McIntosh MA 8900 Owners Manual

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2 Your decision to own this McIntosh MA8900 Inte- grated Amplifier ranks you at the very top among discriminating music listeners. You now have The Best. The McIntosh dedication to Quality, is as- surance 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 pos- sible with all the features and functions of your new McIntosh.Copyright 2017 © by McIntosh Laboratory, Inc. Table of Contents Thank You Please Take A Moment 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: 607-723-3512 Fa x: 607-724 - 0549 Customer Ser vice 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: 607-723-3515 Fa x: 607-723 -1917 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: Important Safety Information is supplied in a separate document Impo\ rtant Additional Operation Information Guide Safety Instructions .............................................................. 2 (Separate Sheet) ............................Important Additional Operation Information Guide Thank You and Please Take a Moment ............................... 2 Technical Assistance and Customer Service ....................... 2 Table of Contents ................................................................. 2 General Information ............................................................ 3 Connector and Cable Information ....................................... 3 Introduction .....................................................................\ .... 4 Performance Features .......................................................... 4 Dimensions ......................................................................\ .... 5 Installation .....................................................................\ ...... 6 Connections: Rear Panel Connections ....................................................... 7 (Separate Sheet) ........................................................... Mc1A Connecting Components ..................................................... 8 Connection Diagrams (Separate Sheet) ................. Mc2A/2B Passthru Connections .......................................................... 9 Connecting for Bi-Amplification ...................................... 10 Connecting Loudspeakers ............................................ 11-12 Remote Control and Front Panel: Remote Control Push-buttons ........................................... 14 How to use the Remote Control ......................................... 15 Front Panel Displays, Controls, Push-buttons and Jack ....................................................... 16 Setup Mode: How to Operate the Setup Mode ....................................... 17 Setup Functions: Default Settings ......................................................... 17 Firmware Version ...................................................... 17 Source Input Renaming ........................................ 17 19 Output Settings .......................................................... 19 Power Control Triggers 1 and 2 .................................20 Data Ports ...................................................................20 Passthru ...................................................................... 21 Comm Port Baud Rate ............................................... 21 Remote Control Codes ............................................... 21 IR Sensor ....................................................................22 Power Mode ...............................................................22 Factory Reset .............................................................22 Microprocessor Reset ........................................................ 23 Operation: How to Operate the MA8900 ....................................... 24-31 Tr i m F u nc t i on s: Balance .......................................................................24 Equalizer Mode ..........................................................25 Trim Level ..................................................................25 Phono Adjustments ....................................................25 Mono/Stereo Mode ....................................................26 Meter Backlight .........................................................26 Display Brightness .....................................................26 Headphone HXD ........................................................27 Equalizer, Trim, Mute, Headphone Jack .................... 27 Power Output Meters, Power Guard .......................... 27 How to Make a Recording .......................................... 28 Using a Separate Power Amplifier ............................. 28 Using Output 2 and Passthru ...................................... 28 Equalizer Controls ...................................................... 29 Optical and Coaxial Digital Inputs ............................ 29 USB Input Operation with a Computer ...................... 30 Resetting the MA8900 to default settings .................. 30 Photo ......................................................................\ ... 32 Specifications ....................................................... 33-34 Packing Instructions ................................................. 35

