Mcintosh MT2 User Manual

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

MT2

Precision Turntable

Owner’s Manual

Important Safety Information is supplied in a separate document “Important Additional Operation Information Guide”

Thank You

Your decision to own this McIntosh MT2 Turntable
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:

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

(Separate Sheet) ............................Important Additional

Operation Information Guide

Thank You and Please Take a Moment .......................2

Technical Assistance and Customer Service ..............2

Table of Contents ........................................................2

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

Connector and Cable Information ..............................3

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

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

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

Unpacking the Turntable ............................................. 6

Assembling the Turntable ........................................7-9

Installing a non-supplied Cartridge

and Tone Arm Adjustments ................................. 10-12

Trackability Adjustments .......................................... 12

Rear Panel Connections and Adjustments ................ 13

How to Connect the Turntable .................................. 14

Switches, Lever and Record Clamp .......................... 15

How to Operate the Turntable ................................... 16

Photo ......................................................................... 17

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

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

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

2

Copyright 2017 © by McIntosh Laboratory, Inc.

General Information and Cable Information

General Information

Caution: To prevent possible damage to the turntable

platter bearing, do not transport the MT2 Preci­sion Turntable with the platter installed.

1. For additional connection information, refer to the
owner’s manual(s) for any component(s) connected
to the MT2 Precision Turntable.

2. The MT2 Precision Turntable comes with the
Sumiko BP2 High Output Moving Coil Cartridge.

3. It is recommended the Professionals at your Mc­Intosh Dealer, who are skilled in all aspects of
Turntables and Phono Cartridges, install the MT2
Precision Turntable and any associated audio equip­ment.

4. For optimum performance, the setup and adjust­ment of the MT2 Precision Turntable requires
special test recordings and test/measurement equip­ment. Contact your McIntosh Dealer for additional
information and assistance.

5. The MT2 Precision Turntable is supplied with the
Sumiko Blue Point 2 High Output Moving Coil
Cartridge. The Sumiko Blue Point 2 output level is
compatible with the MM (Moving Magnet) Input
on most McIntosh Preamplifiers, Integrated Am­plifiers and A/V Control Center. It is designed to
playback 33-1/3 rpm and 45 rpm vinyl recordings.
Contact your McIntosh Dealer for additional infor­mation and assistance.

6. 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.

7. For additional information on the MT2 and other
McIntosh Products please visit the McIntosh Web
Site at www.mcintoshlabs.com.

8. When an AC Line Cord is used to connect the
supplied AC / DC Adapter to an AC Outlet, it is im­portant the line cord conductor size is a minimum

0.75m m2 for each leg of the two conductor cord.

9. If it should become necessary to replace the sup­plied AC / DC Adapter and/or the plug adapters,
order part number 320508SP from the McIntosh
Parts Department. Refer to the illustration below.

Phono Cartridge Connection Information

Tonearm Headshell Wiring

Refer to the following list of wire colors in the head­shell for installing the cartridge into the Headshell:
Cartridge Connections Headshell Wire Color
Left Channel (+) White
Left Channel (-) Blue
Right Channel (+) Red
Right Channel (-) Green

Sumiko BP2 Cartridge Connections

Refer to the following illustration when connecting the
McIntosh Cartridge in the Headshell:

Rear View of Sumiko BP2 Cartridge

Left Channel (-)

Left Channel (+)

E

E

L

R

RL

Right Channel (-)

Right Channel (+)

3

Introduction

The McIntosh MT2 Precision Turntable with the
Sumiko BP2 High Output Moving Coil Cartridge of­fers the latest in playback of vinyl recordings. A full
complement of performance features allows for the
enjoyment of all recordings reproduced with flaw­less realism. The advanced electronic and mechanical
design ensures many years of smooth trouble free
operation.

Performance Features

• Advanced Technology Turntable

The MT2 combines the latest technology in Phono
Cartridges, Tone Arms, Mechanical Suspensions and
Record Platter Rotation for superb performance and
accurate operation.

