McIntosh MC206 User Manual

MC206 Six Channel Power Amplifier

Owners
Manual

MC206

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

The lightning flash with arrowhead,
within an equilateral triangle, is intended
to alert the user to the presence of
uninsulated dangerous voltage within
the products enclosure that may be of
sufficient 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.

General:

1. Read these instructions.

2. Keep these instructions.

3. Heed all warnings.

4. Follow all 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. Unplug this equipment during lightning storms or
when unused for long periods of time.

8. Only use attachments/accessories specified by the
manufacturer.

NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS

INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO

QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.

To prevent the risk of electric shock, do not remove cover or

back. No user serviceable parts inside.

Installation:

9. The equipment shall be installed near the AC Socket
Outlet and the disconnect device shall be easily acces­sible.

10. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accor­dance with the manufacturers instructions.

11. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators,
heat registers, stoves, or other equipment (including
amplifiers) that produce heat.

12. Do not use this equipment near water.

13. Do not expose this equipment to dripping or splashing
and ensure that no objects filled with liquids, such as
vases, are placed on the equipment.

14. Use only with the cart, stand, tripod,
bracket, or table specified by the manu­facturer, or sold with the equipment.
When a cart is used, use caution when
moving the cart/equipment combination
to avoid injury from tip-over.

Connection:

15. Connect this equipment only to the type of AC power
source as marked on the unit.

16. Protect the power cord from being walked on or
pinched particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles,
and the point where they exit from the equipment.

17. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or
grounding-type plug.

2

A polarized plug has two blades with one wider
than the other. A grounding type plug has two
blades and a third grounding prong. The wide
blade or the third prong are provided for your
safety. If the provided plug does not fit into your
outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the
obsolete outlet.

18. Do not overload wall outlets, extension cords or inte­gral convenience receptacles as this can result in a risk
of fire or electric shock.

19. To completely disconnect this equipment from the AC
Mains, disconnect the power supply cord plug from the
AC receptacle.

Care of Equipment:

20. Clean only with a dry cloth.

21. Do not permit objects or liquids of any kind to be
pushed, spilled and/or fall into the equipment through
enclosure openings.

22. Unplug the power cord from the AC power outlet
when left unused for a long period of time.

Thank You

Your decision to own this McIntosh MC206 Power Ampli­fier 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.

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

Repair of Equipment:

23. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Ser­vicing is required when the equipment has been dam­aged in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug is
damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen
into the equipment, the equipment has been exposed to
rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has
been dropped.

24. Do not attempt to service beyond that described in the
operating instructions. All other service should be re­ferred to qualified service personnel.

25. 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.

26. 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.

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]

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]

Copyright 2001 ã by McIntosh Laboratory, Inc.

3

Table of Contents

Introduction and Performance Features

Safety Instructions ............................................................ 2

Thank You and Please Take a Moment............................. 3

Technical Assistance and Customer Service .................... 3

Table of Contents and General Notes ............................... 4

Introduction ...................................................................... 4

Performance Features ....................................................... 4

Dimensions ....................................................................... 5

Installation ........................................................................ 6

Rear Panel Connections .................................................... 7

How to Connect ................................................................ 8

Front Panel Displays and Controls ................................. 10

How to Operate and Read the Power Output Meters ..... 11

Notes ............................................................................... 12

Specifications ................................................................. 14

Packing Instruction ......................................................... 15

General Notes

1. The following Connecting Cable is available from the
McIntosh Parts Department:

Power Control Cable Part No. 170-202

Six foot, 2 conductor shielded, with two 1/8 inch stereo
mini phone plugs.

2. For additional connection information, refer to the owners
manual(s) for any component(s) connected to the MC206.

3. The MC206 mutes the speaker outputs for approximately two
seconds when first turned on.

4. It is very important that loudspeaker cables of adequate size
be used, so that there will be no power loss. The size is
specified in Gauge Numbers or AWG, (American Wire Gauge).
The smaller the Gauge number, the larger the wire size. The
MC206 Loudspeaker Connection Terminals will accept up to a
10 AWG wire size:

If your loudspeaker cables are 50 feet (38.1m) or less,
use at least 14 Gauge.
If your loudspeaker cables are 100 feet (76.2m) or less,
use at least 12 Gauge.

