The McIntosh MC7106 is a six-channel power amplifier designed for high-quality audio reproduction, particularly suited for "McIntosh Quality" Home Theater systems or multi-zone audio setups. It embodies McIntosh's dedication to "Quality" and "Classic McIntosh" design, ensuring thousands of hours of musical enjoyment and legendary reliability.
Function Description
The MC7106 is a versatile power amplifier capable of delivering power to loudspeakers in various configurations. It can operate as:
- Six separate 100-watt channels into 8 ohms (160 watts into 4 ohms).
- Four 100/160-watt channels and one 320-watt bridged channel (8 ohms).
- Two 100/160-watt channels and two 320-watt bridged channels (8 ohms).
- Three 320-watt bridged channels (8 ohms).
When used in a McIntosh Home Theater System with McIntosh HT Series 4-ohm impedance loudspeakers, the MC7106 can deliver a total of 960 watts of power.
Each of the six direct-coupled channels is designed to deliver a Peak Output Current of 25 amperes, making it compatible with a wide variety of loudspeakers. The amplifier incorporates the McIntosh POWER GUARD circuit, which prevents output clipping and its associated harsh and damaging distortion.
The MC7106 is Home THX® Audio licensed by Lucasfilm Ltd., meeting specialized THX requirements for reproducing Dolby Surround movie soundtracks. It features a rear panel 25-pin connector for a computer-type cable, allowing it to accept all six audio channels and AC power control information from a McIntosh C39 or MX 130 Audio/Video Control Center. These control centers include built-in Dolby Pro Logic™ decoding circuits and can be converted to Home THX® Audio with the add-on McIntosh THX-M module.
Usage Features
The MC7106 is designed for maximum user-friendliness.
Front Panel Controls and Indicators:
- LED Electronic Power Level Indicators: These displays show the percentage of maximum power output for all six channels.
- Power Guard Indicators: The top LED for each channel lights up when the Power Guard circuit is activated, indicating that the amplifier is protecting itself from overdrive and clipping. This activation occurs at output levels well above the rated power due to McIntosh's conservative design.
- Automatic Dimming: The LED power level displays automatically dim as room lights dim.
- "Classic McIntosh" Design: The front panel is all glass with lighted nomenclature.
Rear Panel Features and Connections:
- POWER (ON, OFF/REMOTE) Switch:
- ON: Turns the MC7106 AC power on.
- OFF/REMOTE: Allows the amplifier's AC power to be turned on by a control signal from a McIntosh Control Center via the 25-conductor THX connector or the POWER CONTROL IN connector.
- MODE (NORMAL/BRIDGED) Switches (for each pair of channels):
- NORMAL: For separate channel operation.
- BRIDGED: For connecting two channels together for bridged operation. When in BRIDGED mode, only the Top RED terminals are used, and speakers with an impedance of 8 ohms or higher should be used.
- INPUTS (1-6): RCA inputs for connecting cables from a preamplifier, control center, or other accessory outputs.
- LEVEL Controls (1-6): These controls adjust the input sensitivity. They should be set fully clockwise to the THX (1 volt) reference position when using the amplifier with a McIntosh C39 or MX130 Control Center adapted for the Home THX® Audio System. For other audio systems, they can be set as desired.
- DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS (MAX/OFF) Control: A flush-mounted screwdriver control to adjust the brightness of the front panel power level LED displays when the room is darkened. Turning it fully counterclockwise turns the displays completely off.
- THX® INPUT: A shielded 25-conductor Subminiature "D" male-to-female computer-type cable connects from a McIntosh C39 or MX130 to this input, supplying all six output signals for surround sound and AC power control signals.
- OUTPUTS (1-6) and BRIDGED OUTPUTS: Speaker output terminals. For separate channel operation, the Hot lead of a loudspeaker connects to the + (Plus) RED upper terminal, and the Common lead to the - (Minus) BLACK lower terminal. For BRIDGED operation, the Hot lead connects to the + (Plus) RED upper BRIDGED terminal of Channel 1 (or 3 or 5), and the Common lead connects to the - (Minus) RED upper BRIDGED terminal of Channel 2 (or 4 or 6).
- POWER CONTROL, IN/OUT: 1/8 inch mini phone plugs for control signals. The IN connector receives a control signal to turn the MC7106 AC power on/off. The OUT jack feeds the same control signal to another accessory component.
- AC POWER CORD: Connects to a live 50/60Hz, 120-volt AC wall outlet. It should not be connected to an AC outlet on the rear panel of a Preamplifier or Control Center.
- 15A 250V (Fuse): For protection against fire hazard.
Installation:
The MC7106 can be placed upright on a table or shelf using its four plastic feet, or custom-installed in a cabinet. Adequate ventilation is crucial for extending the life of the instrument. A minimum of 1-1/2 inches (3.8cm) above the heat sink area is recommended for air flow. The minimum depth for mounting, including connector clearance, is 20 inches (51cm) behind the front mounting panel, and 1 inch (2.54cm) clearance is required in front.
Maintenance Features
McIntosh products are designed for easy maintenance and incorporate several protection circuits to ensure reliability and prevent damage.
Protection Circuits:
- SENTRY MONITOR Circuit: This circuit senses the dynamic operating time, voltage, and current of the output stage and controls it to safe operating limits. It prevents destructive current levels if a short circuit or very low load impedance is connected to the outputs, without compromising sonic performance.
- THERMAL CONTROL: The amplifier uses highly efficient circuits and large heat sinks for safe cool operation through natural convection air flow. If cooling air is blocked or the operating temperature becomes too high, thermal cutout switches will turn off the speakers on affected channels. The POWER GUARD indicators will light continuously to show thermal protection is active. Speakers will turn back on once the problem is corrected and the amplifier cools down.
- DIRECT CURRENT FAILURE PROTECTION: A circuit turns off the speakers if a DC voltage appears at the output terminals of any of the six channels, preventing possible speaker damage. This protection is applied only to the affected pair of channels.
- POWER GUARD Circuit: This unique patented McIntosh circuit eliminates clipping by monitoring input and output waveforms. If an amplifier channel is overdriven beyond its maximum distortion-free output, a difference in waveforms will be detected. When this difference exceeds 0.3%, the amber POWER GUARD indicator lights. If the difference continues to increase, the circuit controls an electronic attenuator at the amplifier channel input to reduce gain, preventing further distortion increase. This ensures the amplifier always delivers its maximum distortion-free output without harsh and damaging clipping distortion.
Service Contract:
McIntosh Laboratory provides a Three Year Service Contract to the original purchaser, covering parts, materials, and labor for defects. Service must be performed by a McIntosh authorized service agency. The contract is non-transferable and does not cover units operated outside the United States and Canada.
General Maintenance:
- Cleaning: Clean the instrument by dusting with a dry cloth. The panel can be cleaned with a cloth moistened with a window cleaner.
- Nonuse Periods: Unplug the power cord from the AC power outlet if the unit will be left unused for a long period.
- Fuse Replacement: For continued protection against fire hazard, replace the 15A 250V SLO BLO fuse only with the same type.
The MC7106 is built with a design philosophy that emphasizes linear amplification, using selected transistors with nearly constant current gain and high current-bandwidth product. Precision metal film resistors, low dielectric absorption film capacitors, and premium audio grade electrolytics are used in critical circuit locations to ensure exceedingly low voltage coefficients and overall high performance.
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