McIntosh MA-7900 Owners Manual
McIntosh Laboratory, Inc. 2 Chambers Street Binghamton, New York 13903-2699 Phone: 607-723-3512 www mcintoshlabs.com
MA7900
Integrated Amplifier
Owner’s Manual
The lightning ash with arrowhead, within an equilateral
triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of
uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within the product’s enclosure that may be of sufcient magnitude to constitute
a risk of electric shock to persons.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is
intended to alert the user to the presence of important
operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the
literature accompanying the appliance.
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.
1. Read these instructions.
2. Keep these instructions.
3. Heed all warnings.
4. Follow all instructions.
5. Do not use this apparatus near water.
6. Clean only with a dry cloth.
7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install
in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
8. Do not install near any heat sources such as
radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other appa-
ratus (including ampliers) that produce heat.
9. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug
has two blades with one wider than the other.
A grounding type plug has two blades and a
NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS
INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO
QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.
third grounding prong. The wide blade or the
third prong are provided for your safety. If
the provided plug does not t into your outlet,
consult an electrician for replacement of the
obsolete outlet.
10. Protect the power cord from being walked on
or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience
receptacles, and the point where they exit
from the apparatus.
11. Only use attachments/accessories specied by
the manufacturer.
12. Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket,
or table specied by the manufacturer, or sold with the apparatus. When a cart is used, use
caution when moving the cart/
apparatus combination to avoid
injury from tip-over.
13. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms
or when unused for long periods of time.
14. Refer all servicing to qualied service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus
has been damaged in any way, such as power-
To prevent the risk of electric
shock, do not remove cover or
back. No user-serviceable parts
inside.
supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has
been spilled or objects have fallen into the
apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to
rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or
has been dropped.
15. Do not expose this equipment to dripping or
splashing and ensure that no objects lled
with liquids, such as vases, are placed on the
equipment.
16. To completely disconnect this equipment from
the a.c. mains, disconnect the power supply
cord plug from the a.c. receptacle.
17. The mains plug of the power supply cord shall
remain readily operable.
18. Do not expose batteries to excessive heat such
as sunshine, re or the like.
19. Connect mains power supply cord only to a
mains socket outlet with a protective earthing
connection.
2
Thank You
Your decision to own this McIntosh MA7900 Integrated Amplifier ranks you at the very top among
discriminating music listeners. You now have the best.
The McIntosh dedication to precision performance
assures many years of musical enjoyment.
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: 607-723-3512
Fax: 607-724-0549
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: 607-723-3515
Fax: 607-723-1917
Table of Contents
Safety Instructions ............................................................ 2-3
Thank You and Please Take a Moment ...............................3
Technical Assistance and Customer Service ....................... 3
Table of Contents ................................................................. 3
General Information ............................................................ 4
Connector and Cable Information ....................................... 4
Introduction ......................................................................... 5
Performance Features .......................................................... 5
Dimensions .......................................................................... 6
Installation ........................................................................... 7
Connections:
Rear Panel Connections ....................................................... 8
(Separate Sheet) ...........................................................Mc1A
Connecting Components ..................................................... 9
Connection Diagrams (Separate Sheet) .................Mc2A/2B
Passthru Connections ........................................................ 10
Connecting for Bi-Amplification ...................................... 11
Connecting Loudspeakers ............................................ 12-13
Remote Control and Front Panel:
Remote Control Push-buttons ........................................... 14
How to use the Remote Control .........................................15
Front Panel Displays, Controls,
Push-buttons and Jack ....................................................... 16
Setup Mode:
How to Operate the Setup Mode ....................................... 17
Default Settings .......................................................... 17
Fi r mware Ve r sio n ....................................................... 18
Source Input Reassigment .......................................... 18
Source Input Renaming .............................................. 19
Passthru ...................................................................... 20
Power Control Triggers 1 and 2 .................................. 20
Comm Port Baud Rate ................................................ 21
Remote Control Codes ............................................... 22
Power Mode ................................................................ 22
Operation:
How to Operate the MA7900 ............................................24
Power On/Off ............................................................. 24
Source Selection ......................................................... 24
Volume Control ..........................................................24
Trim Functions:
Balance .............................................................. 24
Equalizer Mode ................................................. 25
Trim Level .........................................................25
Mono/Stereo Mode and Phono Adjustments .... 26
Display Brightness ............................................ 26
Digital Audio Display ....................................... 27
Meter Backlight ................................................27
Equalizer Bypass, Trim, Mute ................................... 27
Headphone Jack .......................................................... 27
Power Output Meters .................................................. 28
Power Guard and How to Make a Recording .............28
Using a Separate Power Amplifier ............................. 28
Using Output 2 ...........................................................28
Passthru and Equalizer Controls ................................ 29
Optical and Coaxial Digital Inputs ............................ 30
USB Input Operation with a Computer ...................... 30
Reset of Microprocessors ........................................... 30
Resetting the MA7900 to default settings .................. 30
Photos .................................................................... 31-32
Specifications ....................................................... 33-34
Packing Instructions ................................................. 35
Copyright 2013 © by McIntosh Laboratory, Inc.
