McIntosh MC-8207 User Manual

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

MC8207

Seven Channel

Power Amplier

Owner’s Manual

The lightning ash 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 sufcient 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.

1. Read these instructions.

2. Keep these instructions.

3. Heed all warnings.

4. Follow all instructions.

5. Do not use this apparatus near water.

6. Clean only with a dry cloth.

7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install
in accordance with the manufacturer’s instruc­tions.

8. Do not install near any heat sources such as
radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other appa-

ratus (including ampliers) that produce heat.

9. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polar­ized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug
has two blades with one wider than the other.
A grounding type plug has two blades and a

NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS

INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO

QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.

third grounding prong. The wide blade or the
third prong are provided for your safety. If

the provided plug does not t into your outlet,

consult an electrician for replacement of the
obsolete outlet.

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

11. Only use attachments/accessories specied by

the manufacturer.

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

13. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms
or when unused for long periods of time.

14. Refer all servicing to qualied service person­nel. Servicing is required when the apparatus
has been damaged in any way, such as power-

To prevent the risk of electric

shock, do not remove cover or

back. No user-serviceable parts

inside.

supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has
been spilled or objects have fallen into the
apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to
rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or
has been dropped.

15. Do not expose this equipment to dripping or

splashing and ensure that no objects lled

with liquids, such as vases, are placed on the
equipment.

16. To completely disconnect this equipment from
the a.c. mains, disconnect the power supply
cord plug from the a.c. receptacle.

17. The mains plug of the power supply cord shall
remain readily operable.

18. Do not expose batteries to excessive heat such

as sunshine, re or the like.

19. Connect mains power supply cord only to a
mains socket outlet with a protective earthing
connection.

2

Thank You

Your decision to own this McIntosh MC8207 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

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]

Copyright 2011 © by McIntosh Laboratory, Inc.

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]

Table of Contents

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

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

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

Table of Contents ........................................................3

General Information ............................................... 3-4

Connector and Cable Information ..............................4

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

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

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

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

Connections:

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

How to Connect for a Seven Channel System ........ 8-9

Connection Diagram (Separate Sheet) ............Mc1A

How to Connect for a Five Channel and Zone B Sys-

tem (or Seven Channel System) ........................... 10 -11

Connection Diagram (Separate Sheet) ............Mc1B

Front Panel Displays and Controls ............................12

How to Operate ......................................................... 13

Technical Description .......................................... 14 -15

Photos ................................................................... 16-17

Specifications ............................................................ 18

Packing Instruction ................................................... 19

General Information

1. For additional connection information, refer to the

owner’s manual(s) for any component(s) connected

to the MC8207 Power Amplifier.

2. The Main AC Power going to the MC8207 and any

other McIntosh Component(s) should not be applied

until all the system components are connected
together. Failure to do so could result in malfunc­tioning of some or all of the system’s normal opera­tions. When the MC8207 and other McIntosh Com­ponents are in their Standby Power Off Mode, some
of the circuitry inside each component is active and
communication is occurring between them.

3. In the event the MC8207 overheats, 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 MC8207
has returned to a safe operating temperature, nor­mal operation will resume.

4. For the best performance and safety it is important
to always match the impedance of the Loudspeaker
to the Power Amplifier connections. Refer to “How
to Connect” pages 8 thru 11.

Note: The impedance of a Loudspeaker actually var-

ies as the Loudspeaker reproduces different
frequencies. As a result, the nominal impedance
rating of the Loudspeaker (usually measured at
a midrange frequency) might not always agree
with the impedance of the Loudspeaker at low
frequencies where the greatest amount of power
is required. Contact the Loudspeaker Manufac­turer for additional information about the actual
impedance of the Loudspeaker before connecting
it to the McIntosh MC8207.

3

General Information, con,t and Cable Information, Introduction and Performance Features

Power
Control

Meter
Illumination
Control

Ground

PIN 2 PIN 1

PIN 3

General Information, con’t

5. When discarding the unit, comply with local rules
or regulations. Batteries should never be
thrown away or incinerated but disposed
of in accordance with the local regulations
concerning battery disposal.

6. For additional information on the MC8207
and other McIntosh Products please visit
the McIntosh Web Site at www.mcintosh­labs.com.

