McIntosh MEN220 User Manual

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

Manufactured under license from Lyngdorf Audio
A/S. ROOMPERFECT is a registered trademark and
the ROOMPERFECT logo is a trademark of Lyn­gdorf Audio A/S. (C) Lyngdorf Audio A/S 2009.

MEN220

Room Correction System

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 MEN220 Room
Correction System 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]

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]

General Information

1. For additional connection information, refer to the
owner’s manual(s) for any component(s) connected
to the MEN220 Room Correction System.

2. The Main AC Power going to the MEN220 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 MEN220 and other McIntosh
Components are in their Standby Power Off Mode,
the Microprocessor’s Circuitry inside each com­ponent is active and communication is occurring
between them.

3. Sound Intensity is measured in units called Deci­bels and “dB” is the abbreviation.

4. 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.

5. For additional information on the
MEN220 and other McIntosh Products
please visit the McIntosh Web Site at
www.mcintoshlabs.com.

Copyright 2010 © by McIntosh Laboratory, Inc.

3

Power
Control

Ground

Meter
Illumination
Control
Pass Thru

Data
Signal

N/C

Data
Ground

IR Data
Control

Ground

N/C

PIN 2 PIN 1

PIN 3

PIN 1

PIN 2

PIN 3

PIN 2 PIN 1

PIN 3

Table of Contents

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

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

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

General Information .................................................. 3

Table of Contents ....................................................... 4

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

Introduction ................................................................ 5

Performance Features ................................................ 5

Dimensions ................................................................6

Installation .................................................................7

Connections:

Rear Panel Connections ............................................. 8

How to Connect the MEN220 .............................. 9-12

Remote Control:

Remote Control Push-buttons .................................. 14

How to use the Remote Control ............................... 15

Front Panel:

Front Panel Displays, Controls and Push-buttons .... 16

Setup:

How to Operate the Setup Mode ............................. 17

Default Settings........................................................ 17

Input Connection Settings ....................................... 18

System Connection Settings .................................... 18

Output Settings ........................................................ 19

Advanced Settings ................................................... 22

RoomPerfect ............................................................24

Operation:

How to Operate the MEN220 ............................. 28-29

Connector and Cable Information

XLR Connectors

Below is the Pin configuration for the XLR Balanced
Output Connectors on the MEN220. Refer to the dia­grams for connections:
PIN 1: Shield/Ground
PIN 2: + Signal
PIN 3: - Signal

Power Control Connectors

The MEN220 Power Control Input/Output Jacks
receive/send Power On/Off
Signals when connected to
other McIntosh Components. A
1/8 inch stereo mini phone plug
is used for connection to the
Power Control Input/Output on
the MEN220.

Note: The Data and Power Control Connecting Cable is

available from the McIntosh Parts Department:

Data and Power Control Cable Part No. 170-202

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

Data and IR Input Port Connectors

The MEN220 Data In Port re­ceives Remote Control Signals. A
1/8 inch stereo mini phone plug is
used for connection. The IR Port
also use a 1/8 inch stereo mini
phone plug and allow the connec­tion of other brand IR Receivers
to the MEN220.

RS232 DB9 Connector Pin Layout

1. N/C 6. N/C

2. Data Out (TXD) 7. N/C

3. Data In (RXD) 8. N/C

4. N/C 9. N/C

5. Gnd.

Microphone XLR Connectors

Below is the Pin configuration for the Microphone
Connector on the MEN220. Refer to the diagram for
connections:
PIN 1: Shield/Ground
PIN 2: Signal
PIN 3: +8.9VDC

Additional Information:

Specifications ........................................................... 30

Packing Instruction .................................................. 31

4

Introduction

The MEN220 Room Correction System is an elegant
instrument for restoring superb sound reproduction
to your audio system by measuring and correcting for
less than ideal room acoustics. The MEN220 uses the
latest in technology to quickly restore proper musical
balance in a minimum amount of time. The McIntosh
Sound is “The Sound of the Music Itself.”

Performance Features

• Room Correction

The MEN220 uses the latest in technology to restore
musical balance to audio systems located in rooms
with less then ideal acoustics, whether the system is
two channel or multichannel.