3
General Information
1. For additional connection information, refer to the
owner’s manual(s) for any component(s) connected
to the MA7900.
2. Apply AC Power to the MA7900 and other McIntosh Component(s) only after all the system components are connected together. Failure to do so may
cause a malfunction of system operations as the
Microprocessor’s Circuitry inside the components
is active when AC Power is applied.
3. The MA7900 includes an Auto Off Power Save
Feature and the default setting is enabled. For
additional information including how to disable it,
refer to page 22.
4. When Power Amplifier Protection Circuitry of
the MA7900 has activated, the Front Panel Power
Guard LEDs are illuminated continuously and the
sound will be muted.
5. When the Power Transformer has overheated due
to improper ventilation and/or high ambient operating temperature, AC Power is removed from the
MA7900. Normal operation will resume when the
operating temperature is in a safe range again.
6. For the best performance and safety, it is important
to always match the impedance of the Loudspeaker
to the Power Amplifier connections. Refer to pages
14 thru 16.
Note: The impedance of a Loudspeaker actually var-
ies as the Loudspeaker reproduces different
frequencies. As a result, the nominal impedance
rating of the Loudspeaker (usually measured at
a midrange frequency) might not always agree
with the impedance of the Loudspeaker at low
frequencies where the greatest amount of power
is required. Contact the Loudspeaker Manufacturer for additional information about the actual
impedance of the Loudspeaker before connecting
it to the McIntosh MA7900.
General Information, Connector and Cable Information
7. The MA7900 Remote Control is capable of operating other components. For additional information
go to www.mcintoshlabs.com.
8. The IR Input, with a 1/8 inch mini phone jack, is
configured for non-McIntosh IR sensors such as
a Xantech Model HL85BK Kit. Use a Connection
Block such as a Xantech Model ZC21 when two
or more IR sensors need to be connected to the
MA7900. The signal from a connected External
IR Sensor will have priority over the signal from
the Front Panel IR Sensor.
9. 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.
10. For additional information on the
MA7900 and other McIntosh Products please visit
the McIntosh Web Site at www.mcintoshlabs.com.
Connector and Cable Information
XLR Connectors
Below is the Pin configuration for the XLR Balanced
Input Connectors on the MA7900. Refer to the diagram for connection:
PIN 1: Shield/Ground
PIN 2: + Output
PIN 3: - Output
Power Control and Trigger Connectors
The Power Control Trigger Output Jacks send and
Passthru Input Jack receives Power
On/Off Signals (+12 volt/0 volt)
when connected to other McIntosh
Components. An additional connection is for controlling the illumination of the Power Output Meters
PIN 1
PIN 2
PIN 3
Main, Trig 1&2
and Pass-Thru
Power
Control
Meter
Illumination
Control
Ground
on McIntosh Power Amplifiers. A 3.5mm stereo mini
phone plug is used for connection to the Power Control, Trigger and Passthru Outputs.
Data Port Connectors
The Data Out Ports send Remote Control Signals to
Source Components. A 3.5mm stereo
mini phone plug is used for connection.
IR IN Port Connectors
Data
Signal
N/C
Data
Ground
The IR IN Port also uses a 3.5mm stereo mini phone
plug and allows the connection of
other brand IR Receivers to the
MA7900.
IR Data
Control
N/C
Ground
RS232-C Data Port Cable
The RS232 Data Cable is a 3.5mm stereo mini phone
plug to a sub miniature DB 9 connector:
DB9
Data In
(DB9-pin2)
Data Out
(DB9-pin3)
Ground
(DB9-pin5)
(male connector)
PIN 1
PIN 6
PIN 5
PIN 9
McIntosh Plug-In Jumper Connector
The MA7900 utilizes a phono style Plug-In Jumper to
connect the Preamplifier Output to the
Power Amplifier Input, one Jumper for
each channel.
Note: The Jumper Connector is available from the McIn-
tosh Parts Department:
McIntosh Jumper Connector Part No. 117781
4
Introduction
Now you can take advantage of traditional McIntosh
standards of excellence in the MA7900 Integrated
Amplifier. The Power Amplifier section of the
MA7900, with a power output of 200 watts per channel, will drive a pair of quality Loudspeakers to a high
level of performance.
