McIntosh C-29 (1978 - 1985)

McIntosh engineers could not be content with another preamplifier

New concepts, new technology has produced a preamplifier that gives you flexibility.

The McIntosh C29 is the quietest, most flexible - easiest to use, most advanced stereo preamplifier with the lowest distortion

FACILITIES AND FEATURES

BASS CONTROLS

Separate 11 position rotary switches for each channel, +20 dB to -20 dB at 20 Hz

TREBLE CONTROLS

Separate 11 position rotary switches for each channel, +18 dB to -18 dB at 20,000 Hz

BALANCE CONTROL

Natural balance at center position, attenuation of left or right channel by rotating control

PRECISE TRACKING VOLUME CONTROL

A precision step volume control with left to right tracking accuracy within 1 dB through its entire range.

SIX SOURCE INPUT SELECTOR

Auxiliary 1 and 2, TUNER, PHono 1 and 2, MICrophone

MODE SELECTOR

Seven positions: Left channel only to both speakers, Right channel only to both speakers, Stereo Reverse, Stereo, Mono, L + R to left speaker only, and L + R to right speaker only

TAPE MONITOR SWITCHES

Two pushbutton switches. Either of two tape recorders can be monitored by selecting the TAPE 1 pushbutton or TAPE 2 pushbutton.

They are mechanically interlocked to accept only one pushbutton at the IN position at one time.

TAPE COPY SWITCHES

Two pushbutton switches. Either of two tape recorders can be connected to copy from tape recorder 1 to tape recorder 2 or vice versa.

They are mechanically interlocked to accept only one pushbutton at the IN position at one time.

LF - HF FILTERS

Reduce unwanted high frequency noise (above 7 kHz) and low frequency rumble etc. (below 50 Hz) at 12 dB per octave rate.

FRONT PANEL TAPE JACKS

Allows connection to input and output of a tape recorder from the front panel. Inserting plugs into the front panel jacks disconnects the TAPE 2 circuits from the rear panel and uses the TAPE 2 facilities for the front panel jacks.

HEADPHONE JACK

For listening with either low or high impedance dynamic stereo headphones. Power to this jack is supplied by an amplifier in the C 29. Headphone listening can be accomplished without the use of an external power amplifier.

SPEAKER SWITCHES

(Operates with accessory speaker control relay) Turn Two sets of speakers on or off when properly interconnected with the accessory speaker control relay (the McIntosh SCR 2).

MAIN OUTPUT LEVEL CONTROLS

Permits the balance of the entire system to be conveniently preset.

HEADPHONE & LINE OUTPUT LEVEL CONTROLS

Adjusts the level and balance of the HEADPHONE/LINE output.

YOU CHOOSE FROM EIGHT DIFFERENT PROGRAM SOURCES

The input switch selects from six different sources or you can choose to listen to either of two tape recorders at the push of a button.

PRECISION STEP ATTENUATOR VOLUME CONTROL

Ideal volume control tracking accuracy and noise free performance are two of the considerable benefits of the McIntosh Precision Step Attenuator. It is a thirty-two step, 70 dB range control with unheard of tracking accuracy within 1 dB. The extreme accuracy is obtained through special electronically controlled resistance element trimming. The accuracy and quiet operation are maintained because the switch commutator touches only the switch contact pad and not the precision resistor elements.

AUTO TURN ON/TURN OFF

Power to the entire stereo system can be controlled from either the front panel power switch or the turntable's power switch. A current sensing relay connected to the turntable AC power outlets is controlled by the turntable power switch. The relay, in turn, controls the AC power to the remainder of the system.

STEPPED TONE CONTROLS INDEPENDENT IN EACH CHANNEL

Settings are precise and repeatable in each channel, independently. Each tone control is a separate eleven position switch concentrically mounted. Each step is connected to carefully selected resistors and capacitors to give the precise frequency curve shape. Because the tone circuit component parts are not in contact with the switch surfaces, as in ordinary continuously variable rotary controls, they never change, never get noisy and provide exact, repeatability settings.

YOU ALWAYS GET THE IDEAL STEREO IMAGE

The McIntosh seven position mode selector has facilities to permit the correct balancing of a stereo system to maximize stereo imaging.

YOU CAN LISTEN AT LOW VOLUMES WITH EQUAL PLEASURE

A continuously variable loudness control lets you enjoy full frequency response and warmth of music regardless of the room volume you choose. As volume is reduced, the frequency response is adjusted to complement the human ear response characteristics, the Fletcher Munson effect.

