana plugs into the hole at the top of the MC601 Negative and Positive Output Terminals The termi nals are indentified as 2Q ohms 4Q ohms or 8Q Figure H ohms connection to match the impedance of the Loudspeaker being careful to observe the correct polarities Note The illustration in figure 5 is connections for 8Q ohms Loudspeakers If the Loudspeaker s impedance is in between the available connections use the nearest lower imped ance connection Refer to General Information Note 4 on page 3 for additional information WARNING Loudspeaker terminals are hazardous live and present a risk of electric shock For additional instruction on making Loudspeaker Connections contact your McIntosh Dealer or McIntosh Techni cal Support 9 Attach the Terminal Connections Cover to the MC601 Rear Panel with the previously removed Screws Refer to figure 5 10 Connect the MC601 power cord to an active AC outlet Spade Lug or Wire Connections 11 Locate the Terminal Connections Cover from the inside of the MC601 shipping carton Insert the just prepared Loudspeaker hookup cables thru the cover opening on the right side Refer to figure 6 12 Connect the Loudspeaker hookup cables to the MC601 Negative Output Terminal and Positive Output Terminal indentified as 2Q ohms 4Q ohms or 8Q ohms connection to match the impedance of the Loudspeaker being careful to observe the correct polarities
24. htly as possible 4 0 5 inches 12 7mm E Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Notes 1 If desired the twisted ends can be tinned with solder to keep the strands together 2 The prepared bare wire cable ends may be inserted into spade lug connectors 3 Banana plugs are for use in the United States and Canada only Output Terminals and How to Connect Banana Plugs are for use in the United States and Canada only 5 Locate the Terminal Connections Cover from the inside of the MC601 shipping carton Insert the just prepared Loudspeaker hookup cables thru the cover opening on the right side Refer to figure 5 Cover Opening POWER CONTROL BALIN Ox BALOUT INPUT MODE 4 OUTPI CLASS 2 WIRING IE Hj er a i Hes He MC601 QUAD BALANCED POW ER AMPLIFIER MADE IN USA Cover Screws Figure 5 Inside USA and Canada 6 Attach the previously prepared bare wire cable ends into the banana plugs and secure the connections Refer to figure F 7 Rotate the top of the Output Terminal Post clockwise until it is finger tight Refer to figure G Then using the McIntosh Wrench rotate the top of the Output Terminal one quarter of a turn 90 Do not over tighten Refer to figure E 8 Referring to figure H connect the Loudspeaker hookup cabl
25. ini phone plugs on each end Introduction Ess ee Now you can take advantage of traditional McIntosh standards of excellence in the MC601 Quad Balanced Power Amplifier The 600 watts high current output will drive any high quality Loudspeaker The MC601 reproduction is sonically transparent and absolutely accurate The McIntosh Sound is The Sound of the Music Itself Cable Information Introduction and Performance Features Performance Features e Power Output The MC601 is a Power Amplifier with a capability of 600 watts into 2 4 or 8 ohm speakers with less than 0 005 distortion The Power Amplifier Circuitry uses Thermal Trak Output Transistors for lower dis tortion and cool operation e Quad Balanced Circuitry The MC601 is fully balanced from input to output It consists of two matched power amplifiers operating in push pull with their outputs combined in a McIn tosh Autoformer The Quad Balanced configuration cancels virtually all distortion e Patented Autoformer McIntosh designed and manufactured Output Auto formers provide an ideal match between the amplifier output stages and speaker loads of 2 4 and 8 ohms The Autoformers also provide perfect DC protection for your valuable loudspeakers e Balanced and Unbalanced Inputs Balanced connections guard against induced noise and allow long cable runs without compromising sound quality e Power Guard The patented McIntosh Power Guard circuit prevents th
