Tag mclaren audio 125M User Manual

02 welcome
08 key features
09 getting started
13 signal input and output
14 grounding
15 connecting loudspeakers
22 running in and warming up

contents

23 care and maintenance
25 technical data
28 international standards

monobloc 125M

220-240V
~

50-60Hz

Fuse: T3.15A L250V

power
LED

fuse
carrier

OUTPUT 1

loudspeaker
terminals

input

socket

output
socket

power
button

made in United Kingdom

ac supply
socket

OUTPUT 2

serial

125 1234567

number

monobloc 125M

INPUT OUTPUT

Specification shown may vary for different countries

welcome

monobloc 125M

welcome

Thank you for purchasing the TAG McLaren Audio monobloc 125M.

We are convinced it will give you many hours of

listening pleasure.

The 125M is a very powerful,high-quality,single-c hannel
power amplifier (often referred to as ‘monobloc’) with an
output of outstanding clarity and purity.It complements our
PA20R and PA10 preamplifiers in performance and
appearance.The 125M is ideal for larger rooms or for high­performance loudspeakers which require a large reserve of

power from the amplifier to give their best.

shorter cables, superior sound

You can place a single-channel amplifier
near to each loudspeaker to minimise the
length of the loudspeaker cable.Short
cables provide less resistance to the flow of
current into the loudspeaker, allowing the
combination of amplifier and loudspeaker
to reproduce the finest nuances of the
music with the utmost clarity and
precision.Fur thermore, if you use two
125Ms for a stereo system interference
between channels is negligible.

low intermodulation distortion

The theoretically-ideal amplifier
reproduces sound perfectly over an infinite
range of frequencies – starting from well
below the audible range and extending far

above the capabilities of human hearing.
Although sound outside the human hearing
range of approximately 20 to 20,000 Hz
cannot be heard,it can significantly distort
the quality of music reproduction through
an effect that audio engineers call
‘intermodulation distortion’.This type of
distortion moves imperfections that
originate outside the hearing range back
into the audible frequencies.To minimise
this effect, TAG McLaren Audio amplifiers
have a frequency response which extends
both above and below the range of normal
human hearing.

straight line technology

To prevent intermodulation distortion,
an amplifier must respond to very low
frequencies but block any Direct Current
(DC).This is traditionally achieved using

0504

welcome

welcome

capacitors,which also block some of the low­frequency signal.In the 125M,a feedback
circuit eliminates DC offset voltages and
allows the signal path to be direct coupled
without any capacitors.This arrangement,
which we at TAG McLaren Audio call
‘Straight Line Technology’,is easy to describe
but not easy to realise.The design has taken
our expert engineers years to perfect.

supersonic high-frequency response

In order to reproduce high frequencies,the
125M is constructed using highly-rated,high­precision components.The circuit has been
painstakingly designed to avoid any possibility
of signals picking up interference and to
minimise the effects of intermodulation.

sophisticated muting

The 125M has a sophisticated muting
system,which stops you hear ing loud,
annoying switching noises and protects
the amplifier and loudspeakers.

convenient connections

A signal output is provided to connect
another power amplifier in multi-amplifier
systems.It may also be used to tailor the
input characteristics for special purposes.
The loudspeaker output terminals are
duplicated for your convenience in case
you wish to bi-wire your loudspeakers.

massive power

The 125M’s power rating of 125 watts
is very conservative,as the 125M can
typically provide 145 watts into 8
240 watts into 4

Ω,and 320 watts into

Ω,

2 Ω for a short period. Performance of this
calibre is essential to drive even the least
sensitive loudspeakers without distortion,
and has been achieved through the use of a
very large power supply (which accounts
for the high weight of the 125M) and
highly-specified output circuitry.

The 125M gives you huge power with true
hi-performance,hi-fidelity.

0706

key features getting started

08

‘Straight Line Technology’ with direct coupled signal and

•
feedback paths

High-quality audio components

•

Precision metal-film resistors

•

Cerafine power supply capacitors

•

Epoxy glass circuit board

•

Rated 125 W, typically 145 W into 8 Ω continuous (rated

•
200 W, typ. 240 W into 4 Ω and rated 275 W, typ. 320 W
into 2 Ω for short periods)

Duplicated loudspeaker terminals (for bi-wiring or multi-room)

•

Signal output to connect to another power amplifier or to modify

•
input characteristics

Sorbothane

•
TAG McLaren Audio

1. For the very best performance we recommend that our units are placed on

®

sonic isolation feet, specially designed by

(1)

individual shelves and are not stacked one on top of another

before

you start

loudspeaker

terminals

W e know you are keen to get your 125M working. This section will
have you listening to your favourite music as quickly as possible.
If you fold out the front cover of this manual you will locate
diagrams which will help you find your way around your 125M

(1)

Make sure that all the components of your audio system are
disconnected from the AC supply whenever you change any
connections.

On the back of your 125M you will find two pairs of loudspeaker
terminals, each pair consisting of one red and one black.
The terminals on the back of the 125M use BFA

(2)

sockets.

The BFA plug pushes into the middle of the terminal.

1. Throughout this instruction manual (except in titles), bold print indicates the
lettering that you will find on the panels of your 125M

2. In models for countries where the AC supply is 115 V, the terminals accept 4 mm
‘banana’ plugs instead of BFA plugs. 4 mm plugs are not permitted in Europe.
Please see page 15 for more details of the terminals

.

09

getting started getting started

speaker

outin

10

loudspeaker

connection

Use high-quality loudspeaker cable terminated in BFA plugs
connect the red terminal of your right loudspeaker to the red
terminal marked OUTPUT 1 on the back of your 125M

(1)

to

(2)

.
Then connect the black terminal of your loudspeaker to the black
terminal marked OUTPUT 1 on the back of your 125M.

1. If you prefer to use a cable which does not have BFA plugs, please see page 16.

2. If your loudspeaker terminals are not colour coded – red corresponds to positive

(+) or signal and black corresponds to negative (-). OUTPUT 1 and OUTPUT 2 are
connected together

3. The diagram is for illustrative purposes only. It is not to scale and does not show

all connections. See page 15 for more details on connecting loudspeakers

OUTPUT 1

OUTPUT 2

The diagram shows a
standard loudspeaker

(3)

arrangement

preamplifier

connection

power

connection

You will need a preamplifier (such as our PA10 or PA20R)
connected to a sound source (such as our CD player CD20R or
tuner T20) to feed into your 125M. Use a good-quality, screened
phono-phono audio cable to connect the left or right output of
your preamplifier to the socket marked INPUT on the back of
your 125M

Check that the power button is out so that power is off when you
plug in

(1)

.

(2)

. Using the cable supplied, connect the socket on the
back of your 125M to an AC supply outlet. For the best sound
quality, we recommend that you do not use multi-plug adaptors.

1. Your 125M is a single-channel amplifier and can only accept a mono input. If

you want to use the 125M for stereo, you will need two units. See page 15 for
more information on connecting amplifiers and loudspeakers

2. The power button is a latching switch. One press will hold it in, the next will

release it

11