McIntosh XCS2K User Manual

Loudspeaker System

XCS2K

Owner’s Manual

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

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.

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.

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 non-abrasive dry soft cloth.

7. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s
instructions.

8. Th is Loudspeaker is capable of producing
extremely high sound pressure levels, even
when connected to amplifiers of moderate
power output. User caution is advised. Ear
protection is recommended when playing at
high volumes as continued exposure to high
sound pressure levels can cause permanent
hearing impair ment or loss. The use of a
Sound Level Pressure Meter will greatly aid
in determining when high volume levels are
occurring.

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

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

11. Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or
table specified by the manufacturer,
or so ld wi t h th e ap pa ra t u s .
When a cart is used, use caution
when moving the car t/apparat us
combination to avoid injury from
tip-over.

12. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.
Servicing is required when the apparatus has
been damaged in any way, 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.

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

14. WARN ING : When this Loud speake r i s
connected to an amplifier that is Powered On,
the connection terminals may have hazardous
live voltages present with a risk of electric
shock.

15 . CAUT ION: Wh en thi s Loud spe ake r i s

assembled it weighs 294 pounds (133.4 kgs). It
requires three or more persons to safely move
the Loudspeaker.

2

Thank You

Table of Contents

Your decision to own this McIntosh XCS2K Loudspeaker
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 listening 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]

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

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

3

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

Table of Contents and General Information .....................3

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

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

Dimensions ................................................................... 6-8

Installation ................................................................... 9-10

Rear Panel Connections .................................................. 11

How to Connect using a single Amplifier ...................... 12

How to Connect using two Amplifiers ............................14

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

How to Connect using three Amplifiers ..........................15

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

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

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

General Information

Caution: The XCS2K weight is 294 pounds (133.4kg). It re­quires three or more persons to safely handle the Loudspeaker
System.

1. Loudspeaker Cables of adequate size are important to en­sure that there will be no significant power loss or heating.
Cable size is specified in Gauge numbers or AWG (Ameri­can Wire Gauge). The smaller the Gauge number, the larger
the wire size:

If the Loudspeaker Cables are 50 feet (38.1m) or less,
use at least 12 Gauge (AWG) wire size or larger.
If the Loudspeaker Cables are 100 feet (76.2m) or less,
use at least 10 Gauge (AWG) wire size or larger.

2. For additional connection information, refer to the owner’s
manual(s) for any component(s) connected to the XCS2K
Loudspeaker.

3. The XCS2K’s built-in speaker protection incorporates five
automatic resetting solid-state devices in the crossover
networks. One protects the tweeters, one for the midranges
and three for the woofers. The protection allows a certain
amount of overdrive but extended periods will trigger pro­tection. If an obvious lack of high, mid or low frequencies
is noticed, the Protection Device may have activated. These
devices will automatically reset when the volume level is
reduced significantly and kept low until the output of the
affected Loudspeaker Element returns to normal.

4. When the XCS2K Loudspeaker System is driven by more
than one amplifier, the output levels of the different ampli­fiers connected to the Loudspeaker System must be adjusted
to achieve a proper balance between the low, midrange
and high frequencies reproduced. This adjustment is best
achieved through the use of audio test equipment operated
by a qualified installer.

Copyright 2007 © by McIntosh Laboratory, Inc.

3

Introduction

The new McIntosh XCS2K Loudspeaker System is a
Center Channel Loudspeaker capable of reproducing the
full dynamic range of a symphony orchestra with very low
audible distortion. It is the perfect match to the famous
XRT2K Column Loudspeakers, when used in a Home
Theater / Music System. It uses the same acoustic technol­ogy found in the XRT2K Column Loudspeakers developed
by the McIntosh Acoustic Engineers. The technology has
been refined over the years and is now the 6th generation
of the design and provides superior quality sound repro­duction in a full range system.
The XCS2K Loudspeaker
utilizes a Horizontal Arc Array
Design with three-quarter inch
Titanium Dome Tweeters and
multiple rows of two inch Mid­range Inverted Titanium Dome
Drivers. Refer to figures 1, 2A
and 2B. The Sound Waves from
this Horizontal Arc Array pro-

Figure 1

duce a stable and focused
symmetrical horizontal
sound image. Since the
audio power fed to each
row is distributed among
all the drivers, each
driver does not have to
work as hard, resulting
in greater power han­dling capability, greatly
reduced power com­pression and a dramatic
reduction in distortion.

