McIntosh Mac 1700 User manual

GENERALDESCRIPTIONMAC1700
TheMAC1700isa stereo receiver. Thereare three
easytousetopnotchstereocomponentsinonesmall
convenientpackage.A solidstate preamplifier,a solid
statepower amplifier,andanFMMPXstereotuner are
combinedtogiveyouthebest performancepossible.
Theresultisa compact, easytousestereoinstrument.
Astereoinstrumentthatbringsyouthebestinalltypes
of stereo listening.
Aloudness controlallowsyoutolistentomusicatlow
listeninglevelsandstillhearthefullrichsoundofmusic.
Thereisa filterwhichletsyouminimizenoiseandrumble
from programsources.A tapemonitorswitchletsyou
monitorrecordingsinprogress.Buttheprimefunction
of a preamplifieristoreproducerecordsandtapes
withfullaccuracyandsonicrealism.YourMAC1700
doesrecreatemusicfromrecordsandtapeswitha
degreeofaccuracy thought impossiblea fewshort
yearsago.Recordsandtapes are madewiththebass
frequenciescutandthehighsboosted.Thisallows
moremusical informationtobeputontherecordor
tape.TheMAC1700reintroducesthebassandthe
highs followingaccurateand definitestandards.Your
recordsandtapessound aliveand thrillingwhenyou
hearthem through yourMAC1700.Sixteensilicon
planartransistors are usedinthe preamplifier.Silicon
planar transistorsareused becauseof theirhigh
thermal stability,lownoise,andsuperiorhighfre-
quencyresponse.
POWERAMPLIFIER
YourMAC1700delivers40wattsofpowerwithboth
channels operating.Thisis40wattsofsteadystate
power.YourMAC1700 delivers 40wattsofpower
hoursonend. Distortionat40wattsislessthan ¼of
1% atany frequencyfrom30to 20,000cps.These
measurementsaremadebytestingsinewave power.
Asinewavesignalisfedintotheamplifierata voltage
sufficientto drivethe amplifierat ratedpower output.
Then distortionismeasuredatfull ratedpowerwith
bothchannelsoperatingintoan impedance of8 ohms.
Distortionmustbelessthan ¼of1% from30to
20,000cps.Onlythenis your MAC1700 readyfor
you.Atlessthanfullpowerdistortionbecomessosmall
it canbemeasuredbyonlythemost sophisticated
laboratoryinstruments.Only Mclntosh givesyouthis
kind of performance.
TheMAC1700givesyoua 2.5 microvoltFMstereo
tuner.Thissensitivetuner bringsyou clear, noise-free
receptionfrom distantstations.Thetunersectionisa
superb productof prideof craftsmanship.Ina tuner
1