5. In the event that the MC206 over heats, due to improper
ventilation and/or high ambient temperature, the protection
circuits will activate. The Front Panel Power Guard LEDs
will continuously indicate ON and the audio will be muted.
When the MC206 has returned to a safe operating
temperature, normal operation will resume.

6. The Multi-Channel Input DB25 Connector allows for easy
connecting of a McIntosh MX130/132 or C39 A/V Control
Center, Audio and Power Control connections, to the MC206.
If a McIntosh MSE1 Surround Expander is connected to the
MX130/132 or C39, then discrete Audio and Power Control
Cables should be used between them and the MC206. The
Diagram and Pin Identification list for the Multi-Channel
Input is as follows:

Multi-Channel Input

Multi-Channel Amp DB25 Connector Pin Layout

1. Left Front + 14. Left Front Gnd.

2. Center Front + 15. Center Front Gnd.

3. Right Front + 16. Right Front Gnd.

4. N/C 17. N/C

5. Left Surround + 18. Left Surround Gnd.

6. Right Surround + 19. Right Surround Gnd.

7. Left Back Surround + 20. Left Back Surround Gnd.

8. Right Back Surround + 21. Right Back Surround Gnd.

9. N/C 22. N/C

10. N/C 23. N/C

11. N/C 24. System Calibrate Gnd.

12. System Calibrate 25. Power Control Gnd.

13. Power Control In

Introduction

Now you can take advantage of traditional McIntosh stan­dards of excellence in the MC206 Power Amplifier. Six
200 watt high current output channels will drive any high
quality loudspeaker system to its ultimate performance.
The MC206 reproduction is sonically transparent and abso­lutely accurate. The McIntosh Sound is The Sound of the
Music Itself.

Performance Features

· Power Output

The MC206 consists of six Power Amplifier Channels,
each capable of 200 watts into 4 ohm or 120 watts into 8
ohm loudspeakers with less than 0.005% distortion.

· High Current Output

A peak output current of 25 amperes per channel ensures
that the MC206 will successfully drive high quality loud­speakers such as McIntosh for a truly exciting sound expe­rience.

· Power Guard and Sentry Monitor

The MC206s Patented McIntosh Power Guard Circuits
prevent each of the amplifier channels from being
overdriven into clipping, with its harsh distorted sound that
can also damage your valuable loudspeakers. The Sentry
Monitor Power Output Protection Circuits ensure the
MC206 will have a long and trouble free operating life.

· Illuminated Power Meters

Three Front Panel Illuminated Power Output Meters can be
selected to precisely indicate the power output of each of
the six channels.

4

Dimensions

The following dimensions can assist in determining the
best location for your MC206. There is additional informa­tion on the next page pertaining to installing the MC206
into cabinets.

17-

1/2

44.45cm

Dimensions

"

Front View of the MC206

Rear View of the MC206

17"

43.18cm

13 -

1/4

33.66cm

7-

5/8

7-

1/8

18.10cm

6-

5/16

16.03cm

"

19.37cm

"

"

"

Side View of the MC206

13/16

2.06cm

18-

1/2

"

46.99cm

17"

43.18cm

6-

1/2

3/16

"

0.48cm

"

16.51cm

"

14-

1/16

"

35.72cm

7/8

"

2.22cm

5

Installation

Installation

The MC206 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 MC206 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 MC206 is removed from the custom instal­lation and used free standing. 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

MC206 Front Panel
Custom Cabinet Cutout

for your MC206.
Cool operation en­sures the longest
possible operating
life for any elec­tronic instrument.
Do not install the
MC206 directly
above a heat gener­ating component
such as a high pow-

Cabinet
Front
Panel

Opening
for Ventilation

ered amplifier. If all
the components are
installed in a single
cabinet, a quiet run­ning ventilation fan

MC206 Side View
in Custom Cabinet

can be a definite as­set in maintaining
all the system com­ponents at the

Support
Shelf

coolest possible op­erating temperature.

