McIntosh MXA-60 Owners manual

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

MXA60 60

th

Anniversary

Integrated Audio 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.

CAUTION -

Invisible Laser Radiation when open.
DO NOT stare into the beam or view
directly with optical instruments. Use
of controls or adjustments or per­formance of procedures other than
those specified in the Owners Manual
may result in Hazardous Radiation
Exposure.

LUOKAN 1 LASERLAITE

KLASS 1 LASER APPARAT

VAROITUS!

Laitteen kayttaminen muulla kuin
tassa kayttoohjeessa mainitulla
tavalla saattaa altistaa kayttajan
turvallisuusluokan 1 ylittavalle
nakymattomalle lasersateiiylle.

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.

The Caution Label below is
located inside the apparatus on
the top of the laser transport

VARNING!

This product incorporates an embedded

CLASS 3R Laser (IEC60825-1).

2

Om apparaten anvands pa annat satt
an i denna bruksanvisning specifi­cerats, kan anvandaren utsattas for
osynbg laserstraining, som over­skrider gransen for laserklass 1.

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
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 power­supply 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.

Outdoor Antenna Grounding

If an outside antenna or cable system is connected
to the product, be sure the antenna or cable sys­tem is grounded so as to provide some protection
against voltage surges and built-up static charge.
Article 810 of the National Electrical Code, ANSI/
NFPA 70, provides information with reguards
to proper grounding of the mast and supporting
structure, grounding of the lead-in wire to an an­tenna discharge unit, and size of ground conduc­tors, location of antenna-discharge unit, connec­tion to ground electrodes and requirements for the
grounding electrode.

Example of antenna grounding as per

National Electrical Code,

ANSI/NFPA 70

3

Thank You

Your decision to own this McIntosh MXA60 Inte­grated Audio 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]

Table of Contents

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

Thank You and Please Take a Moment ....................... 4

Technical Assistance and Customer Service .............. 4

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

General Information ................................................... 5

Disc Information ......................................................... 5

Connector and Cable Information ..............................5

Introduction ................................................................. 6

Performance Features .............................................. 6 -7

Dimensions ..............................................................8-9

Rear Panel Connections ............................................ 10

Connections

Connecting Antennas ................................................11

Connecting Components ...................................... 12-13

Connecting the MXA60 with a Subwoofer ......... 14-15

Connecting the MXA60 to an external Power Ampli-

fier and Loudspeakers ...........................................16 -17

Remote Control

Remote Control Push-buttons ................................... 18

How to use the Remote Control ................................ 19

Front Panel Functions

Front Panel Displays, Controls,

Push-buttons and Jack ............................................... 20

Front Panel Disc Information Display ...................... 21

Setup Mode

How to Operate the Setup Mode .............................. 22

Default Settings......................................................... 22

Firmware Version ...................................................... 23

How to set the Source Name ..................................... 23

How to set the Source Level ..................................... 23

How to set the Speakers ............................................ 24

The Tuner Type ......................................................... 24

Tuner Clear Presets ................................................... 24

Tuner Regions ........................................................... 25

Tuner Text Information ............................................. 25

Operation

How to Operate the Audio Amplifier .................. 26-29

How to Operate the Tuner .................................... 29-32

How to Operate the SACD/CD Player ................. 33-35

Additional Information

Photo ......................................................................... 36

Specifications ....................................................... 37-38

Packing Instructions ................................................. 39

Copyright 2009 © by McIntosh Laboratory, Inc.

4

Power
Control

Ground

N/C

PIN 2 PIN 1

PIN 3

Pin 1

Pin 1

Pin 8

Pin 8

*Cable outer shield

General Information, Disc Information, Connector and Cable Information

General Information

1. For additional connection information, refer to the

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

to the MXA60 Integrated Audio System.

2. The Main AC Power going to the MXA60 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 MXA60 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. In the event the MXA60 Power Amplifier 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 MXA60 has returned to a safe
operating temperature, normal operation will
resume.

4. The MXA60’s built-in speaker protection incor­porates an automatic resetting solid-state device
in the crossover network. The protection allows a
certain amount of overdrive, but extended periods
will trigger protection. If there is an obvious reduc­tion of sound level the Protection Device may have
activated. The device will automatically reset when
the volume level setting on the MXA60 is reduced
significantly and kept low until the output of the
affected Loudspeaker returns to normal.

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.

5. For additional information on the MXA60 and
other McIntosh Products please visit the McIntosh
Web Site at www.mcintoshlabs.com.

Disc Information

1. Compact Discs that are not round (e.g. Novelty

discs with octagonal or heart shapes) will not play

properly in the MXA60 and should not be tried, as
possible damage may occur.