TECHNICAL FEATURESANDSPECIFICATIONSFORMAC1700
FM TUNER SECTION:
USEABLESENSITIVITY(at100% Modulation:2.5µV
[I.H.F.Standards)
SIGNALTONOISEANDHUMRATIO: 65db.
HARMONICDISTORTION:Mono,lessthan.5%
Stereo,lessthan.8%
DRIFT:Lessthan25KC
FREQUENCYRESPONSE:Flatfrom20cpsto20KC
with standard75µ secondde-emphasisand19KC
pilot frequency filter.
CAPTURERATIO:Betterthan2.0db.
IMAGEREJECTION:Betterthan60db.
STEREOMULTIPLEXSEPARATION:Betterthan30db
at
1KC.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
A) Automaticstereo switching.
B) Muting;IF injected circuitwithatleast50db
quieting between stations.
C) Antenna inputsfor300ohm balanced(fortwin
lead)and75ohm unbalanced(forcoaxialcable).
D) NuvistorRFamplifier, Nuvistormixer.
E) Four stagesofIF amplification,withAGCused
to insure limiting occursonlyinthe limiter stages.
F) Two limiter stagesusedfor exceptional capture
ratioand smooth muting operation.
G) Multiplex filterandSCA filter,to suppress19KC
and38KC signal componentsat least40dbbe-
lowprogramandto suppress67KCSCAby60db.
H) Noise rejecting logic circuitusedto activate
MPXstereo lightand automatic stereo switching
on 19KCstereo pilotonly.
I) D'Arsonval tuning meterfor accurate centerof
channel tuning.
J) Flywheel tuningforeaseof operationandpre-
cise tuning.
AMPLIFIER SECTION:
POWEROUTPUT:
40 wattsRMScontinuousperchannelwithbothchan-
nels operatingsimultaneouslyinto4 ohmor8 ohm
loads.
80 wattsRMScontinuous monophonic.
30 wattsRMScontinuousperchannelwithbothchan-
nels operatingsimultaneouslyinto16ohmloads.
60 wattsRMScontinuousmonophonic.
HARMONICDISTORTION:Lessthan 0.25%at rated
power outputfrom30cpsto20KCwithboth chan-
nelsoperating.
INTERMODULATIONDISTORTION:Lessthan 0.25%
for any combinationof frequencies from30cpsto
20KCifinstantaneous peak poweris80wattsper
channelorlessinto4 or8 ohmloadsand60watts
perchannelorlessinto16ohmloadswithboth
channels operating.
FREQUENCYRANGE:At ratedoutputboth channels:
±0.5db20cycles through 20,000cycles.
+0,-3db10cycles through 80,000cycles.
OUTPUTIMPEDANCE:4 ohms,8 ohms,16ohms,no
impedanceswitching required.
INTERNALIMPEDANCE DAMPING:Lessthan.04
ohms; damping factor greaterthan100.
INPUTSENSITIVITYAND IMPEDANCE: Auxiliary,
Tape,Tuner,andTape Monitor;300MV,250K
ohms.
PHONO1 AND PHONO2:2.4MV,47,000ohms.
TAPEHEAD:2.4MV, ½megohm.
TOTALNOISE (IncludingPowerAmplifier):
HighLevelInputs:75db below ratedoutput.
LowLevel Inputs:76db below10MV input; equiv-
alent tolessthan1.5microvoltsat input.
POWERAMPLIFIER:90db below rated output.
TAPEOUTPUT:Tuner1.5volts, otherinputs300MVat
ratedsensitivity,1.3volts with 10 MVatphonoinput.
BASSCONTROLS:±1 8dbat20cycles,with friction
clutchfor independentadjustmentforeach channel.
TREBLECONTROLS: ±18dbat 20,000cycleswith
frictionclutchfor independentadjustmentofeach
channel.
TAPE MONITORSWITCH: NormalorTape Monitor,
indicatorlamplightsin "Monitor" position.
SPEAKERSWITCH:SpeakersONorOFFfor head-
phonelistening.
FILTER:Flator5,000cycleand60cyclecutoffat12db
peroctave.
LOUDNESSSWITCH: Normalor compensated.
HEADPHONEJACK:Forlow impedance stereo head-
phones.
INPUTSELECTOR:6 positions;AUX,TAPE,TUNER,
PHONO1,PHONO2,TAPEHD.
MODESELECTOR:Two positions;Mono-Stereo
SEMICONDUCTORCOMPLEMENT:
Preamplifier16SiliconTransistors
PowerAmplifier1 8 SiliconTransistors
12 Diodes
FMTUNER
8Tubes,4 Transistors,10 Diodes
PowerSupply8 Rectifiers
1ZenerDiode,1 Transistor
POWERREQUIREMENTS:1 1 7 volts, AC,50/60cycles,
70-270watts
MECHANICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
SIZE:Front panel,16incheswideby5½inches high;
Chassis,15incheswideby5
1/8incheshighby14½
inchesdeep,including connectors. Clearanceinfront
of mounting panel includingknobs,1½inches.
WEIGHT:34poundsnet,47poundsin
shippingcarton.
FINISH:FrontPanel,Anodizedgoldandblack.
3

