McIntosh C-15 Brochure

C15 Preamplifier

See “SYSTEMS ENGINEERING”

in main brochure for more on

McIntosh system architectures.

C15

Preamplifier

othing about the performance and features of the C15 suggest that it is the
most affordable McIntosh Control Center. The C15’s extensive capabilities

N

make it the ideal centerpiece for what may begin as a pure stereo system and
evolve into a multizone audio/video system.

Featured Technologies

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.

The input selectors on McIntosh Control
Centers actually control state-of-the-art
silent electromagnetic switches.

sealed glass tube

lead

switching command causes DC voltage at coil

circuit completes

when leads touch

coil

lead