McIntosh LS340 User manual

McIntosh Laboratory, Inc. 2 Chambers Street Binghamton, New York 139 3-2699 Phone: [phone] FAX: [phone]
Owners
Manual
LS340
LS340 Loudspeaker System

2
IMPORTANT SAFETY
INSTRUCTIONS!
PLEASE READ THEM BEFORE
OPERATING THIS EQUIPMENT.
WARNING - TO REDUCE RISK OF
FIRE OR ELECTRICAL SHOCK, DO
NOT EXPOSE THIS EQUIPMENT TO
RAIN OR MOISTURE.
NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS
INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO
QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.
General:
1. Read these instructions.
2. Keep these instructions.
3. Heed all warnings.
4. Follow all instructions.
5. Warning: To reduce risk of fire or electrical shock,
do not expose this equipment to rain or moisture.
This unit is capable of producing high sound pres-
sure levels. ontinued exposure to high sound pres-
sure levels can cause permanent hearing impairment
or loss. User caution is advised and ear protection is
recommended when playing at high volumes.
6. Only use attachments/accessories speci ied by the
manu acturer.
Installation:
7. Install in accordance with the manu acturers instruc-
tions.
8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators,
heat registers, stoves, or other equipment (including am-
pli iers) that produce heat.
9. Do not use this equipment near water.
10. Do not expose this equipment to dripping or splashing
and ensure that no objects illed with liquids, such as
vases, are placed on the equipment.
11. Use only with the cart, stand, tripod,
bracket, or table speci ied by the manu ac-
turer, or sold with the equipment. When a
cart is used, use caution when moving the
cart/equipment combination to avoid injury
rom tip-over.
are of Equipment:
12. Clean only with a dry cloth.
13. Do not permit objects or liquids o any kind to be
pushed, spilled and/or all into the equipment through
enclosure openings.
Repair of Equipment:
14. Re er all servicing to quali ied service personnel. Servic-
ing is required when the equipment has been damaged in
any way, liquid has been spilled or objects have allen
into the equipment, the equipment has been exposed to
rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been
dropped.
15. Do not attempt to service beyond that described in the
operating instructions. All other service should be re-
erred to quali ied service personnel.
16. When replacement parts are required, be sure the service
technician has used replacement parts speci ied by
McIntosh or have the same characteristics as the original
part. Unauthorized substitutions may result in ire, elec-
tric shock, or other hazards.
17. Upon completion o any service or repairs to this prod-
uct, ask the service technician to per orm sa ety checks
to determine that the product is in proper operating con-
dition.

