McIntosh XR-200 Owners manual

Loudspeaker System

XR200

Owner’s Manual

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

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. This Loudspeaker is capable of producing
extremely high sound pressure levels, even
when connected to amplif iers 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 impairment 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 sold with t h e a p p ara t us.
When a cart is used, use caution
when moving the cart/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 ensure that no objects f illed
with liquids, such as vases, are placed on the
equipment.

14. WARNING: When th is Loudspe aker 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. CAUTION: This Loudspeaker weighs 113
pounds (51.3 kgs). It requires two or more
persons to safely move the Loudspeaker.

2

Thank You

Table of Contents

Your decision to own this McIntosh XR200 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]

Copyright 2008 © by McIntosh Laboratory, Inc.

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 -7

Installation ........................................................................8

How to Connect using a single Amplifier ........................ 9

How to Connect using two Amplifiers .......................10-11

How to Connect using three Amplifiers .....................12-13

Specifications .................................................................. 14

Packing Instruction .........................................................15

General Information

Caution: The XR200 weight is 113 pounds (51.3kg). It requires
two 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 XR200
Loudspeaker.

3. The XR200’s built-in speaker protection incorporates three

automatic resetting solid-state devices in the crossover net­works. One protects the tweeters, one for the midranges and
one 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 XR200 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.

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 XR200 and other

McIntosh Products please visit the McIntosh Web
Site at www.mcintoshlabs.com.

3

Introduction

McIntosh Acoustic Engineers have achieved in the de­sign of the XR200 Loudspeaker System a level of high
performance. The XR200 provides superior spaciousness
sound reproduction with unusual sound stage depth in a
full range system. It uses a new acoustic design technology
know as Progressive Inductance ControlTM (PIC). PICTM
permits the use of multiple Mid­range and Tweeter Loudspeaker
Drivers to increase the Dynamic
Range of the Loudspeaker Sys­tem, without the otherwise nega­tive Acoustic Combing Effects
present in such a point source
Loudspeaker design.

The XR200 utilizes multiple

three-quarter inch Titanium

Figure 1

Dome Tweeters and two
inch Midrange Inverted
Titanium Dome Drivers.
Refer to figures 1 and 2.
Since the audio power is
distributed among all the
drivers, each driver does
not have to work as hard,
resulting in greater power
handling capability, dra­matic reduction in distor-

Figure 2

tion and greater dynamic
range.

The Low Frequency Section of the System consists
of three newly designed eight inch Woofers. They have a
large magnet assembly and long cone excursions with very
low levels of harmonic distortion and frequency response
down to 20Hz. Refer to figure 3.

The three Woofers incorporate McIntosh’s Patented LD/
HP® 1 Magnetic Circuit Design. Finite Element Analysis
and testing resulted in a design concept which utilizes a
pair of aluminum shorting sleeves in the magnetic circuit.
Refer to figure 4. The sleeves

LD/HP

greatly reduce the negative
influence of the fluctuating

Conventional

voice coil field on the perma­nent magnet field. This results
in lower distortion due to more
linear magnetic flux in the
voice coil gap. Refer to figure

5. Additional benefits are less
volume compression due to

Figure 4

improved heat
transfer through
the sleeves and a
cooler operating
voice coil. Both
measurements,
as well as critical
listening, reveal
ten times less
distortion than
previous designs.

Figure 5

A good example
of this low distortion is incredible smoothness and clarity
in the reproduction of the human voice.

The Crossover Network used in the XR200 Loud­speaker System is designed to ensure an even frequency
response over the entire audible range. The Third Order
Designed Network utilizes Capacitors and Inductors with
high current capacity. Refer to figures 6, 7 and 8. There
are two different types of low loss (DCR) Inductors in the
network, each one chosen not to exhibit any core satura­tion even at high power levels. This prevents the addition
of distortion to the music at any frequency. The Capaci­tors used are the low loss (ESR) types. The Network also
utilizes self resetting high current PTC Fuses to provide an
extra measure of protection.

The enclosure is an important part of the XR200 Loud­speaker System. It has multiple front to back and side to
side internal braces to form a dampened rigid Loudspeaker
enclosure. The Loudspeaker’s small footprint allows for a
variety of different placements in a room.

1

LD/HP Pat. No 5,151,943

4

Figure 3

Figure 6

Introduction and Performance Features

Performance Features

• Patented LD/HP® Technology

The McIntosh Low Frequency Loudspeaker Elements
feature the patented LD/HP Magnetic Circuit Design.
This design, when compared to conventional Loudspeaker
Elements, reduces distortion significantly. It also increases
power handling and efficiency.

• Neodymium-Iron-Boron Alloy Magnets

The 12 two inch Midranges and 7 three-quarter inch Dome
Tweeters all use this Alloy. The Neodymium-Iron-Boron
Alloy has the highest flux density per unit of volume. This
allows for a smaller physcial size driver and thus closer
driver to driver placement for improved driver dispersion.

• Low Harmonic and Intermodulation Distortion

The XR200 Loudspeaker System is capable of reproducing
the full dynamic range of a symphony orchestra with very
low audible distortion of any kind.

Figure 7

Figure 8

• Large Low Frequency Port

The XR200 Loudspeaker System utilizes a large 4 inch
diameter port to increase bass output, reduce distortion and
improve the overall efficiency of the Loudspeaker.

• High Power Handling

The Loudspeaker Elements and Crossover Components of
the XR200 are all chosen for use with amplifiers up to 600
watts.

• Superior Imaging

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

• Versatile Operation and Placement

In addition to the regular connections, the XR200 Loud­speaker System provides separate connections for Bi­Amplification and Tri-Amplification hookups, as well as
Bi-Wiring and Tri-Wiring.

• Loudspeaker Enclosure

The XR200 Loudspeaker enclosure is constructed with
non-parallel internal sides to reduce internal standing
waves and is given a High Gloss Black Piano Type Finish.

• Gold Plated Input Connectors

The XR200 input connectors are gold plated for superior
corrosion resistance and high electrical conductivity.

5