McIntosh Laboratory, Inc. 2 Chambers Street Binghamton, New York MC302 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 MC302 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 on the MC302. Refer to the diagram for connection: IN PIN 1: Shield/Ground PIN 2: + Input PIN 3: - Input PIN 2 PIN 1 PIN 3 Power Control Connector The MC302 Power Control Input receives an On/Off signal from +5 to +12 volts. The Power Control Output will in turn provide a +12 volt Output Signal with a total curTrigger rent up to 50mA.
Dimensions Dimensions The following dimensions can assist in determining the best location for your MC302. Front View of the MC302 17-1/2" 44.45cm 8-7/8" 22.54cm Side View of the MC302 9-7/16" 23.97cm 20-3/16" 51.27cm 17-15/16" 45.55cm Rear View of the MC302 16-13/16" 5/8" 1.59cm 8-3/8" 3/16" 21.27cm 0.48cm 42.70cm 13/16" 2.06cm 2-5/8" 6.67cm 13" 33.02cm 2-3/16" 5.55cm 6.6 11-3/4" 29.
Installation Installation The MC302 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 MC302 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 MC302 is removed from the custom installation and used free standing.
Rear Panel Connections and Switch INPUT MODE switch selects between Balanced or Unbalanced Inputs Unbalanced INput (LEFT and RIGHT Channels) for an audio cable from a Preamplifier or A/V Control Center audio output Balanced INputs (RIGHT and LEFT Channels) for audio cables from a Preamplifier or A/V Control Center audio output POWER CONTROL IN receives turn On/Off signals from a McIntosh component. POWER CONTROL OUT 1 and 2 send turn On/Off signals to the next McIntosh Component 6.
How to Connect Caution: Do not connect the AC Power Cord to the MC302 Rear Panel until after the Loudspeaker Connections are made. Failure to observe this could result in Electric Shock. The connection instructions below, together with the MC302 Connection Diagram located on the separate folded sheet “Mc1A”, is an example of a typical audio system. Your system may vary from this, however the actual components would be connected in a similar manner.
How to Connect Note: The illustration on separate sheet “Mc1A”is connections for 8Ω (ohms) Loudspeakers. 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. 9.
How to Connect for Bi-Amp Caution: Do not connect the AC Power Cord to the MC302 Rear Panel until after the Loudspeaker Connections are made. Failure to observe this could result in Electric Shock. The connection instructions below, together with the MC302 Connection Diagram located on the separate folded sheet “Mc1B”, is an example of a typical audio system. Your system may vary from this, however the actual components would be connected in a similar manner.
How to Connect for Bi-Amp Spade Lug or Wire Connections: 9. Connect the Loudspeaker hookup cables to the MC302 Negative Output Terminal and Positive Output Terminal indentified as 2Ω (ohms), 4Ω (ohms) or 8Ω (ohms) connection to match the impedance of the Loudspeaker, being careful to observe the correct polarities.
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 MC302 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 MC302 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. The MC302 has a continuous average power output rating of 300 watts per channel, with a peak output current of 60 amperes, making it one of the most advanced amplifiers available today.
Technical Description considerably from what a loudspeaker requires. In the case of more than one loudspeaker connected in parallel, the load to the power amplifier may drop to two ohms or even less. A power amplifier connected to a load that is lower than optimum, causes more output current to flow, which results in extra heat being generated in the power output stage. This increase in temperature will result in a reduced life expectancy for the amplifier.
Technical Description, con’t The Autoformer creates an ideal match between the power amplifier output stage and the loudspeaker. Refer to figure 16. There is absolutely no performance limitation with an Autoformer. Its frequency response exceeds that of the output circuit itself, and extends well beyond the audible range. Its distortion level is so low it is virtually impossible to Figure 16 measure.
Technical Description, con’t Guard circuit acts so fast With Power Guard that there are absolutely no audible side effects and the sonic purity of the music reproduction is perfectly preserved. The MC302 Power Amplifier with Power Guard is not limited to just the rated power output, but will actually produce distortion free output well Figure 21 above its rated power due to the McIntosh philosophy of conservative design.
Specifications Specifications Power Output Minimum sine wave continuous average power output per channel, with both channels operating is: 300 watts into 2 ohm load 300 watts into 4 ohm load 300 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.