The flexible Preamplifier section provides connec-
tions for various input sources and may also be used to
drive an external Power Amplifier(s).
The MA7900 reproduction is sonically transparent
and absolutely accurate. The McIntosh Sound is “The
Sound of the Music Itself.”
Performance Features
• Power Output with Patented Autoformer
The MA7900 consists of a 200 watts per channel stereo Power Amplifier with less than 0.005% distortion.
The McIntosh designed and manufactured Autoformer
allows connection of 2, 4 or 8 ohm Loudspeakers. The
Power Amplifier uses ThermalTrak1 Output Transistors for lower distortion and cool operation.
• Power Guard
The patented McIntosh Power Guard circuit prevents
amplifier clipping and protects your valuable Loudspeakers.
• Sentry Monitor and Thermal Protection
McIntosh Sentry Monitor power output stage protection circuits ensure the MA7900 will have a long and
trouble free operating life. Built-in Thermal Protection
Circuits guard against overheating.
• Electronic Switching and Balanced Connections
The Preamplifier uses Logic Circuits controlling
1
ThermalTrak™ and ON Semiconductor are trademarks of Semi-
conductor Components Industries, LLC
Electromagnetic Switches on all inputs and operating
functions for reliable, noiseless, distortion free switching. There is a Balanced Input for connection of a
source component.
• Digital Audio Inputs
The MA7900 has Coaxial, Optical and USB Digital Inputs to decode PCM Signals from an external
source. The MA7900 Up Samples the Digital Signal
to 192kHz with 32Bit resolution before the Digital to
Analog process begins.
• Moving Coil and Moving Magnet Phono Inputs
The MA7900 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. Both
circuits use the latest designs to provide the lowest
possible noise and distortion. The RIAA Correction
Circuitry utilizes close tolerance resistors and capacitors for an extremely flat frequency response.
• Five Band Equalizer
The Equalizer Controls provide 12dB of boost or
cut at center frequencies of 30, 125, 500, 2,000 and
10,000Hz. There is also an Equalizer Bypass Mode
to remove the Equalizer from the Signal Path of any
selected input.
• Multifunction Fluorescent Display
The Front Panel Display indicates source selection,
volume levels and setup functions.
• Illuminated Power Meters
The Illuminated Power Output Watt Meters on the
MA7900 are peak responding, and indicate the power
output of the amplifier.
Introduction and Performance Features
• PassThru Mode
The Automatic PassThru Mode allows the MA7900
to become part of a Multichannel Sound System for
DVD-Audio, SACD and Home Theater Movies.
• Power Control and Remote Control
The Power Control Output connection provides convenient Turn-On/Off of McIntosh Source Components.
The Data Ports together with the supplied Remote
Control provide control of McIntosh Source Components connected to the MA7900.
• Special Power Supply
The large Power Transformer, multiple filter capacitors with 120 Joules of Energy Storage and regulated
Power Supply ensures stable noise free operation even
though the power line varies.
• McIntosh Custom Binding Posts
McIntosh Patented gold plated output terminals deliver
high current output. They accept large diameter wire
and spade lugs. Banana plugs may also be used only in
the United States and Canada.
• Fiber Optic Solid State Front Panel Illumination
The even Illumination of the Front Panel is accomplished by the combination of custom designed Fiber
Optic Light Diffusers and extra long life Light Emit-
ting Diodes (LEDs).
• Glass Front Panel and Super Mirror Chassis
Finish
The famous McIntosh Illuminated Glass Front Panel
and the Stainless Steel Chassis with Super Mirror Finish ensures the pristine beauty of the MA7900 will be
retained for many years.
5
Dimensions
The following dimensions can assist in determining
the best location for your MA7900. There is additional
information on the next page pertaining to installing
the MA7900 into cabinets.
Front View of the MA7900
17-1/2"
44.5cm
Dimensions
Rear View of the MA7900
16-1/16"
40.8cm
7 -1/8"
18.1cm
6"
15.2cm
7 -5/8"
19.4cm
29/32"
1.8cm
1-5/8"
4.1cm
Side View of the MA7900
18-3/4"
47.6cm
16-1/2"
41.9cm
13"
33cm
1"
2.5cm
3/16"
0.5cm
6-1/4"
15.9cm
12-3/16"
31cm
6
Installation
Installation
The MA7900 can be placed upright on a table or
shelf, standing on its four feet. It also can be custom
installed in a piece of furniture or cabinet of your
choice. The four feet may be removed from the bottom
of the MA7900 when it is custom installed as outlined below. The four feet together with the mounting
screws should be retained for possible future use if the
MA7900 is removed from the custom installation and
used free standing. The required panel cutout, ventilation cutout and unit dimensions are shown.