3
Customer Service
Technical Assistance
Please Take A Moment
Thank You
Copyright 2000 ã by McIntosh Laboratory, Inc.
The serial number, purchase date and McIntosh dealer
name are important to you or possible insurance claim or
uture service. The spaces below have been provided or
you to record that in ormation:
Your decision to own this McIntosh LS340 Loudspeaker
System ranks you at the very top among discriminating mu-
sic listeners. You now have The Best. The McIntosh dedi-
cation to Quality, is assurance that you will receive many
years o musical enjoyment rom this unit.
Please take a short time to read the in ormation in this
manual. We want you to be as amiliar as possible with all
the eatures and unctions o your new McIntosh.
Serial Number:
Purchase Date:
Dealer Name:
I it is determined that your McIntosh product is in need o
repair, you can return it to your dealer. You can also return
it to the McIntosh Laboratory Service Department. For as-
sistance on actory repair return procedure, contact the
McIntosh Service Department at:
McIntosh Laboratory, Inc.
2 Chambers Street
Binghamton, New York 13903
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
I at any time you have questions about your McIntosh
product, contact your McIntosh dealer who is amiliar with
your McIntosh equipment and any other brands that may
be part o your system. I you or your dealer wish addi-
tional help concerning a suspected problem, you can re-
ceive technical assistance or all McIntosh products at:
McIntosh Laboratory, Inc.
2 Chambers Street
Binghamton, New York 13903
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Sa ety Instructions .............................................................. 2
Thank You and Please Take a Moment ............................. 3
Technical Assistance and Customer Service ....................... 3
Table o Contents and General Notes ................................. 3
Introduction ........................................................................ 4
Per ormance Features ........................................................ 4
Dimensions ....................................................................5 - 6
Installation .......................................................................... 7
How to Connect ................................................................. 8
Front and Rear Views ......................................................... 9
Speci ications .................................................................... 10
Packing Instruction ........................................................... 11
Table of Contents
eneral Notes
1. It is very important that loudspeaker cables of adequate
size be used in your music system, to ensure that there will
be no power loss or heating. Cable size is specified in
Gauge numbers or WG, ( merican Wire Gauge). The
smaller the Gauge number, the larger the wire size:
If your loudspeaker cables are 25 feet (7.62m) or less,
use at least 18 Gauge ( WG) wire size or larger.
If your loudspeaker cables are 50 feet (38.1m) or less,
use at least 16 Gauge ( WG) wire size or larger.
If your loudspeaker cables are 100 feet (76.2m) or less,
use at least 14 Gauge ( WG) wire size or larger.
The Loudspeaker Connection Terminals can accept up
to 12 Gauge ( WG) wire.
2. For additional connection information, refer to the
owners manual(s) for any component(s) connected to the
LS340 Loudspeaker.
3. The LS340 has built-in speaker protection in the form of
three automatic resetting solid-state devices as part of the
crossover network. One protects the tweeter, one the
midrange and the other the woofers. The characteristics of
this protection are that a certain amount of overdrive is
allowed but extended periods of overdrive will trigger
protection. If an obvious lack of high or low frequencies is
noticed, the Loudspeaker Protection Device may have
activated. Sound output from the Loudspeaker Element
affected will be reduced when the protection is triggered.
The protection devices will automatically reset when the
volume control is reduced significantly and kept low until
the output of the affected Loudspeaker Element returns to
normal.

4
Introduction and Performance Features
Introduction
The McIntosh LS340 Loudspeaker System is designed or
Home Theater and Music Reproduction. It is a three-way
system with two 8 inch LD/HP1 woo ers, one 6-1/2 inch
LD/HP midrange and one 1 inch dome tweeter. The LS340
is designed to work as a Le t or Right (Main) Loudspeaker
in a Music System, or as a Main or Surround Loudspeaker
in a Home Theater System.
The LS340 Loudspeaker per ormance is equivalent to
the quality o McIntoshs legendary line o Ampli iers,
Preampli iers, Signal Processors and Signal Sources, without
imparting distortion or coloration o its own. It also comple-
ments the capabilities and the remarkably low distortion o
McIntosh Power Ampli iers.
Many o todays loudspeakers are designed only or
Home Theater applications. Not so with the LS340. It is also
designed or the accurate reproduction o music. Motion pic-
ture sound e ects, explosions, screams, and vehicle crashes
require a wide dynamic range and high sound levels. These
sounds are such that a speaker system having moderate dis-
tortion would reproduce them with little audible di erence.
This is not true with the reproduction o music. Music is by
nature and de inition harmonious. To reproduce it accu-
rately, all orms o distortion, both harmonic and
intermodulation, must be kept to a minimum. This has been
the result o the design o the new McIntosh LS340 Loud-
speaker System. Each loudspeaker element and crossover
component has been care ully designed or durability, e i-
ciency, and above all, low distortion. The McIntosh LS340
Loudspeaker System will reproduce music accurately and
unction as an excellent Home Theater Loudspeaker.
Performance Features
1LD/HP Pat. No. 5,151,943
 Gold Plated Input onnectors
The LS340 input connectors are gold plated or superior
corrosion resistance and high electrical conductivity.
 Acoustic Edge-Hole Elimination
An edge-hole is a severe dip in the high requency
response o a speaker system, caused by the relative
distance o the dome tweeter to the edge o the speaker
cabinet. I the distance to the edge o the cabinet is the same
on both sides o the dome tweeter, cancellation o the sound
occurs at a speci ic requency. McIntosh guards against this
phenomenon with a special tweeter mounting that eliminates
the edge-hole e ect. A specially designed tweeter bezel
and per orated grille, mask the tweeter mounting to maintain
a symmetrical appearance.
 Patented LD/HP Technology
The McIntosh Low Frequency and Midrange Loudspeaker
Elements eature the patented LD/HP motor structure. This
design, when compared to conventional Loudspeaker
Elements, reduces distortion signi icantly. It also increases
power handling and e iciency.
 Shielded Magnetic Field
The LS340 may be used in Home Theater Installations near
a television receiver or monitor without causing the
television image to degrade. McIntosh has designed special
shielding around the magnetic structure o the LS340
Loudspeaker Elements to prevent inter erence.
 High Power Handling
The Loudspeaker Elements and crossover components o
the LS340 are all chosen or use with power ul ampli iers up
to 350 watts.
 High Efficiency
The Loudspeaker Elements used in the LS340 Loudspeaker
System have also been designed or high e iciency. As a
result any McIntosh Power Ampli ier, even our smallest, will
provide satis ying room illing sound.
 Automatic Overload Protection
The LS340 has built-in Loudspeaker Element Protection in
the orm o three automatic resetting solid-state devices as a
part o the crossover network.
 Flared Acoustic Bass Port
The Acoustic Bass Port in the LS340 has lared ront and
rear openings to eliminate air movement noise.

