Madrigal Audio Mark Levinson N31.5 Operating Manual

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Page 1

Operating Manual

Mark Levinson

Nº31.5

Reference

CD Transport

Madrigal Audio Laboratories, Inc.

Page 2

WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRICAL SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER. NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.

The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.

The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance.

Marking by the “CE” symbol (shown left) indicates compliance of this device with the EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) and LVD (Low Voltage Directive) standards of the European Community.

NOTICE

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment on and off, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna;

• Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver;

• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected;

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

CAUTION: Changes or modifications to this equipment not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

The information contained in the manual is subject to change without notice. The most current version of this manual will be posted on our web site at http://www.madrigal.com.

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Important Safety Instructions

Please read all instructions and precautions carefully and completely before operating your Mark Levinson component.

1. ALWAYS disconnect your entire system from the AC mains before connecting or disconnecting

any cables, or when cleaning any component.

2. This product is equipped with a three-conductor AC mains power cord which includes an

earth ground connection. To prevent shock hazard, all three connections must ALWAYS be used. If your electrical outlets will not accept this type of plug, an adapter may be purchased. If an adapter is necessary, be sure it is an approved type and is used properly, supplying an earth ground. If you are not sure of the integrity of your home electrical system, contact a licensed electrician for assistance.

3. ALWAYS keep electrical equipment out of the reach of children.

4. AC extension cords are not recommended for use with this product. If an extension cord must be used, be sure it is an approved type and has sufficient current-carrying capacity to power this product.

5. NEVER use flammable or combustible chemicals for cleaning audio components.

6. NEVER operate this product with any covers removed.

7. NEVER wet the inside of this product with any liquid.

8. NEVER pour or spill liquids directly onto this unit.

9. NEVER block air flow through ventilation slots or heatsinks.

10. NEVER bypass any fuse.

11. NEVER replace any fuse with a value or type other than those specified.

12. NEVER attempt to repair this product. If a problem occurs, contact your Mark Levinson dealer.

13. NEVER expose this product to extremely high or low temperatures.

14. NEVER operate this product in an explosive atmosphere.

15. ALWAYS unplug sensitive electronic equipment during lightning storms.

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Table of Contents

Unpacking and Placement ....................................................................... 6

Unpacking the Nº31.5 ....................................................................................... 6

Remove the Transport Screws .......................................................................... 6

Placement of the Nº31.5................................................................................... 6

Operating Voltage & Frequency ............................................................... 7

Voltage label .............................................................................................. 7

A Quick Start…............................................................................................ 8

Warm up/break-in period................................................................................. 9

Special Design Features........................................................................... 10

A New Generation .......................................................................................... 10

Digital Servo Control ........................................................................................ 10

Output Versatility .............................................................................................. 10

Industrial Design ............................................................................................... 11

Convenience Features ................................................................................... 11

Communications Links .................................................................................... 11

Setup and Installation ............................................................................... 12

Front Panel ................................................................................................. 17

Top Panel ................................................................................................... 21

CD Transport Assembly ............................................................................ 24

The Disc Damper ............................................................................................. 25

Removing the Disc Damper ........................................................................... 25

Display ....................................................................................................... 26

Display messages............................................................................................. 27

Remote Control ......................................................................................... 28

Random Play....................................................................................................29

Analog Input Switching...................................................................................30

Direct access to inputs....................................................................................31

Conditions that Affect IR Performance ......................................................... 32

Optimum IR reception window ............................................................... 33

Rear Panel ................................................................................................. 34

Basic Operation ........................................................................................ 37

Loading a CD...................................................................................................37

Temporarily overriding a previously saved program ................................... 37

Playing all tracks in order ................................................................................37

Beginning play with other than the first track............................................... 37

Replaying a track ............................................................................................ 37

Random play ................................................................................................... 38

Skipping to another track ............................................................................... 38

Searching for a passage ................................................................................. 38

Previewing a CD .............................................................................................. 38

Using indices.....................................................................................................39

Beginning play at a specific location in a track .......................................... 39

The pause function..........................................................................................39

Repeating an entire CD .................................................................................39

Repeating a track ........................................................................................... 39

Repeating a specific passage ....................................................................... 40

Inverting playback polarity ............................................................................ 40

Stopping play................................................................................................... 40

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Introduction to Programming .................................................................. 41

How the Nº31.5 remembers programs .......................................................... 41

Assembling a new program ........................................................................... 41

Delete Programming....................................................................................... 42

Advanced Programming ......................................................................... 43

Reviewing a program...................................................................................... 43

Adding a selection .......................................................................................... 43

Erasing a selection ........................................................................................... 44

Temporarily overriding a previously saved program ................................... 44

Erasing a program ........................................................................................... 44

Setting Options.......................................................................................... 45

Auto-Standby...................................................................................................47

Madrigal Communications Link.............................................................. 48

Understanding the Architecture ....................................................................48

“Linked amplifiers?” you ask ........................................................................... 49

Which Cables Go Where?.............................................................................. 50

Using the latest software ................................................................................. 51

Using Learning Remote Controls ............................................................. 52

Teaching Nº31.5 Front Panel Commands ..................................................... 52

Teaching Other Nº31.5 Commands .............................................................. 53

special commands table ........................................................................ 54

Troubleshooting ......................................................................................... 55

Care and Maintenance ........................................................................... 57

U.S. and Canadian Warranty ................................................................... 58

Limited five year warranty .............................................................................. 58

Obtaining Service ..................................................................................... 59

Specifications............................................................................................ 60

Dimensions ................................................................................................ 61

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U n pac k in g an d P l ac e m en t

Unpacking the Nº31.5 Unpack your Nº31.5 Reference CD Transport and remove all accessories from the

carton. Included with your new Mark Levinson transport is a pair of knit, white gloves designed to assist you in the initial unpacking and placement of your new purchase. Please accept them as a token of our appreciation for having purchased one of our products.

Import ant! Keep all packing materials for future transport of your Nº31.5.

Shipping your new component in anything other than its purpose-designed packing material may result in damage that is not covered by the warranty.

Remove the Transport Scre ws Protecting the finish by placing it on a soft cloth, prop up the Nº31.5 Reference

CD Transport on its side to provide ready access to the bottom of the center section. Remove the transport screws from the bottom of the unit, along with the shipping strap that holds the lid closed during transport. (Note that it is nor-

mal for the Nº31.5 lid to “float” open before power is supplied to the unit.) Save them with all the other packing materials for future use.

Remove these

screws and washers

Shipping Strap

(holds lid closed,

protects finish)

Warning! The transport screws and shipping strap must be removed

before operating the Nº31.5, since they immobilize the transport mechanism and lid during shipping to prevent damage. This strap and these screws must also be replaced before shipping the unit.

Placement of the Nº31.5 The Nº31.5 should be placed as close as possible to your digital audio processor,

thus keeping digital interconnect cabling reasonably short. It should be placed on a shelf where it is convenient to operate a nd receives good ventilation.

Be sure to allow 7 inches (18 cm) of clearance above the Nº31.5 to ensure proper operation of the lid assembly. The Nº31.5 must also be within 3° of level from front to back for optimal operation of the lid. (This translates to having the front and back edges of the Nº31.5 within about 1⁄2" or 1.2 cm o f level wi th each other.) Drawings are included in this manual to facilitate special installations and custom cabinetry (see Dimensions).

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Operating Voltage & Frequency

The Nº31.5 Reference CD Transport is set at the factory (internally) for 100V, 120V, 200V, 220V, or 240V AC mains operation as appropriate for the country in which it is to be sold. (230V/50Hz only in European Union countries, in compliance with CE regulations.) Make sure that the label on the rear of the right tower of the Nº31.5 (adjacent to the power cord) indicates the correct AC operating voltage for your location, as attempting to operate the Nº31.5 at an incorrect voltage can damage the unit.

The Nº31.5 Reference CD Transport is also set at the factory for operation on either 50 or 60 Hz AC line frequencies, as appropriate for the country in which it is to be sold. It will not operate if it senses an incorrect line frequency.

Warning! Neither the voltage nor the line frequency setting may be

changed by the user. There are no user serviceable parts inside the Nº31.5. Only qualified, authorized service personnel may open the Nº31.5 Reference CD Transport, as hazardous voltages exist within the unit.

If the AC mains voltage or frequency indicated on your Nº31.5 is incorrect, please contact your local, authorized Mark Levinson dealer or distributor.

The Nº31.5 can easily be powered by a normal 15-ampere AC mains line. If other devices are also powered from the same AC line, their additional power consumption should be taken into account.

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A Qu ic k Start…

We recognize that many people are understandably eager to begin listening to their new components, and that reading the manual is often done (if at all) at a later time—perhaps while listening to music with the new product itself. We strongly recommend that you read this manual thoroughly, as the Nº31.5 Reference CD Transport incorporates many unusual features that enhance its operation.

Fortunately, we can help you get some music up and running on your system quickly, so that you may begin enjoying your new CD transport while reading more about it. The goal here is simply to make some music as quickly as possible. The following procedure assumes that the rest of your system is already connected (e.g ., digital processor to preamplifier, to power amplifier, to speakers, etc.).

1 TURN OFF YOUR ASSOCIATED COMPONENTS

This minimizes the opportunity for a momentary electrical surge disturbing your system while making co nnections. If you have a large power am plifier, allow its power supply to fully discharge before proceeding (which may take as long as several minutes, depending on its design).

2 REMOVE THE TRANSPORT SCREWS FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE Nº31.5

If you have not done so already, remove the transport screws from the bottom of the Nº31.5 now, as per the directions on page 13. Be sure to save them and all packing material for possible future use. (Shipping the Nº31.5

without proper packing material and without the transport screws in their proper positions may cause damage to the unit that would not be covered by the warranty.)

3 CONNECT THE Nº31.5 TO AC POWER

Connect the AC cord to the Nº31.5 at the receptacle on the rear panel (right tower as seen from the front), and then to your AC outlet. Then turn on the power switch just above the AC power receptacle. (The international symbol for “on” is a single vertical line: |. “Off” is symbolized by a circle: O.) The Nº31.5 will take a few moments to initialize and will then be ready to use.

4 CONNECT A DIGITAL OUTPUT TO A MATCHING DIGITAL INPUT ON YOUR

PROCESSOR

The Nº31.5 supports a variety of types of digital outputs to ensure compatibility with any digital processor you might wish to use. These digital outputs are found on the rear of the Nº31.5. In our experience, when fully opti- mized at both en ds, the AES/EBU professional di gital interconnection standard is the finest available. Depending on your processor, however, you may find that a different interface is best in your system. It is important to use high quality digital c able such as M adrig al MDC-1 for AES/EBU (via XLRs), or MDC-2 for S/PDIF (via RCA) connections.

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5 POWER UP THE REST OF THE SYSTEM, LEAVING THE POWER AMPLIFIERS

FOR LAST

Always turn the power amplifier(s) off first, and on last. This good habit minimizes the opportunity for unexpected transients reaching your loudspeakers.