Connector and Cable Information

XLR Connectors

Below is the Pin configuration for the XLR Balanced
Input, Input/Output Connectors on the MC8207. Refer
to the diagram for connection:
PIN 1: Shield/Ground
PIN 2: + Input/Output
PIN 3: - Input/Output

Power Control Connector

The MC8207 Power Control Input receives an On/
Off signal from +5 to +12 volts. The Power Control
Output will in turn provide a +12 volt Output Signal
with a total current up to 50mA.
An additional connection is for
controlling the illumination of the
MC8207 Ilumeter Power Output
Indicators. The 1/8 inch stereo
mini phone plug connects to a
McIntosh Preamplifier or A/V Control Center Power
Control Output.

Introduction

Now you can take advantage of traditional McIntosh
standards of excellence in the MC8207 Power Ampli­fier. The Seven Channel Power Amplifier produces a
power output of 200 watts per channel and will drive
quality Loudspeakers to a high level of performance.
The MC8207 reproduction is sonically transparent
and absolutely accurate. The McIntosh Sound is “The
Sound of the Music Itself.”

Performance Features

• Power Output

The MC8207 consists of Seven Power Amplifier
Channels, each capable of 200 watts into 4 ohm or 8
ohm Loudspeakers with less than 0.005% distortion.

• Power Guard

The patented McIntosh Power Guard Circuit prevents
the amplifier from being over driven into clipping,
with its harsh distorted sound that can damage your
valuable Loudspeakers.

• Dynamic Power Manager

The MC8207’s Dynamic Power Manager (DPM) cir­cuitry allows for the connection of either 4 ohm or 8
ohm Loudspeakers, while at the same time delivering
identical power output. A peak output current of 25
amperes per channel ensures that it will successfully
drive high quality Loudspeakers such as McIntosh, for
a truly exciting sound experience.

• Versatile Operation

The MC8207 can provide power amplification for
seven channels in a single Zone A/V System or five
channels for Zone A and two channels for Zone B in a
Dual Zone A/V System.

TM

• Balanced and Unbalanced Inputs

There are Balanced Connections for all seven Power
Amplifier Input Channels. For convenience when the
MC8207 is used in a Dual Zone System there are also
two unbalanced inputs.

• Sentry Monitor and Thermal Protection

McIntosh Sentry Monitor power output stage protec­tion circuits ensure the MC8207 will have a long and
trouble free operating life. Built-in thermal protection
circuits guard against overheating.

• Ilumeter Power Output Indicators

The LED Ilumeter Power Output Indicators are peak
responding and indicate the power output of the ampli­fier in watts.

• Power Control

The McIntosh Power Control Circuit allows for remote
turn-on of the MC8207 Power Amplifier from a McIn­tosh A/V Control Center or Preamplifier for a single
or dual Zone System.

• Special Power Supply

A regulated Power Supply and a very large Toroidal
Wound Power Transformer, ensures stable noise free
operation even though the power line varies.

• Fiber Optic Solid State Front Panel Illumination

The even Illumination of the Front Panel is accom­plished by the combination of custom designed Fiber
Optic Light Diffusers and extra long life Light Emit-

ting Diodes (LEDs). The glass Front Panel ensures

the pristine beauty of the MC8207 will be retained for
many years.

4

Dimensions

Front View of the MC8207

Rear View of the MC8207

Side View of the MC8207

17-1/2"

44.5cm

8-7/8"

22.5cm

9-7/16"

23.9cm

11-3/4"

29.9cm

16-13/16"

42.7cm

18-5/8"

47.3cm

3/16"

0.5cm

7/8"

2.2cm

8-1/8"

20.6cm

13"

33.0cm

16-1/2"

41.9cm

2-1/2"

6.4cm

The following dimensions can assist in determining
the best location for your MC8207.

Dimensions

5

Installation

MC8207 Front Panel
Custom Cabinet Cutout

Cutout

Opening

for

Ventilation

Cutout Opening for Ventilation

Support
Shelf

Cabinet
Front
Panel

Chassis
Spacers

MC8207 Side View
in Custom Cabinet

MC8207 Bottom View
in Custom Cabinet

12

-1/4

"

31.1cm

12-3/8"

31.4cm

14-1/4"

36.2cm

2-7/8"

7.3cm

6"

15.2cm

Opening
for Ventilation

15-3/4"

40.0cm

9

-7/8

"

25.1cm

10"

25.4cm

14-11/16"

37.3cm

17"

43.2cm

Cutout Opening for Custom Mounting

Opening for Ventilation

Cabinet Front Panel

Note: Center the cutout Horizontally
on the unit. For purposes of
clarity, the above illustration
is not drawn to scale.

