McIntosh Laboratory, Inc. 2 Chambers Street Binghamton, New York MC152 Power Amplifier Owner’s Manual 13903-2699 Phone: 607-723-3512 www.mcintoshlabs.
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 enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons. 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. 1. Read these instructions. 2. Keep these instructions. 3.
Thank You Your decision to own this McIntosh MC152 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 possible with all the features and functions of your new McIntosh.
Cable Information, Introduction and Performance Features Connector and Cable Information XLR Connectors Below is the Pin configuration for the XLR Balanced Input Connectors on the MC152. Refer to the diagram for connection: PIN 1: Shield/Ground PIN 2: + Input/Output PIN 3: - Input/Output PIN 2 PIN 1 PIN 3 Power Control Connector The MC152 Power Control Input receives an On/Off signal from +5 to +12 volts.
Dimensions Dimensions The following dimensions can assist in determining the best location for your MC152. Front View of the MC152 17-1/2" 44.5cm 5-3/8" 13.7cm 6" 15.2cm Side View of the MC152 18-15/16" 12-1/4" 48.1cm 31.1cm 17-3/16" 43.7cm 3/16" 0.5cm Rear View of the MC152 17-1/8" 4-3/4" 12.1cm 43.5cm BAL L BAL R UNBAL 4-9/16" 11.6cm 13/16" 2.1cm 12-5/8" 32.1cm 1-9/16" 4.0cm 3" 7.6cm 13 -1/4" 33.
Installation Installation The MC152 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 four feet may be removed from the bottom of the MC152 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 MC152 is removed from the custom installation and used free standing.
Rear Panel Connections and Switch INPUT MODE switch selects between BALanced or UNBALanced Input BALanced L INPUT for audio cables from a Preamplifier or A/V Control Center audio output PoWeR ConTRoL OUT sends turn On/Off signals to the next McIntosh Component PoWeR ConTRoL IN receives turn On/Off signals from a McIntosh component BALanced R INPUT for audio cables from a Preamplifier or A/V Control Center audio output AUTO OFF Power Save Feature is either DISabled or ENAbled BAL L BAL R UNBAL RIGHT
Output Terminals When connecting the Loudspeaker Hookup Cables to the MC152 Power Amplifier Output Terminals please follow the steps below: 1. Rotate the top of the Output Terminal Post counterclockwise until an opening appears. Refer to figures A and B. 2. Insert the Loudspeaker hookup cable into the Output Terminal Opening Post opening or the cable spade Figure B Figure A lug around the center post of the Output Terminal. Refer to figure C. 3.
Output Terminals and How to Connect Output Terminals. The terminals are indentified as 2Ω (ohms), 4Ω (ohms) or 8Ω (ohms) connection to match the impedance of the Loudspeaker, being careful to observe the correct polarities. Note: The illustration on separate sheet “Mc1A” is connections for 8Ω (ohms) Loudspeakers. If the Loudspeaker’s impedance is in-between the available connections, use the nearest lower impedance connection. Refer to “General Information” Note 3 on page 3 for additional information.
Output Terminals When connecting the Loudspeaker Hookup Cables to the MC152 Power Amplifier Output Terminals please follow the steps below: 1. Rotate the top of the Output Terminal Post counterclockwise until an opening appears. Refer to figures A and B. 2. Insert the Loudspeaker hookup Opening cable into the Output Terminal Post opening or the cable spade Figure A Figure B lug around the center post of the Output Terminal. Refer to figure C. 3.
How to Connect for Bi-Amp 8. Referring to figure H, connect the Loudspeaker hookup cables with banana plugs into the hole at the top of the MC152 Negative and Positive Output Terminals. The terminals are indentified as 2Ω (ohms), 4Ω (ohms) or 8Ω (ohms) connection to match the impedance of the Loudspeaker, being careful to observe the correct polarities. 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.
Front Panel Displays and Controls Meter indicates the Left Channel Output of the amplifier Standby Power On Indicator LED indicates when the LEFT Channel Amplifier POWER GUARD circuit activates METER Push-button switches Meter Illumination On and Off 12 Meter indicates the Right Channel Output of the amplifier LED indicates when the RIGHT Channel Amplifier POWER GUARD circuit activates POWER Push-button switches AC Power On and Off
How to Operate How to Operate Power On/Off Momentarily press the POWER Push-button to switch the MC152 On or Off. Refer to figure 8. Note: There must be a power control connection between the MC152 and the Audio Preamplifier or A/V Control Center, in order for the remote power turn-on to function. Figure 8 Auto Off The MC152 incorporates a Power Save Feature to automatically switch power Off to the Power Amplifier approximately 30 minutes after there has been an absence of an audio input signal.
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 compromise, using the most advanced McIntosh circuit design concepts. Figure 13 14 The MC152 has a continuous average power output rating of 150 watts per channel and with a peak output current of 40 amperes; making this one of the most advanced amplifiers available today.
Technical Description The output signal of the amplifier circuit is coupled into the unique McIntosh MC152 Output Autoformer. It provides low distortion power transfer at frequencies from below 20Hz to well beyond 20,000Hz with optimum impedance points of two ohms, four ohms and eight ohms. The unequaled expertise of McIntosh in the design and manufacturing of autoformers is legendary in the high fidelity industry. Refer to figure 17.
Technical Description, con’t In the rare event of a power amplifier output 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 legendary in the high fidelity industry. McIntosh engineers know how to do it right. Power Output Meter The McIntosh MC152 has large Output Watt Meters responding to 95% full scale to a single cycle tone burst at 2kHz.
Technical Description, con’t Block Diagram of the Power Supply POWER CONTROL BACKUP POWER SUPPLY LIGHTING CONTROL CONTROL LOGIC INRUSH CURRENT LIMITER AC Power MAIN RELAYS Figure 24 Power Supply Circuits To compliment the design of the MC152 Power Amplifier Circuitry, there is a high current high voltage power supply. Refer to figures 24 and 26. The very large Power Transfomer can supply over 6 amps of current. Refer to figure 25 (golf ball is for size comparsion).
Specifications Specifications Power Output Minimum sine wave continuous average power output per channel, with both channels operating is: 150 watts into 2 ohm load 150 watts into 4 ohm load 150 watts into 8 ohm load Output Load Impedance 2, 4 or 8 ohms 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.
Packing Instructions Packing Instructions 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. Two #10 x 2-1/4 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 do this will result in shipping damage.
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.