How To Connect For Bi-Amp - McIntosh MC2301 Owner's Manual

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 Loudspeaker Connections have been
made. Failure to observe this could result
in Electric Shock. For additional instruc-
tion on making Loudspeaker Connections
contact your McIntosh Dealer or McIn-
tosh 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
McIntosh Preamplifier or Control Center to the
BALANCED INPUT on the McIntosh MC2301
Power Amplifier.
4. Connect a cable from the BALANCED INPUT/
OUTPUT of the McIntosh MC2301 Power Ampli-
fier 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:
14
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
4 Ohms 14AWG 12AWG
8 Ohms 16AWG 14AWG
5. This McIntosh MC2301 Tube Power Amplifier
is designed for the connection of a single Loud-
speaker 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 insulation from the
cable ends, refer to figures 1, 2 & 3. If the cable
is stranded,
carefully
twist the
strands
Figure 1
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 sec-
tion of the cable end into the terminal side ac-
cess hole, and tighten the terminal cap until the
cable is firmly clamped into the terminal so the
wires cannot slip out. Refer to figures 4, 5 & 6.
100 feet
(30.48 meters)
or less
8AWG
Banana plug connection:
10AWG
Insert the banana plug into the hole at the top of
12AWG the terminal. Refer to figures A and B.
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 impedance of the Loudspeaker, being
careful to observe the correct polarities. Output
impedance connections of 2 ohms, 4 ohms and 8
Figure 2 Figure 3
ohms are provided. If the Loudspeaker's imped-
ance is in-between the available connections, use
the nearest lower impedance connection.
WARNING: Loudspeaker terminals are hazard-
8. Connect the MC2301 Power Cord to a live AC
outlet.
Figure 4 Figure 5
Note: Banana Plugs are for use in the United
States and Canada only.
ous live and present a risk of electric
shock.
Figure 6