McIntosh MA-8000 Owners Manual

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

MA8000

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 en-

closure that may be of sufcient 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 ampliers) 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 specied by

the manufacturer.

12. Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket,
or table specied 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 qualied 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 MA8000 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: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Copyright 2013 © by McIntosh Laboratory, Inc.

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 ............................................................2-3

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

Firmware Version ....................................................... 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 MA8000 ............................................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 MA8000 to default settings .................30

Technical Description .......................................... 32-37

Photos ...................................................................38-40

Specifications ....................................................... 41-42

Packing Instructions ................................................. 43

3

General Information

1. For additional connection information, refer to the

owner’s manual(s) for any component(s) connected

to the MA8000.

2. Apply AC Power to the MA8000 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 MA8000 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 MA8000 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
MA8000. 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
11 thru 13.

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 MA8000.

General Information, Connector and Cable Information

7. The MA8000 Remote Control is capable of operat­ing other components. For additional information
go to www.mcintoshlabs.com.

8. The IR Input, with a 1/8inch 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
MA8000. 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
MA8000 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 and Output Connectors on the MA8000. Refer
to the diagrams for connections:
PIN 1: Shield/Ground
PIN 2: + Output
PIN 3: - Output

PIN 2 PIN 1

PIN 3

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

PIN 1

PIN 3

Main, Trig 1&2

and Pass-Thru

Power
Control

Meter
Illumination
Control

Ground

PIN 2

the illumination of the Power Output Meters 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.

Data
Signal

N/C

Data
Ground

IR IN Port Connectors

The IR IN Port also uses a 3.5mm
stereo mini phone plug and allows the
connection of other brand IR Receiv­ers to the MA8000.

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 MA8000 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 McIntosh Parts Department:

McIntosh Jumper Connector Part No. 11808000

4

Introduction

Now you can take advantage of traditional McIntosh
standards of excellence in the MA8000 Integrated
Amplifier. The Power Amplifier section of the
MA8000, with a power output of 300 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 MA8000 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 MA8000 consists of a 300 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 MA8000 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 are Balanced Inputs for connection of a
source components.

• Digital Audio Inputs

The MA8000 has Coaxial, Optical and USB Digi­tal Inputs to decode PCM Signals from an external
source. The MA8000 Up Samples the Digital Signal
to 192kHz with 32 Bit resolution before the Digital to
Analog process begins.

• Moving Coil and Moving Magnet Phono Inputs

The MA8000 contains two 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. They use the latest designs for the
lowest possible noise and distortion. The RIAA Cor­rection Circuitry utilizes close tolerance resistors and
capacitors for an extremely flat frequency response.

• Eight Band Equalizer

The Equalizer Controls provide 12dB of boost or cut
at center frequencies of 25, 50, 100, 200, 400, 1,000,
2,500 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
MA8000 are peak responding, and indicate the power
output of the amplifier.

Introduction and Performance Features

• PassThru Mode

The Automatic PassThru Mode allows the MA8000
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 MA8000.

• Special Power Supply

The large Power Transformer, multiple filter capaci­tors with 140 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 MA8000 will be
retained for many years.

5

Dimensions

The following dimensions can assist in determining
the best location for your MA8000. There is additional
information on the next page pertaining to installing
the MA8000 into cabinets.

Front View of the MA8000

17-1/2"

44.5cm

Dimensions

Rear View of the MA8000

16-13/16"

42.7cm

8-13/16"

22.4cm

7-15/16"

7.9cm

9-7/16"

24.0cm

2-1/4"

5.7cm

7/8"

2.2cm

Side View of the MA8000

19-3/4"

50.2cm

16-7/16"

41.8cm

12-3/4"

32.4cm

8-1/4"

21.0cm

3/16"

0.5cm

1-1/4"

3.2cm

11-1/2"

29.2cm

6

Installation

Installation

The MA8000 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 MA8000 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
MA8000 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
MA8000. Cool operation ensures the longest possible
operating life for any electronic instrument. Do not
install the MA8000 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

airf low is not obstructed. Allow 20 inches (50.8cm)
depth behind the front panel. Allow 2-1/2 inch (6.4cm)

in front of the mounting panel for knob and handle
clearance. Be sure to cut out a ventilation hole in the
mounting shelf according to the dimensions in the
drawing.

MA8000 Front Panel
Custom Cabinet Cutout

MA8000 Side View
in Custom Cabinet

MA8000 Bottom View
in Custom Cabinet

Cabinet
Front
Panel

Opening
for Ventilation

4-5/8"

11.8cm

17-1/16"

43.3cm

Cutout Opening for Custom Mounting

6"

15.2cm

Cutout Opening for Ventilation

9-1/2"

24.1cm

Cutout

Opening

for

Ventilation

16"

40.6cm

Support
Shelf

8-5/16"

21.1cm

Chassis
Spacers

11-1/2"

29.2cm

Note: Center the cutout Horizontally
on the unit. For purposes of
clarity, the above illustration
is not drawn to scale.

