McIntosh MAC-3 Owners manual
Surround Decoder, Dolby Digitalâ (AC-3)
OWNERS
MANUAL
MAC-3
Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories.
Dolby, AC-3, Pro Logic and the Double D symbol
are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.
McIntosh Laboratory, Inc. 2 Chambers Street Binghamton, New York 13903-2699 Phone: 607-723-3512 FAX: 607-724-0549
Thank You, Please Take A Moment,
Customer Service and Table of Contents
Thank You
For your decision to own this McIntosh MAC-3 Surround
Decoder 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 MAC-3.
This will ensure that you receive all the performance benefits this equipment can offer you, and that it will become a
highly valued part of your home entertainment system.
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 serial number is located on the rear panel of the
equipment. The spaces below have been provided for you to
record that information:
Serial Number:
Table of Contents
Thank You .......................................................................... 2
Please Take a Moment ....................................................... 2
Customer Service ............................................................... 2
Table of Contents ............................................................... 2
Safety Instructions ............................................................. 3
Introduction ........................................................................ 4
Performance Features ........................................................ 4
Installation ......................................................................... 6
Rear Panel Switches and Connections ............................... 7
How to Connect with a C39/MX130 ................................. 8
How to Connect in a Stand Alone System ......................... 9
Front Panel Controls, Push-Buttons,
Switches and Displays ..................................................... 10
Delay Calibration for Center and
Surround Channels........................................................... 11
How to Operate with a C39/MX130 ................................ 12
System Level Calibration ................................................. 14
How to Operate in a Stand Alone System ........................ 15
A Place for Your Notes .................................................... 17
Specifications ................................................................... 18
Packing Instruction .......................................................... 19
Purchase Date:
Dealer Name:
Customer Service
If at any time you have questions about your MAC-3 Surround Decoder, please contact:
McIntosh Laboratory, Inc.
2 Chambers Street
Binghamton, New York 13903
Phone: 607-723-3512
FAX: 607-724-0549
NOTE: The MAC-3 can be operated together with a
McIntosh C39 or MX130 Control Center. It may also
be operated together with a McIntosh Audio/Video
Selector MVS-3 and a MC7106 Power Amplifier.
There are two sets of instructions to cover both
possibilities. Please refer to the following listing of
instructions as a guide:
For use with a McIntosh C39 or MX130
How to Connect with a C39/MX130 ................................. 8
Delay Calibration for Center and
Surround Channels........................................................... 11
How to Operate with a C39/MX130 ................................ 12
For use with a McIntosh MVS-3 and MC7106
How to Connect in a Stand Alone System ......................... 9
Delay Calibration for Center and
Surround Channels........................................................... 11
System Level Calibration ................................................. 14
How to Operate in a Stand Alone System ........................ 15
Copyright 1997 ã by McIntosh Laboratory, Inc.
2
Safety Instructions
IMPORTANT SAFETY
INSTRUCTIONS!
PLEASE READ THEM BEFORE
OPERATING THIS EQUIPMENT.
WARNING SHOCK HAZARD DO NOT OPEN.
AVIS RISQUE DE CHOC NE PAS OUVRIR.
NO USER-SERVICEABLE
PARTS INSIDE. REFER
SERVICING TO
QUALIFIED PERSONNEL
General:
1. Read all the safety and operating instructions, contained
in this owners manual, before operating this equipment.
2. Retain this owners manual for future reference about
safety and operating instructions.
3. Adhere to all warnings and operating instructions.
4. Follow all operating and use 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. Caution: to prevent electrical shock do not use this
(polarized) plug with an extension cord, receptacle or
other outlet unless the blades can be fully inserted to
prevent blade exposure.
Attention: pour pevenir les chocs elecriques pas
utiliser cette fiche polarisee avec un prolongateur,
une prise de courant ou un autre sortie de courant,
sauf si les lames peuvent etre inserees afond ans en
laisser aucune partie a decouvert.
7. For added protection for this product during a lightning
storm, or when it is left unattended and unused for long
periods of time, unplug it from the wall outlet and disconnect the antenna or cable system. This will prevent
damage to the product due to lightning or power line
surges.