General Information, Cable Information, Introduction and Performance Features

• Precision Measurement Microphone

The MEN220 is supplied with an Omnidirectional
Electret Condenser Microphone to accurately measure
the Loudspeaker performance together with Room
Acoustics. The microphone has high resistance to vi­brations, flat frequency response and a high signal-to­noise ratio. It is “phantom power” from the MEN220
via the balanced cable.

• Professional Microphone Stand with Boom

The MEN220 is supplied with a professional type ad­justable height microphone stand. The Boom Adapter
allows for easy placement of the Precision Microphone
for precise Focus Measurements.

• Extruded Side Panels

The sides of the MEN220 are extruded aluminum
panels with a bead blast textured surface and a black
anodized finish.

• Fiber Optic Solid State Front Panel Illumination

The Illumination of the Glass Front Panel is accom­plished by the combination of custom designed Fiber
Optic Light Diffusers and extra long life Light Emit­ting Diodes (LEDs). This provides even Front Panel
Illumination and is designed to ensure the pristine
beauty of the MEN220 will be retained for many
years.

• Focus and Global Settings

The MEN220 provides for measurement and correc­tion for up to eight specific listening locations (Focus
Positions) in a room. It also measures additional loca­tions in the room and produces a Global Room Cor­rection for listening anywhere in the room.

• Electronic Crossover

The advanced two way electronic crossover built into
the MEN220 provides the best way for adding true bi­amplification to your audio system.

• Variable Crossover Settings

The variable crossover in the MEN220 allows the
crossover frequency to be set from 10Hz to 20,000Hz.
Select from three available crossover slope rates for
both the Butterworth or Linkwitz-Riley Filter Types.

• Listening Equalization Curves

The MEN220 has six preset Equalization Curves to
choose from when listening to various type of music.

• Multiple Outputs

The MEN220 has both Unbalanced and Balanced
Outputs of which permit long cable lengths without a
loss in sound quality.

• Multi-Function Front Panel Display

The Front Panel Information Display indicates various
setup and operational functions.

• Power Control and Full Function Remote Control

The Power Control Input connection provides conve­nient Turn-On/Off of the MEN220 when connected to
a McIntosh System. The Remote Control push-buttons
provide complete control of the MEN220 operating
functions.

• Special Power Supply

The Power Supply has both a special large Toroidal
Wound Power Transformer and Multiple Regulators
to ensure stable noise free operation even though the
power line varies.

5

Dimensions

Side View of the MEN220

Front View of the MEN220

Rear View of the MEN220

17-1/2"

44.45cm

6"

15.24cm

5-3/8"

13.69cm

4-5/8"

11.75cm

13-1/4"

33.65cm

17"

43.18cm

14-1/2"

36.83cm

15-7/8"

40.32cm

3/16"

0.48cm

4-13/16"

12.22cm

10-9/16"

26.83cm

5/8"

1.59cm

13/16"

2.06cm

2"

5.08cm

1-15/16"

4.92cm

RoomPerfect:

Focus 1

Voicing 0:Neutral

The following dimensions can assist in determining
the best location for your MEN220.

Dimensions

6

Installation

11"

27.94cm

15"

38.1cm

15"

38.1cm

1"

2.54cm

Cutout Opening
for Ventilation

Cutout Opening for Ventilation

Support
Shelf

Chassis
Spacers

MEN220 Side View
in Custom Cabinet

MEN220 Bottom View
in Custom Cabinet

1-1/8"

2.86cm

12-5/16"

31.27cm

1-3/4"

4.45cm

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

Cabinet
Front
Panel

MEN220 Front Panel
Custom Cabinet Cutout

17-1/16"

43.34cm

Cutout Opening for Custom Mounting

Cabinet Front Panel

4-7/8"

12.38cm

2"

5.08cm

Custom Cabinet has
an open back and at
least 12” (30.48cm)
away from any surface
such as a wall

RoomPerfect:

Focus 1

Voicing 0:Neutral

The MEN220 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 MEN220 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
MEN220 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
MEN220. Cool operation ensures the longest possible
operating life for any electronic instrument. Do not
install the MEN220 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.