CABINETINSTALLATION
TheMAC1700canbe installedin furniture cabinets,orcustom
built installations.Iftheunitistobeusedona shelfor table
top, mountitinthe attractiveMAC15WO cabinet.
Allow sufficient cabinet spaceforair circulation. Minimum
internal cabinet dimensions shouldbe15
7/16 inches wide,
135/8 inchesdeep,and4¼ incheshigh.Thebackofthe
cabinet shouldbeleftasopenas possiblefor ventilation.
Properventilationwill insureyour receivera long troublefree
life.A fanto circulatetheairwill further increasethelifeof
your receiver.
TheMAC1700installseasilyfromthe frontofthe cabinetinto
a panelcutout.Frontpanelsofanythicknesscanbeused.
Fourscrewsintothe bottomoftheMAC1700 throughthe
mountingshelfholdtheunit firmlyin place.Duetothe weight
of theMAC1700werecommendtheunitrestona wooden
shelfofatleast ½"thickness.UnlesstheMAC1700isade-
quatelyheldin place verticalmountingshouldnotbeat-
tempted.If verticalmountingisuseda fan delivering50
cubicfeetperminutemustbeused.
SincetheMAC1700mustrestona shelf, locatethecutout
fromthebackofthe panel.A templatetohelpyoumake
mountingeasyisinthepacketthatcontainstheownersmanual.
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1Onthebackofthecabinetpanel,scribea vertical
line throughthe exactcenteroftheareatobe
cutout.
2Placethe template againstthebackofthe panel.
Matchthe template centerline withthescribed
centerline.Thebottomofthe templatemustreston
theshelf.
3Oneachsideofthe centerline ofthe template
there are twoholesmarkedll B."These are the
"LOCATINGHOLES."Theseholes are usedto
locatethe front paneloftheMAC1700withref-
erencetotheshelfbehindthecabinetpanel.Toin-
suretheMAC1700willrestonthe cabinetshelf,
followtheseinstructionscarefully.
4Markthebackofthe cabinetpanelwith a pointed
instrument through thetwo"B"LOCATINGHOLES.
Drillthese two holesthroughthecabinetpanelwith
a3 /16"diameter drill.Be certainthe drillisper-
pendiculartothe panel.
5Positionthe templateonthe frontofthe panel.
Alignthe"C"holesinthe templatewiththedrilled
holesinthecabinetpanel.
6Markthe"A"cornercutouts in the template.Join
thecornermarkers.Theedgeofthe templatecan
be usedasa straightedge.
7Cutoutthe rectangular opening.
8Taketheshelf templateandfold alongthe dotted
line.Putthe dottedline againstthebackofthe
frontmounting panel. Alignthecenterlineofthe
shelf templatewiththescribed front panelcenter-
line.
9Markholes"A"and"B." Drilltheholesusinga
¼"to ½"bit.The largeryoumaketheholesthe
more latitudeyouwillhaveto positiontheMAC
1700.
10 Scribethesuggestedcutout outline.Cutoutthe
area.
11 PreparetheMAC1700formounting by removing
thefourplasticfeet fastened underthechassis.
12 TheMAC1700is installedfromtheFRONTofthe
cabinet.InserttheMAC1700powercord through
the rectangular openingofthe cabinet panel.
CarefullyslidetheMAC1 700 through theopening.
ContinuetoslidetheMAC1700 until itsfrontpanel
is againstthecabinetmounting panel.
13 SecuretheMAC1700tothemountingshelfusing
thescrews supplied inthe hardware package.
14 ConnecttheMAC1700totherestofthesystem.
6