The MC8207 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 MC8207 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
MC8207 is removed from the custom installation and
used free standing. The required panel cutout, ventila­tion cutout and unit dimensions are shown.

Always provide adequate ventilation for your
MC8207. Cool operation ensures the longest possible
operating life for any electronic instrument. Do not
install the MC8207 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
possible operating temperature.

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

Allow at least 6 inches (15.24cm) above the top, 2
inches (5.08cm) below the bottom, 3 inches (7.62cm)
behind the rear panel and 2 inches (5.08cm) on each

side of the Power Amplifier, so that airflow is not

obstructed. Allow 2-1/2 inches (6.35 cm) in front of

the mounting1 panel for clearance. Be sure to cut out a
ventilation hole in the mounting shelf according to the
dimensions in the drawing.

Installation

1

When the MC8207 is installed together with other McIn-

tosh Components, check clearances on all components
before proceeding.

6

Rear Panel Connections and Switch

OUTPUTS Channel 7 (Front

Right) connection for a 4 ohm

or 8 ohm Loudspeaker

OUTPUTS Channel 6 (Sur-

round Right) connection for a

4 ohm or 8 ohm Loudspeaker

Circuit Breaker, press to
reset if the amplifier will
not power up

Connect the MC8207
power cord to a live AC
outlet. Refer to the rear
panel to determine the
correct voltage

OUTPUTS Channel 3 (Center)

connection for a 4 ohm or 8 ohm
Loudspeaker

OUTPUTS Channel 5 (Surround

Back Right) or ZONE B Right

Channel connection for a 4 ohm
or 8 ohm Loudspeaker

OUTPUTS Channel 1 (Front

Left) connection for a 4 ohm

or 8 ohm Loudspeaker

OUTPUTS Channel 4 (Surround

Back Left) or ZONE B Left

Channel connection for a 4 ohm
or 8 ohm Loudspeaker

OUTPUTS Channel 2 (Surround

Left) connection for a 4 ohm or 8

ohm Loudspeaker

Unbalanced INPUTs ZONE
B Right Channel or Chan-

nel 5 (Surround Back Right)

and ZONE B Left Channel
or Channel 4 (Surround

Back Left)

AUTO OFF Disables
or Enables the Power
Saving Circuitry

1

POWER CONTROL OUT

(ZA and ZB) send turn

On/Off signals to the next
McIntosh Component

POWER CONTROL IN (ZA) receives turn On/Off signals from a McIntosh compo­nent for Zone A (Channels 1- 7). POWER CONTROL IN (ZB) receives turn On/Off
signals from a McIntosh component for Zone B (Channels 4 and 5).

1

Refer to page 13 for additional information

Balanced INPUTS Channel 7 (Front Right); Channel 6
(Surround Right); Channel 5 (Surround Back Right or
ZONE B Right Channel)

Selects the impedance (4 or 8 ohms) of the

Loudspeakers connected to the MC8207

Balanced INPUTS Channel 4 (Surround Back Left

or ZONE B Left Channel); Channel 3 (Center);
Channel 2 (Surround Left); Channel 1 (Front Left)

7

How to Connect for Seven Channel

Figure 1

Figure 2 Figure 3

Figure 5

Figure 4

System

Caution: Do not connect the AC Power Cord to the

MC8207 Rear Panel until after the Loudspeaker
Connections are made and the protective Termi­nal Connections Cover is installed. Failure to
observe this could result in Electric Shock.

The connection instructions below, together with the
MC8207 Connection Diagram located on the separate
folded sheet “Mc1A”, is an example of a typical Mul­tichannel System. Your system may vary from this,
however the actual components would be connected in
a similar manner. For additional information refer to
“Connector and Cable Information” on page 4.

1. For Remote Power Control, connect a power control
cable from the A/V Control Center Power Control
Trigger/Output 1 to the Amplifier POWER CON­TROL ZA input.

