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CS350 Loudspeaker System
Owners
Manual
CS350
McIntosh Laboratory, Inc. 2 Chambers Street Binghamton, New York 13903-2699 Phone: 607-723-3512 FAX: 607-724-0549
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WARNING - TO REDUCE RISK OF
FIRE OR ELECTRICAL SHOCK, DO
NOT EXPOSE THIS EQUIPMENT TO
RAIN OR MOISTURE.
IMPORTANT SAFETY
INSTRUCTIONS!
PLEASE READ THEM BEFORE
OPERATING THIS EQUIPMENT.
NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS
INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO
QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.
General:
1. Read these instructions.
2. Keep these instructions.
3. Heed all warnings.
4. Follow all instructions.
5. Warning: To reduce risk of fire or electrical shock,
do not expose this equipment to rain or moisture.
This unit is capable of producing high sound pressure levels. Continued exposure to high sound pressure levels can cause permanent hearing impairment or loss. User caution is advised and ear protection is recommended when playing at high volumes.
6. Only use attachments/accessories specified by the
manufacturer.
Installation:
7. Install in accordance with the manufacturers instructions.
8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators,
heat registers, stoves, or other equipment (including
amplifiers) that produce heat.
9. Do not use this equipment near water.
10. Do not expose this equipment to dripping or splashing
and ensure that no objects filled with liquids, such as
vases, are placed on the equipment.
11. Use only with the cart, stand, tripod,
bracket, or table specified by the manufacturer, or sold with the equipment. When a
cart is used, use caution when moving the
cart/equipment combination to avoid injury from tip-over.
Care of Equipment:
12. Clean only with a dry cloth.
13. Do not permit objects or liquids of any kind to be
pushed, spilled and/or fall into the equipment through
enclosure openings.
Repair of Equipment:
14. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the equipment has been damaged in any way, liquid has been spilled or objects have
fallen into the equipment, the equipment has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or
has been dropped.
15. Do not attempt to service beyond that described in the
operating instructions. All other service should be referred to qualified service personnel.
16. When replacement parts are required, be sure the service technician has used replacement parts specified by
McIntosh or have the same characteristics as the original part. Unauthorized substitutions may result in fire,
electric shock, or other hazards.
17. Upon completion of any service or repairs to this product, ask the service technician to perform safety checks
to determine that the product is in proper operating condition.
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Thank You
Table of Contents
Your decision to own this McIntosh CS350 Loudspeaker
System ranks you at the very top among discriminating
music listeners. You now have The Best. The McIntosh
dedication to Quality, is assurance that you will receive
many years of musical enjoyment from this unit.
Please take a short time to read the information in this
manual. We want you to be as familiar as possible with all
the features and functions of your new McIntosh.
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: 607-723-1545
Fax: 607-723-3636
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:
Safety Instructions ............................................................. 2
Thank You and Please Take a Moment ............................. 3
Technical Assistance and Customer Service ..................... 3
Table of Contents and General Notes ................................ 3
Introduction ....................................................................... 4
Performance Features ........................................................ 4
Dimensions ......................................................................... 5
Installation .......................................................................... 7
How to Connect ................................................................. 8
Front and Rear Views........................................................ 9
Specifications ................................................................... 10
Packing Instruction ...........................................................11
General Notes
1. It is very important that loudspeaker cables of adequate size
be used in your music system, to ensure that there will be no
power loss or heating. Cable size is specified in Gauge
numbers or AWG (American Wire Gauge). The smaller the
Gauge number, the larger the wire size:
If your loudspeaker cables are 25 feet (7.62m) or less,
use at least 18 Gauge (AWG) wire size or larger.
If your loudspeaker cables are 50 feet (38.1m) or less,
use at least 16 Gauge (AWG) wire size or larger.
If your loudspeaker cables are 100 feet (76.2m) or less,
use at least 14 Gauge (AWG) wire size or larger.
The Loudspeaker Connection Terminals can accept up
to 12 Gauge (AWG) wire.
2. For additional connection information, refer to the owners
manual(s) for any component(s) connected to the CS350
Loudspeaker.
3. The CS350 has built-in speaker protection in the form of three
automatic resetting solid-state devices as part of the
crossover network. One protects the tweeters, one the
midrange and the other the woofers. The characteristics of
this protection are that a certain amount of overdrive is
allowed but extended periods of overdrive will trigger
protection. If an obvious lack of high or low frequencies is
noticed, the Loudspeaker Protection Device may have
activated. Sound output from the Loudspeaker Element
affected will be reduced when the protection is triggered. The
protection devices will automatically reset when the volume
control is reduced significantly and kept low until the output
of the affected Loudspeaker Element returns to normal.
