McIntosh C22 Owner's Manual

McIntosh Laboratory, Inc. 2 Chambers Street Binghamton, New York 13903-2699 Phone: [phone] www.mcintoshlabs.com

C22

Tube Preamplier

Owner’s Manual

Important Safety Information is supplied in a separate document “Important Additional Operation Information Guide”

Thank You

With the McIntosh C22 Stereophonic Preamplifier,
you have invested in a precision instrument that will
provide you with many years of enjoyment. Please
take a few moments to familiarize yourself with
the features and instructions to get the maximum
performance from your equipment.

If you need further technical assistance, please contact
your Dealer who may be more familiar with your
particular setup including other brands. You can also
contact McIntosh with additional questions or in the
unlikely event of needing service.
.

Please Take A Moment

The serial number, purchase date and McIntosh Dealer
name are important to you for possible insurance
claim or future service. The spaces below have been
provided for you to record that information:

Serial Number: _______________________________

Purchase Date: _______________________________

Dealer Name: ________________________________

Technical Assistance

If at any time you have questions about your McIntosh
product, contact your McIntosh Dealer who is familiar
with your McIntosh equipment and any other brands
that may be part of your system. If you or your Dealer
wish additional help concerning a suspected problem,
you can receive technical assistance for all McIntosh
products at:

McIntosh Laboratory, Inc.
2 Chambers Street
Binghamton, New York 13903
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Customer Service

If it is determined that your McIntosh product is in
need of repair, you can return it to your Dealer. You
can also return it to the McIntosh Laboratory Service
Department. For assistance on factory repair return
procedure, contact the McIntosh Service Department
at:

McIntosh Laboratory, Inc.
2 Chambers Street
Binghamton, New York 13903
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Table of Contents

Safety Instructions ..................................................... 2

(Separate Sheet) ................... Important Additional

Operation Information Guide

Thank You and Please Take a Moment ....................... 2

Technical Assistance and Customer Service .............. 2

Table of Contents ........................................................ 2

General Information ................................................... 3

Connector and Cable Information ..............................3

Introduction .................................................................4

Performance Features ................................................. 4

Dimensions .................................................................5

Installation ..................................................................6

Rear Panel Connections ............................................. 7

How to Connect the C22 ............................................ 8

Connection Diagrams (Separate Sheets).... Mc1A and

Mc1B

How to use the Remote Control ............................ 9 -10

Front Panel Displays, Controls, Switches

and Jack .................................................................... 11

How to Operate the C22 ..................................... 12-13

Specifications ........................................................... 14

Packing Instruction .................................................. 15

Copyright 2019 © by McIntosh Laboratory, Inc.

2

General Information and Cable Information

General Information Connector and Cable Information

1. The C22 uses Vacuum Tubes for amplifying the
audio signal. The C22 is designed to have only
qualified Service Personnel perform any part(s)
replacement including all the vacuum tubes.

2. For additional connection information, refer to the
owner’s manual(s) for any component(s) connected
to the C22 Stereophonic Preamplifier.

3. The Main AC Power going to the C22 and any
other McIntosh Component(s) should not be applied
until all the system components are connected
together. Failure to do so could result in malfunc­tioning of some or all of the system’s normal opera­tions. When the C22 and other McIntosh Compo­nents are in their Standby Power Off Mode, the
Microprocessor’s Circuitry inside each component
is active and communication is occurring between
them.

4. Balanced and Unbalanced Inputs and Outputs can
be mixed. For example, you may connect signal
sources to Unbalanced Inputs and send signals
from the Balanced Outputs. You can also use Bal­anced and Unbalanced Outputs simultaneously,
connected to different Power Amplifiers.

5. The C22 Remote Control is capable of operating
other components. For additional information go
to www.mcintoshlabs.com.

6. The IR Input, with a 3.5mm stereo mini phone
jack, is configured for non-McIntosh IR sen­sors such as a Xantech Model DL85K Kit. Use
a Connection Block such as a Xantech Model
ZC21 when two or more IR sensors need to be
connected to the C22. The signal from a connect­ed External IR Sensor will have priority over the
signal from the Front Panel IR Sensor.

7. When discarding the unit, comply with local rules
or regulations. Batteries should never
be thrown away or incinerated but
disposed of in accordance with the local
regulations concerning battery disposal.

8. For additional information on the C22
and other McIntosh Products please visit the McIn­tosh Web Site at www.mcintoshlabs.com.