Note: When the Power Control Cable is connected

between the MC8207 and an A/V Control Cen­ter, the AUTO OFF Signal Sensing Circuitry is

automatically disabled.

2. Connect XLR cables from the Balanced Outputs

(FL, C, FR, SR, SL, SBR and SBL) of an A/V

Control Center to the MC8207 Balanced INPUTS

(1-FL, 3-C, 7-FR, 6-SR, 2-SL, 5-SBR and 4-SBL )

making sure to match up channel designations.

This McIntosh MC8207 Power Amplifier is designed
for Loudspeakers with an impedance of 4 ohms or
8 ohms. Connect a single Loudspeaker only to each
Channel Output Terminals.

When connecting Loudspeakers to the MC8207

it is very important to use cables of adequate size, so
there is little to no power loss in the cables. The size is
specified in Gauge Numbers or AWG (American Wire

Gauge). The smaller the Gauge number, the larger the

wire size:

Loudspeaker Cable Distance vs Wire Gauge Guide

Loudspeaker

Impedance

2 Ohms

4 Ohms

8 Ohms

25 feet

(7.62 meters)

or less

12AWG 10AWG 8AWG

14AWG 12AWG 10AWG

16AWG 14AWG 12 AWG

50 feet

(15.24 meters)

or less

100 feet

(30.48 meters)

or less

3. Prepare the Loudspeaker Hookup Cable for attach­ment to the MC8207 Power Amplifier:

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.

Notes: 1. If desired, the twisted ends can be tinned

with solder to keep the strands together.

2. The prepared bare wire cable ends may be
inserted into spade lug connectors.

3. Banana plugs are for use in the United
States and Canada only.

Banana Plugs are for use in the United States and
Canada only:

4. Attach the previously prepared bare wire cable ends
into the banana plugs and secure the
connections. Refer to figure 4.

5. Referring to figure 5, connect the Loudspeaker
hookup cables with banana plugs into
the hole at the end of the MC8207
Negative and Positive Output Termi­nals, making sure to match up chan­nel designation with Loudspeaker
location.

6. Place the IMPEDANCE Switch to the position

(4 ohm or 8 ohm) to match the impedance of the

connected Loudspeakers. In the event that some
of the Loudspeakers in the system are differ­ent impedance, use the impedance of the Front
Loudspeakers. If the Loudspeaker’s impedance is
6 ohms, select the 4 ohms setting. Refer to “Gen­eral Information” Note 4 on page 3 for additional
information.

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.

7. Connect the MC8207 power cord to an active AC
outlet.

Spade Lug or Wire Connections:

8. Connect the Loudspeaker hookup cables to the
MC8207 Output Terminal being careful to observe
the correct polarities, making sure to match up
channel designation with Loudspeaker location.
Insert the spade lug connector or prepared sec­tion of the cable end into the terminal side access
hole. Then tighten the terminal cap until the cable
is firmly clamped into the terminals so the lugs or
wire cannot slip out. Refer to figures 6, 7 and 8.

8

9. Place the IMPEDANCE Switch to the position

Figure 6 Figure 7

Figure 8

(4 ohm or 8 ohm) to match the impedance of the

connected Loudspeakers. In the event that some
of the Loudspeakers in the system are differ­ent impedance, use the impedance of the Front
Loudspeakers. If the Loudspeaker’s impedance is
6 ohms, select the 4 ohms setting. Refer to “Gen­eral Information” Note 4 on page 3 for additional
information.

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.

10. Connect the MC8207 power cord to an active AC
outlet.

How to Connect for a Seven Channel System

9

How to Connect for a Five Channel and

Figure 1

Figure 2 Figure 3

Figure 5

Figure 4

Zone B System

Caution: Do not connect the AC Power Cord to the

MC8207 Rear Panel until after the Loudspeaker
Connections are made and the protective Termi­nal Connections Cover is installed. Failure to
observe this could result in Electric Shock.

The connection instructions below, together with the
MC8207 Connection Diagram located on the separate
folded sheet “Mc1B”. Below is an example of a typical
Five Channel and Zone B System. Your system may
vary from this, however the actual components would
be connected in a similar manner. For additional in­formation refer to “Connector and Cable Information”
on page 4.