Figure 2A

The Low Frequency Section of the System consists of
three 12 inch Aluminum Cone Woofers capable of long
cone excursions. Refer to figure 3. The sound produced has
very low levels of harmonic distortion and a frequency re

­sponse down
to 16Hz. They
have a large
motor as­sembly made
with High
Temperature
Neodymium
magnets
with inherent
shielding to
greatly reduce

Figure 3

any external
magnetic field. The woofer design also utilizes an alu­minum shorting ring and copper capped pole piece. This
results in lower distortion due to more linear magnetic flux
in the voice coil gap. A good example of this low distor­tion is incredible smoothness and effortless clarity in the
reproduction of the human voice.

The Crossover Networks used in the XCS2K Loud­speaker System are phase matched between the Low
Frequency, Midrange and High Frequency Sections to
ensure a smooth frequency response over the entire audible
range. Refer to figures 4, 5 and 6. The crossover inductors
are selected so they will not add audible distortion. The
network capacitors are film type for extra reliability. All
the Capacitors and Inductors are chosen for high current
capacity. Each section of the network utilizes it own self
resetting high current PPTC type fuses to provide an extra
measure of protection.

Figure 2B

4

Introduction and Performance Features

• Shielded Magnetic Field

The XCS2K may also be used in Home Theater Installa
tions near a television receiver or monitor without caus­ing the television image to degrade. By design, all of the
speaker’s magnetic structures are inherently shielded
which prevents interference.

• Low Harmonic and Intermodulation Distortion

The XCS2K Loudspeaker System is capable of reproduc
ing the full dynamic range of a symphony orchestra with
very low audible distortion of any kind.

-

-

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

• High Power Handling

The Loudspeaker Elements and Crossover Components of
the XCS2K are all chosen for use with powerful amplifiers
up to 2,000 watts.

• Superior Imaging

Locating the Tweeters between the two rows of Midranges
generates a symmetrical response for superior imaging.

• Versatile Operation and Placement

In addition to the regular connections, the XCS2K Loud

­speaker System provides separate connections for Bi­Amplification and Tri-Amplification hookups, as well as
Bi-Wiring and Tri-Wiring.

· Extruded and Machined Side Panels and Column

The top and bottom of the XCS2K Low Frequency en

­closure and the Midrange/Tweeter Column enclosure are
machined from extruded thick aluminum panels to be
non-parallel and are given a High Gloss Black Piano Type
Finish.

• Gold Plated Input Connectors

The XCS2K input connectors are gold plated for superior
corrosion resistance and high electrical conductivity.

Performance Features

• High Temperature Neodymium-Iron-Boron Alloy
Magnets

The 3 twelve inch Woofers, 32 two inch Midranges and 20
three-quarter inch Dome Tweeters all use the Neodymium­Iron-Boron magnets. This Alloy has the highest f lux den­sity per unit of volume and helps to keep the Loudspeaker
System weight to a minimum while preserving the utmost
in performance.

5

Dimensions

42-1/4"

107.3cm

Front View of the

XCS2K

Loudspeaker System

17-1/16"

43.34cm

Side View of the

XCS2K

Loudspeaker System

(shown at maximum

elevation of 30°)

23-3/8"

59.37cm

26-3/4"

67.95cm

The following dimensions can assist in determining the
best location for your XCS2K Loudspeaker System.

6