McIntosh Laboratory, Inc. 2 Chambers Street Binghamton, New York MC452 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 Customer Service Your decision to own this McIntosh MC452 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 MC452. 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 MC452 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 MC452. Front View of the MC452 17-1/2" 44.45cm 8-7/8" 22.54cm Side View of the MC452 9-7/16" 23.97cm 20-3/16" 51.27cm 17-15/16" 45.55cm Rear View of the MC452 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 MC452 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 MC452 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 MC452 is removed from the custom installation and used free standing.
Rear Panel Connections and Switch Balanced OUTputs (LEFT and RIGHT Channels) for an audio cable to the next Power Amplifier Input Unbalanced INput (RIGHT Channel) for an audio cable from a Preamplifier or A/V Control Center audio output. Unbalanced OUTput (RIGHT Channel) for an audio cable to the next Power Amplifier Input Unbalanced INput (LEFT Channel) for an audio cable from a Preamplifier or A/V Control Center audio output.
How to Connect Caution: Do not connect the AC Power Cord to the MC452 Rear Panel until after the Loudspeaker Connections are made and the protective Terminal Connections Covers are installed. Failure to observe this could result in Electric Shock. The connection instructions below, together with the MC452 Connection Diagram located on the separate folded sheet “Mc1A”, is an example of a typical audio system.
How to Connect If the Loudspeaker’s impedance is in-between the available connections, use the nearest lower impedance connection. Refer to “General Information” Note 4 on page 3 for additional information. WARNING: Loudspeaker terminals are hazardous live and present a risk of electric shock. For additional instruction on making Loudspeaker Connections contact your McIntosh Dealer or McIntosh Technical Support. 7.
How to Connect for Bi-Amp Caution: Do not connect the AC Power Cord to the MC452 Rear Panel until after the Loudspeaker Connections are made and the protective Terminal Connections Covers are installed. Failure to observe this could result in Electric Shock. The connection instructions below, together with the MC452 Connection Diagram located on the separate folded sheet “Mc1B”, is an example of a typical audio system.
How to Connect for Bi-Amp the terminal to the MC452 Negative Output Terminal and Positive Output TerFigure B minal indentified as 2Ω Figure A (ohms), 4Ω (ohms) or 8Ω (ohms) connection to match the impedance of the Loudspeaker, being careful to observe the correct polarities. Cover Openings Cover Openings Note: The illustration in Figure 5 is connections for 8Ω (ohms) Loudspeakers. If the Loudspeaker’s impedance is in-between the available connections, use the nearest lower impedance connection.
Front Panel Displays and Controls Meter indicates the Left Channel Output of the amplifier LED indicates when the Left Channel Amplifier POWER GUARD circuit activates METER Switch selects the display modes of the Power Output Meter and Meter Illumination 12 Standby Power On Indicator LED indicates when the Right Channel Amplifier POWER GUARD circuit activates Meter indicates the Right Channel Output of the amplifier POWER Switch Turns AC Power Off, Remote, AC Power On
How to Operate How to Operate Power On To have the MC452 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 MC452 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 MC452 has a continuous average power output rating of 450 watts per channel and with a peak output current of 75 amperes; making this one of the most advanced amplifiers available today.
Technical Description 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. The high efficiency circuit design of the MC452 contributes to low operating temperatures. More than 2800 square inches of heat sink area keep the MC452 operating safely with convection cooling. No fans are needed.
Technical Description, con’t Power Output Meter The McIntosh MC452 has 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 direction. Refer to figure 25 on the next page. When the pointer reaches Figure 17 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 POWER CONTROL BACKUP POWER SUPPLY LIGHTING CONTROL CONTROL LOGIC INRUSH CURRENT LIMITER AC Power Socket MAIN RELAYS Figure 22 over 20 amps of current. Refer to figure 23 (golf ball is for size comparsion). Figure 25 Figure 24 Figure 23 It is enclosed in the legendary McIntosh Potted Enclosures and weighs 30lbs.
Specifications Specifications Power Output Minimum sine wave continuous average power output per channel, with both channels operating is: 450 watts into 2 ohm load 450 watts into 4 ohm load 450 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.
