McIntosh MAC-1700 Owners manual
OWNER'S MANUAL
MAC 1700
STEREO RECEIVER
To insure your enjoyment please read and carefully fol-
low these instructions. The time spent will make It possible
for you to enjoy thousands of hours of musical enjoyment.
If you are in a hurry read page 4 first. This gives you a
brief outline of what each control and indicator does.
Reading time for this manual is 30 minutes. This is time
well spent.
CONTENTS
GENERAL DESCRIPTION 1
SPECIFICATIONS 3
IF YOU ARE IN A HURRY 4
CABINET INSTALLATION 5
INSTALLATION-CONNECTIONS 7
COMPLETE SYSTEM HOOK-UP 9
BLOCK DIAGRAM 10
FRONT PANEL INFORMATION 12
BALANCING YOUR SYSTEM 15
ENJOYING YOUR SYSTEM 16
GUARANTEE Cover
GENERAL DESCRIPTION MAC 1700
The MAC 1700 is a stereo receiver. There are three
easy to use top notch stereo components in one small
convenient package. A solid state preamplifier, a solid
state power amplifier, and an FM MPX stereo tuner are
combined to give you the best performance possible.
The result is a compact, easy to use stereo instrument.
A stereo instrument that brings you the best in all types
of stereo listening.
A loudness control allows you to listen to music at low
listening levels and still hear the full rich sound of music.
There is a filter which lets you minimize noise and rumble
from program sources. A tape monitor switch lets you
monitor recordings in progress. But the prime function
of a preamplifier is to reproduce records and tapes
with full accuracy and sonic realism. Your MAC 1700
does recreate music from records and tapes with a
degree of accuracy thought impossible a few short
years ago. Records and tapes are made with the bass
frequencies cut and the highs boosted. This allows
more musical information to be put on the record or
tape. The MAC 1700 reintroduces the bass and the
highs following accurate and definite standards. Your
records and tapes sound alive and thrilling when you
hear them through your MAC 1700. Sixteen silicon
planar transistors are used in the preamplifier. Silicon
planar transistors are used because of their high
thermal stability, low noise, and superior high frequency response.
POWER AMPLIFIER
Your MAC 1700 delivers 40 watts of power with both
channels operating. This is 40 watts of steady state
power. Your MAC 1700 delivers 40 watts of power
hours on end. Distortion at 40 watts is less than ¼ of
1 % at any frequency from 30 to 20,000 cps. These
measurements are made by testing sine wave power.
A sine wave signal is fed into the amplifier at a voltage
sufficient to drive the amplifier at rated power output.
Then distortion is measured at full rated power with
both channels operating into an impedance of 8 ohms.
Distortion must be less than ¼ of 1 % from 30 to
20,000 cps. Only then is your MAC 1700 ready for
you. At less than full power distortion becomes so small
it can be measured by only the most sophisticated
laboratory instruments. Only Mclntosh gives you this
kind of performance.
The MAC 1700 gives you a 2.5 microvolt FM stereo
tuner. This sensitive tuner brings you clear, noise-free
reception from distant stations. The tuner section is a
superb product of pride of craftsmanship. In a tuner
1
each wire must be placed correctly, each lead must be
the precise length and each capacitor must be in an
exact position. So each wire, each capacitor, each lead
is checked and rechecked for maximum performance.
This assures you of the best possible FM stereo
reception.
The tuner section uses six tubes and two transistors.
Tubes as RF amplifiers still give maximum sensitivity
with the greatest overload protection.
The MPX section of the MAC 1 700 uses 2 transistors
and two tubes. In test after test this particular MPX
section out-performed all other designs. The channel
separation of the MPX section is better than the channel separation found with most phono cartridges. The
distortion of the MPX section is less than what the FCC
requires FM stations to maintain. You will hear all there
is to hear from stereo broadcasts.
the power output transistors due to a speaker short
circuit, open circuit, or incorrect low impedance.