1. For Remote Power Control, connect a power
control cable from the A/V Control Center Power
Control Trigger/Output 1 to the Amplifier POWER
CONTROL ZA In. Also connect a power control
cable from the A/V Control Center Power Control
Trigger/Output 2 to the Amplifier POWER CON­TROL ZB In.

Note: 1. When the Power Control Cable is con-

nected between the MC8207 Power Control
ZA In Jack and an A/V Control Center, the
AUTO OFF Signal Sensing Circuitry is
automatically disabled.

2. For proper operation of Zone B, a Power
Control Connection is required between the
MC8207 Power Control ZB In Jack and an
A/V Control Center Power Control Zone B

Output Jack.

2. Connect XLR cables from the Balanced Outputs

(FL, C, FR, SR, SL, SBR and SBL) of an A/V

Control Center to the MC8207 Balanced INPUTS

(1-FL, 3-C, 7-FR, 6-SR and 2-SL), making sure to

match up channel designations.

3. Connect audio cables from the A/V Control Center
Zone B Left and Right Channel Outputs to the

MC8207 Unbalanced L(4-SBL) and R(5-SBR),

making sure to match up channel designation.

Note: If the A/V Control Center Zone B Left and

Right Channel Ouputs are Balanced Connec­tors, then use XLR Cables and connect them
to the Balanced Inputs 4-SBL for the Left
Channel and 5-SBR for the Right Channel.

This McIntosh MC8207 Power Amplifier is designed
for Loudspeakers with an impedance of 4 ohms or
8 ohms. Connect a single Loudspeaker only to each
Channel Output Terminals.

When connecting Loudspeakers to the MC8207

it is very important to use cables of adequate size, so
there is little to no power loss in the cables. The size is
specified in Gauge Numbers or AWG (American Wire

Gauge). The smaller the Gauge number, the larger the

wire size:

Loudspeaker Cable Distance vs Wire Gauge Guide

Loudspeaker

Impedance

2 Ohms

4 Ohms

8 Ohms

25 feet

(7.62 meters)

or less

12AWG 10AWG 8AWG

14AWG 12AWG 10AWG

16AWG 14AWG 12 AWG

50 feet

(15.24 meters)

or less

100 feet

(30.48 meters)

or less

4. Prepare the Loudspeaker Hookup Cable for attach­ment to the MC8207 Power Amplifier:

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.

Notes: 1. If desired, the twisted ends can be tinned

with solder to keep the strands together.

2. The prepared bare wire cable ends may be
inserted into spade lug connectors.

3. Banana plugs are for use in the United
States and Canada only.

Banana Plugs are for use in the United States and
Canada only:

5. Attach the previously prepared bare wire cable
ends into the banana plugs and secure the connec­tions. Refer to figure 4.

6. Referring to figure 5, connect the
Loudspeaker hookup cables with
banana plugs into the hole at the end
of the MC8207 Negative and Positive
Output Terminals, making sure to
match up channel designation with
Loudspeaker location.

7. Place the IMPEDANCE Switch to the

position (4 ohm or 8 ohm) to match

the impedance of the connected Loudspeakers.
In the event that some of the Loudspeakers in the
system are different impedance, use the imped­ance of the Front Loudspeakers. If the Loud­speaker’s impedance is 6 ohms, select the 4 ohms
setting. Refer to “General Information” Note 4 on
page 3 for additional information.

10

How to Connect for a Five Channel and Zone B System

Figure 6 Figure 7

Figure 8

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.

8. Connect the MC8207 power cord to an active AC
outlet.

Spade Lug or Wire Connections:

9. Connect the Loudspeaker hookup cables to the

MC8207 Output Terminal being careful to observe
the correct polarities, making sure to match up
channel designation with Loudspeaker location.
Insert the spade lug connector or prepared sec­tion of the cable end into the terminal side access
hole. Then tighten the terminal cap until the cable
is firmly clamped into the terminals so the lugs or
wire cannot slip out. Refer to figures 6, 7 and 8.

WARNING: Loudspeaker terminals are hazard-

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

11. Connect the MC8207 power cord to an active AC
outlet.

10. Place the IMPEDANCE Switch to the position

(4 ohm or 8 ohm) to match the impedance of the

connected Loudspeakers. In the event that some
of the Loudspeakers in the system are differ­ent impedance, use the impedance of the Front
Loudspeakers. If the Loudspeaker’s impedance is
6 ohms, select the 4 ohms setting. Refer to “Gen­eral Information” Note 4 on page 3 for additional
information.

