McIntosh LS360 User manual

McIntosh Laboratory, Inc. 2 Chambers Street Binghamton, New York 139 3-2699 Phone: [phone] FAX: [phone]
Owners
Manual
LS360
LS360 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 impair-
ment or loss. User caution is advised and ear pro-
tection is recommended when playing at high vol-
umes.
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
ampli 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. Ser-
vicing is required when the equipment has been dam-
aged 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 ser-
vice technician has used replacement parts speci ied by
McIntosh or have the same characteristics as the origi-
nal part. Unauthorized substitutions may result in ire,
electric 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
condition.

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 LS360 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 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 LS360
Loudspeaker.
3. The LS360 has built-in speaker protection in the form of three
automatic resetting solid-state devices as part of the
crossover network. One protects the tweeters, 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
The McIntosh LS360 Loudspeaker System is designed or
Home Theater and Music Reproduction. It is a three-way
system with two 10 inch LD/HP1 woo ers, one 8 inch LD/
HP midrange and ive 1 inch dome tweeters. The LS360 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 LS360 Loudspeaker per ormance is equivalent to
the quality o McIntoshs legendary line o Ampli iers,
Preampli iers, Signal Processors and Signal Sources, with-
out imparting distortion or coloration o its own. It also
complements the capabilities and the remarkably low dis-
tortion o McIntosh Power Ampli iers.
Many o todays loudspeakers are designed only or
Home Theater applications. Not so with the LS360. It is
also designed or the accurate reproduction o music. Mo-
tion picture sound e ects, explosions, screams, and ve-
hicle crashes require a wide dynamic range and high sound
levels. These sounds are such that a speaker system having
moderate distortion would reproduce them with little au-
dible di erence. This is not true with the reproduction o
music. Music is by nature and de inition harmonious. To
reproduce it accurately, all orms o distortion, both har-
monic and intermodulation, must be kept to a minimum.
This has been the result o the design o the new McIntosh
LS360 Loudspeaker System. Each loudspeaker element
and crossover component has been care ully designed or
durability, e iciency, and above all, low distortion. The
McIntosh LS360 Loudspeaker System will reproduce mu-
sic accurately and unction as an excellent Home Theater
Loudspeaker.
Performance Features
1LD/HP Pat. No. 5,151,943
 Gold Plated Input onnectors
The LS360 input connectors are gold plated or superior
corrosion resistance and high electrical conductivity.
 Five Tweeter Bessel Function Array
The LS360 utilizes ive tweeters wired to produce a Bessel
Function Array. The individual tweeter amplitudes and
phase relationships are adjusted so the array acts as a high
requency point source. One advantage o such an
arrangement is a very smooth and even acoustic polar
response. This allows the listener to move o axis without
su ering a change in high requency output. The use o
multiple tweeters, combined with a mechanical heat sink,
also provides greatly increased power handling at high
requencies.
 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 LS360 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
LS360 Loudspeaker Elements to prevent inter erence.
 High Power Handling
The Loudspeaker Elements and crossover components o
the LS360 are all chosen or use with power ul ampli iers
up to 600 watts.
 High Efficiency
The Loudspeaker Elements used in the LS360
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 LS360 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 Ports
The Acoustic Bass Ports in the LS360 have lared ront
and rear openings to eliminate air movement noise.
Introduction

5
The ollowing dimensions can assist in determining the
best location or your LS360 Loudspeaker System. There
is additional in ormation on the next page pertaining to in-
stalling the LS360 into cabinets.
LS360 Dimensions
Dimensions
Front View of LS360 with Grille Removed Rear View of LS360

6
Dimensions
Side View of LS360 with Grille Side View of LS360 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 LS360 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 in-
stallation 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 construction 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 LS360s Tweeters
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 in-
tersecting sur aces will rein orce some bass requencies.
Which bass requencies are boosted by placement in a par-
ticular location is dependant on the dimensions o the
room. Test the various loudspeaker locations by playing
music with continuous bass, setting up the speakers and
listening to them rom the main listening spot. Move the
loudspeakers to an alternate location and repeat the listen-
ing, paying attention to how the bass qualities and re-
sponse 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
LS360 Loudspeaker System. To prevent
crushing carpet use the Tiptoe spikes; to
protect non-carpeted looring use the
chrome Glides. Both the Glides and Tip-
toes have a threaded sha t and locking
nut that screw into the tapped holes in the
bottom o the LS360s base rails. The eet
can be independently adjusted to com-
pensate or uneven 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 LS360 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
output 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 out-
put 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 LS360 Loudspeaker System utilizes two
pairs o binding posts or bi-ampli ied speaker wire con-
nections. Re er to igure 3.
Bi-ampli ication allows the use o multiple smaller am-
pli 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 loud-
speaker 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 requencies.
4. Repeat steps 1, 2 and 3 or the le t channel speaker and
ampli ier to be used or high and mid-range requen-
cies.
5. Connect a loudspeaker cable rom the lower (LOW),
black (negative - ) binding post o the right loud-
speaker 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
ampli ier to be used or low requencies.
+

9
Front and Rear Views
Connecting Terminals
10 inch LD/HP
Woofers
Five 1 inch
Tweeter Array
inch LD/HP
Midrange
Ports
+-

1
Specifications
Specifications
Driver omplement
Two 10 inch Woo ers
8 inch Midrange
Five 1 inch Dome Tweeters
Impedance
4 ohms Nominal
Frequency Response
29Hz - 20kHz + 2dB (Anechoic Response)
Sensitivity
88dB (2.8V/1m)
rossover Frequencies
1.5kHz
200Hz
Power Handling
600 Watts Maximum
Dimensions
49-1/4 inches (125.09cm) Height, 13-1/2 inches (33.75cm)
Width, 17-1/2 inches (44.45cm) Depth (including Grille)
Standard Finish
Black Ash, Natural Cherry, Red Cherry
Premium Finish
Rosewood Gloss, Piano Black
Weight (each)
140.5 pounds (63.7kg) net, 176 pounds (79.8kg) in
shipping carton