8. Do not use attachments not recommended in this
owners manual as they may cause hazards.
Installation:
9. Locate the equipment for proper ventilation. For example, the equipment should not be placed on a bed,
sofa, rug, or similar surface that may block ventilation
openings; or, placed in a built-in installation, such as a
bookcase or cabinet, that may impede the flow of air
through the ventilation openings.
10. Locate the equipment away from heat sources such as
radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other appliance (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
11. Mount the equipment in a wall or cabinet only as described in this owners manual
12. Do not use this equipment near water; for example, near
a bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink, laundry tub, in a wet
basement or near a swimming pool, etc.
13. Do not place this product on an unstable cart, stand,
tripod, bracket, or table. The equipment may fall, causing serious injury to a person, and serious damage to the
product.
Connection:
14. Connect this equipment only to the type of AC power
source as marked on the unit.
15. Route AC power cords so that they are not likely to be
walked on or pinched by items placed upon or against
them, paying particular attention to cords at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from
the instrument.
16. Do not defeat the inherent design features of the polarized plug. Non-polarized line cord adapters will defeat
the safety provided by the polarized AC plug. If the
plug should fail to fit, contact your electrician to replace
your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat the safety purpose of
the grounding-type plug.
17. Do not overload wall outlets, extension cords or integral
convenience receptacles as this can result in a risk of
fire or electric shock.
Care of Equipment:
18. Clean the instrument by dusting with a dry cloth. Unplug this equipment from the wall outlet and clean the
panel with a cloth moistened with a window cleaner. Do
not use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners.
3
Safety Instructions cont,
Introduction and Performance Features
19. Do not permit objects of any kind to be pushed and/or
fall into the equipment through enclosure openings.
Never spill liquids into the equipment through enclosure
openings.
20. Unplug the power cord from the AC power outlet when
left unused for a long period of time.
Repair of Equipment:
21. Unplug this equipment from the wall outlet and refer
servicing to a qualified service personnel under the following conditions:
A. The AC power cord or the plug has been damaged,
B. Objects have fallen, or liquid has been spilled into
the equipment,
C. The equipment has been exposed to rain or water,
D. The equipment does not operate normally by follow-
ing the operating instructions contained within this
owners manual. Adjust only those controls that are
covered by the operating instructions, as an im-
proper adjustment of other controls may result in
damage and will often require extensive work by a
qualified technician to restore the product to its nor-
mal operation,
E. The equipment has been dropped or damaged in any
way,
F. The equipment exhibits a distinct change in perfor-
mance - this indicates a need for service.
22. Do not attempt to service beyond that described in the
operating instructions. All other service should be referred to qualified service personnel.
23. 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.
24. 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.
Introduction
The McIntosh MAC-3 is a precision Dolby Digital AC-3®
surround decoder which will reproduce the six discrete
channels of encoded sound tracks with ultimate fidelity and
sonic purity. The MAC-3 also incorporates a Dolby Pro
Logic® surround decoder to reproduce Dolby Surround®
sound tracks with superior audio quality. The MAC-3 has
many valuable and useful features that will enhance your
listening experience.
Performance Features
· Remote Controlled by a C39 or MX130
When used with a C39 or MX130, the MAC-3 inputs can
be selected by remote control.
· Assemble a Simplified Surround Sound System
Use an MAC-3 as a stand alone decoder with a McIntosh
MVS-3 Audio/Video Selector and an MC7106 Six Channel Power Amplifier for a simplified Dolby Digital/Pro
Logic Surround sound system.
· 24 Bit DSP Processing
Two Motorola 24 Bit Digital Processors decode both
Dolby Digital and Pro Logic signals. This combination is
one of the most powerful processing systems available.
· 20 Bit Conversion
Three 20 bit stereo digital to analog, (D/A) converters are
used to reproduce the six decoded Dolby Digital audio
channels, and one 20 bit stereo analog to digital, (A/D)
converter is for signals fed into the analog inputs.