6 SELECT THE INPUTS YOU ARE USING ON YOUR DIGITAL PROCESSOR

AND PREAMPLIFIER

Take care that a Tape Monitor switch does not override your selection of the digital processor’s input on your preamplifier, or you will be struck by how “quiet” your new digital source is.…

7 LOAD A DISC AND PRESS PLAY; SLOWLY RAISE THE VOLUME ON YOUR

PREAMPLIFIER

Congratulations! You should now be able to enjoy your favorite music while reading the rest of this manual. (Please, do read the rest of this manual.)

Warm up/break-in period Although your Mark Levinson Nº31.5 Reference CD Transport delivers outstanding

performance straight out of the box, you should expect to hear it continue to improve as it reaches its normal operating temperatures and its various components “break-in.” For example, the pulse transformers* will not reach their ultimate performance until they have been driven with an actual load (meaning the digital output must be connected to something) for about 24 hours.

It has been our experience that the greatest changes occur within the first few hours as the Nº31.5 reaches thermal equilibrium. Depending on how cold the Nº31.5 was when you first connected it to AC power, full thermal equilibrium might take as long as a day or two, after which time its performance will remain quite constant.

The only exception to this rule is if power is removed from the unit for more than a few minutes, allowing it to cool down. Depending on the degree of cooling involved, you should expect a brief warm-up period before the Nº31.5’s sound quality is at its best. Unless your Nº31.5 was allowed to become quite chilled, subsequent thermal re-stabilization should not take long.

* Pulse transformers couple the internal digital circuitry to the actual connector

on the rear panel. The ones used in your Nº31.5 are costly and offer extraordinary performance. Even so, they exhibit this modest “break in” period during which they improve beyond their initial performance.

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Speci al D esi gn F eat ure s

Congratulations on your purchase of the Nº31.5 Reference CD Transport. The Madrigal design team is confident you will enjoy the outstanding performance of the Nº31.5 for many years. In case you are interested in technical details, what follows is a brief outline of some of the key technologies in your new transport.

A New Generation The characteristics of an outstanding CD transport are simple to define: it must

recover the correct data from the disc, and deliver it to the digital processor without any timing errors (sometimes called “jitter”). As simple as this sounds, achieving it in reality has been extremely difficult—as evidenced by the significant sonic differences between various CD transports.

Conventional CD transport design depends on the quality of the oscillator used to control the rate at which the disc itself spins. This oscillator exists in an extremely “noisy” electrical environment close to the motor that spins the disc. The electrical noise introduces timing errors in the delivery of the digital signal that have come to be known as “jitter.” Subsequent handling of the digital audio signal in traditional transport designs cannot improve upon this “jittery” signal, lacking a better reference. To the contrary, the various stages of signal processing between the laser pickup and the final output can only contribute additional jitter of their own .

The Mark Levinson Nº31.5 leaps beyond conventional digital audio technology by employing a proprietary, closed-loop jitter-reduction system in conjunction with a double speed CD-ROM drive. Using a custom-made, mechanically and electrically isolated crystal oscillator as a reference, the digital signal is reclocked immediately before the o utput, eliminating transport-related jitter from the digital au dio signal. This same five part-per-million crystal oscillator controls the all-digital servo used to control the rate at which the disc spins.

In effect, the design of the Nº31.5 turns the accepted status quo on its head. By placing the all-important reference clock in the final stage of the transport’s output section, and slaving the mechanical subassemblies to it rather than the other way around, the signal presented to the outputs of the Nº31.5 is uncontaminated by electrically- or mechanically-induced jitter. The sonic advantages of this design are immediately apparent in the clarity, warmth and stunning dynamic contrasts exhibited by the Nº31.5.

Digital Servo Control The laser mechanism used in the Nº31.5 uses all an digital servo control. Critical

functions such as focus and tracking are handled completely in the digital domain, with mathematical precision. Whereas conventional, analog servos may require periodic realignment for optimum performance (to compensate for the aging of variou s analog components), a digital servo remains stable over time, never needing readjustment under normal conditions.

Output Versatility The Nº31.5 supports a wide variety of digital output configurations to ensure op-

timal performance with a wide range of digital audio processors. A new complementary driver for the balanced AES/EBU electrical output delivers outstanding performance to the high quality XLR connector. Single-ended S/PDIF electrical output is provided via an RCA connector, and the ST optical output uses a high-

Page 11

bandwidth Hewlett Packard® part for superior performance. A high quality EIAJ optical interface has also been included for maximum compatibility, although in our experience it should be the interface of last resort. (It offers the least potential for high performance of any of the standard digital interfaces.)

All digital interfaces have been carefully optimized to deliver the finest performance each interface standard allows. As a direct result, the Nº31.5 performs optimally with any digital processor, without having to resort to techniques which would limit its compatibility to other Mark Levinson products.

Industrial Design The Nº31.5 shares the striking industrial design of other Mark Levinson compo-

nents such as the Nº30.5 digital audio processor. The combination of the handbrushed, black-anodized aluminum faceplate and bead-blasted custom-machined buttons make operating the Nº31.5 a tactile as well as a sonic pleasure.

A large, easily read display provides information as to the operational status of the Nº31.5 from across the room, making the supplied remote control more genuinely useful tha n o n product s l acking s uch a dis p lay.

Convenienc e Features Too often, high performance CD transports have eschewed convenience in the

hopes of seeming more “performance-oriented.” While there were good arguments for such a “minimalist” design in the days of analog turntables, the time is long gone when the audiophile needed to give up operational convenience for musical performance. After all, convenience features in a digital product are largely a matter of writing appropriate software, and have no affect on the quality of the digital data itself.

For example, the Nº31.5 supports custom programs, including “delete programming” wherein selected tracks are omitted from the playlist. This allows the user to skip the one or two songs on an otherwise good disc that have been overplayed ad nauseam. The Nº31.5 will remember such programs for thousands of discs, should you want to save that many programs.

Communications Links As with all Mark Levinson 30-series components, the Nº31.5 incorporates a so-

phisticated inter-component communications bus. Unique among high performance audio systems, Mark Levinson 30-series components offer a degree of system integration that makes even complex systems easy to use.

For example, bringing the Nº31.5 Reference CD Transport out of standby will also bring the Linked digital audio processor, preamplifier and power amplifier(s) out of standby, and select the appropriate inputs on both processor and preamplifier so that a CD can be enjoyed. Even a sophisticated system with many components can thus offer one-button simplicity of operation.

In sh ort, the Mark Levinson Nº31.5 esta blishe s a new stan dard for performance and practicality among high end CD tr ansports a nd should be auditioned by a nyo n e wh o desires the finest in d igital audio.

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Set u p an d Inst al lat ion

For your protection, review Important Safety Instructions before you install your Nº31.5.

Carefully open the shipping carton and remove the contents. You should have:

• Mark Levinson Nº31.5 Reference Digital Transport

• Remote control

• Two AA batteries

• Disc damper

• Four spikes

• AC power cord

• Link cable (2m)

• Two spare 1.0-ampere slow-blow fuses

•One 5⁄64" hex key (for remote control)

•One 1⁄8" he x key (for feet/spik e s)

•One 3⁄32" hex driver (for levelling the transport)

• Owner’s manual

Save the shipping carton and all packing material. Though it may be inconvenient to store, it will come in handy for shipping if you move, or if the Nº31.5 needs to be shipped for service. If you need to ship your Nº31.5 and have lost the original packing materials, please contact your local dealer or distributor for the purposedesigned, exact replacements rather than trying to fabricate something.

Warning: Shipping the Nº31.5 in anything other than its purpose-

designed shipping materials may result in damage that would not be covered under any warranty.

In addition to the tools we provide, you will need the following to set up your Nº31.5:

• A soft cloth or towel

• A digital-audio cable

1 INSTALL THE SPIKES INTO THE FEET (OPTIONAL)

The Nº31.5 is shipped so that it rests solidly on its four rubber-covered feet, one under each corner of the unit. You may want to explore the potential sonic advantages of installing the specially designed “spikes” supplied with the Nº31.5. Thes e spi kes are quit e sharp and may damage f urniture. We do not recommend their use unless your Nº31.5 will rest on thick tempered glass, or something equivalently resistant to scratches.

If you decide to experiment with these spikes, make sure that the Nº31.5 is unplugged from the AC power supply and disconnected from your digital processor. Then place the Nº31.5 upright on a flat, stable surface. Protecting its finish with a so ft cloth , carefully tip it so it r ests on its side, not its t op.

Page 13

Ins tall the spikes one at a time. Using the supplied 1⁄8" hex key, remove the screw securing the foot to the Nº31.5’s chassis. Insert the threaded end of the spike through the hole in the foot into the threaded hole in the chassis, then turn the spike clockwise until it is finger-tight. (Be careful not to overtighten it.)

Nº31 chassis

Foot

Spike

Repeat this procedure for the other three spikes.

2 REMOVE THE TRANSPORT SCREWS

If you have not already placed the Nº31.5 on its side on top of a soft cloth

***

REQUIRED!

***

(as described in the previous step), please do so now. (See warning above.)

Locate the two transport screws on the bottom of the Nº31.5, and remove them by turning them counterclockwise (no tools are necessary). When finished, return the Nº31.5 to its normal, upright position.

Remove these

screws and washers

Shipping Strap

(holds lid closed,

protects finish)

Important: Save the transport screws, washers, and shipping strap with

the packing material. If you ever need to ship the Nº31.5, you must re plac e t hem.

Replacing the transport screws is easiest when the Nº31.5 is level and upright, with its feet supported on raised blocks and the transport screws inserted from underneath.

Page 14

3 CONNECT THE Nº31.5 TO THE AC MAINS

Insert the supplied shielded AC cord into the IEC-standard AC socket on the rear panel of the Nº31.5. Check to ensure that the power switch is in the “Off” (O) position. Double-check the voltage label on the rear panel of the Nº31.5 to ensure that it matches the sup plied AC volta ge in your country.

If the voltage indicated is incorrect, or if you wish to change the AC operating voltage of the Nº31.5, see your Mark Levinson dealer.

Assuming everything matches, plug the other end of the power cord into the AC mains and turn on the power switch (to its | position).

To Nº31.5

132

To AC mains

1 = Line (hot)

2 = Neutral 3 = Earth ground

Note: The Nº31.5 will not achieve its sonic potential right away — sonic perf ormance is close to the optimum within a day or two of normal u se. For the best performance, you may leave the main power switch on at all times, except when you won’t be using your Nº31.5 for a long period. (See Important Safety Instructions).

The Nº31.5 may be turned on and off without significantly affecting its longevity. When it is turned on after being left turned off (as opposed to standby), allow about one hour before expecting optimal sonic performance. (This assumes that it remained at room temperatur e while o ff. A chilled transport will take somewhat longer to revive.)

4 CONNECT A DIGITAL OUTPUT TO YOUR PROCESSOR

5 IF YOU HAVE A MARK LEVINSON DIGITAL PROCESSOR, CONNECT THE

To keep interconnect cabling as short as possible, place the Nº31.5 as close as possible to your digital processor. You may place it on a shelf or in a cabinet where it’s convenient to operate.

As a precaution, turn off your other components (especially the power amplif ier). Then, using a high quality, purpose-designed digital interconn ect, connect an output of the Nº31.5 to the corresponding input of your digital processor .