26. ion with up to a 14dB overdrive signal Power Control Input 5 ISVDC less than ImA Power Control Output 1 and 2 12VDC 50mA maximum total Output is delayed 0 2 seconds from turn On Specifications Power Requirements Field AC Voltage conversion of the MC601 is not possible The MC601 is factory configured for one of the following AC Voltages 100V 50 60Hz at 8 Amps 110V 50 60Hz at 6 6 Amps 120V 50 60Hz at 6 6 Amps 220V 50 60Hz at 3 6 Amps 230V 50 60Hz at 3 3 Amps 240V 50 60Hz at 3 3 Amps Standby less than 0 5 watt Note Refer to the rear panel of the MC601 for the cor rect voltage Overall Dimensions Width is 17 1 2 inches 44 45cm Height is 9 7 16 inches 23 97cm including feet Depth is 22 inches 55 88cm including the Front Panel Handles and Cables Weight 93 pounds 42 18 kg net 126 pounds 57 15 kg in shipping carton Shipping Carton Dimensions Width is 29 1 2 inches 74 93cm Height is 17 inches 43 18cm Depth is 29 inches 73 66cm Packing Instructions Packing Instructions Het aa In the event it is necessary to repack the equipment for shipment the equipment must be packed exactly as shown below It is very important that the four plastic feet are attached to the bottom of the equipment Four 1 4 20x2 1 4 inch screws and washers must be used to fasten the unit securely to the bottom pad and wood skid This will ensure the proper equipment location on the bottom pad Failure to d
27. l an opening appears Refer to figures A and B 2 Insert the Loudspeaker hookup cable into the Output Terminal Post opening or the cable spade lug around the center post of the Output Terminal Refer to figure C 3 Rotate the top of the Output Terminal Post clockwise until it is finger tight Refer to figure D i 4 Place the supplied McIntosh Wrench over the top of the Out put Terminal and rotate it one N quarter of a turn 90 to secure the Loudspeaker Cable Connec tion Do not over tighten Refer to figure E Figure A FigureC Figure D Figure E How to Connect for Bi Amp Caution Do not connect the AC Power Cord to the MC601 Rear Panel until after the Loudspeaker Connections are made and the protective Termi nal Connections Cover is installed Failure to observe this could result in Electric Shock The connection instructions below together with the MC601 Connection Diagram located on the separate folded sheet Mc1B is an example of a typical audio system Your system may vary from this however the actual components would be connected in a similar manner For additional information refer to Connec tor and Cable Information on page 4 10 1 For Remote Power Control connect a power control cable from the Audio Preamplifier or A V Control Center Power Control Output 1 to Amplifier One POWER CONTROL IN 2 Connect a power control cable from
28. o this will result in shipping damage Use the original shipping carton and interior parts only if they are all in good serviceable condition If a shipping carton or any of the interior part s are needed please call or write Customer Service Depart ment of McIntosh Laboratory Refer to page 3 Please see the Part List for the correct part numbers Quantity Part Number Description l 034052 Shipping carton top l 034051 Shipping carton bottom 2 034054 Foam Pad top and bottom 2 034186 Foam Pad front and rear 2 034187 Foam Pad sides l 034136 Inner carton top 1 034137 Inner carton bottom 1 034188 Foam Pad inner carton l 034479 Shipping skid 4 401212 1 4 20x2 1 4 cap screw 4 104058 Flat washer INNER 7 CARTON TOP FOAM PAD ee INNER CARTON SHIPPING 7 SKID IMPORTANT gt Read Above INNER CARTON BOTTOM pe Flat WASHER 4x 1 4 20 X 2 1 4 CAP SCREW 4x SHIPPING CARTON TOP FOAM PAD TOP ed AK INSIDE BOX lt gt lt lt X FOAM PAD FRONT AND REAR 2X SHIPPING CARTON BOTTOM 19 McIntosh Laboratory Inc 2 Chambers Street Binghamton NY 13903 www mcintoshlabs com The continuous improvement of its products is the policy of McIntosh Laboratory Incorporated who reserve the right to improve design without notice Printed in the U S A McIntosh Part No 04124502