10"

25.4cm

7

Rear Panel Connections

The identification of Rear Panel Connections for the
MA8000 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.

MA8000 Rear Panel Connections

MA8000 Rear Panel Connections

8

Connecting Components

The MA8000 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 MA8000 Remote Control.
With an external sensor connected to the MA8000, re­mote control operation of the system is possible from
another room and/or when the MA8000 is located in a
cabinet with the doors closed.

The connection instructions below, together with

the MA8000 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 4.

Note: Source components may be connected to the

MA8000 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 MA8000 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

MA8000 PWR CTRL (Power Control) TRIG

(Trigger) 2 Jack to the Power Amplifier (Second-

ary 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 MA8000 CD
DATA PORT Jack to the SACD/CD Player Data In
Jack.

8. Connect a Control Cable from the MA8000
TUNER DATA PORT Jack to the AM/FM Tuner
Data In Jack.

9. Connect a Control Cable from the MA8000 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 MA8000. Refer to page 4 “General Infor­mation, note 8” for additional information.

Audio Connections:

12. Connect Balanced Cables from the MA8000 BAL

(Balanced) INPUT 1 L & R Connectors to the

SACD/CD Player Fixed Audio Output Balanced
Connectors.

13. Connect Audio Cables from the MA8000 TUNER
INPUT Jacks to the AM/FM Tuner Output Jacks.

14. Connect Audio Cables from the MA8000 DVD
INPUT Jacks to the Audio/Video Player Output
Jacks.

Connecting Components

15. Connect the Audio Cables coming from the Turn­table to the MA8000 PHONO INPUT MC (for a

Moving Coil Cartridge) or PHONO INPUT MM
(for a Moving Magnet Cartridge) Jacks.

16. Optionally, connect Audio Cables from the

MA8000 OUTPUT 2 (Balanced) 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 MA8000 DIG

(Digital) 4 Digital Audio Input Jack to the Digital

Out Coaxial Jack on the Audio/Video Player.

Note: Source components may be connected to the

MA8000 Digital Inputs instead of Analog Inputs.
Refer to Setup “Reassigning Inputs” to activate
them on page 18.

19. Connect an Optical Cable from the MA8000

DIG (Digital) 1 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 MA8000 USB D/A Digital Audio
Input to an available USB connector.

Ground Connections:

21. Connect the Ground Cable coming from the Turn­table to the MA8000 GND Binding Post.

Notes: 1. If the MA8000 is part of a Home Theater

System, proceed to “PassThru” connection on
page 10.

2. When the MA8000 will used together with a
separate Power Amplifier for Bi-Amplification
of a Loudspeaker System, proceed to page 11.

9

Passthru Connections

The MA8000 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 MA8000. 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 MA8000 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 MA8000 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 MA8000’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 MA8000 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 MA8000 and/or the
separate Power Amplifier.

MA8000 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 MA8000.

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. Referring to the Loudspeaker Connection Instruc­tions on page 12, and in the Owner’s Manual sup­plied with the Power Amplifier and Loudspeaker,
connect the MA8000 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 Amplier

Connecting for Bi-Amplification

Left Channel
Loudspeaker

-

+

11

Output Terminals

When connecting the Loudspeaker Hookup Cables to
the MA8000 Amplifier Output Terminals please fol­low the steps below:

1. Rotate the top of the Output Terminal Post coun­terclockwise until an opening

appears. Refer to gures A and

B.

2. Insert the Loudspeaker hookup
cable into the Output Terminal
Post opening or the cable spade
lug around the center post of

Figure A

Opening

Figure B

the Output Terminal. Refer to

gure C.

3. Rotate the top of the Output
Terminal Post clockwise until it

is nger tight. Refer to gure D.

4. Place the supplied McIntosh

Figure C Figure D

Wrench over the top of the Out­put Terminal and rotate it one

quarter of a turn (90° ) to secure

the Loudspeaker Cable Connec­tion. Do not over tighten. Refer

Figure E

to gure E.

How to Connect Loudspeakers

Caution: Do not connect the AC Power Cord to the

MA8000 Rear Panel until after the Loudspeaker
Connections are made. Failure to observe this
could result in Electric Shock.

The connection instructions below, together with the
MA8000 Connection Diagram located on the separate
folded sheet “Mc2B”, is 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 4.

The McIntosh MA8000 Power Amplifier Circuitry
is designed for Loudspeakers with an impedance of
2 ohms, 4 ohms or 8 ohms. Connect a single Loud­speaker only to the Right and Left Output Terminals.