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3 on McIntosh Power Amplifiers. A 3.5mm stereo mini phone plug is used for connection to the Power Con- trol, Trigger and Passthru Outputs. Data Port Connectors The Data Out Ports send Remote Control Signals to Source Compo- nents. A 3.5mm stereo mini phone plug is used for connection. IR IN Port Connectors The IR IN Port also uses a 3.5mm stereo mini phone plug and allows the connection of other brand IR Receiv- ers to the MA8900. RS232-C Data Port Cable The RS232 Data Cable is a 3.5mm stereo mini phone plug to a sub miniature DB 9 connector: Output Terminal Connector When cables with spade lugs are used for Loudspeaker Connection, the spade lugs need an opening of at least 3/10 inch (7.6mm) McIntosh Plug-In Jumper Connector The MA8900 utilizes two phono style Plug-In Jump- ers to connect the Preamplifier Output to the Power Amplifier Input. Note: The Jumper Connector is available from the McIntosh Parts Department: McIntosh Jumper Connector Part No. 117781 XLR Connectors Below is the Pin configuration for the XLR Balanced Input Connectors on the MA8900. Refer to the dia- gram for connection: PIN 1: Shield/Ground PIN 2: + Output PIN 3: - Output Power Control and Trigger Connectors The Power Control Trigger Output Jacks send and Passthru Input Jack receives Power On/Off Signals (+12 volt/0 volt) when connected to other McIntosh Components. An additional connec- tion is for controlling the illumina- tion of the Power Output Meters 1. For additional connection information, refer to the owners manual(s) for any component(s) connected to the MA8900. 2. Apply AC Power to the MA8900 and other McIn- tosh Component(s) only after all the system compo- nents are connected together. Failure to do so may cause a malfunction of system operations as the Microprocessors Circuitry inside the components is active when AC Power is applied. 3. The MA8900 includes an Auto Off Power Save Feature and the default setting is enabled. For additional information including how to disable it, refer to page 22. 4. When Power Amplifier Protection Circuitry of the MA8900 has activated, the Front Panel Power Guard LEDs are illuminated continuously and the sound will be muted. 5. When the Power Transformer has overheated due to improper ventilation and/or high ambient operat- ing temperature, AC Power is removed from the MA8900. Normal operation will resume when the operating temperature is in a safe range again. 6. For the best performance and safety, it is important to always match the impedance of the Loudspeaker to the Power Amplifier connections. Refer to pages 10 thru 12. Note: The impedance of a Loudspeaker actually var ies as the Loudspeaker reproduces different frequencies. As a result, the nominal impedance rating of the Loudspeaker (usually measured at a midrange frequency) might not always agree with the impedance of the Loudspeaker at low frequencies where the greatest amount of power is required. Contact the Loudspeaker Manufac turer for additional information about the actual impedance of the Loudspeaker before connecting it to the McIntosh MA8900. 7. The MA8900 Remote Control is capable of operat-ing other components. For additional information go to www.mcintoshlabs.com. 8. The IR Input, with a 1/8 inch mini phone jack, is configured for non-McIntosh IR sensors such as a Xantech Model DL85K Kit. Use a Connection Block such as a Xantech Model ZC21 when two or more IR sensors need to be connected to the MA8900. The signal from a connected External IR Sensor will have priority over the signal from the Front Panel IR Sensor. 9. 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 regula- tions concerning battery disposal. 10. For additional information on the MA8900 and other McIntosh Products please visit the McIntosh Web Site at www.mcintoshlabs.com. Connector and Cable Information Data Signal N/CData Ground General Information Power ControlMeter Illumination Control Ground Main, Trig 1&2 and Pass Thru PIN 1 PIN 2 PIN 3 IR Data Control Ground N/C General Information, Connector and Cable Information PIN 1 PIN 6 PIN 5 PIN 9 Data In (DB9-pin2) Ground (DB9-pin5) Data Out (DB9-pin3) DB9 (male c onnector) 3/10 of an inch (7.6millimeters)

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22 Power Mode The MA8900 incorporates an Auto Off Feature, which automatically places the preamplifier into the Power Saving Standby/Off Mode. This occurs approximately 30 minutes after there has been an absence of user ac- tivity (includes changes to any of the Operation Func- tions such as source selection, volume adjustment, etc.) or absence of an audio signal. If it is desirable to disable the Auto Off Feature perform the following steps: 1. Press and hold in the INPUT Control to enter the SETUP MODE. Refer to figure 2 on page 17. 2. Rotate the INPUT Control until SETUP: Auto Off, Enabled appears on the Information Display. Refer to figure 45. 3. Rotate the VOLUME (ADJUST) Control to select Disabled. Refer to figure 46. 4. Press the INPUT Control to exit the Setup Mode. Fig u re 45 SETUP: Auto Off Enabled Figure 46 SETUP: Auto Off Disabled IR Sensor The MA8900 Front Panel Sensor, which receives the signals from the HR085 Remote Control, can be switched off to prevent interference when an external IR Sensor is connected. To de-activate the Front Panel IR Sensor perform the following steps: 1. Press and hold in the INPUT Control to enter the SETUP MODE. Refer to figure 2 on page 17. 2. Rotate the INPUT Control until SETUP: Front IR, Enabled appears on the Information Dis- play. Refer to figure 43. 3. Rotate the VOLUME (ADJUST) Control to select Disabled. Refer to figure 44. 5. Exit the SETUP Mode by several presses of the INPUT Control. Fig u re 43 SETUP: Front IR Enabled Fig u re 44 SETUP: Front IR Disabled Remote Control Codes The HR085 Remote Control included with the MA8900 utilizes the NORMAL McIntosh Control Codes. The Second Set of Control Codes the MA8900 will respond to is referred to as the ALTERNATE Codes. The Alternate Codes are used when the MA8900 is used in the same location as another McIntosh Preamplifier and/or A/V Processor. This will prevent the Remote Control from affecting the operation of both units at the same time. To activate the Remote Control ALTERNATE Codes perform the following steps: 1. Press and hold in the INPUT Control to enter the SETUP MODE. Refer to figure 2 on page 17. 2. Rotate the INPUT Control until SETUP: IR Codes, Normal appears on the Information Display. Refer to figure 41. 3. Rotate the VOLUME (ADJUST) Control to the Alternate Codes. Refer to figure 42. 4. It is now necessary to change the HR085 Remote Control over to the Alternate Codes. Information on the HR085 Remote Control is available for download from the McIntosh Web Site: http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/us/Products/pages/ ProductDetails.aspx?CatId=preamplifiers&Produ ctId=MA8900 5. Exit the SETUP Mode by several presses of the INPUT Control. Fig u re 41 SETUP: IR Codes Normal Fig u re 42 SETUP: IR Codes Alternate