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Extracted text from McIntosh C 200 Brochure (Ocr-read)
Page 1
SOURCES
PROCESSINGCONTROL
POWER
SPEAKERS
DISPLAYS
See SYSTEMS ENGINEERING
in main brochure for more on
McIntosh system architectures.
Featured Technologies
FULLY BALANCED DUAL-CHASSIS DESIGN. The extraordinary C200 is fully balanced from
input to output -“ a configuration that essentially cancels all distortion. The precision volume
control has four matched sections and the main gain stage uses four matched amplifiers oper-
ating in push-pull. Even unbalanced signals are converted to and processed as balanced signals.
The Preamplifier chassis, which contains only audio circuits and inputs/outputs, is completely
isolated from the power supply and the microprocessors, ensuring total noise rejection. The
Controller chassis contains the selector switches, digital display, all control microprocessors,
and the power supply. After any switching operation, the control circuits are automatically
turned off to eliminate any possibility of microprocessor noise reaching the audio circuits. The
only connection between the Preamplifier and Controller is a 25-pin shielded cable.
SILENT ELECTROMAGNETIC SWITCHING. In a conventional preamp, an input signal travels
to a switch, and then travels to the input circuitry. Unfortunately, the farther a signal must travel,
the more distorted it becomes. And this says nothing of what detritus a dirty switch can add to
the signal. McIntosh Silent Electromagnetic Switching literally brings the switch to the input.
The distortion-free switch consists of a glass tube containing oxygen-free gas and two signal
leads separated by mere thousandths of an inch. The tube sits in a multilayer copper coil and
the entire assembly is encased in shock-absorbent plastic. When DC voltage is applied to the
coil in response to a switching command, current flow creates a magnetic field that causes the
leads to bend and contact one another, completing the circuit. The inert gas eliminates corrosion
of the contacts, ensuring a low-resistance, distortion-free switch that never needs cleaning.
Another benefit is that non-selected inputs are truly off, eliminating potential sources of
interference.
A
new digitally controlled attenuator system and menu-based input selection
are the featured refinements in the C200 Preamplifier/Controller, successor
to the C100. Representing McIntosh engineering at its finest, the C200 is a fully
balanced design with separate chassis for total isolation of the audio signal. It
uses the finest one-percent resistors and capacitors and internal gold-plated con-
tacts with solid-soldered joints. No details are overlooked in the design of a pre-
amplifier virtually devoid of any measurable noise.
McIntosh C200 Preamplifier/Controller
The input selectors on McIntosh
Control Centers actually control
state-of-the-artsilent electro-
magnetic switches.
leadcoil sealed glass tube
circuit completes
when leads touch lead
switching command causes
DC voltage at coil
More About the C200s Volume StageA fully balanced design requires stringent attenu-
ator specifications. Mistracking not only effects
left and right channel balance, it also influences
common mode noise and distortion rejection. The
four sections required must track better than a
stereo attenuator by a factor of at least 10 to 1.
Therefore, McIntosh has chosen a digitally con-
trolled attenuator that provides 213 steps of0.5dB each. The step match between the sec-
tions is typically less than +0.05dB. Mechanical
potentiometers cannot provide such tracking
accuracy.
A post attenuator stage is interlaced with the
main attenuator. It rapidly reduces the output
amplifier gain to unity. The result is an immediate
drop in the noise floor to better than -110dB. This
is much lower than possible with a mechanicalpotentiometer. Noise and distortion are virtually
eliminated.
Attenuation changes occur at the zero cross-
ings of the audio signal so that there are no audi-
ble artifacts during volume adjustment. One of
three different volume rotation curves (Vs) can be
selected from the C200s setup menu:
SLOW - two turns of the knob traverses the
entire dynamic range
Page 2
The McIntosh products shown at right are logical
companions for the C200. Separate literature is
available. Check with your McIntosh dealer for
any late additions.
MC1201 Power Amplifier, MDA700 D/A
Converter, and MCD751 CD Transport. The
MC1201 double-balanced power amp and the
C200 both hail from the no-compromise school
of design. Add the MDA700 converter with bal-
anced output plus the MCD751 transport for a
totally balanced audio system without peer.
MR85 AM/FM Tuner with Dual Tuners.Ideal for
multiroom systems, the MR85 is available with a
second tuner (the TM1 module) that operates
independently. A thoroughly engineered broad-
cast monitor, the MR85 reveals the upper limits
of AM and FM performance. The supplied RAA1
AM antenna can be positioned away from
sources of interference (e.g., TV sets, fluorescent
lights) for greatly improved AM quality.