COMMUNICATIONS LINK CABLE

Mark Levinson components employ a sophisticated inter-component communications system that offers many operational advantages and user conveniences not otherwise possible. If you have a Mark Levinson digital audio processor, connect the supplied Link cable from the processor’s master communica tions po rt to the Nº31.5’s slave in port.

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Warning: Connecting the communication ports other than as

described in this manual may damage the Nº31.5 and/or the digital processor, and will void the products’ warranties.

Assuming both the Link connection and the digital interconnection have been made, merely pressing play the first time will establish the Link between components.

6 PLACEMENT OF YOUR TRANSPORT

The Nº31.5 should rest on a level, stable surface. To ensure smooth operation of the lid, the Nº31.5 should be within about 3° of being level from front to ba ck (the f ront and rear of the unit need to be within about 1⁄2" or

1.2cm of being level with each other). Avoid placing it where it will be exposed to shocks or vibration, such as on an unstable table or near large loudspeakers. In general, place it as you would a turntable.

You should also place other associated equipment so that it does not induce hum in the Nº31.5 or any other sensitive components.

Caution: Interfering with the Nº31.5’s ventilation or that of another

component could cause either to overheat, resulting in damage to your system. To allow heat dissipation through air circulation, allow 3 to 4 inches of clearance above the vents on the top of the Nº31.5. Never block the vents on the bottom of the Nº31.5.

To help with special installations and custom cabinetry, drawings are included in this manual. (See Dimensions).

7 LEVE LLI N G YOUR TRAN S PO RT

For the best pe rforma nce, th e Nº31.5’s transport assemb ly sh o uld be leve l.

• Ensuring that the unit itself is approximately level enables the Lid to operate as smoothly as it was designed. This requires onl y that the unit be within about 1⁄2" (or 1.2cm) of being level from front to back—hardly a stringent requirement.

• Levelling the laser/motor mechanism within the Nº31.5 yields the best sonic performance. Four levelling screws (one inside each finger well) allow you to adjust this easily.

Press the Lid Open/Close button on the top panel to open the lid of the Nº31.5. With the supplied 3⁄32" hex driver, and using the Nº31.5’s bubble level as a gauge, adjust one or more of these screws to bring the transport assembly to level. To lower a corner, turn the corresponding screw clockwise; to raise a corner, turn the screw counterclockwise. (See diagram on the next page.)

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Levelling

Projection

lens

–

(Rear of

Remote Control)

screws

Bubble level Levelling

screws

When level, place the disc damper on the spindle, then press Lid Open/ Close again to close the Lid.

8 INSERT BATTERIES IN THE REMOTE CONTROL

Using the supplied 5⁄64" hex key, remove the two screws securing the cover of the Remote Control’s battery compartment (the end opposite the projection lens).

9 TURN EVERYTHING ON, AND ENJOY!

Insert two AA batteries according to the symbols on the inside of the battery compartment cover. Replace the battery compartment cover and screws.

After all connections have been made in the system, turn on the various components, leaving the power amplifier(s) for last.

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2 43

display

intensity

repeat A>B preview program

repeat disc repeat track program clear program review program save index mode

7 9

track index time

13 14

program

display

mode

elapsed time

time remaining

–

1086

Front P ane l

1STANDBY

When the Nº31.5 is connected to AC power and the main power switch on the rear panel is in the “|” position (see Rear Panel), pressing this button takes the Nº31.5 out of “standby” mode and enables the front-panel controls .

on track

on disc

MADRIGAL AUDIO LABORATORIES

REFERENCE

CD TRANSPORT

Nº 31.5

standby

111 12 15

When the Nº31.5’s main power switch is first turned on (or when power is restored after an interruption), the Nº31.5 will be ready to operate (that is, it won’t be in standby mode).

Pressing standby again places the Nº31.5 into standby mode and disables the front-panel controls. Pressing the open lid button will both switch the unit out of standby and open the lid so you may load a disc.

While the Nº31.5 is in standby mode, the display is dark and the standby

LED

flashes slowly. When the Nº31.5 is ready to operate (not in standby

mode), the standby LED remains lighted.

Note: When going into standby, the Nº31.5 deactivates its digital

outputs. With some digital processors, this may result in a lowlevel “pop” on the audio outputs. (Mark Levinson digital processors do not exhibit this problem.)

If your processor generates such a pop, and if you wish to prevent this low-level “pop” from coming through your system’s speakers or headphones, adjust your preamp’s volume to its lowest level before placing the Nº31.5 into standby.

Page 18

2DISPLAY INTENSITY

Pressing this button varies the brightness of the display. Four brightness levels are available.

When the Nº31.5’s main power switch is first turned on (or when power is restored after an interruption), the display is automatically set to its secondbrightest level.

Pressing display intensity once dims the display one level; pressing it again dims it further; pressing it again turns the display off. Pressing display in-

tensity

display intensity also affects the Nº31.5’s front-panel LEDs. When the display

once more returns the display to its brightest level.

is turned off, however, the LEDs still glow dimly.

3 TOP-PANEL CONTROLS

See Top Panel.

4 DISPLAY

See Display.

5DISPLAY MODE

This button allows you to change the type of information shown in the

time po rtio n o f th e dis pla y. (See Displa y.)

When a CD is loaded and ready for play, the time portion of the display shows the time remaining on the CD; the time remaining and on disc LEDs are lighted.

Press display mode to change the time part of the display:

time remaining on disc

display

time remaining on track

mode

elapsed time on track

elapsed time on disc

The information in the time portion of the display corresponds to the lighted LEDs to the right of the display mode button. After play begins, the display will reflect the last display mode you selected.

Along with program + (13) and program - (14), the display mode button is also used to change t he link settings. (See Sett ing Opti ons.)

6REPEAT DISC

To re peat (continuously) all tracks on a CD (or all tracks in a program), press this button. Note that this function and the repeat track function are mutually exclusive.

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While repeat disc is active, the LED above the button is lit.

To return to normal play, press repeat disc again.

7REPEAT A-B

This function allows you to repeat (continuously) a particular phrase or passage on a CD.

Whil e a CD is playin g, press re peat A-B at the beg inn ing of the p a s s age you wou ld like to repeat. At the end of the passa g e, p r ess r e peat A-B again. The pass age y o u s elected wil l r ep ea t continu ou sly. Wh il e repeat A-B is acti ve , A then B will alte rnate a ppearin g in t he spa c e preced ing the tr ack number on the display.

To return to normal play, press re peat A-B again. Alternatively, you may press stop to leave the repeat A-B mode and enter stop. Directly accessing a point after the “B” point of yo ur A-B loop (via pressing next track, direct

time

access, or direct track access) will cancel the repeat A-B loop and re-

turn you to normal play mode at your selected point.

8REPEAT TRACK

To repeat (continuously) the track in play, press this button. Note that this function and the repeat disc function are mutually exclusive.

While repeat track is active, the LED above the button is lighted.

To return to normal play, press repeat track again.

9PREVIEW

This function allows you to play only the introduction of each track on a CD or in a program.

Once a CD is load ed and ready for play, p r e s s preview. B eginning with the first track on the CD (or the first track in the program), the Nº31.5 will play the first ten seconds of the track, skip to the second track and play the first ten seconds of that track, and so on.

While preview is acti ve , the track part of th e d isplay flashes. (See Display.)

To retu rn t o normal p lay, pre s s pr evie w again, or press play. (See Top Panel.)

10 PROGRAM CLEAR

Pressing this button erases any temporary program, and also temporarily overrides a prev iously saved p rogram. (S e e Programming.) After pre ss in g

progr am cl ear, the display will show PROG CLEARED.

Pressing program clear, followed by pressing program save (12), perma- nently erases a program from the Nº31.5’s memory and displays

PROG DELETED in the main display.

If you press program clear when there is no program in the Nº31.5’s memory, the display will sh ow NO PRO G RAM.

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11 PROGRAM REVIEW

This function allows you to review the selections in the c urrent program. (See Programming.)

Press this button once to view the first selection in your program. To view the next selection, press program review again, and so on.

After you view the last selection in the program, the display will show

PROGRA M EN D.

If you press program review when there is no program in the Nº31.5’s memory, the display will sh ow NO PROGRAM.

12 PROGRAM SAVE

Pressing this button records a program in the Nº31.5’s memory. (See Programming.)

After p r e s s ing progr am save, the displ ay will show NEW PROGRAM,

PROG CHANGED, or PROG DELET ED (depending on your previous actions,

which are then “saved”).

13 PROGRAM +

Pressing this button adds a selection to a program. (See Programming.)

Along with display mode (5), the program + button is used to change the link sett ings. (See Setting Opti ons.)

14 PROGRAM -

Used along with program review (11), pressing this button erases a selec- tion from a previously saved program without erasing the entire program. (See Programming.)

Along with display mode (5), the program - button is used to change the link sett ings. (See Setting Opti ons.)

15 INDEX MODE

When you’re playing a CD recorded with indices, the Nº31.5’s index mode allows you to use those indices to select more precisely the music you want to play.

After pressing index mode before playing the CD, the display will show

IN DEX S EA RCH.

While the index mode function is active, the LED above the button flashes.

While the Nº31.5 is in index mode, pressing next or previous skips the laser pickup to the next or previous index on the CD (see Top Panel), and you may use the Remote Control’s numbered buttons to select indices (see Remote Control).

To cancel this function, press index m ode again, or press stop.

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Top P an el

1LID

The Lid covers the CD transport assembly, the mechanism that holds the CD during play. It s o pe r a tion is controlled by the Lid O pen/Cl ose b u tt on (2).

2 LID OPEN/CLOSE

Pressing this button opens the Lid (1); pressing it again closes the Lid.

Pressing Lid Open/Close while a CD is playing stops play and opens the Lid.

3STOP

Pressing this button while a CD is playing stops play. Pressing stop also can- cels repeat disc and repeat track, if they’re active.

Pressing play (5) after pressing stop begins play again with the first track on the CD (or the first track in a program, if one exists).

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4 SEARCH REVERSE

Holding this button down during play moves the laser pickup rapidly toward the beginning of the CD, and provides audible cueing.

☛ If your Nº31.5 is connected to a compatible Mark Levinson digital

processor (via the communication ports), you may choose to mute the volume co m pletely during search. (See Setti ng Options.)

When you release search reverse, play normally resumes. If you hav e reached the beginning of the disc, the Nº31.5 will stop at the beginning of the disc (or program, if you are playing one) and wait for your next command.

5PLAY

After a CD is loaded and the disc damper is in place, pressing this button begins play with the first track on the CD (or the first track in a program).

If you press play while the Lid is open, the Lid closes and play starts be- ginning with the first track on the CD (or the first track in a previously saved program). Similarly, pressing play while the Nº31.5 is in standby will cause the unit to become operational and start playing the first track on the disc or in the program.

Pressing play while a CD is playing suspends play, returns to the beginning of the current track, and replays that track.

6 SEARCH FORWARD

This button works in the same way as Search Reverse (4), except that it moves the laser pickup rapidly toward the end of the CD.