TAPE RECORDING AND PLAYBACK MADE EASY

Tape input, tape output and switching facilities are provided for two three-head tape recorders. Simply push a button to listen to either one, or - record from any selected source on either or both, or- copy from one tape recorder to another while listening to an entirely different program. You can instantaneously monitor either tape recorder.

STEREO MICROPHONE INPUT MAKES RECORDING EASY

Microphones in stereo may be used with the C 29. By tuning the input selector to MIC the microphone set-up will be connected to either one or both of the two tape recorders connected to your system.

THE CONSTANT LOUDNESS BALANCE CONTROL

The McIntosh balance control adjusts each channel independently for stereo imaging without changing overall stereo volume in the room. While natural balance is at the center of the control; adjustment to either right or left compensates for program variations or room acoustic differences.

LISTEN TO YOUR QUIET RECORDS, QUIETLY

Any unwanted noise (hiss, rumble, fry, etc.) can be reduced with the filter switch. It allows the reduction of low frequency noise and high frequency noises (below 50 Hz and above 7 kHz).

CONTROL REMOTE LOUDSPEAKERS FROM YOUR PREAMPLIFIER

Through a unique McIntosh design, you have ON/OFF control of two separate sets of stereo speakers when used with an accessory switching relay (the McIntosh SCR 2).

PERFORMANCE

FREQUENCY RESPONSE:

+ 0 - 0.5 dB 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz

DISTORTION:

.02% maximum at rated output level, 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz

INPUT SENSITIVITY AND IMPEDANCE:

Aux, TUNER, TAPE 1, TAPE 2: 0.25 volts at 100,000 ohms;

PHono 1 and PHono 2: 2 millivolts (1,000 Hz) at 47,000 ohms and 65 pF;

Microphone: 2.5 millivolts at 10,000 ohms

HUM AND NOISE:

Aux, TUNER, TAPE 1, TAPE 2, IHFA 100 dB, unweighted: 90 dB (below rated output);

PHono 1, PHono 2 IHFA 90 dB, unweighted: 80 dB (below 10 millivolts input, equivalent to less than 1.0 microvolt at the input terminals);

Microphone, 1.5 microvolts at the input terminals.

OUTPUT LEVEL AND IMPEDANCE:

MAIN: 2.5 volts with rated input, less than 100 ohms source impedance, to operate into 10,000 ohms or greater

TAPE: 0.25 volts with rated input, less than 200 ohms source impedance, to operate into 10,000 ohms or greater

HEADPHONE/LINE: 0.75 volts into 8 ohm load or 2.5 volts into 600 ohm line, 47 ohm source inpedance, level controls provided

VOLTAGE AMPLIFICATION IN DECIBELS:

Aux, TUNER, TAPE 1 and TAPE 2

to MAIN Output: 20 dB

to TAPE Output: OdB

to HEADPHONE/LINE Output: 30 dB

PHono 1 and PHono 2 at 1 kHz

to MAIN Output: 62 dB

to TAPE Output: 42 dB

to HEADPHONE/LINE Output: 72 dB

MICrophone

to MAIN Output: 60 dB

to TAPE Output: 40 dB

to HEADPHONE/LINE Output: 70 dB

GENERAL INFORMATION

SEMICONDUCTOR COMPLEMENT

9 Integrated Circuits, 2 Transistors, 11 Silicon Diodes, 8 Light Emitting Diodes (LED), 1 Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR), 1 Dual Light Dependent Resistor Network (LDR)

POWER REQUIREMENT

120 volts, 50/60 Hz, 45 watts

MECHANICAL INFORMATION

SIZE

Front Panel measures 16 inches wide (40.6 cm) by 5 7/16 inches high (13.8 cm).

Chassis measures 14 3/4 inches wide (37.5 cm) by 4 13/16 inches high (12.2 cm) by 13 inches deep (33.0 cm), including PANLOC shelf and back panel connectors.

Knob clearance required is 1 1/4 inches (3.2 cm) in front of the mounting panel.

FINISH

Front panel is anodized gold and black with special gold/teal nomenclature illumination. Chassis is black.

MOUNTING

Exclusive McIntosh developed professional PANLOC

WEIGHT

19 pounds (8.6 kg) net, 31 pounds (14.1 kg) in shipping carton