2. The MXA60 SACD/CD Player is designed to play
all standard CD Audio Discs that conform to the
Official Compact Disc Standards which is indicat­ed by the Symbol. It will also play most CD-R
and CD-RW discs, however some recorded discs
may not be able to play due to the condition of the
recording.

3. CD Audio Discs recorded in the MP3 and WMA
Formats will play on the MXA60, except discs that
contain multi-session recordings. Some MP3 or
WMA recorded discs may not be able to play due
to the condition of the recording. When ever pos­sible, set the writing software to the ISO9660 Level
1 standard.

4. The CD audio side of the Dual Disc does not meet
the Compact Disc Digital Audio specifications
found in the industry “Redbook”; the MXA60 may
not read Dual Discs.

5. Several of the SACD performance features avail­able on the MXA60 are active only if the SACD
Disc includes the supporting encoded information.

Connector and Cable Information

XLR Connectors

Below is the Pin configuration for the XLR Balanced
Input Connectors on the MXA60. Refer
to the diagram for connection:
PIN 1: Shield/Ground
PIN 2: + Output
PIN 3: - Output

Power Control Connector

The MXA60 Power Control Output Jack sends Power
On/Off Signal (12V) when con­nected to other McIntosh Com­ponents. A 1/8 inch stereo mini
phone plug is used for connection
to the Power Control Output on the
MX A60.

Note: The Power Control Connecting Cable is available

from the McIntosh Parts Department:

Power Control Cable Part No. 170-202

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

RAA2 Connectors

Pin No. Wire Color

1. White/Orange

2. Orange

3. White/Green

4. Blue

5. White/Blue

6. Green

7. W hite /Br own

8. Brown
*Cable outer shield

Note: The RAA2 Connecting Cable is available from the

McIntosh Parts Department:

RAA2 Antenna Cable Part No. 171844

Twenty foot, shielded 8 conductor, with a shielded
RJ45 connector on each end.

5

Introduction Performance Features

Now you can take advantage of traditional McIntosh
standards of excellence in the MXA60 Integrated
Audio System.

The Power Amplifier section of the MXA60, with
a power output of 75 watts per channel, will drive
the McIntosh Loudspeakers to a high level of perfor­mance.

The flexible Preamplifier section provides connec­tions for external input sources and may also be used
to drive an external Power Amplifier.

The MXA60 AM/FM/STEREO Tuner Circuitry
uses the latest in technology for the best sound quality
with superb station reception.

Audio SACD and CDs are reproduced with flaw­less realism and the advanced mechanical design of
the transport ensures many years of smooth trouble
free operation.

McIntosh Acoustic Engineers have achieved in the
design of the MXA60 Loudspeaker System a level
of high performance. The MXA60 provides superior
spaciousness sound reproduction with unusual sound
stage depth in a full range system.

The MXA60 reproduction is sonically transparent
and absolutely accurate. The McIntosh Sound is “The
Sound of the Music Itself.”

• Power Output

The MXA60 consists of a 75 watts per channel stereo
Power Amplifier with less than 0.05% distortion. The
Power Amplifier uses Thermal Trak1 Output Tran­sistors for lower distortion and cool operation. The
amplifier bias is precisely controlled over a wide range
of music conditions

• Power Guard

The patented McIntosh Power Guard circuit prevents
amplifier clipping and protects the McIntosh Loud­speakers.

• Illuminated Power Meters

The large Illuminated Power Output Watt Meters on
the MXA60 respond to 95% of a full scale reading to
a single cycle tone burst at 2,000 Hz signal. When the
pointer reaches its peak it pauses long enough for the
human eye to perceive its position, then decays.

• Electronic Switching

The Preamplifier uses Electronic and Electromagnetic
Switches for reliable, noiseless switching.

• Vacuum Tube Preamplifier

The preamplifier section includes vacuum tube ampli­fication. The vacuum tube is illuminated amber dur­ing the warmup period and green during operation.

• Balanced and Unbalanced Inputs

The Balanced Input allows the connection of a source
component using long cable lengths without a loss in

1

ThermalTrak™ and ON Semiconductor are trademarks of Semi-

conductor Components Industries, LLC

sound quality. The Unbalanced input has high sensi­tivity for compatibility with battery powered personal
players.

• External Input Level Match and Renaming

The MXA60 External Inputs may be renamed and the
volume levels are adjustable to match the volume level
of the built-in Tuner and SACD/CD Player.

• Precision Tracking Volume Control

Volume levels are controlled by a Digitally Controlled
Attenuator System with a tracking accuracy of 0.1dB.

• Variable Rate Volume and Balance Control Selec­tion

The Preamplifier’s Volume and Balance Control
Circuitry provides an ideal rate of change with control
rotation.