7PAUSE

While a CD is playing, pressing this button suspends play; pressing it again resumes play at the point where pause was first pressed. While pause is active, the LED above the button is lighted and ❙❙ appears preceding the track number on the displa y. (See Display.)

If left in pause for several minutes, the transport will stop spinning and the laser will turn off (thereby enhancing the longevity of both). This will be indicated by the pause indicator in the display (“❙❙”) flashing on and off.

Alternatively, this extended pause feature may be engaged by pressing and holding the pause button until the indicator begins to flash in the d isplay. Pressing pause again will resume play at the point where pause was first pressed, (after a short delay to allow the disc to get up to speed).

To “cue up” the beginning of a CD or track, press pause before pressing

play (5). To begin play, press pause again. (You may also select another

track or index while play is suspended.)

8PREVIOUS

This button’s function depends on whether or not the Nº31.5 is in index mode. (S e e Front Panel.)

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While the Nº31.5 is in index mode, pressing previous “skips” the laser pickup to the previous index. If index mode is inactive, pre ssing prev ious skips the laser pickup to the previous track.

Pressing previous while a CD is playing suspends play, skips the laser pickup to the previous track or index on the CD (or in a program), and begins play there.

☛ If you press

gram) is playi ng, the display wi l l show

while the first track on the CD (or in a pro-

FI RST TRACK

Pressing previous before play begins skips the laser pickup to the beginning of the last track or index on the CD; pressing play (5) begins play there (temporarily overriding any existing program).

9 NEXT

This button works in the same way as previous (8), except that it skips to the next track or index.

While the Nº31.5 is in index mode, pressing next skips the laser pickup to the n ext index. If index mode is ina ctive, pressing next skips the lase r pickup to t he next track.

Pressing next while a CD is playing suspends play, skips the laser pickup to the next track or index on the CD (or in a program), and begins play there.

☛ If you press

is playing, the displa y will show

while the last track on the CD (or in a program)

LAST T RACK

Pressing next before play begins skips the laser pickup to the beginning of the next track or index on the CD; pressing play (5) begins play there (temporarily overriding any existing program).

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1 1432

CD T r ansport Assembly

1 FIN GE R W E LLS

These cutouts make it easy to grasp a CD by its edges when placing it on or removing it from the spindle. Both right-handed and left-handed users are accommodated by having both diagonals available.

LEVELLING SCREWS

For the best pe rforma nce, th e Nº31.5’s transport assemb ly should be level. Four levelling screws (one inside each finger well) allow you to adjust the transport assembly easily.

With the supplied 3⁄32" hex driver, and using the Nº31.5’s bubble level (3) as a gauge, adjust one or more of these screws to bring the transport assembly to level. To lower a corner, turn the corresponding screw clockwise; to raise a corner, turn the screw counterclockwise.

2SPINDLE

This is the device that spins the CD, and on which the CD rests during play. The CD must be centered on the spindle, and it must be clamped to the spindle by the disc damper.

Page 25

3 BUBBLE LEVEL

Use this bubble level, along with the four levelling screws (1), to make sure that the Nº31.5’s transport assembly is level.

4 LASER ASSEMBLY

This assembly contains the Nº31.5’s laser pickup, the device that reads the underside of the CD.

Caution: Never touch or attempt to clean the laser assembly.

The Disc Damper To clamp a CD onto its spindle, the Nº31.5 uses a disc damper held in

place by a strong magnet:

Disc damper

Compact disc

Spindle

Always make sure that the disc damper is in place before closing the lid. If you close the lid without the disc damper in place, the display will show

NO DAMPER and you’ll be unable to play the CD.

When loading a CD for play, install the CD on the spindle, then place the disc damper on top of the CD.

The CD and the disc damper must be centered on the spindle. You’ll feel the disc damper’s magnet “catch” when both are centered.

Removing the Disc Damper When removing a CD from the spindle, first remove the disc damper. To

prevent damage to the CD, gently hold it down by the edge with the tip of one finger while pulling up on the disc damper’s knob, as shown below:

Pull

straight up

on the

damper's knob…

…while gently holding down

the edge of

the CD

To overcome the magnet, you’ll need to give it a firm pull.

Caution: When the Disc Damper clamps the CD onto the spindle, its

strong magnet forces the air from between the damper and the CD. If you don’t follow the removal procedure outlined above, the CD may stick briefly to the damper’s energyabsorbing surface after the magnet is released. If the CD is stuck to the damper when you rem ove them from the spin dle, take care not to let it fall.

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timetrack index

1 2 3 4

Displ ay

1TRACK

Before play begins, this part of the display shows the total number of tracks on the CD.

During play, this part of the display shows the number of the track in play.

While a program is in the Nº31.5’s memory, the letter P will appear preceding the track number. A small P indicates a saved polarity setting (possible only when the Nº31.5 is linked to a compatible Mark Levinson digital processor).

While random play is active, the letter R will appear preceding the track number . (See Random Play, p. 29)

While repeat A-B is act ive, the lett ers A then B will alternate a ppearing in the space preceding the track number.

While Pause is active, || will appear preceding the track number (as pictured above).

While preview is active, the track part of the display will flash.

2INDEX

If a CD includes indices, this part of the display shows the index in p lay, beg inning with 01 and increasing as the CD plays . If the CD in play doesn’t include indices, this part of the display shows 01 throughout play. For informat ion on how to use indices, see Basic Operation.

Tracks may also be pla yed from “Index 0”. (Se e Setting Options.)

3TIME

Before play, this part of the display shows the total playing time for all tracks on the CD. When play begins, this part of the display shows time-related information about the CD or the track.

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You may vary the nature of the information in this part of the display using the display mode button. (See Front Panel.)

4 INFRARED RECEIVER AND TRANSMITTER

This part of the display accepts commands from the Nº31.5’s Remote Control. (See Remote Con trol.) Whe n using the Nº31.5 to t e ach a learning re- mote special commands, it can also transmit IR signals. (See Using Learning Remote Controls.) Al ways keep this windo w clean and un obstructed.

Display messages The display also shows a variety of messages about the Nº31.5’s status and opera-

tion. Here are some of the messages you’ll see, and what they mean.

■ CLOSING: The Lid is in motion (closing); appears after the

Lid Open/Close button is pressed.

■ FIRST TRA CK: The previous button was pressed while the first track

on the CD (or in a program or a random sequence) was playing.

■ INDEX SEARCH: The Nº31.5 is scanning the CD for indices; appears

after index mode is pressed.

■ INSERT DISC: The Lid is open; appears after the Lid has stopped

opening.

■ LAST T RAC K: The next button was pressed while the last track on

the CD (or in a program) was playing.

■ NEW PROGRAM: A new program was recorded in the Nº31.5’s

memory; appears after program save is pressed.

■ NO DAMPER: The Lid is closed and the Disc Damper isn’t installed

on the spindle; appears after the Lid has closed.

■ NO PROGRAM: There’s no program in the Nº31.5’s memory; ap-

pears after program review or program clear is pressed.

■ OPENING: The Lid is in motion (opening); appears after the

Lid Open/Close button is pressed.

■ P01 IS 1st: Indicates a track’s place in a program; appears after

program review is pressed.

■ P02 02 IS 2: Indicates an index’s place in a program; appears after

program review is pressed.

■ PROG CHANGED: Changes to a program were recorded in the

Nº31.5’s memory; appears after program save is pressed.

■ POLARITY PRG: A p r o gr a m inc luding only the polarity invert func-

tion was saved; appears after program save is pressed.

■ PROG DELETED: A previously saved program was erased from the

Nº31.5’s memory; appears after program clear is pressed, followed by pressing program save.

■ PROG CLEARED: The temporary program was erased, or the previ-

ously saved program was temporarily overridden; appears after

program clear is pressed.

■ PROGRAM END: There are no more selections in the program be-

ing reviewed; appears after program review is pressed.

■ READIN G: The Nº31.5 is reading track and time information from

the CD; appears after the Lid has closed.

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MADRIGAL AUDIO LABORATORIES

stop pause track

repeat

A–B

123

456

Remote Control

1 IR TRA N SM I TTER W I N D O W

The Nº31.5’s Remote Control sends infrared (IR) commands through its projection lens, and the Nº31.5 receives IR commands through its Remote sensor window. (See Front Panel.) If either of these lenses is obstructed, no IR commands can be received by the Nº31.5. If you notice IR performance deteriorating, you may want to clean these lenses with a soft cloth and some glass cleaner. (Spray the cleaner on the cloth first, and then wipe the lens

with the moistened cloth. Do not spray the cleaner directly on either lens, as this may allow moisture to migrate into the electronics behind the lens assemblies.)

2 TRANSPORT & PROGRAMMING BUTTONS

The buttons used for routine operation of transport functions on the Nº31.5 are grouped at the top of the remote control. They include:

789

• index

prg/time

input

d/a

polarity

mute

display

mode

volume

intensity/

•standby

4 5

( ) reverse scan: When pressed, the Nº31.5 will enter a reverse au-

dible scanning mode similar to the familiar rewind function of many cassette decks, allowing a precise location within a track to be located.

( ) forward scan: When pressed, the Nº31.5 will enter a fast for-

ward audible scanning mode similar to the familiar fast forward function of many cassette decks, allowing a precise location within a track to be located.

( ) play: Pr e s s to enter th e play mode from either stop, pause, or

standby, or t o r e start play at the beginnin g of t he track current ly

playing. Pressing play while in an A-B loop will return you to point A.

( ) stop: Press to stop the disc. The same button will operate the

Lid if stopping the disc has no relevance (e.g., if it is already

stopped, or if there is no disc inside the Nº31.5).

( ) pause: Press to pause play in the current location. If left in

pause mode for more than two minutes, the Nº31.5 will enter ex- tended pause

mode, shutting down both the laser and the drive motors to enhance longevity and reliability. Upon pressing pause or play a second time, the disc will spin up and begin playing from the location where it had been paused. (You may also force the Nº31.5 into extended pause mode by pressing and holding the pause button for a few seconds.)

(+) track +: When pressed, this will take you to the beginning of the

next track. Also used to add a track to a playlist when creating a

custom program. (See Introduction to Programming.)

Page 29

A-B: Press once to establish a beginning point (point A) for an end-

less playback loop. The display will flash the letter B to indicate that it is ready to accept your designated ending point (point B). Once this has been done, the Nº31.5 will repeat the segment of the dis c be tw e en p oints A and B until you pres s A-B or stop. (Note that A must precede B on the disc.) Dir ectly accessing a point be yond t he end of your A-B loop (next, direct tim e, or

direct track) will cancel the repeat A-B function and return the

Nº31.5 to play at your selected point.

repeat: Press once to enter repeat disc mode (repeating the entire

disc, or an entire playlist if one is entered). This action will illuminate t he repeat disc LED. Pre s s a s e cond tim e to enter the re-

peat track

mode (repeating a single track ad nauseam). A third

press will cycle you back to normal operation, as will pressing

stop.

(–) track –: When pressed, this will take you to the beginning of the

previous track. Also used to add a track to a playlist when creat-

ing a custom program. (See Introduction to Programming.)