McIntosh Laboratory, Inc.
2 Chambers Street
Binghamton, New York 13903
Phone: 607-723-3515
Fax: 607-723-1917
Copyright 2001 ã by McIntosh Laboratory, Inc.
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Introduction
The McIntosh CS350 Loudspeaker System is designed for
Home Theater and Music Reproduction. It is a three-way
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system with two 6-1/2 inch LD/HP
woofers, one 4 inch
LD/HP midrange and five 1 inch dome tweeters. The
CS350 comes with a stabilizer bar that attaches to the back
of the cabinet. This bar prevents the speaker from rocking
when it is placed on its side. It is adjustable so that the
CS350 can be angled down when the speaker is placed
above the video display. The CS350 is designed to work primarily as a Center Channel Loudspeaker in a Home Theater System, but will function equally well as a Left or
Right (Main), or Surround Loudspeaker. The McIntosh logo
can clip anywhere on the grille frame. This is useful in the
event CS350s are stood on end and used as Left and Right
speakers.
The CS350 Loudspeaker performance is equivalent to
the quality of McIntoshs legendary line of Amplifiers,
Preamplifiers, Signal Processors and Signal Sources, without imparting distortion or coloration of its own. It also
complements the capabilities and the remarkably low distortion of McIntosh Power Amplifiers.
Many of todays loudspeakers are designed only for
Home Theater applications. Not so with the CS350. It is
also designed for the accurate reproduction of music. Motion picture sound effects, explosions, screams, and vehicle
crashes require a wide dynamic range and high sound levels. These sounds are such that a speaker system having
moderate distortion would reproduce them with little audible
difference. This is not true with the reproduction of music.
Music is by nature and definition harmonious. To reproduce
it accurately, all forms of distortion, both harmonic and
intermodulation, must be kept to a minimum. This has been
the result of the design of the new McIntosh CS350 Loudspeaker System. Each loudspeaker element and crossover
component has been carefully designed for durability, efficiency, and above all, low distortion. The McIntosh CS350
Loudspeaker System will reproduce music accurately and
function as an excellent Home Theater Loudspeaker.
Performance Features
Gold Plated Input Connectors
The CS350 input connectors are gold plated for superior
corrosion resistance and high electrical conductivity.
Introduction and Performance Features
ment is a very smooth and even acoustic polar response.
This allows the listener to move off axis without suffering a
change in high frequency output. The use of multiple tweeters, combined with a mechanical heat sink, also provides
greatly increased power handling at high frequencies.
Patented LD/HP Technology
The McIntosh Low Frequency and Midrange Loudspeaker
Elements feature the patented LD/HP motor structure. This
design, when compared to conventional Loudspeaker Elements, reduces distortion significantly. It also increases
power handling and efficiency.
Shielded Magnetic Field
The CS350 may be used in Home Theater Installations
near a television receiver or monitor without causing the
television image to degrade. McIntosh has designed special
shielding around the magnetic structure of the CS350 Loudspeaker Elements to prevent interference.
High Power Handling
The Loudspeaker Elements and crossover components of
the CS350 are all chosen for use with powerful amplifiers
up to 350 watts.
High Efficiency
The Loudspeaker Elements used in the CS350 Loudspeaker System have also been designed for high efficiency. As a result any McIntosh Power Amplifier, even
our smallest, will provide satisfying room filling sound.
Automatic Overload Protection
The CS350 has built-in Loudspeaker Element Protection in
the form of three automatic resetting solid-state devices as
a part of the crossover network.
Adjustable Stabilizer Bar
The CS350 Loudspeaker System is equipped with an adjustable stablizer bar, attached to the back of the cabinet, to
prevent the speaker from rocking. Its adjustability allows
the CS350 to be angled down when the speaker is placed
above a video display.
Five Tweeter Bessel Function Array
The CS350 utilizes five tweeters wired to produce a Bessel
Function Array. The individual tweeter amplitudes and
phase relationships are adjusted so the array acts as a high
frequency point source. One advantage of such an arrange-
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LD/HP Pat. No. 5,151,943
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CS350 Dimensions
The following dimensions can assist in determining the
best location for your CS350 Loudspeaker System. There
is additional information on the next page pertaining to installing the CS350 into cabinets.
Dimensions
Front View of CS350 with Grille Removed
Rear View of CS350
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Dimensions
Side View of CS350 with Grille
Side View of CS350 with Grille Removed
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Installation
Installation
Locating your Loudspeakers
The CS350 is designed to work primarily as a Center Channel Loudspeaker in a Home Theater System, but will function as a Left or Right (Main), or Surround Loudspeaker.