• Electronic Tone Controls with Auto Bass

Electronic Bass and Treble Circuitry allows volume
level adjustments for low and high frequencies in
precise one Decibel Steps. The Auto Bass circuit
automatically increases the volume of low frequencies
when listening at low volume levels.

• Information Service

The MXA60 will indicate various text information
such as Station Call Sign, Music Genre, Artist Name
and Song Title when transmitted by the Radio Station.

• Special FM RF Tuned Circuitry

The MXA60 RF Circuitry receives strong local FM
Station Signals without distortion and receives even
the weakest of FM Signals with low noise.

6

Introduction and Performance Features

• RAA2 External AM Antenna

The RAA2 External AM Antenna allows placement
of the AM Antenna for the best reception.

• Preset Stations and Permanent Memory

The MXA60 Tuner stores up to nine AM and FM
Station Presets and they are retained in Permanent
Me mor y.

• Twin Laser Pickup

The MXA60 incorporates two laser elements, with
different wavelengths, that are focused through one
lens assembly. This unique design allows reading

both the CD and Super Audio Compact Disc (SACD)

Formats.

• Advanced Transport

The MXA60 transport has a Die Cast Mechanism
Base and Disc Tray. It has the latest in advanced
digital servo for faster, quieter and accurate opera­tion. The Disc Audio Data is read at twice the normal
rate ensuring better disc tracking and error correction
processing.

• Super Audio Disc Playback

The MXA60 plays the higher resolution SACD Discs
with extreme precision and musical elegance.

• Multi-Bit Digital to Analog Converter

The 24-bit, 192kHz Digital to Analog Converter has a
wide dynamic range and extremely low distortion.

• Multifunction Fluorescent Display

The Front Panel Display indicates source selection,
volume level, tone adjustments, setup functions, tuner
functions and the current disc playback status.

• Power Control

The Power Control Output connection provides conve­nient Turn-On/Off of McIntosh Source Components.

• Remote Control

The Custom Designed Remote Control provides
control of MXA60 Functions. The Remote Control is
McIntosh built in a rugged brushed aluminum extru­sion case. Twin IR Emitters offer long operating
range.

• Precision Parts

Only the finest precision 1% tolerance resistors are
used throughout.

• Special Power Supply

Fully regulated Power Supplies and a special R-Core
Power Transformer ensure 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).

• Glass Front Panel and Super Mirror Chassis
Finish

The famous McIntosh Illuminated Glass Front Panel
and the Stainless Steel Chassis with Super Mirror Fin­ish ensures the pristine beauty of the MXA60 will be
retained for many years.

• High Excursion Driver

A high excursion 4” Woofer/Midrange with very large
magnetic flux stabilizing elements delivers louder
sound and lower bass notes with less distortion.

• Titanium Dome Tweeter

The three-quarter inch titanium dome tweeter with
magnetic-fluid cooled voice coil (for less thermal

compression) has the ability to produce frequencies up

to 45,000 Hz.

• Integrated Loudspeaker Design

In creating the MXA60 Loudspeaker System, all of
the components making up the loudspeaker includ­ing the Woofer/Midrange, Tweeter, Crossover Net­work and the Enclosure with Grille, were designed to
achieve correct time arrival in the reproduced musical

sound (also known as group delay).

• Cast Aluminum Enclosure with port

High quality, rigid, durable cast aluminum enclosure
is finished in a high gloss, piano black. The optimized
rear-ported enclosure design reduces distortion at low
frequencies.

• Versatile Loudspeaker Placement

An integrated foot gives the option of positioning the
speaker up-right or at the same angle as the MXA60
electronics.

• Gold Plated Connectors

The MXA60 Power Amplifier and Loudspeaker Ter­minal Connectors are gold plated for superior corro­sion resistance and high electrical conductivity.

• Headphone Jack

The MXA60 has a front panel one-quarter inch head­phone jack and amplifier for private listening.

7

Dimensions

Front Views of the MXA60

Rear Views of the MXA60

22"

55.88cm

10-5/8"

26.99cm

10-7/8"

27.62cm

10-3/4"

27.31cm

5"

12.7cm

11-1/2"

29.21cm

10-7/8"

27.62cm

9-15/16"

24.24cm

10-5/8"

26.99cm

The following dimensions can assist in determining
the best location for your MXA60.