5
The ollowing dimensions can assist in determining the best
location or your LS340 Loudspeaker System. There is ad-
ditional in ormation on the next page pertaining to installing
the LS340 into cabinets.
LS340 Dimensions
Dimensions
Front View of LS340 with Grille Removed Rear View of LS340

6
Dimensions
Side View of LS340 with Grille Side View of LS340 with Grille Removed

7
Installation
Installation
Figure 1 Figure 2
Locating your Loudspeakers
Loudspeaker placement in a room can greatly a ect
per ormance. The LS340 is designed to work as a Le t or
Right (Main) Loudspeaker in a Music System, or as a Main
or Surround Loudspeaker in a Home Theater System.
The optimal method or selecting speaker locations in-
cludes the use o a real time spectrum analyzer operated by
an experienced system installer. An uncompromising installa-
tion would take into consideration the loor, wall and ceiling
coverings, the type and placement o urniture and can even
include the architectural design o the room and its construc-
tion materials.
Locating Loudspeakers for use in Home Theater
In a Home Theater application, the placement o Le t and
Right Front Loudspeakers can be limited by such
considerations as the size and location o the video monitor.
The locating suggestions in the  or use in a Music System
section below can still be help ul. Side Surround
Loudspeakers work best located to either side o and above
the listening position, the same distance rom the monitor.
Back Surround Loudspeakers work best on the back wall.
Re er to igure 1.
Locating Loudspeakers for use in a Music System
When used as Le t and Right Speakers, the distance
between the two loudspeakers should not exceed the
distance between the listener and either loudspeaker. I the
speakers are too ar apart relative to the listener, some
imaging can be lost. To assure the sound rom the le t and
right speakers arrive at the same time, the distance rom
each loudspeaker to the listener should be as close to the
same as possible. Re er to igure 2. The LS340 Tweeter
should be level with the listeners ears and adjustment o the
height o the eet to angle the loudspeaker up or down is
o ten the way to achieve this.
Placement near a wall, corner, loor, ceiling or any inter-
secting sur aces will rein orce some bass requencies. Which
bass requencies are boosted by placement in a particular
location is dependant on the dimensions o the room. Test
the various loudspeaker locations by playing music with con-
tinuous bass, setting up the speakers and listening to them
rom the main listening spot. Move the loudspeakers to an
alternate location and repeat the listening, paying attention to
how the bass qualities and response levels change. Do not
assume the loudest bass is best; rather listen or booming (a
lack o articulation), as well as a balance over the whole
spectrum, to assure the bass will not drown out the other
parts o the music.
Experiment with various loudspeaker positions until the
locations that sound best are ound.
Optional Feet
Two sets o optional eet ( our Tiptoes and
our Glides) are supplied with the LS340
Loudspeaker System. To prevent crushing
carpet use the Tiptoe spikes; to protect
non-carpeted looring use the chrome
Glides. Both the Glides and Tiptoes have a
threaded sha t and locking nut that screw
into the tapped holes in the bottom o the
LS340s base rails. The eet can be inde-
pendently adjusted to compensate or un-
even looring or to aim the loudspeakers
upward or downward. Glides
Tiptoes

