McIntosh MA6600 User Manual

Page 9

Spade lug or prepared wire connection:

Insert the spade lug connector or prepared section

of the cable end into the terminal side access hole,

and tighten the terminal cap until the cable is firmly

clamped into the terminal so the wires cannot slip

out. Refer to figures 4, 5 & 6.

Banana plug connection:

Insert the banana plug into the hole at the top of the

terminal. Refer to figures A and B.

Note: Banana Plugs are for use in the United States

and Canada only.

3. Connect the Loudspeaker hookup cables from a single

Loudspeaker to the output terminals that match the im-

pedance of the Loudspeaker

, being careful to observe

the correct polarities. Output impedance connections

of 2 ohms, 4 ohms and 8 ohms are provided. If the

Loudspeaker’s impedance is in-between the available

connections, use the nearest lower impedance connec-

tion.

WARNING: Loudspeaker terminals are hazardous live

and present a risk of electric shock.

4. Connect the MA6600 Power Cord to a live AC outlet.

Caution: The supplied AC Power Cord should not be

connected to the Rear Panel of the MA6600

Amplifier until after the Loudspeaker Connec-

tions have been made. Failure to observe this

could result in Electric Shock. For additional

instruction on making Loudspeaker Connec-

tions contact your McIntosh Dealer or McIn-

tosh Technical Support.

When connecting Loudspeakers to the MA6600 it is very

important to use cables of adequate size, so there is little to

no power loss in the cables. The size is specified in Gauge

Numbers or AWG (American Wire Gauge). The smaller

the Gauge number, the larger the wire size:

Refer to the Connection Diagram located on the sepa-

rate folded sheet “Mc1B” when making Loudspeaker

Connections to the MA6600. This an example of a typical

audio system, your system may vary from this, however

the actual Loudspeakers would be connected in a similar

manner.

1. This McIntosh MA6600 Integrated Amplifier is de-

signed for the connection of a single Loudspeaker per

amplifier channel, with an impedance of 2 ohms, 4

ohms or 8 ohms.

Note: The remaining Loudspeaker Terminals on the

Amplifier should not be connected to another

Loudspeaker.

2. Prepare the Loudspeaker Hookup Cables that attach to

the Amplifier by choosing one of the methods below:

Bare wire cable ends:

Carefully remove sufficient insulation from the

cable ends,

refer to

figures 1,

2 & 3. If

the cable is

stranded,

carefully

twist the strands together as tightly as possible.

Note: If desired, the twisted ends can be tinned with

solder to keep the strands together, or attach spade

lug and/or banana connector.

How to Connect

Connecting Loudspeakers

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Loudspeaker Cable Distance vs Wire Gauge Guide

Loudspeaker

Impedance

25 feet

(7.62 meters)

or less

50 feet

(15.24 meters)

or less

100 feet

(30.48 meters)

or less

2 Ohms

12AWG

10AWG

8AWG

4 Ohms

14AWG

12AWG

10AWG

8 Ohms

16AWG

14AWG

12AWG

For the best performance it is important to minimize an im-

pedance mismatch. An impedance mismatch can occur when

a Loudspeaker of a given impedance rating is connected to

the MA6600 Output Terminals with a different impedance

rating. For example, a Loudspeaker with an impedance rating

of 2 Ohm is connected the MA6600 8 Ohm Output Termi-

nals. The impedance of a Loudspeaker actually varies 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.