McIntosh C-100 Brochure

C100 Preamplifier/Controller

See “SYSTEMS ENGINEERING”

in main brochure for more on

McIntosh system architectures.

C100

Preamplifier/Controller

FULLY BALANCED DUAL-CHASSIS DESIGN. The extraordinary C100 is fully balanced from
input to output – a configuration that essentially cancels all distortion. The precision volume
control has four matched sections and the main gain stage uses four matched amplifiers oper­ating in push-pull. Even unbalanced signals are converted to and processed as balanced signals.
The Preamplifier chassis, which contains only audio circuits and inputs/outputs, is completely
isolated from the power supply and the microprocessors, ensuring total noise rejection. The
Controller chassis contains the selector switches, digital display, all control microprocessors,
and the power supply. After any switching operation, the control circuits are automatically
turned off to eliminate any possibility of microprocessor noise reaching the audio circuits. The
only connection between the Preamplifier and Controller is a 25-pin shielded cable.

SILENT ELECTROMAGNETIC SWITCHING. In a conventional preamp, an input signal travels
to a switch, and then travels to the input circuitry. Unfortunately, the farther a signal must travel,
the more distorted it becomes. And this says nothing of what detritus a dirty switch can add to
the signal. McIntosh Silent Electromagnetic Switching literally brings the switch to the input.
The distortion-free switch consists of a glass tube containing oxygen-free gas and two signal
leads separated by mere thousandths of an inch. The tube sits in a multilayer copper coil and
the entire assembly is encased in shock-absorbent plastic. When DC voltage is applied to the
coil in response to a switching command, current flow creates a magnetic field that causes the
leads to bend and contact one another, completing the circuit. The inert gas eliminates corrosion
of the contacts, ensuring a low-resistance, distortion-free switch that never needs cleaning.
Another benefit is that non-selected inputs are truly “off,” eliminating potential sources of
interference.

I

t embodies the expertise of famously uncompromising engineers. It is a fully

balanced design with a separate chassis for total isolation of the audio signal.
It uses the finest one-percent resistors and capacitors and internal gold-plated
contacts with solid-soldered joints. No details are overlooked in the design of a
preamplifier virtually devoid of any measurable noise. The McIntosh C100 awaits
those who may be searching for their last preamplifier.

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