11

Front Panel Displays and Controls

Standby Power
On Indicator

LED indicates when the Front Left, Center or Front Right
Amplifier Channel POWER GUARD circuit activates

Ilumeter indicates the Power Output of the Front Left,
Center and Front Right Amplifier Channels

12

LED indicates when the SL, SBL, SBR or SR Amplifier
Channel POWER GUARD circuit activates

POWER Switch Turns AC Power

On or Off/Remote (On/Off )

How to Operate

Power

With the POWER Switch set to the OFF/REMOTE
Position, the MC8207 will turn On or
Off when an A/V Control Center turns
On or Off. For manual operation, place
the POWER Switch to the ON Position
as desired. Refer to figure 9.

Notes: 1. There must be a power control

connection between the MC8207
and the McIntosh A/V Control
Center in order for the remote
power turn-on to function.

2. To switch the MC8207 back On after the Auto
Sense Circuitry has placed the amplifier into
the Standby Mode, it is first necessary to place
the POWER Switch in the OFF/REMOTE posi­tion. Then place the POWER Switch in the ON
position. Refer to “Auto Off Switch” below for
additional information.

Auto Off Switch

The MC8207 incorporates Power Save Circuitry to
automatically place the MC8207 into the power saving
Standby Mode approximately 30 minutes after there
has been an absence of an audio input signal.

When there is a Power Control Connection be­tween the MC8207 and a Preampli­fier with Power Save Circuitry, the
AUTO OFF Switch is bypassed
(located on the Rear Panel Of the

MC8207). Refer to figure 10.

In the event there is no Power Control Connection
and the Power Save Circuitry is activating inappro­priately relative to your specific use of the MC8207,
place the AUTO OFF Switch in the DISABLE posi­tion.

Figure 9

Figure 10

Note: If the Power Save Circuitry has switched Power

to the MC8207 OFF, place the POWER in the
OFF Position and then in the ON position to
reset the circuitry.

Impedance Switch

The MC8207’s Dynamic Power Manager circuitry
allows for the connection of either 4
ohm or 8 ohm Loudspeakers to its
output terminals, while at the same
time delivering the same power out­put. Refer to figure 11.

Figure 11

Place the IMPEDANCE Switch,

located on the rear panel, to the position (4 ohm or 8

ohm) that matches the impedance of the connected

Loudspeakers. In the event that
some of the Loudspeakers in the
system are of different impedance,
use the impedance of the Left and
Right Front Loudspeakers to set
the IMPEDANCE Switch position.

Figure 12

Refer to figure 12.

Ilumeter Power Output Indicators

The MC8207 Ilumeter Power Output Indicators are
calibrated to allow for the direct reading of the Power
Output in Watts for Loudspeakers connected to Front
Left, Center and Front Right Amplifier Channels. The
Ilumeter responds to all the musical information being
produced by the amplifier. It indicates to an accuracy
of at least 95% of the power output with only a single
cycle of a 2000Hz tone burst. Refer to figure 13.

Note: When Power Control Input of the MC8207 is

connected to a A/V Control Center or Audio
Preamplifier with Remote Meter Illumination
Control, the Ilumbar Illumination will auto­matically be remotely controlled (On/Off ).

How to Operate

Figure 13

13

Technical Description

ThermalTrak
DC BIAS

MUTE

THERMAL
SENSORS

POWER GUARD

ATTENUATOR

UNBALANCED

INPUT

BALANCED

INPUT

+

-

ILUMETER

POWER OUTPUT

INDICATOR

AMP

AMP

4Ω/8Ω DISPLAY

CONTROL

AUTO SENSE

CONTROL

TO POWER

SAVE CONTROL

A continuous average power output rating of 200
watts and an output current of greater than 25 amperes
per channel, makes this one of the most advanced and
powerful amplifiers McIntosh has ever manufactured.
Refer to figures 14 and 16. The distortion limits for
the MC8207 are no more than 0.005% at rated power
output for all frequencies from 20Hz to 20,000Hz.
Typical performance at mid frequencies is less than

0.002%. The true distortion readings on the MC8207
are so low, it takes special measuring techniques to
make accurate readings. The MC8207 can deliver the
best possible performance from any type of high qual­ity Loudspeaker System.