A custom cabinet
installation should
provide the follow­ing minimum spac­ing dimensions for

MC206 Bottom View
in Custom Cabinet

1-

1/2

3.81cm

"

cool operation. Al­low at least 6 inches
(15.24cm) above the
top, 2 inches
(3.81cm) below the
bottom and 1 inch

(2.54cm) on each side of the amplifier, so that airflow is
not obstructed. Allow 20 inches (50.8cm) depth behind the
front panel. Allow 1 inch (2.54cm) 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.

17-

1/16

"

43.34cm

6-

5/8

"

16.83cm

6"

15.24cm

6"

15.24cm

Cutout

Opening

for

Ventilation

Cutout Opening for Custom Mounting

Cutout Opening for Ventilation

9-

1/2

"

24.13cm

14"

35.56cm

14-

1/16

"

35.72cm

Chassis
Spacers

13-

3/16

33.50cm

"

6

Rear Panel Connections and Switch

INPUTS for discrete audio
cables from an A/V Control
Center or Preamplifier Audio
Outputs

Individual Input
LEVEL Controls
for each channel

MULTI-CHANNEL INPUT
accepts a 25 conductor DB25
computer type cable that con­nects all audio and power con­trol signals

POWER CONTROL IN receives turn
On/Off signals from a McIntosh compo­nent and the POWER CONTROL OUT
sends that turn On/Off signal to the next
McIntosh component

Main Fuse holder, refer
to information on the
back panel of your
MC206 to determine the
correct fuse size and rat­ing

Connect the MC206
power cord to a live AC
outlet. Refer to informa­tion on the back panel to
determine the correct
voltage

OUPUT Connections for 4 ohm or 8
ohm Loudspeaker for each pair of
channels

7

How to Connect the MC206 for Six Channels

Caution: The supplied AC Power Cord should not be

connected to the Rear Panel of the MC206
Amplifier until after the Loudspeaker Connections
have been made and the supplied protective
Terminal Connection Covers have been installed.
Failure to observe this could result in Electric
Shock.

1. Connect a power control cable from the McIntosh A/V
Control Center Power Control Out to the McIntosh
Surround Expander Power Control In.

2. Connect a power control cable from the McIntosh Sur­round Expander Power Control Out to the MC206
POWER CONTROL IN.

3. Connect cables from the Audio Outputs of a McIntosh
A/V Control Center and Surround Expander to the
MC206 INPUTS, making sure to match up the channel
identifications between both units.

4. Prepare the Loudspeaker Hookup Cables that attach to
the MC206 Power Amplifier by choosing one of the
methods below:

Bare wire cable ends:
Carefully remove sufficient insulation from the cable
ends, refer to
figures 1, 2 &

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

Note: If desired, the twisted ends can be tinned with

solder to keep the strands together, or attach spade
lug and/or banana connector.

Spade lug or prepared wire connection:
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 terminal so the wires cannot slip out.
Refer to
figures
4, 5 & 6.

Banana plug connection:
Insert the banana plug into the hole at the top of the
terminal. Tighten the top portion of the terminal post
and the set screw to secure the banana plug in place.

Note: The use of Banana Plugs is for use in the United

States and Canada only.

5. Connect the Loudspeaker Hookup Cables from the
MC206 OUTPUT Terminals to the loudspeakers, being
careful to observe the correct polarities and channel
designation.

WARNING: Loudspeaker terminals are hazardous live

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

6. Attach each of the three sup­plied Terminal Connection
Covers with the four Pan Head
Mounting Screws (6-32 x 5/16
inch) to the Rear Panel of the
MC206 Amplifier. Refer to fig­ures 7 and 8.

