Owner's Manual

3
General Information, Trademark and License Information, and Connector Information
Connector and Cable Information
XLR Connectors
Pin configuration for the XLR Balanced Input and Out-
put Connector. Refer to the diagrams for connections:
PIN 1: Shield/Ground
PIN 2: + Input/Output
PIN 3: - Input/Output
Power Control and Trigger Connectors
The C53 Power Control Out, Trigger and PASSTHRU
Output Jacks send Power On/Off Sig-
nals (+12 volt/0 volt) when connected
to other Components. An additional
connection is for controlling McIn-
tosh Power Amplifiers Output Meters.
A 3.5mm stereo mini phone plug is
used for connection to the Power Control (Trigger) and
PASSTHRU Output.
Note: The Six Foot Cables are available from the McIn-
tosh Parts Department. Part No. 170-202.
Data Port Connectors
The C53 Data Out Ports send Remote
Control Signals to Source Components.
A 3.5mm stereo mini phone plug is
used for connection.
IR IN Port Connectors
The IR IN Port also uses a 3.5mm stereo
mini phone plug and allows the connec-
tion of other brand IR Receivers to the
C53.
RS232 Data Port Cable
The RS232 Data Cable is a 3.5mm stereo mini phone
plug to a subminiature DB 9 connector:
Data
Signal
N/C
Data
Ground
PIN 2 PIN 1
PIN 3
PIN 1
PIN 2
PIN 3
1. Refer to pages 7-8 for component(s) connection to
the C53 Preamplifier.
2. Do not apply AC Power to the C53 and other
Component(s) until they are connected to the C53
so operational malfunctioning does not occur.
3. Balanced and Unbalanced Inputs and Outputs can
be mixed. For example, you may connect signal
sources to Unbalanced Inputs and send signals
from the Balanced Outputs. You can also use Bal-
anced and Unbalanced Outputs simultaneously,
connected to different Power Amplifiers.
4. The C53 internal Digital to Analog Converter Cir-
cuitry is designed to decode PCM, DSD and DTS
Digital Signals. The Coaxial and Optical Digital
Audio Inputs are for PCM Digital Signals, Dolby
Signals and DTS Signals. The C53 also decodes
USB and HDMI (ARC) Digital Signals. Other Digi-
tal Audio Signal Format Types will cause the Audio
Outputs of the C53 to be muted and the Front Panel
Information Display will indicate an error message.
5. The Audio Sound is measured in units called Deci-
bels and “dB” is the abbreviation.
6. The McIntosh C53 is factory configured for imme-
diate use. It can also be customized to complement
the components making up your system. Refer to
the C53 “Setup Mode” starting on page 13 for ad-
ditional information.
7. The Remote Control Supplied with the C53 Pream-
plifier is capable of operating other components.
For additional information go to www.mcintosh-
labs.com.
8. The IR Input is configured for non-McIntosh IR
sensors such as a Xantech Model HL85BK Kit. Use
a Connection Block such as a Xantech Model ZC21
when two or more IR sensors need to be connected
to the C53. The signal from a connected External
General Information
Power
Control
Meter
Illumination
Control
Ground
Main, Triggers 1-4
and PASSTH RU
IR Sensor will have priority over the signal from
the Front Panel IR Sensor.
9. For additional information on the C53 and other
McIntosh Products please visit the McIntosh Web
Site at www.mcintoshlabs.com.
IR Data
Control
Ground
N/C
Data In
(DB9-pin2)
Ground
(DB9-pin5)
Data Out
(DB9-pin3)
PIN 1
PIN 6
PIN 5
PIN 9
DB9
(male connector)
The McIntosh C53 incorporates copyright protected
technology that is protected by U.S. patents and other
intellectual property rights. The C53 uses the follow-
ing Technologies:
Trademark License Information
ASIO is a trademark and
software of Steinberg Media
Technologies GmbH
Manufactured under license
from Dolby Laboratories. Dolby,
Dolby Audio, and the double-D
symbol are trademarks of Dolby
Laboratories.
For DTS patents, see http://
patents.dts.com. Manufactured
under license from DTS, Inc.
DTS, the Symbol, DTS and
the Symbol together, and
Digital Surround are registered
trademarks and/or trademarks
of DTS, Inc. in the United
States and/or other countries.
DTS, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The terms HDMI, HDMI
High-Denition Multimedia
Interface, and the HDMI Logo
are trademarks or registered
trademarks of HDMI Licensing
Administrator, Inc.
Trademark and License Information
HIGH-DEFINITION MULTIMEDIA INTERFACE
TM