Always provide adequate ventilation for your
MA7900. Cool operation ensures the longest possible
operating life for any electronic instrument. Do not
install the MA7900 directly above a heat generating
component such as a high powered amplifier. If all
the components are installed in a single cabinet, a
quiet running ventilation fan can be a definite asset in
maintaining all the system components at the coolest
possible operating temperature.
A custom cabinet installation should provide the
following minimum spacing dimensions for cool
operation.
Allow at least 6 inches (15.24cm) above the top, 2
inches (5.08cm) below the bottom and 2 inches (5.1cm)
on each side of the Integrated Amplifier, so that air-
flow is not obstructed. Allow 20 inches (50.8cm) depth
behind the front panel. Allow 1-7/6 inch (3.66cm) in
front of the mounting panel for knob clearance. Be
sure to cut out a ventilation hole in the mounting shelf
according to the dimensions in the drawing.
MA7900 Front Panel
Custom Cabinet Cutout
MA7900 Side View
in Custom Cabinet
MA7900 Bottom View
in Custom Cabinet
Cabinet
Front
Panel
Opening
for Ventilation
2"
5.1cm
6"
15.2cm
17-1/16"
43.34cm
Cutout Opening for Custom Mounting
Cutout Opening for Ventilation
Support
1"
2.5cm
Shelf
14-1/2"
36.8cm
Cutout
Opening
for
Ventilation
13"
33cm
6 -5/8"
16.83cm
Chassis
Spacers
15-1/16"
38.3cm
Note: Center the cutout Horizontally
on the unit. For purposes of
clarity, the above illustration
is not drawn to scale.
13-5/16"
33.8cm
7
Rear Panel Connections
The identification of Rear Panel Connections for the
MA7900 Integrated Amplifier is located on a separate
folded sheet contained in the Owner’s Manual Packet.
Refer to separate sheet “Mc1A” for the Rear Panel
Connections.
MA7900 Rear Panel Connections
MA7900 Integrated Amplifer
8
Connecting Components
The MA7900 has the ability to automatically switch
power On/Off to McIntosh Source Components via
the Power Control (Trigger) connections. The Data
Port Connections allow for the remote operation of
basic functions using the MA7900 Remote Control.
With an external sensor connected to the MA7900, remote control operation of the system is possible from
another room and/or when the MA7900 is located in a
cabinet with the doors closed.
The connection instructions below, together with
the MA7900 Input and Output Connection Diagrams
located on the separate folded sheet “Mc2A/2B”, are
an example of a typical audio system. Your system
may vary from this, however the actual components
would be connected in a similar manner. For additional information refer to “Connector and Cable Information” on page 5.
Note: Source components may be connected to the
MA7900 Balanced Inputs or Digital Inputs instead of Unbalanced Inputs. Refer to Setup “Reassigning Inputs” to activate them on page 18.
Power Control Connections:
1. Connect a Control Cable from the MA7900 PWR
CTRL (Power Control) MAIN Jack to the Power
Control In on the Turntable.
2. Connect a Control Cable from the McIntosh Turntable Power Control Out Jack to the Audio/Video
Player Power Control In Jack.
3. Connect a Control Cable from the Audio/Video
Player Power Control Out Jack to the AM/FM
Tuner Power Control In Jack.
4. Connect a Control Cable from the AM/FM Tuner
Power Control Out Jack to the SACD/CD Player
Power Control In Jack.
5. Optionally connect a Control Cable from the
MA7900 PWR CTRL (Power Control) TRIG
(Trigger) 2 Jack to the Power Amplifier (Secondary Room) Power Control In Jack.
Note: The default setting for the TRIG 2 Jack is
“MAIN”. Refer to Setup “Power Control Triggers 1 and 2” on page 20 to change TRIG 2 setting to “OUTPUT 2”.
6. Connect any additional McIntosh Components in
a similar manner, as outlined in steps 1 thru 4.
Data Control Connections:
7. Connect a Control Cable from the MA7900 CD
DATA PORT Jack to the SACD/CD Player Data In
Jack.
8. Connect a Control Cable from the MA7900
TUNER DATA PORT Jack to the AM/FM Tuner
Data In Jack.
9. Connect a Control Cable from the MA7900 DVD
DATA PORT Jack to the Audio/Video Player Data
In Jack.
10. Connect any additional McIntosh Components in
a similar manner, as outlined in steps 7 thru 9.
