McIntosh MAC-1900 Owners manual
THE MAC 1900 SOLID STATE AM FM/FM STEREO RECEIVER
Price $1.25
Your MAC 1900 AM-FM/FM stereo
receiver will give you many years
of pleasant and satisfactory performance.
If you have any questions concerning
the operation or maintenance of
this receiver please contact:
CUSTOMER SERVICE
McIntosh Audio Division
2 Chambers Street
Binghamton, New York 13903
Our telephone number is 607-723-3512
Take Advantage of 2 years
of FREE Factory Service . . .
Fill in the Application NOW.
CONTENTS
Maximum Performance Indicator . . .
Mclntosh Loudspeakers . . .
What the Controls Do and How to Use Them . . .
Using the Tuning Dial . . .
Using the Pushbuttons . . .
Balancing Your Stereo . . .
Listening to Your Stereo . . .
Performance Limits . . .
Typical Performance Charts . . .
Technical Description . . .
Guarantee . . .
Installation . . .
How to Connect . .
Tape Recorders . . .
Record Players . . .
Antenna , . ,
Loudspeakers . . .
Block Diagram . . .
1
2
3
3
4,
4,
4,
6
7
8
9
9,
11
11,
12,
14,
17
21
5
5
5
10, 11
12
13
15, 16
GUARANTEE
Mclntosh Laboratory Incorporated guarantees this
instrument to be capable of performance as advertised. We also guarantee the mechanical and electrical workmanship and components to be free of
defects for a period of 90 days from date of pur-
chase. If such defects occur. Mclntosh Laboratory
TWO YEAR FACTORY SERVICE CONTRACT
An application for a FREE TWO YEAR FACTORY
SERVICE CONTRACT is included with this manual.
The terms of the contract are:
For Two Years from date of purchase —
1. Mclntosh will provide all parts, materials and
labor needed to return the measured performance
of the instrument to the original performance
limits free of any charge. The SERVICE CONTRACT does not cover any shipping costs to and
from the authorized service agency or the factory.
2. Any Mclntosh authorized service agency will re-
pair all Mclntosh instruments at normal service
rates. To receive the free service under the terms
of the SERVICE CONTRACT, the SERVICE CONTRACT CERTIFICATE must accompany the instrument when taken to the service agency.
3. Always have service done by a Mclntosh authorized service agency. If the instrument is modified
or damaged, as a result of unauthorized repair the
SERVICE CONTRACT will be cancelled. Damage
by improper use or mishandling is not covered by
the SERVICE CONTRACT.
or one of Its authorized agencies will repair the
defect at no cost to the purchaser. This guarantee
does not extend to components damaged by improper use nor does it extend to transportation to
and from the factory or service agency.
4. The SERVICE CONTRACT is issued to you as the
original purchaser. To protect you from misrepresentation this contract cannot be transferred to a
second owner.
5. The SERVICE CONTRACT is given to purchasers
who live in the 50 United States or Canada only.
6. For your protection Mclntosh selects its dealers
carefully. Only one dealer in ten qualifies for a
Mclntosh franchise. To receive the SERVICE
CONTRACT your purchase must be made from a
Mclntosh franchised dealer.
7. Your completely filled in application for a SERVICE CONTRACT must be postmarked within 30
days of the date of purchase of the instrument.
8. To receive the SERVICE CONTRACT all information on the application must be filled in. The
SERVICE CONTRACT will be issued when the
completely filled in application Is received at
Mclntosh Laboratory Incorporated in Binghamton,
New York. If the application is not received at
Mclntosh Laboratory, only the service offered
under the 90-day guarantee will apply.
Copyright © 1972 By Mclntosh Laboratory Inc.
1
If the cutout is to be located from the front of the
panel, begin at step 2. If the cutout is to be located
from the rear of the panel, begin here.
1. On the back of the cabinet panel, scribe a
vertical centerline through the exact center of the
area in which the cutout is to be made.
Place the template against the back of the
panel and match the template centerline with the
centerline on the cabinet panel.
Make sure that the bottom of the template
rests on the shelf on which the MAC 1900 will sit.
Mark the two locating holes ("B" holes on the
mounting template).
Drill the two "B" locating holes. Be certain the
drill is perpendicular to the panel.