RCT4 Remote Translator.The Translator allows
non-McIntosh components to be operated with a
McIntosh handheld remote or keypad controller. It
connects to the data outputs on the C200.
PC4 AC Power Controller.The PC4 provides
five AC outlets (four switched) for turning non-
McIntosh components on and off automaticallywhen it is connected to the power control output
of a Control Center or Integrated Amplifier.
R649 IR Sensor.With switching for three addi-
tional stereo power amplifiers and a connector
for an external IR sensor, the C200 can supply
music to other areas, with remote operation via
the R649 wall-mount IR sensor.
Academy Series Loudspeakers.The Academy
speakers satisfy the often contradictory
demands of pure music versus movie sound. All
Academy loudspeakers use the acclaimed
LD/HP
®driver -“ which significantly reduces bass
distortion while increasing power handling. The
compact HT5has a footprint less than 10 inches
square. The LS320, LS340, and LS360feature
arched bridge truss construction that is virtually
immune to vibrations that distort sound. A spe-
cial tweeter plate in the LS320 and LS340
reduces edge diffraction cancellation, while the
five tweeters in the LS360 are wired in a Bessell
Function array that acts as a point source. The
WS320is the wall-mount sibling of the LS320
and comes in a paintable white finish. At 400
watts, the PS112is McIntoshs most powerful
amplified subwoofer. It features arched bridge
truss construction and a black glass control
panel.
C200 Companion Products
VARIABLE RATE VOLUME (VRV) DIGITALLY CONTROLLED ATTENUATOR.If McIntosh electro-
magnetic switching brings the switch to the input, then the C200s volume control brings the atten-
uatorto the input. The volume knob actually operates an optical rotary encoder with 213 steps; it
sends instructions at the speed of light to the digitally controlled attenuator located near the inputs.
Together they provide 0.5dB resolution with 0.05dB accuracy. (More details in sidebar below.)
PROGRAMMABLE SOURCE TRIM.A traditional McIntosh feature that allows matching the output
levels of different source components, source trim in the C200 establishes new standardsfor audio
purity and operating convenience. Instead of adjusting individual potentiometers, the trim for each
input is stored electronically as a volume offset.
ADVANCED PHONO SECTION.Phono inputs are provided for both moving magnet and moving
coil phono cartridges. The MC inputs have a dedicated RIAA preamplifier and double mu-metal-
shielded step-up transformers wound with silver wire.
CONTROL DATA OUTPUTS.To facilitate system integration, the C200 outputs control data for source
components. This allows remote operation of non-McIntosh components either by directconnection
to compatible data inputs or via a McIntosh Remote Translator.
BALANCED CONNECTIONS.Balanced connections guard against induced noise. A balanced con-
nection between the C200 and the MC1201 amp provides 40dB more noise protection than would
an unbalanced (single-ended) connection.
REMOTE POWER CONTROL.The C200 has four individual remote power jacks (one main, one
accessory, switched 1, switched 2) that enable it to turn connected power amps on/off.
Featured Technologies (contd.)
MC1201 MONOBLOCK POWER AMP
MR85 AM/FM TUNER MDA700 D/A CONVERTER
MCD751 CD TRANSPORT
RCT4 REMOTE TRANSLATOR
PC4 AC POWER CONTROLLER
R649 IR SENSOR
LS340
PS112 LS320
FAST - one turn of the knob traverses the entire
dynamic range
VRV - the level rate changes as the control is
turned. VRV results in a volume curve that equals that
of a normal volume potentiometer.
One of two different balance modes can be select-
ed from the C200s setup menu:
SLOW - each knob click equals 1dB of offset
VRB - the rate of offset change is determined bythe speed of knob rotation. Turn the knob slowly for
1dB steps or rapidly for larger steps.
The C200 also includes a pass-through mode that
disables the volume and balance circuits. When
PASSTHRU is on, the selected input is passed direct-
ly to the MAIN and 1&2 OUTPUTS at unity gain. This
is done so that the FRONT LEFT and FRONT RIGHT
audio signals from a home theater processor can be
fed directly to the amps and speakers connected tothe C200. They would then become part of the home
theater system. PASSTHRU mode is triggered by a
signal received through a rear panel jack. This signal
can be the POWER ON command from the
McIntosh MAC-3, MSD-4, or MX132 processors.