All transistors have a safe power dissipation area. This
area is called the "safe operating area." If a transistor
dissipates power beyond its "safe operating area" it
destroys itself. Your MAC 1700 has a power output
monitoring circuit that prevents the output transistors
from exceeding their "safe operating area." When
your MAC 1700 operates normally the power monitoring circuit has no effect on signals going through the
power amplifier. If, however, the power dissipation in
the output transistors becomes excessive due to speaker
short circuit, open circuit, or a very low impedance
load, the monitor transistors sense this through sampling devices in the output circuit. The monitor transistors restrict the drive to the output transistors. The
restricting operation of the power monitoring circuit is
immediate for any input signal or load combination.
This arrangement assures complete circuit reliability for
all load conditions. The monitoring circuit provides
an extra margin of protection for your MAC 1 700. The
monitoring circuit prevents failure of the power output
transistors due to short circuit, open circuit, or incorrect
low impedance load.
The power transistors are mounted on oversized anodized heat sinks. The heat sinks assure a law temperature for operation of the transistors. If temperatures
increase due to a shorted speaker, or restricted ventilation then an automatic temperature switch turns off your
MAC 1700. The switch will turn your MAC 1700 on
again when the temperature has decreased to a value
suitable for normal operation. This additional feature
gives your MAC 1700 reliability under the most extreme
operating conditions. The power transistors used in
the output section of your MAC 1700 are selected for
their high power dissipation capability, wide frequency
response, and large "safe operating area." In addi-
tion, each power transistor is given four separate tests
before it is put in your MAC 1700. This additional
testing assures you of full rated power from 30 to
20,000 cps.
SPECIAL FEATURES
A power output monitoring circuit prevents failure of
Now sit back and relax with the knowledge you have
"THE BEST."
2
TECHNICAL FEATURES AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR MAC 1700
FM TUNER SECTION:
USEABLE SENSITIVITY (at 100% Modulation: 2.5 µV
[I.H.F. Standards)
SIGNAL TO NOISE AND HUM RATIO: 65db.
HARMONIC DISTORTION: Mono, less than .5%
Stereo, less than .8%
DRIFT: Less than 25KC
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: Flat from 20 cps to 20KC
with standard 75 µ second de-emphasis and 19KC
pilot frequency filter.
CAPTURE RATIO: Better than 2.0db.
IMAGE REJECTION: Better than 60db.
STEREO MULTIPLEX SEPARATION: Better than 30db
at
1KC.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
A) Automatic stereo switching.
B) Muting; IF injected circuit with at least 50db
quieting between stations.
C) Antenna inputs for 300 ohm balanced (for twin
lead) and 75 ohm unbalanced (for coaxial cable).
D) Nuvistor RF amplifier, Nuvistor mixer.
E) Four stages of IF amplification, with AGC used
to insure limiting occurs only in the limiter stages.
F) Two limiter stages used for exceptional capture
ratio and smooth muting operation.
G) Multiplex filter and SCA filter, to suppress 19KC
and 38KC signal components at least 40db be-
low program and to suppress 67KC SCA by 60db.
H) Noise rejecting logic circuit used to activate
MPX stereo light and automatic stereo switching
on 19KC stereo pilot only.
I) D'Arsonval tuning meter for accurate center of
channel tuning.
J) Flywheel tuning for ease of operation and pre-
cise tuning.
AMPLIFIER SECTION:
POWER OUTPUT:
40 watts RMS continuous per channel with both channels operating simultaneously into 4 ohm or 8 ohm
loads.
80 watts RMS continuous monophonic.
30 watts RMS continuous per channel with both chan-
nels operating simultaneously into 16 ohm loads.
60 watts RMS continuous monophonic.
HARMONIC DISTORTION: Less than 0.25% at rated
power output from 30 cps to 20KC with both channels operating.
INTERMODULATION DISTORTION: Less than 0.25%
for any combination of frequencies from 30 cps to
20KC if instantaneous peak power is 80 watts per
channel or less into 4 or 8 ohm loads and 60 watts
per channel or less into 16 ohm loads with both
channels operating.
FREQUENCY RANGE: At rated output both channels:
± 0.5db 20 cycles through 20,000 cycles.
+ 0, - 3db 10 cycles through 80,000 cycles.
