McIntosh Laboratory Showcases New Powerhouse Amplifier

Double-Balanced MC1201 Delivers 1200 Watts

31-May-01

McIntosh Laboratory, a world leader in home entertainment systems for over 50 years, showcased the MC1201 Power Amplifier at Home Entertainment 2001 at the Hilton New York Hotel.The MC1201 is amplifier that delivers 1200 watts into 2, 4, or 8 ohms, and offers both balanced and single-ended inputs. Featuring a double balanced, push-pull design, the MC1201 is fully balanced, from input to speaker output. In the MC1201, two matched amplifiers with complementary balanced circuitry operate in a push-pull configuration with their outputs. This double balanced design successfully cancels virtually any distortion. The Output Autoformer provides the proper matching for 2-, 4- and 8-ohm loads, and protects speakers from damage in the event of an output transistor failure. It provides low distortion power transfer at frequencies well beyond human hearing, and delivers peak output current in excess of 200 amperes.The principal behind the design of the MC1201 is to arrange every stage of voltage or current amplification to be as linear as possible. This is accomplished through the use of several techniques. For example, each transistor is selected to have nearly constant current gain (Beta) over that transistor's entire range of currents, and the load impedance presented to each amplification stage is as uniform as possible for all signal levels. Resistors and capacitors in the signal path are carefully selected to have exceedingly low voltage coefficients. In addition, precision metal film resistors and low dielectric absorption film capacitors are used in all critical circuit locations. The MC1201 incorporates several protection circuits to enhance performance, guarantee reliability, and protect loudspeakers. McIntosh's exclusive Power Guard circuit assures that each channel delivers full power, free of clipping distortion, and protects speakers from damage. Thermal power sensors turn off the speaker output when improper loading or ventilation causes the amplifier to overheat. McIntosh's exclusive Sentry Monitor senses dynamic operating time, voltage, and current of the amplifier output stage, confines it to nondestructive limits, without limiting the available power output from the amplifier. Thermistors in the power transformer primarily cushion the inrush current and eliminate component stress when the amplifier is turned on. Additionally, amplifier operation is delayed for two seconds after power turn-on. This prevents pops or thumps generated in other equipment from causing component or loudspeaker damage. The power supply is electronically regulated to maintain stable operation, even during low voltage brownouts.Additional features that distinguish the MC2101 include:- Famous McIntosh blue illuminated meter to monitor power output in watts- Remote power control- Gold-plated input and output jacks- Gold-plated five-way binding posts- 93dB (unbalanced), 97dB (balanced) ìAî weighted signal-to-noise ratio - Damping factor is greater than 100 with 8-ohm loadThe MC1201 Power Amplifier is available now at a suggested price of $7,500.For more information about McIntosh Laboratory, visit www.mcintoshlabs.com.

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