3 NUMERIC KEYPAD

The numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 may be used to directly access individual track numbers of discs played by the Nº31.5. For example, to go directly to track 13, p ress 1 followed by 3, and then press play. You do not have t o a d d a 0 be fore a s in gle-di g it t r ack number: 7, fo llowed by play, will take you directly to track number 7. (In fact, if the Nº31.5 is already in p lay, simply pressing the number button will be sufficient.)

The Nº31.5 displays a certain amount of intelligence with respect to direct track access. If the first number entered identifies a particular track unambiguously (such as 2 on a 12-track disc), the Nº31.5 is “smart” enough to immediately move to that track. If the first number entered could be the first of two digits (such as 1 on a 12-track disc), the Nº31.5 will wait for a moment to determine whether you wish to enter a second number. If not, it will then go to the single-digit track you selected.

If you reques t a non-exis tent track (pre ssing 2, 1 on a 12-track disc, for example), the Nº31.5 will display NO TRACK XX (where XX is the track you requested th at does not exist) and resume play.

Selecting a particular track does not affect the operating mode. That is to say, pressing 7 while in play begins playing track 7; pressing 4 while in

pause leaves you paused at the beginning of track 4. Similarly, using direct

track access during the playing of a program will temporarily override the program; pressing stop will return you to your original programmed playlist as though nothing had ever happened.

Random Play Inc i dentall y, if yo u press 0 followed by play, the Nº31 .5 will enter a

random play mode in which the order of the current disc’s playlist is

scrambled, and then played. The first character of the display (that shows a

P whe n p laying a playlist) will show R t o in d i c ate random pl ay. Moreover,

placing the Nº31.5 into random play mode while the disc repeat function is engaged will cause it to play the various tracks on the disc randomly indefinitely (until you stop it). This can be a great way to provide background music during a dinner party, for example.

Page 30

4 PROGRAM/TIME

While remaining in stop, you may ad vanc e the displa y to any d esired track using the track – and track + keys. Pressing prgm/time followed by the

track + (or track –) button will add (or delete) the displayed track to that

disc’s playlist.

On the other hand, pressing prgm/time followed by a number on the nu- meric keypad gives you direct time access to any point on the disc. Note that this time access is context-sensitive: that is, when the display is time elapsed in track mode, pressing prg/time followed by 1, 2, 3 will cue up the Nº31.5 at 1:23 into the current track; doing so in time remaining on disc mode will cue up the Nº31.5 at 1:23 before the end of the disc.

5 “PREAMP” FUNCTIONS

(+) raise volume: Pressing this button on the Nº31.5 remote control

will transparently and automatically raise the volume of a Linked Mark Levinson preamplifier, minimizing the need to juggle multiple remotes. This function is available even when the Nº31.5 is in standby, in which case its display will activate long enough to confirm your command visually. Since this function depends on the ability of the Nº31.5 to pass the instruction to the Nº38S (for example), the two components must be connected by a Link cable, and operate within a system which has a “master” digital processor. (See Setting Options for more information.)

input: Pressing this button on the Nº31.5 remote control once will

display the current status of the input selection control, for example No30 on No31 (to indicate that the Nº30 or Nº30.5 digital processor has the Nº31.5 as its selected source). Clicking the button again while this information is displayed will automatically cycle through the various active (e.g., not named NOT USED) digital in- puts on a Linked Mark Levinson digital processor, minimizing the need to juggle multiple remotes. This function is available even when the Nº31.5 is in standby, in which case its display will activate long enough to confirm your command visually. Since this function depends on the ability of the Nº31.5 to pass the instruction to the processor, the two components must be connected by a Link cable. (See Setting Options for more information.)

Analog Input Switching Alternatively, you may force the input button to select from among

your analog inputs on a Linked Mark Levinson preamplifier (assuming you have one) by:

• Clicking on the input button to display the current status of the input selection control. (It will show something like

No30 on No31, for example .)

• Pressing and holding the input button until the Nº31.5 dis- play indicates that it is now controlling the preamplifier, by displaying something like No38 on No30 (for example; this

would indicate that the No38 preamplifier has the No30 digital processor as its selected source)

• Then clicking the input button to cycle the preamplifier through its active inputs (e.g., not named NOT USED)

Page 31

This function is available even when the Nº31.5 is in standby, in which case its display will activate long enough to confirm your comma nd v isu ally.

You may change the input button back to controlling the digital source selection at any time by repeating this procedure.

Direct access to inputs Whenever the Nº31.5 is in either its analog- or digital-input

switching mode (as shown by the display indicating something like No30 on No31 rather than its normal display), you may go directly to any desired input by pressing the corresponding number button on the numeric keypad of the remote control.

mute: Pressing this button will engage the mute of a compatible

Mark Levinson preamplifier without stopping the transport. Pressing it a second time will restore the volume to its previous setting. This function is available even when the Nº31.5 is in standby, in which case its display will activate long enough to confirm your command visually. Since this function depends on the ability of th e Nº31.5 to pass the instruct ion to the Nº38 (for example), the two components must be connected by a Link cable, and operate within a system which has a “master” digital processor. (See Setting Options for more information.)

(–) lower volume: Pressing this button on the Nº31.5 remote control

will transparently and automatically lower the volume of a Linked Mark Levinson preamplifier, minimizing the need to juggle multiple remotes. This function is available even when the Nº31.5 is in standby, in which case its display will activate long enough to confirm your command visually. Since this function depends on the ability of the Nº31.5 to pass the instruction to the Nº38 (for example), the two components must be connected by a Link cable, and operate within a system which has a “master” digital processor. (See Setting Options for more information.)

6 MISCELLANEOUS CONTROLS

d/a polarity: Pressing this button on the Nº31.5 remote control will

transparently and automatically invert the polarity of a Linked Mark Levinson digital audio processor, minimizing the need to juggle multiple remotes. Since this function depends on the ability of th e Nº31.5 to pass the instruct ion to the Nº36 (for example), the two components must be connected by a Link cable. (See Setting Options for more information.)

display mode: Pressing this button duplicates the function of press-

ing the mode button on the Nº31.5, cycling through the four time

modes

(time e lapsed or time remaining, either on the track or on the disc). Pressing and holding this button will allow you to set your Link options. (See Setting Options for more information.)

Page 32

intensity/•standby: Pressing this button momentarily cycles the

Nº31.5 (and any Linked Mark Levinson components) through the ir four levels of display intensity (brig ht, medium, dim, off). When pressed and held for about one second (denoted by the bold dot •), this button will place the Nº31.5 into or out of

standby. If y o u c ontinue t o h old this b utton afte r t h e Nº31.5 en-

ters standby, it wil l f or c e th e ent ire Linked system int o stan db y. This function is available even when the Nº31.5 is already in standby, in which case its display will activate long enough to conf irm your c ommand vis u ally.

7 BATTERY COMPARTMENT

The two AA batteries used by the Remote Control must be placed inside the compartment at the bottom of the remote’s housing. Using the 5⁄64" hex wrench provided in your accessory kit (look inside the slot within the foam rubber), carefully remove the two screws on the bottom of the housing and insert the batteries, being careful to orient them as indicated inside the battery compartment. Then replace the screws using the hex wrench.

Conditions that Affect

IR Performance

IR communication between the Remote Control and the Nº31.5 can be affected by:

• Direct sunlight

• Interior lighting

• Wall, window, ceiling, and floor treatments

• The angle of the Remote Control relative to the Nº31.5

If the Nº31.5 will be subject to direct sunlight, place it no more than 10 feet from where you’ll normally operate the Remote Control. Where bright sunlight virtually floods the room, IR communication may be inconsistent.

In a room l ight ed primarily w ith incan d e s cent fixtures, p lace t he Nº3 1.5 no more tha n 25-30 feet (7-9 met e rs) from where you’ll norma lly operate the Remote Control. In a room with fluoresce nt fixtures, this ra nge will be r educed.

Where bright fluores-

cent lighting virtually floods the room, IR communication may be inconsistent.

IR, like visible light, reacts differently when it meets different surfaces. Carpeting and draperies, for example, tend to diffuse (scatter) IR and interfere with its transmission. Gloss y or reflective surfaces, such as mirrors and smooth walls, “bounce” (reflect) IR and won’t interfere with its transmission. When placing the Nº31.5, it is important to account for potential IR bounce and diffusion. For example, in a room with thick carpeting, heavy draperies, and many pieces of furniture, you may need to place the Nº31.5 closer to where you’ll normally operate the Remote Control than you would in a sparsely furnished room with bare walls and hardwood flooring.

If possible, install the Nº31.5 directly opposite from where you’ll normally operate the Remote Control. In practice, the Remote Control will operate the Nº31.5 at up to 30 degrees to either side of this direct line. To either side of this line, successful IR communication will depend on bounce and ambient lighting. (Please refer to diagram on next page.)

Page 33

Optimum IR

reception window

30 feet or less

30˚ 30˚

If the requirements of your installation preclude a clean line of sight between the Nº31.5 and your listening position, you may want to consider using an infrared repeater to route the remote control’s commands to the Nº31.5. Please ask your dealer for more information on third-party IR repeaters.

Page 34

main power

REFERENCE CD TRANSPORT Nº 31.5 designed and manufactured in U.S.A. by MADRIGAL

communication ports digital outputs

slave

out

S/N

eiaj st spdif

aes/ebu

CLASS 1

LASER PRODUCT

WARNING: BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THIS DEVICE, REFER TO OWNER'S MANUAL FOR PROPER OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS. HAZARDOUS VOLTAGE AVAILABLE INSIDE; DISCONNECT AC ~ MAINS CABLE BEFORE OPENING UNIT.

65 7

9 101 32 4

Rear Panel

1 OPERATING VOLTAGE INDICATION

The Nº31.5 is set at the factory (internally) for 100, 120, 200, 220, or 240VAC mains operation as appropria te for the country in whic h it is to be sol d. Make sure that the label on the rear of the left tower (as seen from the rear) of the Nº31.5 indicates the correct AC operating voltage for your location, as attempting to operate the Nº31.5 at an incorrect voltage can damage the unit.

Warning! Neither the voltage nor the line frequency setting may be

2 MAIN POWER

Caution: Never operate the main power switch without first making sure

changed by the user. There are no user serviceable parts inside the Nº31.5. Only qualified, authorized service personnel may open the Nº31.5 CD Transport, as hazardous voltages exist within the unit.

This switch turns the Nº31.5 on and off. The switch must be in the “|” (on) position for the Nº31.5 to function. (See Setup a nd Insta llation.)

that power is turned off to your receiver, integrated am plifier, or preamplifier/power amplifier.

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3 AC POWER CORD SOCKET

This socket accepts AC mains power via the supplied AC power cord.

4 FUSE COMPARTMENT

The panel surrounding the main power switch is also a hinged cover for the Nº31.5’s fuse compartment. The Nº31.5 uses two 1.0-ampere slo-blow fuses (type T1A slow-blo 5x20mm).

Warning! Never attempt to open the fuse compartment without first

removing the AC power cord from the Nº31.5. If you need to replace the fuses, always use the same type of fuse.

To open the fuse compartment, insert the tip of a small, flat-bladed screwdriver into the slot at the top edge of this panel. Gently pry open the top edge of the compartment cover.

