McIntosh MAC-3 Owners manual

OWNER’S

MANUAL

Surround Decoder, Dolby Digitalâ (AC-3)

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: [phone] FAX: [phone]

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:

Purchase Date:

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

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:

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: [phone]

FAX: [phone]

Copyright 1997 ã by McIntosh Laboratory, Inc.

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

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 owner’s manual, before operating this equipment.

2.Retain this owner’s 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 owner’s 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 owner’s 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.

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Safety Instructions con’t, 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 following the operating instructions contained within this owner’s manual. Adjust only those controls that are covered by the operating instructions, as an improper adjustment of other controls may result in damage and will often require extensive work by a qualified technician to restore the product to its normal operation,

E.The equipment has been dropped or damaged in any way,

F.The equipment exhibits a distinct change in performance - 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 con’t

·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 LED’s 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.

·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.

·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.

Manufactured under license from Lucasfilm Ltd.. THX and Re-Equaliza- tion are registered trademarks of Lucasfilm, Ltd.

5

Installation

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-

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.

Front View of a MAC-3

custom installed

Side View of a MAC-3

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