8
How to Connect
How to Connect
Right Front Loudspeaker Left Front Loudspeaker
The McIntosh LS340 Loudspeaker System utilizes binding
posts or speaker wire connections. Re er to igure 3.
1. Connect a loudspeaker cable rom the black (negative - )
loudspeaker binding post to the negative or common out-
put terminal o one channel o the ampli ier.
2. Connect a loudspeaker cable rom the red (positive + )
loudspeaker binding post to the positive or 4 ohm output
terminal o the same channel o the ampli ier.
3. Tighten all o the loudspeaker and ampli ier binding
posts.
Speaker Connections
To Amplifier Terminals
Figure 3 -
How to onnect to Two Stereo Amplifiers for a Bi-
Amplified onfiguration
The McIntosh LS340 Loudspeaker System utilizes two pairs
o binding posts or bi-ampli ied speaker wire connections.
Re er to igure 3.
Bi-ampli ication allows the use o multiple smaller ampli-
iers connected to one loudspeaker, which increases the
acoustical output.
Note: Output levels of the two amplifiers connected to the
HIGH and LOW Loudspeaker Input Terminals must
be adjusted to achieve a proper balance between the
high and low frequencies reproduced. This
adjustment is best achieved through the use of audio
test equipment operated by a qualified installer.
1. Remove the gold interconnecting straps rom the two
pairs o binding posts on the speakers.
2. Connect a loudspeaker cable rom the upper (HIGH),
black (negative - ) binding post o the right loudspeaker
to the negative or common output terminal o the right
channel on the ampli ier to be used or high and mid-
range requencies.
3. Connect a loudspeaker cable rom the upper (HIGH), red
(positive + ) binding post o the right loudspeaker to the
positive or 4 ohm output terminal o the right channel o
the ampli ier to be used or high and mid-range requen-
cies.
4. Repeat steps 1, 2 and 3 or the le t channel speaker and
ampli ier to be used or high and mid-range requencies.
5. Connect a loudspeaker cable rom the lower (LOW),
black (negative - ) binding post o the right loudspeaker
to the negative or common output terminal o the right
channel on the ampli ier to be used or low requencies.
6. Connect a loudspeaker cable rom the lower (LOW), red
(positive + ) binding post o the right loudspeaker to the
positive or 4 ohm output terminal o the right channel o
the ampli ier to be used or low requencies.
7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 or the le t channel speaker and am-
pli ier to be used or low requencies.
+

9
Front and Rear Views
8 inch LD/HP
Woofers
1 inch Dome T eeter
Connecting Terminals
+
-
6-1/2 inch LD/HP
Midrange
Port

1
Specifications
Specifications
Driver omplement
Two 8 inch Woo ers
6-1/2 inch Midrange
1 inch Dome Tweeter
Impedance
4 ohms Nominal
Frequency Response
48Hz - 20kHz + 2dB (Anechoic Response)
Sensitivity
87dB (2.8V/1m)
rossover Frequencies
1.5kHz
250Hz
Power Handling
350 Watts Maximum
Dimensions
40-1/4 inches (102.23cm) Height, 10-1/4 inches (26.03cm)
Width, 17-3/8 inches (44.13cm) Depth (including Grill)
Standard Finish
Black Ash, Natural Cherry, Red Cherry
Premium Finish
Rosewood Gloss, Piano Black
Weight (each)
89.5 pounds (40.6kg) net, 110 pounds (49.9kg) in shipping
carton

11
Packing Instructions
In the event it is necessary to repack the equipment or
shipment, the equipment must be packed exactly as received.
Failure to do this will result in shipping damage.
Use the original shipping carton and interior parts only i
they are all in good serviceable condition. I a shipping car-
ton or any o the interior part(s) are needed, please call or
write Customer Service Department o McIntosh Labora-
tory.
Packing Instructions

McIntosh Part No. 040755
McIntosh Laboratory, Inc.
2 Chambers Street
Binghamton, NY 13903