INSTALLATION
CONNECTIONSTOYOURMAC17OO
CONNECTINGTHEPHONO1 POSITIONforyourmainrecord player
Connect the "left"channel to the "L" input of PH 1. Connect
the "right"channeltothell R" input ofPH1.Ifyour record
playerhasa groundwireconnectthe groundwiretoGND.
CONNECTINGTHE PHONO2 POSITION
Phono2 positioncanbeusediftwo recordplayersareusedin
asystem.Connectthe "left"channeltothe"L" input ofPH2.
Connectthe"right" channeltothe"R" inputofPH2.
CONNECTINGTAPEPLAYER(no preamplifierintape player)
Usethispositiononlyfora tapedeckwithno electronics. Con-
nectthe "left"channeltothe"L" input ofTAPEHD.Connect
the "right" channeltothe"R" input ofTAPEHD.
CONNECTINGA TAPERECORDERorTAPEPLAYERwith BUILT-INELECTRONICS
Connectthe "left"channelofthetape playerortaperecorder
to the"L"channelTAPEMONITOR input.Connectthe "right"
channelofthetape playerortaperecordertothe"R"channel
TAPEMONITOR input.
CONNECTINGA TAPERECORDERWITHTHREEHEADS
ConnectthetapeoutputsoftheMAC1700tothehighlevel
inputsonthetape recorder.Thiswillmakeitpossibleforyouto
recordfromtheMAC1700.Connectthetape recorderoutputs
to theTAPEMONinputsontheMAC1700.UseTAPEMON . . .
In forlisteningto pre-recordedtapesaswellastomonitor.
CONNECTINGA TAPERECORDERTORECORDFROMTHEMAC1700
ConnecttheTAPEOUTPUTSoftheMAC1700tothehighlevel
inputsonthetape recorder.
7

CONNECTINGLOUDSPEAKERSTOTHEMAC1700
The "Left"loudspeakerwires are connectedtothe two center
screwsonthe barrierstripmarked"LEFTOUTPUT".The "Right"
loudspeakerwiresareconnectedtothetwocenterscrewsonthe
barrierstripmarked"RIGHTOUTPUT".TheMAC1700 auto-
maticallymatchestheimpedance.
ANTENNACONNECTIONS
AconvenientflexibleindoorFM dipole(300ohm)antennaissupplied
withtheMAC1 700.Thisantennaiseasytoinstall.Itissuitable for good
FM receptioninhighsignal areas.
Connectthetwoleadsofthedipoleantennatothetwoterminalsmarked
"300"onthebackpaneloftheMAC1700.
Theflexibilityofthethickflatwireletsyoueasilylocatethedipolebehind
theequipment.Openthedipoleintoa "T."Extendthearmsasstraight
as possible.The dipole antennaissomewhat directional.Itshouldbe
positionedforbestreceptionofthedesiredstations.
IMPORTANT
OUTDOORFMANTENNA
An outdoorFMantennaisrecommended.
It willgiveyouthebest receptionunder
all conditions.In fringe areas,a highly
directionalantennausedwitha rotator
willgivethefinestpossibleFMreception.
Rotatetheantenna until itpointsinthe
directionofthestationor until itreceives
thebestpossiblesignal.
75 OHMANTENNA
An unbalanced75ohmFMantennacan
be usedwiththeMAC 1700.Usethetwo
terminals marked75.
8
Keepthe dipoleawayfrom large metal
objectsorsurfaces.They interfere with
theefficiencyofthe antenna.
MUTING(ontherearpanel)
This controldeterminesthestrengthof
signalnecessaryfora stationtobe heard
withthetunerinthemutingposition.The
muting threshold is carefully adjustedto
optimumatthe factoryusingprecision
test instrument.Casualadjustmentofthe
mutingthresholdisnotrecommended.
AC OUTLETS
There are two BLACKACoutletsand
oneREDAC outlet.Thepowertothe
blackACoutletsis controlledbythe
front panelswitch.Usetheseoutlets
foraccessoriessuchasa tapere-
corder.Thered receptacle isonatall
timesandisusedfora turntableor
record changer.The turntableispro-
tectedbythis arrangement.Itisnec-
essarytoturnoffthe turntableorrec-
ordchangerbyitsownACswitch.
ConnecttheACcordfromyourrecord
playertotheRED outlet.

