r/audiorepair • u/Perfect-Part-9663 • 7m ago
McIntosh CR16->MC58 bridged!!
Hello all, I am trying to run one MC58 in bridge mode from a CR16 and cannot get the bridged speakers to play. I would like help to confirm the correct wiring for this combination.
Equipment:
CR16 multizone controller
MC58, all four pairs set to Bridge, intended as four bridged channels
Zone 1: MC275, not using the MC58
Zones 2 and 3: two B&W AM-1s each, so each zone needs two bridged MC58 channels
Zone 4: no speakers
Sources: MP100 on AUX, MB50 on CD2
Trigger chain currently: CR16 to MP100 to MC58 to MC275, using 1/8-inch power control
7-pin DIN from the CR16 multi-channel DIN, the jack beside the DB25, to the MC58 MULTI-ROOM jack
DB25 is not connected
Audio is on the odd RCA inputs: 1, 3, 5, and 7
MC58 rear switch is Remote, front power switch is on.
What the MC58 actually does:
CR16 Zone 2 on lights only the 3/4 pair
CR16 Zone 3 on lights only the 5/6 pair
CR16 Zone 4 on lights the 7/8 pair, even though Zone 4 has no audio output connected
CR16 Zone 1 on does not light the 1/2 pair. Zone 1 audio goes to the MC275 only
With the DIN unplugged, the logo comes on at startup but no pair lamps light, including with the 1/8-inch trigger connected
Result: a bridged stereo zone needs two powered pairs, but each CR16 zone enables only one pair, and 1/2 never enables. The bridged speakers have no sound.
Any thoughts are appreciated as I can’t get this to work. Incidentally, all the equipment is in a front load only audio rack so it’s quite difficult to remove and readjust..