29. ont Panel Power Guard LED will continuously indicate ON and the audio will be muted When the MC601 has returned to a safe operating temperature normal operation will resume 6 When discarding the unit comply with local rules or regulations Batteries should never be thrown away or incinerated but disposed of in accordance with the local regulations concerning battery disposal 7 For additional information on the MC601 and other McIntosh Products please visit the McIntosh Web Site at www mcintosh labs com IXI Connector and Cable Information XLR Connectors Below is the Pin configuration for the XLR Balanced Input Input Output Connectors on the MC601 Refer to the diagram for connection IN PIN 1 Shield Ground PIN 2 Input Output PIN 3 Input Output Power Control Connector The MC601 Power Control Input receives an On Off signal from 5 to 12 volts The Power Control Output will in turn provide a 12 volt Output Signal with a total cur Trigger rent up to 50mA An additional Control J connection is for controlling Hs Illumination the illumination of the MC601 Control Ground Power Output Meters The 1 8 inch stereo mini phone plug connects to a McIntosh Preamplifier or A V Control Center Power Control Output Note The Power Control Connecting Cable is available from the McIntosh Parts Department Data and Power Control Cable Part No 170 202 Six foot shielded 2 conductor with 1 8 inch stereo m
30. ont Panel Displays and Controls rrnnnnnnrvrvnnnnr 12 HO DCTS sosen E E ra 13 Technical Description x scvscecsccdanseieseracsectineseceeeses 14 17 VIN 18 Packing Instruction suvereniteten 19 General Information 1 The following Connecting Cable is available from the McIntosh Parts Department Power Control Cable Part No 170 202 Six foot 2 conductor shielded with two 1 8 inch stereo mini phone plugs 2 For additional connection information refer to the owner s manual s for any component s connected to the MC601 3 The MC601 mutes the speaker output for approxi mately two seconds when first turned on 4 For the best performance and safety it is important to always match the impedance of the Loudspeaker to the Power Amplifier connections Refer to How to Connect pages 8 thru 11 Note The impedance of a Loudspeaker actually var ies as the Loudspeaker reproduces different frequencies As a result the nominal impedance rating of the Loudspeaker usually measured at a midrange frequency might not always agree with the impedance of the Loudspeaker at low frequencies where the greatest amount of power is required Contact the Loudspeaker Manufac turer for additional information about the actual impedance of the Loudspeaker before connecting it to the McIntosh MC601 5 In the event the MC601 over heats due to improper ventilation and or high ambient temperature the protection circuits will activate The Fr
31. our feet may be removed from the bottom of the MC601 when it is custom installed as outlined below The four feet together with the mounting screws should be retained for possible future use if the MC601 is removed from the custom installation and used free standing The required panel cutout ventila tion cutout and unit dimensions are shown Always provide adequate ventilation for your MC601 Cool operation ensures the longest possible operating life for any electronic instrument Do not install the MC601 directly above a heat generating component such as a high powered amplifier If all the compo nents are installed in a single cabinet a quiet running ventilation fan can be a definite asset in maintaining all the system components at the coolest possible oper ating temperature A custom cabinet installation should provide the fol lowing minimum spacing dimensions for cool opera tion Allow at least 6 inches 15 24cm above the top 2 inches 5 08cm below the bottom 3 inches 7 62cm behind the rear panel and 2 inches 5 08cm on each side of the Power Amplifier so that airflow is not obstructed Allow 2 1 2 inches 6 35 cm in front of the mounting panel for clearance Be sure to cut out a ventilation hole in the mounting shelf according to the dimensions in the drawing When the MC601 is installed together with other McIn tosh Components check clearances on all components before proceeding MC601 Front Panel Custom C