When connecting Loudspeakers to the MA8000
it is very important to use cables of adequate size, so
there is little to no power loss in the cables. The size is
specified in Gauge Numbers or AWG (American Wire

Gauge). The smaller the Gauge number, the larger the

wire size:

Loudspeaker Cable Distance vs Wire Gauge Guide

Loudspeaker

Impedance

2 Ohms
4 Ohms
8 Ohms

25 feet

(7.62 meters)

or less

12AWG 10AWG 8AWG
14AWG 12AWG 10AWG
16AWG 14AWG 12AWG

50 feet

(15.24 meters)

or less

100 feet

(30.48 meters)

or less

1. Prepare the Loudspeaker Hookup Cable for attach­ment to the MA8000 Power Amplifier:

Bare wire cable ends:
Carefully remove sufficient insulation from the

cable ends, refer to figures F, G & H. If the cable

is stranded, carefully twist the strands together
as tightly as possible.

Figure F

Notes: 1. If desired, the twisted ends can be tinned

with solder to keep the strands together.

2. The prepared bare wire cable ends may be
inserted into spade lug connectors.

3. Banana plugs are for use in the United
States and Canada only.

Figure G

Figure H

Banana Plugs are for use in the United States and

Canada only:

2. Attach the previously prepared bare wire cable ends
into the banana plugs and secure
the connections. Refer to figure I.

3. Rotate the Output Terminal Post

clockwise until it is nger tight.
Refer to gure J. Then using the

Figure I

McIntosh Wrench, rotate the top of
the Output Terminal one quarter of

a turn (90° ). Do not over tighten.

Refer to gure E.

4. Referring to figure K, connect the

Loudspeaker hookup cables with

Figure J

banana plugs into the hole at the
top of the terminal to
the MA8000 Negative
Output Terminal and
Positive Output Termi-

nal indentified as 2Ω
(ohms), 4Ω (ohms) or

Figure K

8Ω (ohms) connection

to match the impedance of the Loudspeaker, being
careful to observe the correct polarities.

Note: The illustration located on the separate

folded sheet “Mc2B” is for connection to an

8Ω (ohms) Loudspeaker.

If the Loudspeaker’s impedance is in-between
the available connections, use the nearest lower
impedance connection. Refer to “General Informa­tion” Note 6 on page 4 for additional information.

WARNING: Loudspeaker terminals are hazard-

ous live and present a risk of electric
shock. For additional instruction on
making Loudspeaker Connections con­tact your McIntosh Dealer or McIn­tosh Technical Support.

12

5. Connect the MA8000 power cord to an active AC
outlet.

Spade Lug or Wire Connections:

6. Connect the Loudspeaker hookup cables to the
MA8000 Negative Output Terminal and Posi-

tive Output Terminal indentified as 2Ω (ohms),
4Ω (ohms) or 8Ω (ohms) connection to match the

impedance of the Loudspeaker, being careful to
observe the correct polarities. Insert the spade
lug connector or prepared section of the cable end
into the terminal side access hole, and tighten the
terminal cap until the cable is firmly clamped into
the terminals so the lugs or wire cannot slip out.
Refer to figures L and M.

Note: The illustration located on the separate folded

sheet “Mc2B” is for connection to an 8Ω
(ohms) Loudspeaker.

Connecting Loudspeakers

Figure L

Figure M

If the Loudspeaker’s impedance is in-between the
available connections, use the nearest lower im­pedance connection. Refer to “General Informa­tion” Note 6 on page 4 for additional information.

WARNING: Loudspeaker terminals are hazard-

ous live and present a risk of electric
shock. For additional instruction on
making Loudspeaker Connections con­tact your McIntosh Dealer or McIn­tosh Technical Support.

7. Connect the MA8000 power cord to an active AC
outlet.

13

Remote Control Push-Buttons

LED illuminates during the time a re­mote command is sent to the MA8000

Switches the Trigger 1 and/or 2

Power Control Jack(s) On/Off, refer

to “Setup, Power Control TRIG 1
and TRIG 2” on page 20 for addi­tional information

Selects a Disc Player, Music Server or
Recorder Function. Seek Stations Up
or Down the AM/FM Dial. Select and/
or enter AM/FM Station Presets and
performs various functions on a vari­ety of McIntosh Components

Displays On Screen Functions on the
McIntosh Music Server and a variety
of other McIntosh Components

Adjusts the volume level up or down

Activates the TRIM
Stereo/Mono Mode

Mutes the audio
Selects AM Tuner Operating

Functions and Disc Selection on
certain McIntosh Disc Players

Selects Functions as a “shift” key
when used with the AM or FM
push-buttons to select Output 1
or 2

Press to Power the MA8000 ON

Press to Power the MA8000 OFF

Press to change broadcast bands on
an external McIntosh Tuner con­nected. Select certain functions on a
variety of McIntosh Components

Selects On Screen Functions on a
variety of McIntosh Components

Press TRIM and then the LEVEL
Push-buttons to select and adjust
various functions

Selects FM Tuner Operating Func­tions and Track Selection on certain
McIntosh CD Players

Use to select tuner presets, direct ac­cess an AM/FM Station Frequency,
disc tracks or any numbered operation

Scrolls through the available
MA8000 Inputs

14

Scrolls through the available
MA8000 Inputs

Selects one of the eight
available Audio Sources

Note: Push-buttons whose function is not identified above are for use with other McIntosh Products.