5-6 SLAVE OUT and SLAVE IN

These communication ports allow the Nº31.5 to “link” to certain compatible Mark Levinson components via the Madrigal Communications Link system (MCL). (Se e Setting Options.) When making thes e connections (which resemble large versions of standard U.S. telephone connectors), make sure that the Link cable’s locking tabs engage securely in the components’ communication ports.

To set up a Linked system consisting only of transport and processor:

1. Using a Link cable (see Madrigal Communications Link), connect the master port on the Mark Levinson digital processor to the Nº31.5’s slave in port.

2. Make sure that the digital audio connection between the two operates (you should see “44.1” on the processor, indicating that it has locked onto the Nº31.5’s output).

3. Press play on the Nº31.5—that’s it.

To add multiple Mark Levinson transports to the system, simply connect the first Nº31.5’s slave out port to the second Nº31.5’s slave in port. Subsequent transports are connected from slave out to slave in in a “daisy chain.”

If you are linking a Mark Levinson preamplifier, it must be the last components in this “daisy chain.” Run a Link cable from the last slave out port to the slave port of the Mark Levinson preamplifier. (Mark Levinson power amplifiers employ a different, special linking connection from the preamplifier.)

Caution: Connecting the communication ports other than as

described in this manual may damage the Nº31.5 and the digital processor, and will void the products’ warranties.

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7 DIGITAL OUTPUT, EIAJ OPTICAL

This output provides the digital audio signal (DAS), via optical cable equipped with the EIAJ-type optical connector (sometimes called “Toslink®”) to the digital processor.

8 DIGITAL OUTPUT, ST OPTICAL

This output provides the digital audio signal (DAS), via optical cable equipped with the ST-type optical connector (sometimes called “AT&T”) to the digital processor.

9 DIGITAL OUTPUT, S/PDIF ELECTRICAL

This output provides the digital audio signal (DAS) via cables equipped with RCA-type connectors to the digital processor.

This input conforms to the Sony/Philip s Digital Interface Standard (S/PD IF), which calls for a 75Ω transmission of the DAS. Use a digital interconnecting cable specifically designed for the 75Ω S/PDIF standard, such as Madrigal MDC-2 cable, when using this input.

10 DIGITAL OUTPUT, AES/EBU ELECTRICAL

This output provides the digital audio signal (DAS) via cables equipped with XLR-type connectors to the digital audio processor.

This input conforms to the Audio Engineering Society/European Broadcast Union (AES/EBU) professional digital audio standard, which calls for a 110Ω transmission of the DAS. Use a digital interconnecting cable specifically designed for the 110Ω AES/EBU stand ard, such as Madrigal MDC-1 cable, when using this input, with pin assignments as indicated below:

Pin 1: chassis ground (AC-coupled)

Pin 2: non-inverted digital Pin 3: inverted digital Connector ground lug: chassis ground

It has been Madrigal’s experience that the AES/EBU interconnection standard offers the best quality of all digital transmission interfaces when fully optimized, and we recommend its use wherever possible between Mark Levinson components.

However, optimizing any digital interface completely represents a significant engineering challenge. It is entirely possible that a different type of input may actually outperform a less-than-optimized AES/EBU implementation on some brands of digital processors. For this reason, we have gone to great lengths to fully optimize all four of the digital outputs on the Nº31.5. If you are using you Nº31.5 with a different brand of processor, we recommend experimenting to determine which type of input on that processor results in the best audible performance.

Page 37

Basic Ope r at ion

Before operating your Nº31.5, become familiar with its controls and their locatio ns. (S ee Front Panel, Top Panel, CD T ra nsport Assembl y, and Remot e C o n t rol.)

Loading a CD To load a CD for play:

1. Make sure that the main power switch is set to the “|” position.

2. Ena b l e th e Nº31. 5’s contro ls b y p r es s in g st andb y.

3. Press Lid Open/Close to open the Lid.

4. Remove the Disc Damper from the spindle.

5. Place a CD onto the spindle, label side up. Handle the CD by the outer edges only.

6. Place the Damper on top of the CD. Make sure that it’s centered and seated securely.

7. Close the Lid by pressing Lid Open/Close again.

In a few seconds, the display will show the total number of tracks and their total playing time. The CD is now ready for play.

Temporarily overriding a

previously saved program

Playing all tracks in order To pla y all tracks on the CD, press the play butto n. All tracks will play in order.

Beginning play with other

than the first track

Replaying a track To return to the be ginning of a t r ack w hile it’s playing , pre s s play . Pla y will be

Note: If you have previously saved a program for the CD, the letter P will appear pre ceding the track number on th e display. (See Program min g.)

To override a previously saved program, press program clear; or on the Remote Control, press the 0 (zero) numbered key, t hen press prg/time. All of the CD’s tracks will be accessible for basic operation, but the program will still be retained in the Nº31.5’s memory.

Play will stop automatically at the end of the CD.

To begin play with a track other than the first track:

1 . Before pressing play, press next until the number of the desired

track shows on the display (track + on the remote). If you pass the track you want to play, you can “back up” by pressing previous (track – on the remote). You may also select the track using the numbered buttons on the Remote Control.

2. Press play to begin playing that track. The remaining tracks will play in order. Play will stop automatically at the end of the CD.

suspended briefly, then that track will replay followed by the remaining tracks on the CD.

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Random play Us ing the Remote Control, you may ha ve th e Nº31.5 play tracks totally at r andom.

To do t h is, p r e s s t he 0 (zero) nu m be r ed key, the n p ress play.

While random play is active, the letter R will appear preceding the track number on the display.

To cancel random play, press Stop.

Skipping to another track You may skip to another track any time while a CD is playing. To move to an-

other track, press next (track + on the remote) to go forward, or pr evious (track – on the remote) to go backward until the number of the track you want to play shows on the display. (You may also select the track using the numbered buttons on the Remote Control.) Play will resume as soon as the pickup reaches that track.

Searching for a passage You may search for a particular passage on the CD using Search Forward

( )and Search Reverse ( ). Scan the CD until the laser pickup reaches the passage you want to hear. The playing speed increases when you hold down

Search Forward or Search Reverse, and t h e volume is reduced.

Note: If your Nº31.5 is Linked to a compatible Mark Levinson digital processor (via the communication ports), you have the option of muting the volume completely during search. (See Setting Options.)

As soon as you release the button, play resumes.

If you search past the beginning (or end) of a track, the laser pickup will move on to the previous (or next) track.

If you try to search forward past the end of a CD or program, the laser pickup will stop at the end of the last track.

If you try to search backward past the beginning of a CD or program, the laser pickup will stop at the beginning of the first track. When you release Search Re-

verse

, play will resu m e beginning with the f ir st track.

Previewing a CD Using the Nº31.5’s preview function, you may play only the introduction of each

track on a CD, then resume normal play when you hear the track you like.

Once a CD is loaded and ready f or play, press previe w. Beg inn ing with the first track, the Nº31.5 will play the first ten seconds of the track, skip to the second track and play the first ten seconds of that track, and so on. While the preview function is active, the track part of the display will flash.

To resume no rma l pla y, pr es s preview a g ain or pr e ss pl ay.

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Using indices If a CD has indices, you may use them to begin play in the middle of a track.

1. Press index mode. (If the re was no CD in play, t he display will show INDEX SEA RCH.) After a brief de lay while the trans port searches the disc, the LED above the button will flash to indicate

inde x mode.

2. Using next and previous (or the numbered buttons on the Remote Control), select an index.

3. Press play to begin play at the index you selected.

Beginning play at a

specific location in a track

The pause function To suspend play while a CD is playing, press pause. To res ume play at the same

You may use prg/time on the Remote Control to begin play at a specific time— whether or not it corresponds to an index.

1. Using track + or track –, or the numbered buttons on the remote control), select a track.

2. Press prg/time, then p ress the numbered buttons corresponding to when you’d like play to begin. (The numbers you select will appear in the time part of the display.)

3 . To begin pla y at that p o int , pres s play.

Note: The time you select depends on the selection you’ve made with the display mode button: elapsed or remaining, CD or track.

For example, if you want to begin play one minute and thirty seconds into track 2, first press display mode until the elapsed time and on track LEDs light. Then sel ect trac k 2 by pre ssing tr ack + or track – (or b y entering 02). Press prg/time, enter 130, then press play.

point, press pause again.

extended pause feature may be engaged by pressing and holding the pause

button until the indicator begins to flash in the display. Pressing pause again will resume play at the point where pause was first pressed, (after a short delay to allow the disc to get up to speed).

Repeating an entire CD To repeat (continuously) a l l tracks on a CD, pres s repeat disc. Wh il e the repeat

Repeating a track To repeat (continuously) the track in play, press repeat track. While the repeat

To “cue up” the beginning of a CD or track, press pause before pressing play (5). To begin play, press pause again. (You may also select another track or index while play is suspended.)

disc

function is active , the LED above the button is lit. To return to normal play,

press repeat disc again.

track function is active, the LED above the button is lit. To return to n ormal play, press repeat track again.

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Repeating a

specific passage

To repeat (continuously) a specific phrase or passage on a CD, press repeat A-B at the beginning of the passage you would like to repeat. At the end of the passage, press repeat A-B again. The passage you selected will repeat continuously.

While the repeat A-B function is active, A then B will a ppear preceding the track number on the display. To return to normal play without interruption, press the

repeat A-B button again.

While in the repeat A-B mode, the following keys behave as outlined below:

play will restart play at point A (much as doing so normally re-

turns you to the beginning of the current track).

search reverse will “rewind” the disc back, beginning play when

you release the button. This allows you to review the lead-in to your A-B section, as when learning a piece of music by ear.

search forward will “fast forward” t he music as far as the “B” point,

stopping there for easy access to the end of your A-B loop.

stop will leav e the repeat A-B mod e and enter stop. previous will move you to the previous track (or index if in index

mode) whether or not it lies within the A-B loop.

next will move you to the next track (or index if in index mode).

If this location lies beyond the defined A–B loop, the Nº31.5 will leave repeat A–B mode, reverting to normal play.

direct track access will override your A-B loop if you go beyond

the defined A–B loop.

direct time access will also override your A-B loop if you go be-

yond the defined A–B loop.

Inverting playback polarity If your Nº31.5 is linked to a compatible Mark Levinson digital processor via the

communication ports, you may change the playback polarity. (See Setting Op-

tions.)

After loading a CD, press the polarity invert button on the digital processor’s front panel, or press d/a polarity on th e Nº31.5’s Rem ote Contr ol, then p r e s s play. Th e CD will play with inverted polarity.

If you want this CD to always play with inverted polarity, press program save before pressing play. The d is p lay will show POLARITY PRG, a sma ll P will appear preceding the track number on the display, and inverted polarity will be saved as a “pro g ram” f or that CD. (S ee Progra mming.)

Stopping play To stop play befo re the en d of the CD, pre ss Stop. The display will show the total

number of tracks and their total playing time.

You ma y also sto p play by pressin g Li d Open/Close. In t h is case, play will stop and the Lid will open.

