McIntosh Laboratory, Inc. 2 Chambers Street Binghamton, New York MC601 Quad Balanced 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 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 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, Input/Output Connectors on the MC601. Refer to the diagram for connection: IN OUT PIN 1: Shield/Ground PIN 2: + Input/Output PIN 3: - Input/Output PIN 2 PIN 1 PIN 3 PIN 1 PIN 3 PIN 2 Power Control Connector The MC601 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 MC601. Front View of the MC601 17-1/2" 44.45cm 8-7/8" 22.54cm Side View of the MC601 9-7/16" 23.97cm 20-3/16" 51.27cm 17-15/16" 45.55cm Rear View of the MC601 8-3/8" 3/16" 21.27cm 0.48cm 16-13/16" 42.70cm 2-1/4" 5.71cm 13" 33.02cm 2-3/16" 5.55cm 11-3/4" 29.
Installation 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 four 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.
Rear Panel Connections and Switch POWER CONTROL IN receives turn On/Off signals from a McIntosh component BALanced INput for audio cables from a Preamplifier or A/V Control Center audio output UNBALanced INput for an audio cable from a Preamplifier or A/V Control Center audio output INPUT MODE switch selects between Unbalanced or Balanced Input BALanced OUTput for an audio cable to the next Power Amplifier Input POWER CONTROL OUT 1 and 2 send turn On/Off signals to the next McIntosh Component UNBALanc
Output Terminals 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 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 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 (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 8Ω (ohms) Loudspeakers.
Output Terminals 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 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.
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 or 8Ω (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 8Ω (ohms) Loudspeakers.
Front Panel Displays and Controls LED indicates when the Amplifier POWER GUARD circuit activates Meter indicates the Output of the amplifier METER Switch selects the display modes of the Power Output Meter and Meter Illumination 12 Standby Power On Indicator POWER Switch Turns AC Power Off, Remote, AC Power On
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 desired. Refer to figure 8. Note: There must be a power control connection between the MC601 and the Audio Preamplifier or A/V Control Center, in order for the remote power turn-on to function.
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 12 14 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.
Technical Description 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. 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.
Technical Description, con’t Power Output Meter The McIntosh MC601 has a large Output Watt Meter that responds 95% full scale to a single cycle tone burst at 2kHz. Refer to figure 17. Voltage and current outputs are electronically measured, multiplied and fed to a special circuit that accelerates the pointer movement in the upward Figure 17 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.
Technical Description, con’t Block Diagram of the Power Supply a circuit that provides remote Power Control from a McIntosh A/V Control Center. Refer to figure 25. POWER CONTROL BACKUP POWER SUPPLY LIGHTING CONTROL CONTROL LOGIC INRUSH CURRENT LIMITER AC Power MAIN RELAYS Figure 22 Figure 25 When the A/V Control Center is switched On, a (+5V) signal operates the power relay in the MC601. The MC601 also has two remote Power Control Out Jacks.
Specifications 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 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. 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 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.