Design Philosophy

The MC8207 McIntosh Power Amplifier uses the
recently developed Dynamic Power ManagerTM (DPM)
Circuitry. The MC8207 can easily drive 4 ohm speak­ers, with their high current demand. Additionally, the
MC8207 can be used with 8 ohm speakers, and deliver
equal power. McIntosh’s new DPMTM design enables
it to run on higher voltage rails when connected to

Block Diagram of the Power Amplifier (one channel shown)

14

Figure 16

Figure 14

less current­hungry 8 ohm
speakers and
still deliver
200 watts.
The power
penalty usu­ally paid with

Figure 15

8 ohm speak­ers on high current
amplifiers does not exist
with this new design.

All transistors are
selected to have nearly
constant current gain
over the entire current
range they must cover.
Output transistors in
particular, have matched
uniform current gain,
high current bandwidth
product and large active
region safe operating

area. These Power Transistors are the very latest in
semiconductor technology and incorporate a new
design known as ThermalTrak™. Refer to figure

15. This allows for the instantaneous and accurate
monitoring of the Power Transistor Temperature.
The MC8207 Power Output Circuitry has a specially
designed bias circuit to take full advantage of the
ThermalTrak™ Power Transistors and thus precisely
controls the power amplifier operation over a wide
range of music conditions with the benefits of lower
distortion and cooler operation. Precision metal film
resistors and low dielectric absorption film capacitors
are used in all critical circuit locations.

Technical Description

Normal Operating Area

Sentry Monitor
Safety Area

Output
Transistor
Failure

POWER SAVE

CONTROL

CIRCUIT

BREAKER

POWER

RELAY

AC POWER

The high efficiency circuit design of the MC8207
contributes to low operating temperatures. More than
2100 square inches of heat sink area occupies almost
half of the MC8207’s chassis space and keeps the
amplifier operating safely
with convection cooling.
No fans are needed.

Protection Circuits

The MC8207 incor­porates its version of the
McIntosh Sentry Monitor
output transistor protec-

Figure 17

tion circuit. There is absolutely no compromise in
sonic performance with this circuit, and it ensures safe
operation of the amplifier under

Input Test Signal

even the most extreme operating
conditions. Refer to figure 17.
The different types of protec­tion circuits incorporated in the
MC8207 insure a long and safe
operating life.

The MC8207 also includes
the unique patented McIntosh

Figure 18

Power Guard circuit. Power
Guard eliminates the possibility

Without Power Guard

of ever overdriving the amplifi­er into clipping. Refer to figures
18, 19 and 20. An overdriven
amplifier can produce both
audible and inaudible distortion
levels exceeding 40%. The au­dible distortion is unpleasant to
hear, but the inaudible ultrason­ic distortion is also undesirable,
since it can damage valuable

Figure 19

Loudspeaker System tweeters.

With Power Guard

You will never experience the
harsh and damaging distortion
due to clipping.
The Power Guard circuit is a
waveform comparator, monitor­ing both the input and output
waveforms. Under normal
operating conditions, there are

Figure 20

no differences between the
shapes of these waveforms. If an amplifier channel is
overdriven, there will be a difference between the two
signal waveforms. When the difference exceeds 0.3%

(equivalent to 0.3% harmonic distortion), the Power

Guard activates the PG light and a dynamic electronic
attenuator at the amplifier input reduces the input
volume just enough to prevent any further increase
in distortion. The Power Guard circuit acts so fast
that there are absolutely no audible side effects and
the sonic purity of the music reproduction is perfectly
preserved. The MC8207 Power Amplifier with Power
Guard is not limited to just the rated power output, but
will actually produce distortion free output well above
its rated power due to the McIntosh philosophy of
conservative design.