Note: There are four openings on the bottom edge of the

cover to allow the Loudspeaker Cables to exit the
MC206.

Figure 7

7. Connect the MC206 Power Cord to an active AC out­let.

Figure 8

Terminal
Connection Cover

8

Cable
Opening

McIntosh A/V Control Center

How to Connect the MC206 for Six Channels

McIntosh Surround Expander

To A C
Outlet

Center Front
Loudspeaker

Right Surround
Loudspeaker

Right Front
Loudspeaker

Left Front
Loudspeaker

Back Surround
Loudspeaker

Left Surround
Loudspeaker

9

Front Panel Displays and Controls

POWER OUTPUT METERS
indicate power output of the
amplifier channel(s)

POWER GUARD LEDs
light when the LEFT
FRONT, or LEFT
SURRound Amplifier
Channel POWER
GUARD Circuit activates

POWER OUTPUT METERS
indicate power output of the
amplifier channel(s)

POWER GUARD LEDs
light when the CENTER
or BACK SURRound
Amplifier Channel
POWER GUARD Cir­cuit activates

POWER OUTPUT METERS
indicate power output of the
amplifier channel(s)

POWER GUARD LEDs
light when the RIGHT
FRONT or RIGHT
SURRound Amplifier
Channel POWER
GUARD Circuit activates

METER LEDs
indicate the
Power Output
Meter is display­ing the LEFT
FRONT and/or
LEFT
SURRound
Channels

METER Switch selects
the Display Modes of the
Power Output Meters

10

METER LEDs
indicate the
Power Output
Meter is dis­playing the
CENTER and/
or BACK
SURRound
Channels

Remote On Indicator
lights when the amplifier
is in the Remote Turn-On
Mode

METER LEDs
indicate the
Power Output
Meter is dis­playing the
RIGHT FRONT
and/or RIGHT
SURRound
Channels

POWER Switch Turns
AC Power Off, Remote
(On/Off) or On

How to Operate

How to Operate and Read the Power Output Meters

Power On

To have the MC206 turn On or Off when a A/V Control
Center turns On or Off, rotate the POWER
Switch to the REMOTE Position. For
manual operation, rotate the POWER
Switch to the ON or OFF Position as de­sired. Refer to figure 9.

Note: There must be a power control

connection between the MC206 and the McIntosh A/V
Control Center or Surround Decoder in order for the
remote power turn-on to function.

Figure 9

Input Level Controls

When using a McIntosh A/V Control Control Center or
Surround Decoder set all six level controls to
the 2.0V position. If an A/V Control Center
or Surround Decoder has a 1.0V output rat­ing, set the controls to the 1.0V position. If
an increase or decrease in amplifier sensitiv-

Figure 10

ity is required for other applications, set the
controls as desired. Refer to figure 10.

Meter Selection

Rotate the meter mode switch to select the meter operation
mode you desire. Refer to figure 11.

LIGHTS OFF - Meter lights are turned off and the

meters are in the
Summed Mode.

SUMMED - Each meter displays

the combined out­puts of two chan­nels. The Left
Meter indicates the

Figure 11

Left Front
combined with
the Left Sur­round, the
Center Meter
indicates the

Figure 12

Center Front combined with the Back
Surround and the Right Meter indicates
the Right Front combined with the Right
Surround; refer to the upper meter
scale(s). Refer to figure 12.

FRONT/CTR - The Left Meter indicates the Left Front

Channel, the Center Meter indicates the
Center Channel and the Right Meter indi­cates the Right Front Channel; refer to
the lower meter scale(s). Refer to figure

13.

SURR - The Left Meter indicates the Left Sur-

round Channel,
the Center
Meter indicates
the Back Sur­round Channel
and the right

Figure 13

meter indicates the Right Surround Chan­nel; refer to the lower meter scale(s). Re­fer to figure 13.

Note: When the MC206 is connected to a

McIntosh MX132 A/V Control
Center with a DB25 conductor
cable, the meters will automatically
indicate the output of each
individual channel(s) (Front and
Side Surround) during the Speaker
Level Setup Operation of the
MX132. This function is independent
of any Meter Mode selections on the
MC206.

