McIntosh MC2301 owner manual How to Connect for Bi-Amp

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How to Connect for Bi-Amp

Caution: The supplied AC Power Cord should not be connected to the Rear Panel of the MC2301 Tube Power Amplifier until after the Loud- speaker Connections have been made. Failure to observe this could result in Electric Shock. For additional instruction on making Loud- speaker Connections contact your McIntosh Dealer or McIntosh Technical Support.

1.For Remote Power Control, connect a power control cable from the Control Center or Preamplifier Power Control Out to POWER CONTROL IN on the McIntosh MC2301 Power Amplifier.

2.Connect a power control cable from the McIntosh MC2301 Power Amplifier POWER CONTROL Out to the Power Control In on the McIntosh Power Amplifier Two.

3.Connect a cable from the Balanced Output of a McIn- tosh Preamplifier or Control Center to the BALANCED INPUT on the McIntosh MC2301 Power Amplifier.

4.Connect a cable from the BALANCED INPUT/OUT- PUT of the McIntosh MC2301 Power Amplifier to the BALANCED INPUT on the McIntosh Power Amplifier Two. Place the MC2301 INPUT MODE Switch in the

BALANCED Position.

When connecting Loudspeakers to the MC2301 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

5.This McIntosh MC2301 Tube Power Amplifier is de- signed for the connection of a single Loudspeaker 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.

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

Bare wire cable ends: Carefully remove sufficient insu- lation 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 fig- ures 4, 5 & 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.

When making Loudspeaker Connections to the MC2301 refer to the Connection Diagram on the next page. This is an example of a typical audio system, your system may vary from this, however the actual Loudspeaker would be connected in a similar manner.

7.Connect the Loudspeaker hookup cables from a single Loudspeaker to the output terminals that match the im- pedance of the Loudspeaker, 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.

8.Connect the MC2301 Power Cord to a live AC outlet.

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