Power Supply
Circuits

To compliment
the design of the
MC8207, there is a
high current power
supply for the five
power amplifier
channels. Refer

Block Diagram

of the

Power Supply

to figure 21. The

very large Power
Transfomer, has
toroidal windings
on a toroidal core
and can supply
over 35 amps of
continuous current.
Refer to figure 22
(golf ball is for size

Figure 22

comparsion). It is

enclosed in the legendary McIntosh Potted Enclosures
and weighs over 12kg. The super size main filter
capacitors can store over 340 Joules of energy for the
seven amplifier channels, necessary for the wide dy­namic range that “Digital Audio” demands. The power
amplifier draws high current from the AC power line.
Therefore, it is important that they plug directly into
the wall outlet.
Also, most owners desire one power switch for the
whole audio system. The MC8207 is equipped with
a circuit that provides remote Power Control from a
McIntosh A/V Control Center. When the A/V Control

Center is switched On, a (+5V) signal operates the

power relay in the MC8207. The MC8207 also has a
remote Power Control input for Zone B operation (two

of the seven channels).

Figure 21

15

16

Photos

17

Specications

Specications

Power Output

Minimum sine wave continuous average power output

per channel, all channels operating is:

200 watts into a 4 ohm or 8 ohm load

Output Load Impedance

8 and 4 ohms

Rated Power Band

20Hz to 20,000Hz

Total Harmonic Distortion

0.005% maximum harmonic distortion at any power
level from 250 milliwatts to rated power, 20Hz to
20,000Hz

Dynamic Headroom

1.7dB

Frequency Response

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

Input Sensitivity (for rated output)

2.0 Volt Balanced with a 4 ohm Loudspeaker

1.0 Volt Unbalanced with a 4 ohm Loudspeaker

2.8 Volt Balanced with a 8 ohm Loudspeaker

1.4 Volt Unbalanced with a 8 ohm Loudspeaker

Intermodulation Distortion

0.005% maximum, if the instantaneous peak power
output does not exceed twice the rated power output
or less per channel with all channels operating for any
combination of frequencies from 20Hz to 20,000Hz.

Wide Band Damping Factor

Greater than 70 at 4 ohms
Greater than 140 at 8 ohms

Input Impedance

20,000 ohms Balanced
10,000 ohms Unbalanced

Voltage Gain

29dB

Power Guard

Less than 2% THD with up to 14dB overdrive at
1,000Hz

Power Control Inputs ZA and ZB

5-15VDC, less than 1mA

Power Control Output ZA and ZB

12VDC, 50mA maximum total
Output is delayed 0.2 seconds from turn On

Power Requirements

Field AC Voltage conversion of the MC8207 is not
possible. The MC8207 is factory configured for one
of the following AC Voltages:

100 Volts, 50/60Hz at 14.4 Amps
110 Volts, 50/60Hz at 13.0 Amps
120 Volts, 50/60Hz at 12.0 Amps
220 Volts, 50/60Hz at 7.5 Amps
230 Volts, 50/60Hz at 6.5 Amps
240 Volts, 50/60Hz at 6.5 Amps
Standby: less than 0.5 watt

Note: Refer to the rear panel of the MC8207 for the cor-

rect voltage.

Overall Dimensions

Width is 17-1/2 inches (44.5cm)
Height is 9-7/16 inches (23.9cm) including feet
Depth is 21 inches (53.3cm) including the Front Panel

and Cables

Weig ht

83 pounds (37.6 kg) net, 116 pounds (52.6 kg) in ship­ping carton

Shipping Carton Dimensions

Width is 29-1/2 inches (74.9cm)
Height is 17 inches (43.2cm)
Depth is 29 inches (73.7cm)

Signal To Noise Ratio (A-Weighted)

112dB below rated output

18

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 four plastic
feet are attached to the bottom of the equipment. Four
1/4 - 20x2-1/4 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. Refer to page 3. Please
see the Part List for the correct part numbers.

Quantity Part Number Description
1 034052 Shipping carton top
1 034051 Shipping carton bottom
2 034054 Foam Pad (top and

bottom)
2 034186 Foam Pad (front and rear)
2 034187 Foam Pad (sides)

Packing Instructions

1 034136 Inner carton top
1 034137 Inner carton bottom

1 034188 Foam Pad (inner carton)

1 034479 Shipping skid
4 401212 1/4 - 20x2-1/4 cap screw
4 104058 Flat washer

19

McIntosh Laboratory, Inc.

2 Chambers Street
Binghamton, NY 13903
www.mcintoshlabs.com

The continuous improvement of its products is the
policy of McIntosh Laboratory Incorporated who
reserve the right to improve design without notice.
Printed in the U.S.A.

McIntosh Part No. 04130400