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I n troduc ti on t o P rogram m in g

Rather than playing an entire CD, you may choose to play only certain selections. To do this, you create a “program” (or playlist) and store it in the Nº31.5’s memory.

Before using your Nº31.5’s programming features, become familiar with its contro ls a n d th e ir l ocatio ns (se e Front Panel, Top Pa n el, CD T ra nsport Assembl y, and Remote Control), as well as their basic functions (see Basic Operation).

When playing a program, the Nº31.5’s basic functions operate as described in Ba- sic Operation, e xcept that they work within the context of the program’s playlist rather than the entire CD. For instance, pressing next during play skips to the next track or index in the sequence, whether or not it is the next track or index on the CD. In the same way, pressing repeat disc will repeat the entire program, not the entire CD.

The Nº31.5 allows up to 99 selections (tracks and indices) per program. A program may include both tracks and indices.

Assembling a program is possible only before play begins.

Note: The only programming functions that operate while a CD is pl aying are pr og ram clear and program save.

How the Nº31.5

remembers programs

Assembling a new program To assemble a new program, make sure a disc is loaded and that the Nº31.5 is in

When you load a CD, the Nº31.5 assigns it a unique identification code. If you assemble a program for a particular CD and save it into the Nº31.5’s memory, the Nº31.5 “remembers” that CD’s program.

The next time you load that CD, the Nº31.5 will recognize the CD’s identification code and automatically loads the previously saved program. (The letter P will appear preceding the track number on the display.) [Note: Even if you have previ-

ously saved a program for a CD, the Nº31.5 allows you to override it (and have access to all tracks on the CD) without erasing it from the memory.]

The Nº31.5’s memory can store programs for thousands of CDs. Saved programs remain in memory when you place the Nº31.5 into standby, when you turn off the main power switch — even if AC power is interrupted.

stop (rather than already playing):

1. Using the next and previous, s elect th e first track in y o ur program.

2. Add the first selection to your program by pressing program + (on the Remote Control, press prg/time, then press +).

3. Assemble the rest of your program (up to 99 selections) by repeating steps 1 and 2.

4. When you’ve finished building your playlist: a. If you want to play your program without recording it in the

Nº31.5’s memory, go on to step 5.

b. If you want to record your program in t he Nº31.5’s mem ory,

press progr am save; the display will show NEW PROGRAM.

5 . To play the program, press play.

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Delete Programming If you want to play most of a CD, and just “ignore” a few tracks, you may want to

use this shortcut:

1. Using the next and previous (or the numbered buttons on the Re- mote Control), select the first track you want to eliminate from your program.

2. “Delete” the track by pressing program –.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for each track you want to ignore.

4. When you have finished eliminating tracks: a. If you want to play your program without recording it in the

Nº31.5’s memory, go on to step 5.

b. If you want to record your program in t he Nº31.5’s memory,

press progr am save; the display will show NEW PROGRAM.

5 . To play the program, press play.

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Adv an ced P rogramm in g

After you have created a few programs as outlined in the previous section, you may want to review them, add extra tracks to existing programs, or in other ways change the nature of what you have done. The Nº31.5 provides great flexibility in these regards.

Reviewing a program To review your program before playing it:

1. Load a CD for which you’ve already saved a program (the letter P will appear preceding the track number on the display); or load an unprogrammed CD, then assemble and save a program.

2. Press progr am revi ew. Th e d isplay will s how th e f ir s t selecti on in your program. For example, if track 3 is the first selection in your program, the display would show P03 IS 1st. If index 2 on track 5 is the first sele ction , the display would show P05 02 IS 1. Note: If you press program review when there is no program in the Nº31.5’s memory, t he displa y will show NO PROGRAM.

3. To view the next selection, press program review again, and so on. Press program review for each selection in your program. After you view the last selection, the display will show PROGRAM END.

Adding a selection

You may add a selection to the end of a previously saved program. To add a selection:

1. Load a CD for which you’ve already saved a program (the letter P will appear preceding the track number on the display); or load an unprogrammed CD, then assemble and save a program.

2. Using the next and previous (or the numbered buttons on the Re- mote Control), select the track you want to add to your program. You ma y also incl ude indi ces in you r program. Pres s i ndex mode, then use next and previous (or the numbered buttons on the Re- mote Control) to select an index. [Note: If your Nº31.5 is linked to a compatible Mark Levinson digital processor via the

commun ication ports, you may set the playback polarity indepen-

dently for each t r ack . See Setting Opti ons. In t h is c ase , press the polarity invert button on the digital processor’s front panel, or press d/a polarity on the Nº31.5’s Remote Control, before continuing to step 3.]

3. Add the selection to your program by pressing program + (on the Remote Control, press prg/time, then press +). Note: You must press program + (or prg/ti me and +) within five seconds after making a selection, or the selection won’t be recorded.

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for each selection you want to add to your program. Make sure to press program + (or prg/time and +) after each selection.

5. When you’ve finished adding selections, press program save; the display will show PROG CHANGED. This last step is what makes your change permanent.

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Erasing a selection You also may erase a selection from a previously saved program. To erase a selec-

tion:

1. Load a CD for which you’ve already saved a program (the letter P will appear preceding the track number on the display); or load an unprogrammed CD, then assemble and save a program.

2. Using the next and previous (or track + and track – on the remote, or the numbered buttons on the remote), select the track you want to erase from your program.

3. Erase the selection to your program by pressing program – (on the remote control, press prg/time, then press –). Note: You must press program – (or prg/time an d –) within five seconds after making a selection, or the selection won’t be recorded.

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for each selection you want to add to your program. Make sure to press program – (or prg/time and –) after each selection.

5. When you’ve finished adding selections, press program save; the disp la y w ill show PROG CHANGE D. This la s t s t e p is what mak e s your change permanent.

Temporarily overriding a

previously saved program

Erasing a program To erase a previously saved program permanently from the Nº31.5’s memory:

To override a previously saved program (temporarily), press program clear (on the Remote Control, press the 0 numbered key, then press prg/time); the display will show PROG CLEARED.

All of the CD’s tracks will be accessible for basic operation, but the program will still be re tained in th e Nº31.5’s memory. (See Basic Operation.)

Note: If you press program save after pressing program c l ear, the display will show PROG DELETED and the program will be erased from the Nº31.5’s memory.

1. Press program clear; t h e d isplay will s h ow PROG CLEARED.

2. Press program save; the dis pla y will show PROG DE LET ED.

Once again, this last step of pressing program save is what makes your change permanent (as opposed to merely overriding the program this once).

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Sett in g O p t ions

The Nº31.5 gives you the ability to “customize” its operation to suit your particular needs and/or preferences. One of these options pertains exclusively to how the Nº31.5 itself operates: Index 0. The other options address the way in which the Nº31.5 interacts with other Linked Mark Levinson components such as the Nº30.5 Reference Digital Processor and the Nº38S Preamplifier.

Note: To take advantage of linked functions, the various components must be connected via their communication ports. (See Rear Panel and Setup and Installa tion.)

The stand-alone option that is always available addresses whether the Nº31.5 plays the space between tracks called “Index 0.” This space is analogous to the “lead-in grooves” of vinyl LPs.

■ Index 0: When this option has been selected, pressin g play will

begin each track at Index 0 rather than at the usual Index 1, result- ing in a brief “countdown” to the beginning of the music.

If you prefer all track and index operations to use Index 0 as the effective beginning of a given track (to hear the applause before a song on a live recording, for example), you may select Index

in the Set Options menu, described on the next page.

There are six linked functions. These address the way in which the Nº31.5 interact s with other components within the Madrigal Communications Linking system. They are:

■ Record link (Nº30 and Nº30.5 only): While the Nº31.5 is selected as

the Nº30’s recording source (a CD must be in play), this link helps prevent you from inadvertently disrupting the recording process. If you attempt to use any of the Nº31.5’s functions that might disrupt the re cording proce s s (stop, Lid Open/Close, et c.), t h e Nº31.5 will block that function and its d isplay will show RECORDING. Likewise, if yo u a ttempt to pla c e t he Nº30 into standby, the Nº31.5 will block that function and Nº30’s display w ill show RE CORD I NG.

To o verrid e t he reco r d l ink, press th e function butto n tw ice.

(For example, if you do want to stop the CD that’s playing, even though it’s being recorded, press the sion.)

When the Nº31.5 is first turned on, the record link setting is off.

■ Mute link: When this link is engaged, the Linked processor will a u-

tomatically mute the volume during search modes (that is, when- ever you press search forward or search reverse). It has no effect on the remote control’s mute button. When the Nº31.5 is first turned on, the mute link setting is off so you can hearing the audible cueing function provided by the Nº31.5 during searches.

■ Standby link: This f eature links the standby mod es of the Nº31.5

and the digital processor. If both the Nº31.5 and the digital processor are in standby mode, pressing the Nº31.5’s standby button will take both components out of standby mode (making them ready to operate). If both the Nº31.5 and the digital proc essor a re “on” (not in standby mode), pressing the Nº31.5’s standby button will

stop

button twice in succes-

Page 46

place only the Nº31.5 into standby mode (since you may wish to liste n to anot her input on your proces sor).

When the Nº31.5 is first turned on, the standby link setting is

on.

■ Alias link: Mark Levinson digital processors allow you to set an “in-

put alias” for each of their sources; this alternative name appears on their display. The Nº31.5’s alias link automatically overrides the alias setting for its input. When you select the Nº31.5’s input, the processor will show No3 1 on its display.

When the Nº31.5 is first turned on, the alias link setting is on.

■ Play link: When you press the Nº31.5’s play button, this link auto-

matically selects the Nº31.5’s input on the digital processor.

Note: If you’ve connected the Nº31.5 to two or more of the

digital processor’s inputs, the play link will look first for AES/EBU interconnection, then S/PDIF, then ST, and finally EIAJ. When the Nº31.5 is first turned on, the play link setting is on.

■ Display lin k: This links the display i ntensity fun ctions of the Nº31.5

and the digital processor. When the components are linked, both displays will be set to the same brightness. Pressing display inten-

sity

on either component will affect both displays.

When the Nº31.5 is first turned on, the disp lay link setting is on.

■ Polarity link: This links th e d/a polarity button on the Nº31.5’s Re-

mote Control to the polarity invert function of the digital processor.

The polarity link also allows inverted polarity to be saved with a program. When inverted polarity is part of a saved program, this link turns on the digital processor’s polarity invert function. (See Programming.)

The polarity link setting is always on, and c an’t be changed. In addition to the Setting Options, the Nº31.5 has the ability to play “Index 0,” the CD equivalent of the “lead-in grooves” on an LP.

The Nº31.5 allows you to change the Index 0 option and its six Link options to suit your own preferences. [Note: The polarity link setting is always on, and can’t be changed.]

1. Make sure that the main power switch is set to the “on” (“|”) posi-

tion.

2. Ena b l e th e Nº31. 5’s contro ls b y p r es s in g st andb y.

N ot e: To change your Nº31.5’ s link se ttings, your Mark Levinson digital processor also must be connected (linked) and turned on.

