McIntosh MA6600 owner manual How to Connect, Connecting Loudspeakers

Figure 1

Figure 3

Figure 2

How to Connect

Connecting Loudspeakers

Caution: The supplied AC Power Cord should not be connected to the Rear Panel of the MA6600 Amplifier until after the Loudspeaker Connec- tions have been made. Failure to observe this could result in Electric Shock. For additional instruction on making Loudspeaker Connec- tions contact your McIntosh Dealer or McIn- tosh Technical Support.

When connecting Loudspeakers to the MA6600 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	25 feet	50 feet	100 feet
	(7.62 meters)	(15.24 meters)	(30.48 meters)
Impedance
	or less	or less	or less
2 Ohms	12AWG	10AWG	8AWG
4 Ohms	14AWG	12AWG	10AWG
8 Ohms	16AWG	14AWG	12AWG

Refer to the Connection Diagram located on the sepa- rate folded sheet “Mc1B” when making Loudspeaker Connections to the MA6600. This an example of a typical audio system, your system may vary from this, however the actual Loudspeakers would be connected in a similar manner.

1.This McIntosh MA6600 Integrated Amplifier is de- signed for the connection of a single Loudspeaker per amplifier channel, with an impedance of 2 ohms, 4 ohms or 8 ohms.

Note: The remaining Loudspeaker Terminals on the Amplifier should not be connected to another Loudspeaker.

2.Prepare the Loudspeaker Hookup Cables that attach to the Amplifier by choosing one of the methods below:

Bare wire cable ends:

Carefully remove sufficient insulation from the cable ends,

refer to

figures 1,

2 & 3. If the cable is stranded,

carefully

twist the strands together as tightly as possible.

Note: If desired, the twisted ends can be tinned with solder to keep the strands together, or attach spade lug and/or banana connector.

Spade lug or prepared wire connection:

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 terminal so the wires cannot slip out. Refer to figures 4, 5 & 6.

Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6

Banana plug connection:

Insert the banana plug into the hole at the top of the terminal. Refer to figures A and B.

Note: Banana Plugs are for use in the United States and Canada only.

3.Connect the Loudspeaker hookup cables from a single Loudspeaker to the output terminals that match the im- pedance of the Loudspeaker1, being careful to observe the correct polarities. Output impedance connections of 2 ohms, 4 ohms and 8 ohms are provided. If the Loudspeaker’s impedance is in-between the available connections, use the nearest lower impedance connec- tion.

WARNING: Loudspeaker terminals are hazardous live and present a risk of electric shock.

4.Connect the MA6600 Power Cord to a live AC outlet.

1For the best performance it is important to minimize an im- pedance mismatch. An impedance mismatch can occur when a Loudspeaker of a given impedance rating is connected to the MA6600 Output Terminals with a different impedance rating. For example, a Loudspeaker with an impedance rating of 2 Ohm is connected the MA6600 8 Ohm Output Termi- nals. The impedance of a Loudspeaker actually varies 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.

9