Now position the template on the front of the
panel by aligning the "C" locating holes on the
template with the drill holes.
2. If the cutout is to be located from the front of
the panel:
Adequate ventilation extends the trouble-free life
of electronic instruments. It is generally found that
each 10° centigrade (18° F) rise in temperature reduces the life of electrical insulation by one half.
Adequate ventilation is an inexpensive and effective
means of preventing insulation breakdown that results from unnecessarily high operating temperatures. The direct benefit of adequate ventilation is
longer, trouble-free life.
Allow at least 16 inches deep by 16 inches wide
by 6½ inches high for mounting the MAC 1900. Al-
ways allow for air flow by either ventilation holes
or space next to the bottom of the receiver and a
means for a warm air to escape at the top. With ade-
quate ventilation the MAC 1900 can be mounted in
any position.
To prepare for installation, remove the plastic protective covering from the MAC 1900. Turn it upside
down so that it rests on its top on the shipping pallet.
Remove the four plastic feet fastened to the bottom
of the chassis.
With the template in place against the cabinet
panel, mark the four small holes "A" that identify
the corners of the cutout. Join the corner marks
with a pencil. The edge of the template can be
used as a straight edge.
With the saw on the INSIDE OF THE PENCIL
LINES carefully cut out the rectangular opening.
The bottom of the cabinet panel cutout should be
even with the top of the shelf.
Fold the PAPER SHELF TEMPLATE along the
dotted line. The Paper Shelf Template is used to
locate the ventilation cutout and mounting holes
in the shelf. Put the dotted line against the front
of the cabinet panel. Align the center line of the
PAPER SHELF TEMPLATE with the center of the
cabinet panel opening. Mark the ventilation cutout outline and cut it out. Secure the MAC 1900
to the shelf with two machine screws.
The design of the mounting template allows you
to position or locate the cutout from the front or rear
of the panel to which the instrument is to be mounted.
Position the plastic mounting template over the area
of the panel to be cut out for installation. The MAC
1900 must rest on a shelf behind the cabinet panel.
2
How to Connect
1. CONNECTING TAPE RECORDERS
To Record:
Connect a cable from the L TAPE OUT 1 jack
to the left high level input of a tape recorder.
Connect a cable from the R TAPE OUT 1 jack
to the right high level input of the tape recorder.
Connect a second tape recorder in the same
way to the L and R TAPE 2 OUTputs.
To Playback/Monitor:
Connect a cable from the "left" channel out-
put of a tape recorder to the L TAPE MONitor 1
input.
Connect a cable from the "right" channel output of a tape recorder to the R TAPE MONitor 1
input.
Connect a second tape recorder in the same
way to the L and R TAPE MONitor 2 INput.
TAPE RECORDER #1
3
TAPE RECORDER #2
2. CONNECTING RECORD PLAYERS
CONNECTING A 75 OHM ANTENNA
The MAC 1900 has been shipped with shorting
plugs in the phono inputs. Remove the shorting
plugs only from the jack that will be used.
Connect a cable from the "left" channel of a
record player into the "L" PHONO 1 input jack.
Connect a cable from the "right" channel of a
record player into the "Ft" PHONO 1 jack.
PHONO 2 is provided for the use of a second
record player.
Connect a second record player in the same
way to the L and R PHONO 2 INput jacks.
3. GROUND CONNECTION:
A ground post is provided. Grounds for turn-
tables, record changers, tape decks, etc. should
be connected to this post. To prevent hum, make
sure the ground wire does not make any connections to the shields of the left and right program
cables between the program source and the MAC
1900. The left and right program cables and the
ground wire from that source should be wound or
twisted together.
An unbalanced 75 ohm antenna can be connected
to the MAC 1900. A "type F" connector is used to
connect the 75 ohm coaxial cable to the back panel
FM ANT 75 input.
AM ANTENNA
For most local and moderately distant AM reception the built-in ferrite loopstick antenna may be
used. The AM loopstick antenna is on a swivel base.
It must be rotated for best reception.
Better long distant reception is possible with the
use of a copper antenna wire 50 to 150 feet in length.
Suspend the wire in a straight line as high as possible. Attach the wire at each end with suitable glass
or ceramic insulators. Connect a lead-in wire at any
convenient point on the antenna. It is recommended
that a lightning arrester be used with an outdoor AM
antenna. The arrester should be well grounded to a
suitable water pipe or copper or aluminum rod sunk
into the ground.