• Moving Coil Cartridge

The Sumiko BP2 High Output Moving Coil Car­tridge has the inherent correctness of the impeccable
mechanical and electrical design. High impedance,
together with high output voltage, ensures noise free
musical reproduction. This unique high output design
features an alloy cantilever, elliptical diamond stylus
with exceptional tracking capability. The ruler-flat
frequency response from 20Hz to 20kHz provides
solid realistic bass, uncolored midrange and natural
high frequencies.

• Turntable Platters

The full size outer platter is made from a special dy­namically balanced polyoxymethylene (POM), weighs

5.07 pounds, 1.18 inches thick. This helps to resist and
absorb external vibrations from reaching the record
during playback and its large mass provides the perfect

ywheel action for stable playback speed. The inner

platter is made of CNC-precision milled aluminium,
weighs 0,96 pounds and is six and one quarter inches
in diameter.

• Precision Motor and Drive Electronics

The DC motor is fed by an external voltage-stabilized
power supply and is completely decoupled from the
chassis, isolating the record from any mechanical
interference.

• Two Playback Speeds with fine Adjustments

The MT2 Turntable has two playback speed, 33 rpm
and 45 rpm. There is a separate trim adjustment al­lowing for accurate music reproduction for each of the
two speeds.

• Bearing

The MT2 Turntable Platter rotates on a Polished and
Tempered Steel Shaft in a sintered bronze bushing and
is coated with Teflon.

Introduction and Performance Features

• Fiber Optic Solid State Illumination

The even illumination of the top panel and the turn­table platter is accomplished by the combination of

custom designed ber optic light diffusers and extra

long life light emitting diodes (LEDs).

• Tone Arm

The MT2 tonearm is made from dural aluminium with
special damping material. The tonearm is both light
in weight and highly rigid. The noise free vertical
bearings are made from two high precision ceramic

surfaces with damping uid. The horizontal bearing is

a gimballed sapphire design.

4

• Multi-Layered Dampened Chassis

The MT2 Turntable Chassis has a resonance opti­mized and highly compressed wood chassis with black
lacquer. The top and middle plate which is made of
acrylic also absorb vibrations.

Dimensions

The following dimensions can assist in determining
the best location for your MT2.

Front View of the MT2

17-13/16"

45.2cm

Dimensions

Note: The height measurements are with the
Blue Point 2 Cartridge installed.

Rear View of the MT2

17-

13/16"

45.2cm

4-1/4"

10.8cm

5"

12.7cm

Side View of the MT2

15"

38.1cm

4-1/4"

10.8cm

10-7/8"

27.6cm

13-3/4"

34.9cm

5

Unpacking the Turntable

To protect the fine finish of the MT2 Precision Turn­table during the assembly and adjustment process, it is
advisable to prepare a suitable clean working area with
a soft, clean fabric, such as a bed linen or blanket.

It is recommended that the Professionals at your
McIntosh Dealer, who are skilled in all aspects of in­stallation and operation, unpack, assemble, adjust and
install the MT2 Precision Turntable.

CAUTION: To prevent possible damage to the turn-

table platter bearing, do not move the MT2
Precision Turntable after the Outer Platter

is installed.

1. Referring to the illustration on the right, open the
shipping carton and carefully remove the following
items from the carton and place them in the previ­ously prepared working area:

A. Owner’s Manual Pack, Record Mat
Tone Arm/Cartridge Alignment Gauge
and Pair of Gloves
B. Dust Cover
C. Turntable
D. Outer Platter
E. Accessories:

1. Record Clamp 2. AC/DC Adapter and Plugs

3. Belt 4. Grounding Cable

5. Bearing Oil1 6. Bubble Level

7. Cartridge Mounting Screws

8. Tonearm Counter Weight

9. Screw Driver and Allen Wenches

10. Stylus Force Gauge

2. Proceed to Assembly of the Turntable starting on
the next page.

CAUTION: To prevent possible damage to the Cartridge

Stylus, DO NOT remove the Stylus Guard at
this time.

1

Some time in the distant future, the inside vertical shaft located

below the Inner Platter might require one or two drops of oil.

Foam Packing
Material

Pair of Gloves

Record Mat
and Cartridge
Alignment Gauge

Foam Packing
Material

Shipping Carton

Unpacking the Turntable

Air Bubble
Packing Material

Owners Manual

Dust Cover

Turntable

Accessory Location

Outer Platter

6