How To Connect Loudspeakers - McIntosh MC3500 Owner's Manual

How to Connect Loudspeakers

For the best performance and safety, it is important to
always match the impedance of the Loudspeaker to
the Power Amplifier connections. When connecting
the Loudspeaker Hookup Cables to the MC3500
Power Amplifier Output Terminals please follow the
steps below:
1. Rotate the top of the Output Terminal Post
counterclockwise until an
opening appears. Refer to
figures A and B.
2. Insert the Loudspeaker hookup
cable into the Output Terminal
Post opening or the cable spade
lug around the center post of
the Output Terminal. Refer to
figure C.
3. Rotate the top of the Output
Terminal Post clockwise until it
is finger tight. Refer to figure D.
4. Place the supplied McIntosh
Wrench over the top of the
Output Terminal and rotate it
one quarter of a turn (90°) to
secure the Loudspeaker Cable
Connection. Do not over
tighten. Refer to figure E.
WARNING: Do not connect the AC Power Cord
to the MC3500 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
MC3500 Connection Diagram located on Page 9 is an
example of a typical audio system. Your system may
vary from this; however, the actual components would
10
be connected in a similar manner. For additional infor-
mation, refer to "Connector and Cable Information"
on Page 6.
1. For Remote Power Control, connect a power
control cable from the Audio Preamplifier Power
Control Main Output Jack to the Power Amplifier
POWER CONTROL IN Jack.
2. Connect XLR cables from the Balanced Main
Output connector of the Audio Preamplifier to
the Power Amplifier Balanced INPUTS. Place the
INPUT Switch in the Balanced Position.
Note: An optional hookup is to use unbalanced cable
and place the INPUT MODE Switch in the
Unbalanced Position.
Opening
This McIntosh MC3500 Power Amplifier is designed
Figure B
Figure A
for Loudspeakers with an impedance of 2 ohms, 4
ohms, or 8 ohms. Connect a single Loudspeaker only
to the Output Terminals.
When connecting Loudspeakers to the MC3500 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 AWG (American Wire Gauge). The
Figure C Figure D
smaller the Gauge number, the larger the wire size:
Note: The impedance of a Loudspeaker actually
varies as the Loudspeaker reproduces
different frequencies. As a result, the nominal
impedance rating of the Loudspeaker
Figure E
(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.
Contact the Loudspeaker Manufacturer
for additional information about the actual
impedance of the Loudspeaker before
connecting it to the McIntosh MC3500.
Loudspeaker Cable Distance vs Wire Gauge Guide
25 feet 50 feet
Loudspeaker
(7.62 meters) (15.24 meters)
Impedance
or less or less
2 Ohms 12AWG 10AWG
14AWG 12AWG
4 Ohms
8 Ohms 16AWG 14AWG
3. Prepare the Loudspeaker Hookup Cable for
attachment to the MC3500 Power Amplifier:
Bare wire cable ends:
Carefully remove sufficient insulation from the
cable ends, refer to figures 1, 2, and 3. If the
cable is stranded, carefully twist the strands
together as tightly as possible.
Figure 2
Figure 1
Notes: 1. If desired, the twisted ends can be tinned with
solder to keep the strands together.
2. The prepared bare wire cable ends may be
inserted into spade lug connectors.
3. Banana plugs are for use in the United States
and Canada only.
Banana Plugs are for use in the
United States and Canada only:
4. Attach the previously prepared
bare wire cable ends into the
banana plugs and secure the
connections. Refer to figure F.
5. Rotate the top of the Output
Terminal Post clockwise until
it is finger tight. Refer to figure
G. Then using the McIntosh
Wrench, rotate the top of the
100 feet
(30.48 meters)
or less
8AWG
10AWG
12AWG
Figure 3
Figure F
Figure G