Connect the lead-in wire to the AM ANT (white)
push connector on the antenna terminal strip on the
back panel.
CONNECTING AN FM ANTENNA
One of three antenna systems can be used: (1) an
outdoor FM antenna, or (2) a VHF-TV antenna, or (3)
the indoor dipole supplied.
An outdoor antenna is recommended for optimum
performance in all areas. In fringe (outlying) areas,
best results will be obtained with a highly directional
FM antenna used in conjunction with a rotator. Ro-
tate the antenna until the best reception is obtained.
If the antenna uses a 300 ohm lead, connect it to the
300 ANT (red) push connector.
A VHF-TV antenna is often effective when it is designed for both FM and TV reception. Connect the
two leads from the VHF-TV antenna to the 300
ANT (red) push connector.
CONNECTING AN INDOOR DIPOLE ANTENNA
The flexible folded dipole antenna (300 ohm) is
for use in urban or high strength signal areas.
Connect the two leads from the dipole to the 300
ANT (red) push connector. The flexibility of the thin
flat wire assembly permits it to be placed under a rug,
tacked behind the stereo ... or placed in any other
convenient location. In some cases, it may be necessary to "position" the antenna for best signal reception. This should be done before it is permanently
located.
CONNECTING A MAXIMUM
PERFORMANCE INDICATOR
The Mclntosh MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE IN-
DICATOR is connected to the TP 1 and TP 2 jacks on
the back panel of the MAC 1900. Use the procedures
as directed in the MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE INDICATOR owners manual.
FUSE
A 3.2 AMP "SLO-BLO" fuse protects the receiver
circuits. This fuse does not protect additional equipment connected to the back panel AC outlets.
AC POWER OUTLETS
There are 2 black and one red AC power outlet.
The power to the black outlets is controlled by the
front panel AC power switch on the VOLUME control.
Use these outlets for a power amplifier, or tape recorder, etc. The red receptacle is on at all times. Use
the red outlet for a turntable or record changer. The
turntable is protected by this arrangement. It is necessary to turn off the turntable or record changer
with its own AC power switch.
Avoid locating the antenna next to other wires or
metal objects. This antenna may not prove effective
in houses having metal siding or metal foil insulation.
4
Connecting - Record Players
Maximum Performance Indicator
Antenna and Ground
FM ANTENNA
300
TO
RECORD CHANGER
OR TURNTABLE
MAXIMUM
PERFORMANCE
INDICATOR
GROUND TO
WATER PIPE
OR ROD IN EARTH
OPTIONAL 75
FM ANTENNA INPUT
TURNTABLE
5
RECORD CHANGER
CONNECTING LOUDSPEAKERS:
The MAC 1900 Power Amplifier is designed for
stereo connection only. Do not connect the MAC
1900 for monophonic (one loudspeaker) operation.
Damage to the loudspeaker or the power amplifier
may result.
Both main and remote speakers are connected to
the push connectors on the back panel of the MAC
1900.
When the output of the power amplifier and the
speakers have been connected to the proper push
connectors on the back panel, the front panel push-
buttons turn the speakers ON or OFF.
Connect the lead from the left MAIN loudspeaker
to the LEFT MAIN SPEAKER push connector. Con-
nect the lead from the right MAIN loudspeaker to the
RIGHT MAIN SPEAKER push connector. Use lamp
cord, bell wire, or wire with similar type of insulation
to connect the speakers to the amplifier. For the normally short distances of under 50 feet between the
amplifier and speaker, #18 wire or larger can be
used. For distances over 50 feet between the amplifier and speaker use larger wire.
CONNECTING McINTOSH LOUDSPEAKERS
WITH AN ENVIRONMENTAL EQUALIZER
Remove the jumper cables between the PREAMPOUT jacks and AMP INPUT jack. The environmental
equalizer is connected using these jacks. Connect
PREAMP-OUT to equalizer in - Connect equalizer out
to AMP INPUT. Follow the standard loudspeaker connecting procedure.
Remote 1 Left Remote 1 Right Remote 2 Left
Remote 2 Right
CONNECTING LOUDSPEAKERS
WITHOUT ENVIRONMENTAL EQUALIZER
6
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