How to Read the Power Output Meters

The MC206 Power Output Meter scales are based on using
4 ohm loudspeakers. If 8 ohm
speakers are used, the actual
power output is one half the
power available to drive 4 ohm
loudspeakers. Use the chart(s)
below and on the next page to

Figure 14

determine the actual power output sent to your loudspeak­ers. Refer to 14.

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CAUTION: When the MC206 amplifier is used in specific

Countries (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Denmark,
Spain, Finland, France, United Kingdom, Greece,
Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands,
Portugal, Sweden), only loudspeakers of 8 ohms
impedance or higher should be connected.

12

Notes

13

Specifications

Specifications

Power Output

Minimum sine wave continuous average power output per
channel, all channels operating is:
200 watts into a 4 ohm load
120 watts into a 8 ohm load

Rated Power Band

20Hz to 20,000Hz

Total Harmonic Distortion

Maximum Total Harmonic Distortion at any power
level from 250 milliwatts to rated power output is:

0.005% for 4 or 8 ohm loads

Dynamic Headroom

1.6dB

Frequency Response

+0, -0.25dB from 20Hz to 20,000Hz
+0, -3dB from 10Hz to 100,000Hz

Sensitivity

1.0 Volt

Power Requirements

100 Volts, 50/60Hz at 13.2 amps
110 Volts, 50/60Hz at 12.0 amps
120 Volts, 50/60Hz at 11.0 amps
220 Volts, 50/60Hz at 6.0 amps
230 Volts, 50/60Hz at 6.0 amps
240 Volts, 50/60Hz at 6.0 amps

Note: Refer to the rear panel of the MC206 for the correct

voltage.

Dimensions

Front Panel: 17-1/2 inches (44.45cm) wide, 7-1/8 inches
(18.10cm) high. Depth behind front mounting panel is 18
inches (45.72cm). Clearance required in front of the Front
Panel is 1 inch (2.54cm) for knobs.

Weight

57 pounds (25.9 kg) net, 76 pounds (34.5 kg) in shipping
carton

A-Weighted Signal To Noise Ratio

92dB (113dB below rated output)

Intermodulation Distortion

Maximum Intermodulation Distortion if instanta­neous peak output per channel does not exceed
twice the rated output, for any combination of fre­quencies from 20Hz to 20,000Hz, with all channels
operating is:

0.005% for 4 or 8 ohm loads

Input Impedance

10,000 ohms

Wide Band Damping Factor

100 at 4 ohms
200 at 8 ohms

14

Packing Instructions

Packing Instructions

In the event it is necessary to repack the equipment for
shipment, the equipment must be packed exactly as shown
below. It is very important that the three plastic feet are at­tached to the bottom of the equipment. Three #10 x 2-1/2
inch screws and washers must be used to fasten the unit
securely to the bottom pad and wood skid. This will ensure
the proper equipment location on the bottom pad. Failure to
do this will result in shipping damage.

Use the original shipping carton and interior parts only
if they are all in good serviceable condition. If a shipping
carton or any of the interior part(s) are needed, please call
or write Customer Service Department of McIntosh Labo­ratory. Please see the Part List for the correct part numbers.

Quantity Part Number Description

1 033888 Shipping carton only
4 033887 End cap (Foam pad)

1 033697 Inside carton only
1 033725 Top Pad
1 034008 Bottom pad
3 017218 Plastic foot (spacer)
1 033699 Shipping skid
3 101169 #10 x 2-1/2 inch Wood screw
3 104033 #10 x 1-3/4 inch Flat washer

4 017218 Plastic foot
4 100159 #10-32 x 3/4 inch Machine

screw

4 104083 #10 x 7/16 inch Flat washer

15

McIntosh Laboratory, Inc.

2 Chambers Street

Binghamton, NY 13903

McIntosh Part No. 040752