OUTPUT IMPEDANCE: 4 ohms, 8 ohms, 16 ohms, no
impedance switching required.
INTERNAL IMPEDANCE DAMPING: Less than .04
ohms; damping factor greater than 100.
INPUT SENSITIVITY AND IMPEDANCE: Auxiliary,
Tape, Tuner, and Tape Monitor; 300 MV, 250K
ohms.
PHONO 1 AND PHONO 2: 2.4 MV, 47,000 ohms.
TAPE HEAD: 2.4 MV, ½ megohm.
TOTAL NOISE (Including Power Amplifier):
High Level Inputs: 75db below rated output.
Low Level Inputs: 76db below 10 MV input; equivalent to less than 1.5 microvolts at input.
POWER AMPLIFIER: 90db below rated output.
TAPE OUTPUT: Tuner 1.5 volts, other inputs 300 MV at
rated sensitivity, 1.3 volts with 1 0 MV at phono input.
BASS CONTROLS: ± 1 8db at 20 cycles, with friction
clutch for independent adjustment for each channel.
TREBLE CONTROLS: ±18db at 20,000 cycles with
friction clutch for independent adjustment of each
channel.
TAPE MONITOR SWITCH: Normal or Tape Monitor,
indicator lamp lights in "Monitor" position.
SPEAKER SWITCH: Speakers ON or OFF for head-
phone listening.
FILTER: Flat or 5,000 cycle and 60 cycle cutoff at 12db
per octave.
LOUDNESS SWITCH: Normal or compensated.
HEADPHONE JACK: For low impedance stereo head-
phones.
INPUT SELECTOR: 6 positions; AUX, TAPE, TUNER,
PHONO 1, PHONO 2, TAPE HD.
MODE SELECTOR: Two positions; Mono-Stereo
SEMICONDUCTOR COMPLEMENT:
Preamplifier 16 Silicon Transistors
Power Amplifier 1 8 Silicon Transistors
12 Diodes
FM TUNER
8 Tubes, 4 Transistors, 1 0 Diodes
Power Supply 8 Rectifiers
1 Zener Diode, 1 Transistor
POWER REQUIREMENTS: 1 1 7 volts, AC, 50/60 cycles,
70-270 watts
MECHANICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
SIZE: Front panel, 16 inches wide by 5½ inches high;
Chassis, 15 inches wide by 51/8 inches high by 14½
inches deep, including connectors. Clearance in front
of mounting panel including knobs, 1 ½ inches.
WEIGHT: 34 pounds net, 47 pounds in
shipping carton.
FINISH: Front Panel, Anodized gold and black.
3
1 Input Selector . . . Aux . . . for any device con-
nected to the AUX input on the back, TAPE
. . . listen to playback from a tape recorder.
FM AUTO , . . listen to FM Stereo or Mono
broadcast automatically . . . Phono I and Phono
2 for phonograph records. TAPE HD . . . listen
to a tape player that hasn't any electronics.
2 Tune for center of black area.
3 Adjust to desired volume. Power off. Turns the
system on off.
4 Tuning . . . select desired station.
5 Treble . . . modifies high frequency sounds. Set
to your taste.
6 Bass . . . modifies low frequency sounds. Set to
your taste.
7 Headphone ... to connect a set of low imped-
ance stereo headphones.
8 Loud . . . use this switch to compensate for low
volume listening and still hear full frequency
range.
9 Filter In . reduces high frequency noise such
as record surface noise and reduces low frequency noise such as turntable rumble.
10 Muting In ... eliminates interstation noise.
Muting Out . . . use to receive weak stations.
11 Tape Mon . . . monitor position used to monitor
a recording when used with a tape recorder
with separate playback and record heads.
MUST BE IN OUT POSITION FOR NORMAL
LISTENING.
12 Stereo . . . Mono . . . Set to stereo for all stereo
program material. Mono position for all mono
material.
13 Balance ... to make one speaker louder than
the other. Permits you to adjust for unequal
sound caused by room acoustics or program
material.
14 Will light only on stations broadcasting MPX
stereo.
4
Loading...