Sensor Connection:
11. Optionally, connect the cable with stereo mini
plug coming from the compatible External Sensor
to the EXT CTRL (External Control) IR IN Jack
on the MA7900. Refer to page 4 “General Information, note 8” for additional information.
Audio Connections:
12. Connect Balanced Cables from the MA7900 BAL
(Balanced) L & R Connectors to the SACD/CD
Player Fixed Audio Output Balanced Connectors.
13. Connect Audio Cables from the MA7900 TUNER
INPUT Jacks to the AM/FM Tuner Output Jacks.
14. Connect Audio Cables from the MA7900 DVD
INPUT Jacks to the Audio/Video Player Output
Jacks.
Connecting Components
15. Connect the Audio Cables coming from the Turntable to the MA7900 MC (for a Moving Coil Car-
tridge) or MM (for a Moving Magnet Cartridge)
INPUT Jacks.
16. Optionally, connect Audio Cables from the
MA7900 OUTPUT 2 Jacks to the Power Amplifier
(Secondary) Input Jacks.
17. Connect any additional Components in a similar
manner, as outlined in steps 11 thru 14.
Optional Digital Audio Connections:
18. Connect a Coaxial Cable from the MA7900 DIG
(Digital) 1 Digital Audio Input Jack to the Digital
Out Coaxial Jack on the Audio/Video Player.
19. Connect an Optical Cable from the MA7900
DIG (Digital) 2 Digital Audio Input connector to
the Digital Audio Out Optical Connector on the
SACD/CD Player.
Optional USB Connection:
20. Connect a USB cable with (type A to type B) connectors from the MA7900 USB D/A Digital Audio
Input to an available USB connector.
Ground Connections:
21. Connect the Ground Cable coming from the Turntable to the MA7900 GND Binding Post.
Notes: 1. If the MA7900 is part of a Home Theater
System, proceed to “PassThru” connection on
page 10.
2. When the MA7900 will used together with a
separate Power Amplifier for Bi-Amplification
of a Loudspeaker System, proceed page 11.
9
Passthru Connections
The MA7900 can be part of a Multichannel Sound
System for SACD, DVD-Audio and Home Theater.
The Right and Left Front Channels from an Audio/
Video Control Center can “Passthru” the MA7900. In
the following example the SRVR Input will become
the “Passthru” input:
1. Connect Audio Cables from the A/V Control
Center Front Left and Right Channel Outputs to
the MA7900 SRVR Input Left and Right Jacks.
2. Connect a Control Cable from the A/V Control
Center ZA (Zone A) PC (Power Control) Output
to the MA7900 PWR CTRL (Power Control)
PASSTHRU Input Jack.
Note: Refer to Setup “Passthru” on page 20 to assign
the SRVR Input as the “Passthru” Input.
3. Proceed to “Connecting Loudspeaker” on
Page 12.
Passthru Connections
A/V Control Center
10
Connecting for Bi-Amplification
The MA7900’s Power Amplifier, together with an
additional separate Power Amplifier, may be used to
Bi-Amplify a Loudspeaker System. In the illustration
on this page the Power Amplifier of the MA7900 is
connected to the Midrange/High Frequency Section
of the Loudspeaker. The additional separate Power
Amplifier is connected to the Low Frequency Section
of the Loudspeaker System.
Warning: The Loudspeaker System used for
Bi-Amplification must have the
jumpers removed from between the
MID/HIGH and LOW Frequency
Sections of the Loudspeaker System.
Failure to remove them could result
in damage to the MA7900 and/or the
separate Power Amplifier.
MA7900 Connections:
1. Remove the “McIntosh Jumpers” from between
the OUTPUT 1 Jacks and the PWR AMP In Jacks
located on the Rear Panel of the MA7900.
Note: Place the “McIntosh Jumper” in a safe place
for possible future use.
2. Using a pair of shielded RCA Type Audio “Y”
Adapters connect the OUTPUT 1 Jacks to the
PWR AMP In Jacks, for both Left and Right
Channels.
3. Connect the remaining unconnected part of the
“Y” Adapters to the separate Power Amplifier.
4. Refering to the Loudspeaker Connection Instructions on page 12, and in the Owner’s Manual supplied with the Power Amplifier and Loudspeaker,
connect the MA7900 Output Terminals to the
Loudspeaker MID/HIGH Input Terminals.
Note: The Loudspeaker Connection illustrations
on this page are for the Left Channel. Connect the Right Channel Loudspeaker in the
same manner.
“Y” adapter Cable
Power Amplier
Connecting for Bi-Amplification
Left Channel
Loudspeaker
-
+
11
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