Loudspeaker placement in a room can greatly affect performance. The optimal method for selecting speaker locations includes the use of a real time spectrum analyzer operated by an experienced system installer. An uncompromising installation would take into consideration the floor,
wall and ceiling coverings, the type and placement of furniture and can even include the architectural design of the
room and its construction materials.
Locating Loudspeakers for use in Home Theater
When used as a Center Channel Loudspeaker the CS350
will most often be placed on top of a television monitor. The
supplied adjustable cabinet stabilizer bar attaches to the
back of the cabinet to prevent the speaker from rocking
and is adjustable so the CS350 can be angled down toward
the listener.
In a Home Theater application, the placement of Left
and Right Front Loudspeakers can be limited by such considerations as the size and location of the video monitor, but
the locating suggestions in the for use in stereo section
below can still be helpful. Side Surround Loudspeakers
work best located to either side of and above the listening
position, the same distance from the monitor. Back Surround Loudspeakers work best on the back wall. Refer to
figure 1.
Locating Loudspeakers for use in a Music System
When used as Left and Right Speakers the distance be-
tween the two loudspeakers should not exceed the distance
between the listener and either loudspeaker. If the speakers
are too far apart relative to the listener, some imaging can
be lost. Refer to figure 2. To assure the sound from the
Left and Right Speakers arrive at the same time, the distance from each loudspeaker to the listener should be as
close to the same as possible. Placement near a wall, corner, floor, ceiling or any intersecting surfaces will reinforce
some bass frequencies. Which bass frequencies are
boosted by placement in a particular location is dependant
on the dimensions of your room. Smaller speakers like the
CS350 can sometimes benefit from this boost, if it occurs at
the desired frequencies.
Test the various loudspeaker locations by playing music
with continuous bass, setting up the speakers and listening
to them from your main listening spot. Move the loudspeakers to an alternate location and repeat your listening, paying
attention to how the bass qualities and response levels
change. Do not assume the loudest bass is best; rather listen for booming or a lack of articulation, as well as a balance over the whole spectrum, to assure the bass will not
drown out the other parts of the music spectrum. Experiment with various loudspeaker positions until the locations
that sound best are found.
Logo Placement
The clip on McIntosh logo provided with the CS350 Loudspeaker can be located and oriented on the grille by the
user, based on whether horizontal or vertical placement is to
be used. Operation of the CS350 without its grille is not
recommended, as sound quality would be affected.
Figure 1
Figure 2
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How to Connect
How to Connect
The McIntosh CS350 Loudspeaker System utilizes binding
posts for speaker wire connections. Refer to figure 3.
1. Connect a loudspeaker cable from the black (negative
- ) loudspeaker binding post to the negative or common
Center Channel Output Terminal of the amplifier.
2. Connect a loudspeaker cable from the red (positive +)
loudspeaker binding post to the positive or 4 ohm output
terminal of the same channel of the amplifier.
3. Tighten all of the loudspeaker and amplifier binding
posts.
McIntosh Six Channel Power Amplifier
Speaker Connections
Figure 3
To Amplifier Terminals
-
+
Left Front Loudspeaker
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Right Front LoudspeakerMonitor/TV
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Five 1 inch
Tweeter Array
Front and Rear Views
6-1/2 inch
LD/HP Woofer
4 inch LD/HP
Midrange
6-1/2 inch
LD/HP Woofer
Stabilizer Bar
Connecting Terminals
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+
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Specifications
Driver Complement
Two 6-1/2 inch Woofers
4 inch Midrange
Five 1 inch Dome Tweeters
Impedance
4 ohms Nominal
Frequency Response
80Hz - 20kHz
Sensitivity
86dB (2.8V/1m)
Crossover Frequencies
1.5kHz
250Hz
+ 2dB (Anechoic Response)
Specifications
Power Handling
350 Watts Maximum
Dimensions
9 inches (22.5cm) Height, 25-1/2 inches (56.25cm) Width,
8-1/2 inches (21.5cm) Depth (including Grille)
Standard Finish
Black Ash, Natural Cherry, Red Cherry
Premium Finish
Rosewood Gloss, Piano Black
Weight (each)
45 pounds (20.4kg) net, 50 pounds (22.7kg) in shipping
carton
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Packing Instructions
In the event it is necessary to repack the equipment for
shipment, the equipment must be packed exactly as received. Failure to do this will result in shipping damage.
Use the original shipping carton and interior parts only
if they are all in good serviceable condition. If a shipping
carton or any of the interior part(s) are needed, please call
or write Customer Service Department of McIntosh Laboratory.
Packing Instructions
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McIntosh Laboratory, Inc.
2 Chambers Street
Binghamton, NY 13903
McIntosh Part No. 040756
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