When the MEN220 is placed free-standing on a
flat surface, allow at least 2 inches (5.08cm) above the
top, 2 inches (5.08cm) below the bottom and 2 inches
(5.08cm) on each side of the MEN220, so airflow is
not obstructed. Allow 19-1/2 inches (49.53cm) depth
behind the front panel. Allow 1-7/16 inch (3.66cm) in
front of the mounting panel for knob clearance.

A custom cabinet installation should provide the
minimum spacing dimensions for cool operation. Al­low at least 2 inches (5.08cm) above the top, 2 inches
(5.08cm) below the bottom and 2 inches (5.08cm) on
each side of the MEN220, so airflow is not obstructed.
The Custom Cabinet should be open backed and at
least 12 inches (30.48cm) away from any surface such
as a wall. Be sure to cut out a ventilation hole in the
mounting shelf according to the dimensions in the
drawing. Allow 1-7/16 inch (3.66cm) in front of the
mounting panel for knob clearance.

Installation

7

Rear Panel Connections

POWER CONTROL IN receives
signals from a McIntosh component
(5-15 Volts ON, 0 Volts OFF).
POWER CONTROL OUT sends
out a (12 Volts ON) signal to an­other McIntosh Component when
the MEN220 is On

DATA IN receives
operating data from a
McIntosh Preamplifier
or Control Center

RS232 connector
for communica­tions with an
external control
device

UNBALanced AUDIO IN­PUTS receive audio signals
from a Preamplifier or an
A/V Control Center

Unbalanced OUTPUT 1
(HIGH) supplies Full Range or
High Frequency audio signals
to a Power Amplifier

Balanced OUTPUT 1 (HIGH)
supplies Full Range or High
Frequency audio signals to a
Power Amplifier

Connect the MEN220
power cord to a live AC
outlet. Refer to information
on the back panel of your
MEN220 to determine the
correct voltage for your unit

8

IR INput for
connecting an
IR Receiver

Connect the MEN220
Calibrated Microphone
with the supplied cable

Unbalanced OUTPUT 2
(LOW) supplies Full Range or
Low Frequency audio signals
to a Power Amplifier

BALanced AUDIO INPUTS
receive audio signals from a
Preamplifier or an A/V Con­trol Center

Balanced OUTPUT 2 (LOW)
supplies Full Range or Low
Frequency audio signals to a
Power Amplifier

How to Connect the MEN220

The MEN220 has the ability to be remotely switched
On/Off from a Preamplifier or A/V Control Center via
the Power Control connection. The Data Port Connec­tion allows for the remote operation of basic functions
using the MEN220 Remote Control. With an external
sensor connected to the MEN220, remote control op­eration is possible from another room and/or when the
MEN220 is located in a cabinet with the doors closed.

The connection instructions below, together with
the MEN220 Connection Diagram “Mc1A” located
on the separate folded sheet, is an example of a typi­cal audio 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.

Power Control Connections:

1. Connect a Control Cable from the Preamplifier or
A/V Control Center Power Control MAIN Jack to
the POWER CONTROL IN Jack on the McIntosh
MEN220.

2. Connect a Control Cable from the MEN220 POW­ER CONTROL OUT Jack to the Power Amplifier
1 Power Control In Jack.

3. Connect a Control Cable from the Power Ampli­fier 1 Power Control Out Jack to the Power Ampli­fier 2 Power Control In Jack.

4. Connect any additional components in a similar
manner, as outlined in steps 2 thru 3.

Data Control Connections:

5. Connect a Control Cable from the Preamplifier or
A/V Control Center SUM Data Port Jack to the
McIntosh MEN220 DATA IN Jack.

Note: If the Preamplifier or A/V Control Center

doesn’t have a SUM Data Port Jack, contact
McIntosh for additional assistance.

How to Connect the MEN220

Sensor Connections:

6. Connect an external Sensor to the McIntosh
MEN220 IR IN Jack.

Audio Connections:

7. Connect Balanced Cables from the McIntosh
MEN220 BALanced AUDIO INPUT Connectors
to the Preamplifier or A/V Control Center Bal­anced Output Jacks.