32. sis Finish The famous McIntosh Illuminated Glass Front Panel and the Stainless Steel Chassis with Super Mirror Fin ish ensures the pristine beauty of the MC601 will be retained for many years Dimensions Dimensions The following dimensions can assist in determining the best location for your MC601 Front View of the MC601 17 1 2 44 45cm 60 6 0 60 ee e POWER GUARD METER BOWER G an Rear View of the MC601 42 70cm 8 7 8 22 54cm 9 7 116 23 97cm 16 13 16 UNBAL IN BALIN IN PUT MODE MC601 QUAD BALANCED POWER AMPLIFIER INTOSH LABORATORY ING BINGHAMTON NY 13903 MADE IN USA MINTE z z 5 z z z a LEU LEU LEJ UEL L 8 o a e 22 somosov 120Vs060He CLASS 2 WIRING e Di 11 3 4 29 85cm Side View of the MC601 20 3 16 51 27cm 17 15 1 45 55cm S ET GE _ 8 3 8 3 16 94 976m md 0 48cm AE E L 2 1 4 ge ooo oo 13 2 3 16 5 71cm 33 02cm 5 55cm vite Installation The MC601 can be placed upright on a table or shelf standing on its four feet It also can be custom installed in a piece of furniture or cabinet of your choice The f
33. ut Terminals When connecting Loudspeakers to the MC601 it is very important to use cables of adequate size so there is little to no power loss in the cables The size is specified in Gauge Numbers or AWG American Wire Gauge The smaller the Gauge number the larger the wire size Loudspeaker Cable Distance vs Wire Gauge Guide Loudspeaker Impedance 25 feet 50 feet 100 feet 7 62 meters 15 24 meters 30 48 meters or less or less orless 20hms 12AWG 10AWG SAWG 40hms 14AWG 12AWG 10AWG 80hms 16AWG 14AWG 12AWG 6 Prepare the Loudspeaker Hookup Cable for attach ment to the MC601 Power Amplifier Bare wire cable ends Carefully remove sufficient insulation from the cable ends refer to figures 2 3 amp 4 If the cable is stranded carefully twist the strands together as tightly as possible 4 0 5 inches 12 7mm P Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Notes 1 If desired the twisted ends can be tinned with solder to keep the strands together 2 The prepared bare wire cable ends may be inserted into spade lug connectors 3 Banana plugs are for use in the United States and Canada only How to Connect for Bi Amp Banana Plugs are for use in the United States and Canada only 7 Locate the Terminal Connections Cover from the inside of the MC601 shipping carton Insert the just prepared Loudspeaker hookup cables thru the cover opening on the right side Refer to figure 5 Cover Opening
34. with your McIntosh equipment and any other brands that may be part of your system If you or your Dealer wish additional help concerning a suspected problem you can receive technical assistance for all McIntosh products at McIntosh Laboratory Inc 2 Chambers Street Binghamton New York 13903 Phone 607 723 1545 Fax 607 724 0549 Copyright 2011 2012 by McIntosh Laboratory Inc Customer Service ii ae ee er Da ee ee dte If it is determined that your McIntosh product is in need of repair you can return it to your Dealer You can also return it to the McIntosh Laboratory Service Department For assistance on factory repair return procedure contact the McIntosh Service Department at McIntosh Laboratory Inc 2 Chambers Street Binghamton New York 13903 Phone 607 723 3515 Fax 607 723 1917 Table of Contents NNN 2 Thank You and Please Take a Moment 00004 3 Technical Assistance and Customer Service 3 Table ENN 3 General Information seeeoeeneseenssensssenesersssserssersseee 3 Connector and Cable Information eee 4 POC UG OO EN ie euneieouces 4 Performance Features rrrnnnvvrnnnvvennnnvvnnnuvsnnnnuvenenuvene 4 DN ae 5 Installation EE AEREE RNEER 6 Rear Panel Connections and Switch eee ee 7 Output Terminals and How to Connect 8 9 Output Terminals and How to Connect for BAT is cees oncectesacectaeererceteeerstatenectateuuestuadeees 10 11 Fr
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