· Digital Input Switching
Four Digital Coaxial and matching Optical inputs are
provided for four program sources:
1. Digital Versatile Disc (DVD)
2. Laser Video Disc Player (LV)
3. Satellite Tuner or Receiver (SAT)
4. CD Player (CD1)
The LV AC-3 RF INPUT receives RF signals from a Laser Video Disc Player reproducing Dolby Digital sound
tracks. The ANALOG Stereo Input accept stereo signals
from any audio source.
4
Performance Features cont
· Automatic Mode Switching
The MAC-3 automatically switches operating modes between Dolby Digital or Pro Logic, according to the input
signal.
· LED Channel Status Indicators
The MAC-3 includes seven LEDs on the front panel to
indicate what type of operating signals are being received.
· Adjustable Channel Time Delays
Signals to the Center channel and Surround channels can
be time delayed. This feature can be used to correct for
different listening distances from the center speaker and
surround speakers relative to the front speakers.
· Precision Tracking Volume Control
An electronic Volume Control adjusts all six channels
with tracking accuracy better than 0.5dB.
· LED Delay/Volume Indicator
The front panel two digit LED reads Volume in percent. It
also indicates time delay in milliseconds during time delay
calibration, and channel level in dB during surround level
calibration.
· Automatic Input Level Control
The Analog Input includes a special circuit which protects against accidental input signal overdrive.
· IR Remote Control
When used in a simplified system with the MVS-3 and
MC7106, the MAC-3 can be controlled directly with an
optional Remote Control (HR39/HR130) through its front
panel IR (Infra Red) sensor.
· Speaker Settings for Bass Management
The MAC-3 processing circuits allow you to change the
bass cutoff frequency fed to the front, center and surround channels to 80Hz, when using a subwoofer.
· Automatic Power On-Off
The MAC-3 AC power can be turned on or off with a
Power Control signal from a McIntosh Control Center or
other McIntosh accessory component.
· Built-In System Level Calibration Generator
A built-in test signal generator can be switched manually
or automatically through all system channels for surround
level calibration. The levels can be adjusted plus or minus
12dB.
· Cinema Re-Equalization
THX® RE-EQualization filter compensates for the differences in room acoustics between the movie theater and
a home theater room.
· Late Night Dynamic Audio Compression
With Dolby Digital sound tracks, a dynamic volume level
compressor can be switched in to reduce the wide dynamic range of music and sound effects. This feature can
be very useful for late night listening or when you have
close neighbors.
Manufactured under license from Lucasfilm Ltd.. THX and Re-Equalization are registered trademarks of Lucasfilm, Ltd.
5
Installation
The MAC-3 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 required panel
cutout, ventilation cutout and unit dimensions are shown.
Always provide adequate ventilation for your MAC-3.
Cool operation ensures the longest possible operating life for
any electronic instrument. Do not install the MAC-3 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 pos-
Installation
sible operating temperature.
A custom cabinet installation should provide the following minimum spacing dimensions for cool operation. Allow
at least 1-1/2 inches (3.8cm) above the unit so airflow is not
obstructed. Allow 17-1/2 inches (44.5cm) depth behind the
mounting panel, which includes clearance for connectors.
Allow 1-1/8 inches (2.9cm) 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.
PP
Front View of a MAC-3
custom installed
Side View of a MAC-3
custom installed
(QG&DSV
PP
0RXQWLQJ6XUIDFH
0RXQ WLQ J6X UIDFH
PP
%RWWRPRI&X WRX WDQG 7RS
RI6XSSRUW6KHOI0XVW
&RLQFLGH
6LGH9LHZ
6XSSRUW6KHOI
PP
PP
2XWOLQHRI8QLW
3DQHO+HLJKW
PP
PP
2XWOLQHRI)URQW3DQHO
(GJHRI&XWRXW
)URQW9LHZ
6XSSRUW6KHOI
0RXQWLQJ%UDFNHWDW%RWK6LGHVRI WKH5HDU3DQHO
)DVWHQZLWK[ 0DFK LQ H6FUHZDQG :DVKH UWR&K DVVL V
)DVWHQZLWK[:RRG6FUHZDQG: DVKHUW R6XSSRUW6KHOI
PP
Bottom View of a MAC-3
custom installed
6
&XW2XW&HQ WHU
IRU9H QWLODWLRQ
%RWWRP9LHZ
Loading...