Notes: 1. The Unbalanced Outputs on the MEN220

may be used instead of the Balanced Con­nections.

2. By default the Unbalanced Inputs are
the active Connections. To use the Bal­anced Inputs instead, it is first necessary
to change the default setting using the
MEN220 Setup Mode. Refer to pages 17
and 18.

8. Connect a Balanced Cable from the MEN220 Bal­anced AUDIO OUTPUT (1) R Connector to the
Power Amplifier 1 Balanced Input Connector.

Note: The Unbalanced and Balanced Output Con-

nections are both active and may be used at
the same time.

9. Connect a Balanced Cable from the MEN220 Bal­anced AUDIO OUTPUT (1) L Connector to the
Power Amplifier 2 Balanced Input Connector.

Loudspeaker Connections:

10. Refer to the Owner’s Manuals supplied with the
Power Amplifier and Loudspeakers for connection
information.

AC Power Cords Connections:

11. Connect the McIntosh MEN220 AC Power Cord to
a live AC outlet.

9

How to Connect the MEN220 in a
Processor Loop

The MEN220 may be connected to the Listen Proces­sor Loop on a McIntosh Preamplifier or A/V Control
Center, instead of being connected between the Pre­amplifier Output and Power Amplifier Input.

The MEN220 has the ability to be remotely
switched On/Off from a Preamplifier or A/V Control
Center via the Power Control connection.

The Data Port Connection allow for the remote op­eration of basic functions using the MEN220 Remote
Control. With an external sensor connected to the
MEN220, remote control operation is possible from
another room and/or when the MEN220 is located in a
cabinet with the doors closed.

The connection instructions below, together with
the MEN220 Connection Diagram located on the
separate folded sheet “Mc1B” is an example of a typi­cal audio 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.

Power Control Connections:

1. Connect a Control Cable from the Preamplifier or
A/V Control Center Power Control MAIN Jack to
the POWER CONTROL IN Jack on the McIntosh
MEN220.

2. Connect a Control Cable from the MEN220 POW­ER CONTROL OUT Jack to the Power Amplifier
1 Power Control In Jack.

3. Connect a Control Cable from Power Amplifier 1
Power Control Out Jack to the Power Amplifier 2
Power Control In Jack.

4. Connect any additional components in a similar
manner, as outlined in steps 2 thru 3.

Data Control Connections:

5. Connect a Control Cable from the Preamplifier or

How to Connect the MEN220 in a Processor Loop

A/V Control Center SUM Data Port Jack to the
McIntosh MEN220 DATA IN Jack.

Note: If the Preamplifier or A/V Control Center

doesn’t have a SUM Data Port Jack, contact
McIntosh for additional assistance.

Sensor Connections:

6. Connect an external Sensor to the McIntosh
MEN220 IR IN Jack.

Audio Connections:

7. Connect Audio Cables from the McIntosh
MEN220 UNBALanced AUDIO INPUT Con­nectors to the Preamplifier or A/V Control Center
Processor (Listen) TO Output Jacks.

8. Connect Audio Cables from the MEN220 UN­BALanced AUDIO OUTPUT 1 (High) R Con­nector to the Preamplifier or A/V Control Center
Processor (Listen) Right Channel FROM Input
Jacks.

9. Connect Audio Cables from the MEN220 UN­BALanced AUDIO OUTPUT 1 (High) L Con­nector to the Preamplifier or A/V Control Center
Processor (Listen) Right Channel FROM Input
Jacks.

10. Connect a Balanced Cable from the Preamplifier
or A/V Control Center Right Channel Main Out­put to Power Amplifier 1 Balanced Input.

11. Connect a Balanced Cable from the Preamplifier
or A/V Control Center Left Channel Main Output
to Power Amplifier 2 Balanced Input.

Loudspeaker Connections:

12. Refer to the Owner’s Manuals supplied with the
Power Amplifier and Loudspeakers for connection
information.

AC Power Cords Connections:

13. Connect the McIntosh MEN220 AC Power Cord to
a live AC outlet.

10