8

Dimensions

Side Views of the MXA60

14-7/8"

10-1/2"

26.67cm

10-3/4"

27.7cm

Front View of the MXA60
Loudspeaker without the grille

5-5/16"

13.49cm

2-1/2"

6.35cm

8-3/4"

22.23cm

10-11/16"

27.15cm

Top View of the
MXA60 Loudspeaker

10-5/8"

26.99cm

9

Rear Panel Connections

RIGHT OUTPUT
connections for
an 8 ohm loud­speaker

RAA2 AM ANT

(Antenna) connects

to the supplied
McIntosh RAA2
Remote Antenna

Balanced INPUT 2 ac­cepts high level program
source signals

MAIN/SUB sends signals to a separate
external Power Amplifier or a powered
Subwoofer

LEFT OUTPUT
connections for
an 8 ohm loud­speaker

Connect the MXA60
power cord to a live
AC outlet. Refer to
information on the
back panel of your
MXA60 to determine
the correct voltage for
your unit

10

75 OHM FM ANT

(Antenna) connects

to the supplied FM
Dipole Antenna,
external FM An­tenna or FM Cable

Unbalanced INPUT 1
accepts high level pro­gram source signals

Main Fuse holder,
refer to information
on the back panel
of your MXA60 to
determine the cor­rect fuse size and
rating

POWER CONTROL Outputs send a
turn-on signal to a McIntosh Com­ponent when the MXA60 is On

Connecting Antennas

Antenna Connections:

1. Using the supplied AM Antenna Shielded Cable,
connect one end into the RAA2 AM Antenna
jack and the other end of the same cable into the
MXA60 Tuner jack labeled RAA2 AM ANT.

Note: If a longer AM Antenna Cable is needed, refer

to page 4 “Connector and Cable Informa­tion”.

2. Connect the supplied “T” shaped FM Dipole
Antenna to the MXA60 75 OHM FM ANT Con­nector.

Note: Optionally, connect a 75 ohm coax cable from

a FM Antenna or cable system.

3. Proceed to “Connecting Components”.

Mounting the FM Dipole Antenna

Tune to a station with the weakest signal and orient
the top of the “T” shaped Dipole Antenna for maxi­mum signal with minimum noise and distortion. After
the location is determined,
the FM Dipole Antenna
may be secured to a suit­able surface by using push
pins, refer to the illustration
to the right.

Connecting Antennas

FM Dipole Antenna

Mounting the RAA2 AM Antenna

Tune to a station with the weakest signal and orient the
RAA2 Antenna for maximum signal with minimum
noise and distortion. After
the location is determined,
the RAA2 AM Antenna
may be secured to a suit­able surface by using two
#6 1-3/4 to 2 inches (4.44 to

5.08cm) long screws, refer to

the illustration to the right.

11

Connecting Components

Figure 1

Figure 2 Figure 3

Caution: The supplied AC Power Cord should not

be connected to the Rear Panel of the
MXA60 Integrated Audio System until
after all Connections have been made.

The MXA60 has the ability to automatically switch
power On/Off to McIntosh Source Components
via the Power Control connections. The connection
instructions below together with the Connection
Diagram on the next page is an example of a typical
MXA60 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 5.

Power Control Connections:

1. Optionally, connect a Control Cable from a

MXA60 PWR CTRL (Power Control) Jack to the

Power Control In jack on a Music Sever.

2. Connect any additional Source Components in a
similar manner, as outlined in step 1.

Audio Connections:

3. Optionally, connect an Audio Cable from the

MXA60 INPUT 1 Input Jacks to the Music
Server Output Jacks.

4. Connect any additional Source Components in a

similar manner, as outlined in step 3.

Loudspeaker Connections:

5. Use the supplied Loudspeaker Connecting Cables

with color coded ends (red and black) to connect

the MXA60 Electronic Chassis Left and Right
Output Terminals to the Left and Right Input
Terminals on the Loudspeakers, being careful to
observe the correct polarities.

Note: If the MXA60 Loudspeakers need to be

located at a distance greater than the sup­plied Loudspeakers Connection Cables allow,
proceed to “Optional Loudspeaker Connec-
tions”.

Optional Loudspeaker Connections:

When connecting Loudspeakers to the MXA60, it
is very important to use cables of adequate size so
there is negligible 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

8 Ohms

25 feet

(7.62 meters)

or less

16AWG 14AWG 12AWG

50 feet

(15.24 meters)

or less

100 feet

(30.48 meters)

or less

6. Prepare the Loudspeaker Hookup Cables that
attach to the 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 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. Refer to figure 7.

Note: Banana Plugs are for use

in the United States and
Canada only.

7. Connect the cables from the MXA60
Electronic Chassis Left and Right
Output Terminals to the Left and Right Input
Terminals on the Loudspeakers, being careful to
observe the correct polarities.

AC Power Cords Connections:

8. Connect the MXA60 and any remaining com-

ponents’ AC Power Cords to a live AC outlet as
illustrated.

12