9

10

SETTINGYOUR CONTROLS...
astereosystem
ADJUSTINGPHASE
1SettheMONOSTEREOswitchtoMONO.
The performanceand enjoymentofyour stereosystem increaseswhenthesys-
temis balanced.Therearetwo factorsin balancing.Oneis unequal program
loudness ontheleftand right channelsofthe program source.The otherisbasic
system balance.The controlmarked BALANCEontheMAC1700isusedtocor-
rectbothofthese problems.
First balancethe system.Therearemany things which affectthe balanceof
your system:room acoustics, furniture placement,room shape, small differences
in loudspeakers,etc.
TO BALANCE SYSTEM
1Setthe stereomonoswitchtoMONO.
2Playa familiar recording.
3Turnthebalancecontroltothe1 2 o'clock position.
4 Whilethe programis playing, standinthecenterofthetwo
loudspeakers.Listentoseeif thereisa differencein loudness
fromeither speaker.The sound shouldcomefroma pointmid-
way betweenthe speakers.Ifit does not,turnthe controlto-
wardthe speakerthatisnotasloudasthe other.Do this until
youfindthe point wherethe soundcomesfromthe mid-point
betweenthe speakers.Ifitis impossibletogetthe soundto
comefromthe mid-pointgoonto ADJUSTINGPHASE. After
youhave adjustedthe phaseyoucan startthe balancingpro-
cedureoveragain.
2 Stand about10feetin frontofandmidway betweenyour
loudspeakers.The sound should appeartobe directlyin front
of you.Have someone switchthe leadsononespeaker.Besure
to switchthe leadsonONE speaker only.Ifthe soundisnot
directlyin frontofyou reversethe leadsonone loudspeaker.
Whenthe soundcomesfromthe mid-point betweenthe
speakerstheyarein phase.
15

YOUR SYSTEM
LISTENINGTOA STEREORECORD
LISTENINGTO MONOPHONICRECORDS
LISTENINGTOTAPEDECKS
LISTENINGTOA STEREOTAPERECORDER
WITHITSOWNPLAYBACKPREAMPLIFIER
LISTENINGTOA STEREOTAPERECORDER
USINGA TAPERECORDERWITHTHREEHEADS
ANDSEPARATEPLAYBACKPREAMPLIFIER
MONITORINGWHILERECORDING
1TurntheINPUTSELECTORtoPHONO1 orPHONO2,which-
everisconnectedtothe record playeryouwishto hear.
2SettheMONOSTEREOswitchtoSTEREO.
3AdjusttheVOLUMEcontroltothedesired volume.
1TurntheINPUTSELECTORTOPHONO1,orPHONO2,which-
everisconnectedtothe record playeryouwishto hear.
2TurntheSTEREOMONOswitchtoMONO.
3AdjusttheVOLUMEcontroltothedesiredvolume.
1TurntheINPUTSELECTORtoTAPEHD.
2TurntheSTEREOMONOswitchtoSTEREO.Ifa mono tape,
turnthe balance controltothesideyouwantto hear.
3AdjusttheVOLUMEcontroltothe desired volume.
Astereotope recorderwithitsown playback preamplifiershould
be pluggedintheAUXINPUT . . . NOTTHETAPEHD.INPUT.
TheAUXinputisused-
1TurntheINPUTSELECTORTOAUX.
2SwitchtheSTEREOMONOswitchtoSTEREOorMONO de-
pendingontheprogramonthetape.
3AdjusttheVOLUMEcontroltothedesiredvolume.
To listentotapesconnectyourtaperecordertotheTAPEMON
inputsontherearoftheMAC 1700.
1SwitchTAPEMONto "IN."
7SwitchtheSTEREOMONOswitchtoSTEREOMONOdepend
ingontheprogramonthetape.
3AdjusttheVOLUMEcontroltothe desired volume.
To monitor while recordingyourtape recordermusthavesep-
arate recordand playbackheadsaswellas separate playback
preamplifiers.TheTAPEMONOswitchletsyoumonitorthequality
of tape recordingmadefromtheMAC1700 duringtheprocess
of recording.WhentheTAPEMONOswitchisintheIN position
it willplaythesoundfromthetapeasitpassesthe playback
head,a moment afteritis recorded.Therecordingprocesscon-
tinuesasusual.WhentheswitchisintheOUTpositionnormal
programfromthesourceisheard.
BE122003
038-210
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