XLR Connectors

Below is the Pin configuration for the XLR Balanced
Input and Output Connectors on the C22. Refer to the
diagrams for connections:
PIN 1: Shield/Ground
PIN 2: + Signal

PIN 1

PIN 3: - Signal

PIN 3

PIN 2

Power Control Connectors

The C22 Power Control Output Jacks send Power On/
Off Signals when connected to
McIntosh Components. An ad­ditional connection is for con­trolling the illumination of the
Power Output Meters on McIn-

Power
Control

Meter
Illumination
Control

tosh Power Amplifiers. Refer to
page 8 for additional information. A 3.5mm stereo
mini phone plug is used for connection to the Power
Control Outputs.

Data Port Connectors

The C22 Data Out Ports send Re­mote Control Signals to McIntosh
Source Components. A 3.5mm

Data
Signal

N/C

stereo mini phone plug is used for
connection.

IR IN Port Connectors

The IR IN Port also uses a

IR Data
Control

3.5mm stereo mini phone plug
and allows the connection of
other brand IR Receivers to the C22.

Ground

Data
Ground

N/C

Ground

3

Introduction

The McIntosh C22 Stereophonic Preamplifier is one
of the finest Tube Preamplifiers ever created. The
versatile Preamplifier provides connections for vari­ous input sources and outputs to drive multiple Power
Amplifiers. The C22 reproduction is sonically trans­parent and absolutely accurate. The McIntosh Sound is
“The Sound of the Music Itself.”

Performance Features

• Electromagentic Input Switching

Digital Logic integrated circuits drive Electromagnet­ic Switches on all Inputs and operating functions for
reliable, noiseless, distortion free switching.

• Moving Coil and Moving Magnet Phono Inputs

The C22 contains two different precision Phono Pre­amplifier Circuits. One for low output Moving Coil
Phono Cartridges with selectable resistance loading,
the other is for Moving Magnet Cartridges with select­able capacitive loading. Both circuits use the latest de­signs to provide the lowest possible noise and distor­tion. The RIAA Equalization Circuitry utilizes close
tolerance resistors and capacitors for an extremely flat
frequency response.

• Balanced Inputs
The Balanced Inputs allow the connection of a source

component using long cable lengths without a loss in
sound qu a lit y.

• Low Distortion

Distortion levels of all types are less than 0.08%. Mu­sic is amplified with total transparency and accuracy.

• Variable Rate Volume and Balance Control

The C22 Preamplifier’s Volume and Balance Control
Circuitry provides an ideal rate of change with control
rotation.

• Tone Controls with Bypass

The C22 allows for bypassing the Bass and Treble
Tone Circuitry.

• Output Switching

Front panel Output Push-buttons control two Switched
Outputs that allow sending signals to two separate
Power Amplifiers.

• HXD® for Headphones

The C22 Headphone Crossfeed Director Circuitry

® )

(HXD

improves the sound localization for Head­phone Listening. HXD® restores the directionality
component of the spatial sound stage normally heard
with Loudspeaker listening.

• Remote Control

The Remote Control provides basic control of the C22
operating functions and any McIntosh Source Compo­nents connected to it.

• Power Control Output

A Power Control connection for convenient Turn-On
of McIntosh Power Amplifiers, Source Components
and Accessories is included.

• Precision Parts

Only the finest precision 1% tolerance resistors are
used throughout.

Introduction and Performance Features

• Special Power Supply

Fully regulated Power Supplies and a special R-Core
Power Transformer ensure stable noise free operation
even though the power line varies.

• Solid State Front Panel Illumination

The Illumination of the Front Panel is accomplished
by extra long life Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).

• Glass Front Panel and Super Mirror Chassis
Finish

The famous McIntosh Illuminated Glass Front Panel
and the Lower Chassis are Stainless Steel with a Mir­ror Finish. The Upper Chassis and Top Cover have a
glass window to view the amplifying vacuum tubes.
This will ensure the pristine beauty of the C22 will be
retained for many years to come.

4

Dimensions

The following dimensions can assist in determining
the best location for your C22.

Front View of the C22

17-1/2"

44.5cm

Dimensions

Rear View of the C22

17-1/8"

43.5cm

5-3/8"

13.7cm

4-5/8"

11.8cm

6"

15.2cm

5/8"

1.6cm

13/16"

2.1cm

2"

5.1cm

Side View of the C22

15-3/4"

40cm

14-1/2"

36.8cm

10-9/16"

26.8cm

3/16"

0.5cm

1-15/16"

4.9cm

4-13/16"

12.2cm

13-1/4"

33.7cm

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