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My new Mac!!!

J

Jmca1

New Member
So after picking everyones brain I finally went with the MA 6600 and I am enjoying it thus far. I do have a few questions:


1. The power guard light seems to be coming on on the left channel at a low volume and flashing, but not all the time. Not on all recordings. Is it normal for it to be on one channel and at a low volume? Is this something to be worried about

2. My Sonus Faber Grand Piano Domus are 4 ohms according to the distributors website. Are they best hooked to the 4 ohm taps or what is the consensus?

3. The bass seems a bit anemic. Might this have something to do with whichever taps I have it hooked up to? My bass seems to be missing quite a bit

I really appreciate everyones feedback. Glad I finally got a Mac of my own! hopefully I can get this addressed and spend the rest of the weekend listening and not doting. LOL

James
 
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I am far from an expert but i would say ..........

Jmca1 said:
1. The power guard light seems to be coming on on the left channel at a low volume and flashing, but not all the time. Not on all recordings. Is it normal for it to be on one channel and at a low volume? Is this something to be worried about
Click to expand...

I would say that is odd...... I have never seen mine come on and i listen at ridiculous levels.

Jmca1 said:
2. My Sonus Faber Grand Piano Domus are 4 ohms according to the distributors website. Are they best hooked to the 4 ohm taps or what is the consensus?
Click to expand...

I would say hook them to the 4 ohm tap.

Jmca1 said:
3. The bass seems a bit anemic. Might this have something to do with whichever taps I have it hooked up to? My bass seems to be missing quite a bit
Click to expand...

Are these new speakers? have you heard them with other amps? are they known for good bass? i was able to get rid of my powered subwoofer with my amp and speaker combo so i doubt it is the amp - if it is working properly.

i hope it works out for you.
 
I believe you will gradually really appreciate the features and power of the MA6600. It is a cool operator with high reserve current output.

No, the Power Guard lights should not be coming on at low volumes. Have you talked to your dealer or Chuck Hinton at McIntosh?

The 4 ohm tab is the correct position. This provides more current to your speakers which improves efficiency and the Mc can easily handle the additional current.

Bass, believe you need to make an accessment of your speakers. It could be placement.
 
Sonus Fabers aren't known to be short of bass. Check to make sure you have the phase correct and check for shorts if you are using bare wire.
 
Thanks everyone for your comments thus far. I'm going to troubleshoot the system later today, swapping the interconnects from side to side and see if it's my source first, and then take it from there. It did seem a bit odd to me.

Hopefully its not the amp. That monster was WAAAAAAY too heavy to move again so soon. Carrying it up to my apartment was the least fun i've had in some time.

Ill keep everyone posted

James
 
So I did some more trouble shooting and found another interesting thing that may or may not be relevant.

All sources at above 50% volume have bleed through of the original source. Other than that, the system is still having issues, and im noticing, though I cannot be sure, that even when Power Guard is not coming on, the system is audibly distorting.

I put an email into Mac and the person I bought it from and we are going to take it from there. I have to say, im dreading getting this thing down from the 5th floor of my 5th floor walkup lol
 
I am sorry to hear you are having problems with your new purchase.
As far as using the 4ohm tabs, Yes! thats what they are there for.
Another poster mentioned making sure the speaker cables are hooked up
in phase. Did you do that? Also, some speakers dont have much bass
when playing a low levels. They have to be cranked up to get better bass
response. I hope some of this info helps and there is a simple answere to
your dilema. It kinda quenches the excitement of getting a new amp..
 
Hi AudioSOul,

Thanks for responding. The speakers are definitely in phase, i swapped the positive and negative to be sure, and the swapping caused the sound to get very diffuse and typical out of phase sounding.

Regarding the bass at low levels, I am the first owner of the Sonuses and know their sound well. I know i'd likely have to tweak placement based on new component's but no bass? Very unlike them, Ive had them for almost 5 years. My K-Player ive had for about two now. I know this system and swapping the Mac in just doesn't sound right, plus there is something wrong with the left channel, im 100% sure of it at this juncture.

Ive emailed my seller and Binghamton and waiting to see the outcome
 
Jmca1 said:
So I did some more trouble shooting and found another interesting thing that may or may not be relevant.

All sources at above 50% volume have bleed through of the original source. Other than that, the system is still having issues, and im noticing, though I cannot be sure, that even when Power Guard is not coming on, the system is audibly distorting.

I put an email into Mac and the person I bought it from and we are going to take it from there. I have to say, im dreading getting this thing down from the 5th floor of my 5th floor walkup lol
Click to expand...

WOW 200 watts in an apartment complex - i wish i had thought of that when my upstairs neighbor bough his treadmil.
 
Yeah, I don't play loud surprisingly that often. Our downstairs neighbors make enough noise that every so often they need to hear some Tom Waits to realize I still have a screw loose. I am thinking of getting a sub too. Maybe downward firing :yes:

Had they seen me carrying that beast up the five flights without help, I think they would finally get that i'm not well :D


The good news is I live on the top floor. When it comes to high-end AV, this is also a bad thing.
 
Does it power guard with your speaker wires disconnected from the 6600? Defective cables, poor connections and broken speakers will all cause the power guard to activate. You have a problem for sure.

Thanks,
Ron-C
 
I will check that Ron, I didn't do that. Thank you. Ill post later today or tomorrow with the answer.

Thanks for reading and getting back to me.

This is one of those reasons i've always lusted after Mac; they care about the product once it's left the factory. How many other mfr's are on here checking and answering questions?



James
 
Hi Ron,

So I disconnected the speaker wire from the left channel as requested. The power guard still came on.

They were factory terminated bananas with shrink tubing, so the odds of a rogue scrap of wire coming out is low. They look as good as when i bought them a few years ago?

Any further suggestions? I'd be happy to try some more if you have anything else for me to try

James
 
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