3. Press and hold the front-panel display mode button and hold it

until SET OPTIONS appears on the display. [Note: In several seconds,

if you make no changes to the link settings, the display will go back into its standard mode. To return to

display mode

again.]

SET OPTIO NS

, press and h old

4. Click the display mode button a few times. The display will show each of your Nº31.5’s options, in this order:

INDEX 0 – (available even without Linking) RECORD LINK – (seen only when Linked) MUTE LINK – (seen only when Linked) STANDBYLINK + (seen only when Linked) ALIAS LINK + (seen only when Linked) PLAY LINK + (seen only when Linked) DISPLAYLINK + (seen only when Linked)

Page 47

A – sign beside an option indicates that it is currently off; a + sign indi c a tes tha t it is c u rr ent ly on.

If you continue clicking display mode after the display shows

DISPLA YLIN K+, t h e l ink s are shown again beginnin g w it h IND EX 0 ,

then RECORD LINK, then MUTE LIN K, and so on.

5. Stop clicking display mode when the display shows a link you would like to change.

5. To turn t he link on, press the program + bu tton; to tu rn the link off, pre s s t h e program – button.

6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for each link setting you want to change.

When you’ve finished, wait several seconds for the display to return to its standard mode.

Your link sett ings remain in memo ry w h e n you pl ace th e Nº31.5 into standby, when you turn off the main power switch — even if AC power is interrupted.

Auto-Standby The Nº31.5 also may be set to automatically enter standby when left in stop for a

user-selectable period of time. As shipped from the factory, its standby function is manual (that is, it only enters or leaves standby when told to do so by the user). To change between manual and timed/automatic standby:

1. Press and hold the standby button until the display reads MANUA L .

2. Release the standby button and then “click” search forward to ad- vance the timer. Single clicks will advance it by one minute. Pressing and holding the button will stream the numbers by to a maximum of 120 minutes. Search reverse reduces the timer delay, with

MANUAL coming below the 1 minute mark.

3. When you have selected the delay you desire, simply allow the Nº31.5 to “time-out” and revert to a normal display.

The Nº31.5 will display AUTO STANDBY for about one second prior to actually go- ing into standby as a result of the auto standby setting you have chosen.

Page 48

Madrig al Comm unic ati ons Link

The information needed to take full advantage of the Madrigal Communications Linking system (MCL) falls into two categories: understanding the architecture used, an d summarizing whi ch cables are needed between which components. The following technical information is provided as a reference, for custom installations and other applications where a full understanding of the MCL system is important. Most people never need this information. Feel free to skip this section unless the basic information in Rear Panel is not sufficient to your needs.

Understanding

the Arc hit ec tur e

The MCL system is a single-master computer bus. As such, there must be a single “master” component that acts as the central clearinghouse for all messages. Think of the master component as being like the Post Office: if the Nº31.5 needs to send a message to the Nº38S preamplifier (for example), it sends the message to the master component, which then relays it to the preamplifier. In our system (for a variety of technical reasons), the digital audio processor is normally designated as the “master” for the entire chain of line-level components. (We’ll address power amplifiers in a moment.)

This approach offers several advantages: it is quite robust and reliable; it responds extrem ely quickly (fast enough to seem instantaneous to the user); many components may be added to the system without taking a performance hit; it offers excellent forward compatibility, leaving options open to add new features and capabilities as they become needed.

A system such as this operates with the “master” at one end of a “daisy chain.” Subsequent c ompon ents are linked together via slave in and slave out ports. Thus, one would begin at (say) a Nº30.5, going from its master port to (say) a Nº31.5’s slave in port; from the Nº31.5’s slave out, continue thro ugh as many slave in/slave out ports as needed, until you reach the preamplifier.

In this fashion, multiple digital transports may be easily accommodated. The digital processor will identify which transport is connected to which digital input by asking each in turn to momentarily turn off its DAS (digital audio signal), then noting which input is affected. In this way, a single master can easily identify several identical transports and still avoid any confusion. (This identification process is called “handshaking.”)

The Mark Levinson preamplifier (Nº38 or Nº38S) serves to terminate the communications bus. Hence, it receives communications from other line-level components via it slave port. It does not have a sla ve out (since it terminates the bus, it must be at the end). Since there is no way for the digital processor to perform the digital “handshake” described above, you must rename the inputs of the Nº38 or Nº38S appropriately (as outlined in the manual) for Linking to operate correctly.

Thus, for example, when the Nº31.5 is turned on, the Nº30.5 comes out of standby and selects the correct digital input, and instructs the Nº38S to wake up and s elect whichever input is named “ No30.” (Th e Nº38S may furthe r instructs the Nº333 to come out of standby.)

Page 49

“Lin ked amplifi er s?”

y ou ask The communication required between preamplifier and power amplifier(s) is

more limited than between other components. In particular, the new 300 series Mark Levinson amplifiers will:

• toggle between standby an d operate in conjunction with the Nº38(S) they are Linked to;

• when in st an db y , a l l of t h e sta ndby ind i c a t o r L E Ds (so u r c es, preamp and power amps) blink in sync with one another;

• report certain fault conditions to the preamplifier if they must shut down for some reason.

For this reason, it made sense to define a somewhat simpler communications Link between preamps and power amps. In this case, the Nº38 or Nº38S acts as the “master” to the power amplifier(s) “slave.” Multiple amps may be daisychained via their slave in and slave out ports. The Nº38 runs this smaller “net- work” and passes necessary information back and forth as needed.

Hence, our seemingly confusing nomenclature on the rear panels of the various products. “Master” is connected to “Slave In”, then the daisy-chain continues to Slave Out, to Slave In, to Slave Out, etc., until you reach the preamplifier’s Slave input. From there, you connect the Nº38’s Master to the power amp’s Slave In. If you have more than one amp in the system, daisy chain them Slave Out to Slave In (up to a maximum of six amplifiers). (See sample diagram below.)

Nº37

Nº36

Nº38

Nº333

display intensity

aes/ebu emphasis

polarity

123456

invert

digital output

digital input

display intensity

aes/ebu emphasis

polarity

123456

invert

analog output

MADRIGAL AUDIO LABORATORIES

DUAL MONAURAL POWER AMPLIFIER

slave out

mode

teach ir

MADRIGAL AUDIO LABORATORIES

COMPACT DISC DRIVE

Nº 37 standby

slave in

Link

cable

master

mode

teach ir

MADRIGAL AUDIO LABORATORIES

DIGITAL PROCESSOR

Nº 36

standby

Link

cable

slaveany input

MADRIGAL AUDIO LABORATORIES

PREAMPLIFIER

Nº38 standby

master

Link

cable

slave in

Nº 333

Page 50

Which Cables Go Where? Having cleared up (we hope) the conceptual difficulty with how Linking works

12345678

(locking tab behind)

and with the names of the various Link communications ports, we move on to the purely pragmatic: what size cables do I use? Where?

The Link system uses standard telephone company modular connectors, similar to the ones used in your t elephone or comput er modem. All communications

cables through to the preamplifier use an eight-conductor flat cable with an eight-pin modular plug (RJ-45) at each end. These ca b l e s ar e mad e

“straight-through,” the same way the phone company uses them: Pin #1 at one end is connected to Pin #1 at the other end, #2 to #2, etc. The Pins are numbered from left to right as seen from the “pin” side of the modular plug, as shown below.

Counter-intuitively, you must insert a 180° twist in the wire to build this “straightthrough” cable (since the plugs are pointing in opposite directions), as shown below:

From Mark Levinson digital processor To Nº31.5

Locking tabLocking tab

8-Conductor Source Component Link Cable

The Link between the preamplifier and the first power amplifier is different: it uses a six-conductor version of the same idea, as shown below:

To Nº38 Master

To Nº333 Slave In

Locking tabLocking tab

6-Conductor Preamp-Amp Link Cable

If you have more than one power amplifier in the system, it is important to ensure that the daisy-chain is preserved: slave out to slave in, out to in, etc.

To minimize the chance of accidentally plugging a slave out to a slave out (which would damage the communications circuits), we use different sizes of modular connectors at each end of the power amp daisy chain. We are still using only six connections and therefore six conductors, but we have placed an eight- pin connector at the slave out end of the cable, as shown below:

Page 51

To Nº33x Slave Out To Nº33x Slave In

Locking tabLocking tab

6-Conductor Amp-Amp Link Cable

In this case, we use pins 1-6 of the e ight-p in connector in a “straight-through” connection, and leave pins 7-8 empty.

Using the latest software As we add features and functionality to the Link system, we sometimes need to

update associated software. If you are Linking a system with one or more older components (early Nº38’s, Nº30, Nº31, etc.), you may need to have your dealer replace a socketed EPROM in order to install the current version of that product’s software. If you think you may need new software, please contact your dealer with the softwar e code numbers of all Nº30 Series units in the syst em. Th is inf o r mation is typically shown during power-up as the word CODE followed by a combination of four numbers and/or letter. (Your dealer should be able to help you with this.)

Page 52

U si n g L earni n g Re m o t e C on trols

The Nº31.5 includes both an infrared receiver and an infrared transmitter. With this capability, it can “teach” a learning remote control any commands that might be needed for remote operation that do not exist on the remote control itself.

Specifically, the Nº31.5 can send these additional IR commands from its display window, enabling you to teach a learning remote any or all of its front- (or top-) panel commands, as well as some optional special commands that are available to solve specific installation-related problems.

The Nº31.5 has two special modes of operation into which it may be placed in order to facilitate the “teaching” of remote control commands to a learning remote control. The first allows you to easily teach the commands for which there are corresponding front panel buttons. The second a llows you t o teach “special” commands to the remote control for which there are no corresponding front panel buttons.

Teaching Nº31.5 Front

Panel Commands

1 PRESS AND HOLD THE REPEAT DISC BUTTON TO ENTER THE FRONT PANEL

TEACHING MODE

The display will show TEACH IR to indicate that the Nº31. 5 is ready to teach a learning remote control the infrared commands that correspond to its front- and top-panel buttons.

If you change your mind, simply don’t touch any button for ten seconds and the Nº31.5 will return to normal operation. (Hint: you may remember that this special “hidden” feature of the Nº31.5 is accessed via a press-andhold of the repeat disc button by associating its use with the external IR “repeaters” so often used in custom installations; the functionality found here is of most value in such installations.)

2 PRESS ANY FRONT- OR TOP-PANEL BUTTON TO CAUSE THE Nº31.5

TO SEND THE CORRESPONDING IR COMMAND

Line up the IR window of your remote control with the right side of the Nº31.5 display (to the right of where seconds normally display), at a distance of ap proximately 2"-6". Select the to-be-learned button on the rem ote, then press the corresponding button on the Nº31.5 to fire the appropriate IR code. The display will change to indicate the sending of the IR signal:

sending c ode . W h en it rev e rts to TEACH IR, it is ready to issue the next

command to be learned.

Most learning remotes need to be held fairly still while they learn new IR commands; movement can garble the received IR. If you are uncertain as to how to prepare your remote control for learning new commands, refer to the instructions provided with the remote control.

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3 REPEAT THE PROCESS OF “TEACHING” NEW COMMANDS TO THE

VARIOUS BUTTONS ON YOUR REMOTE CONTROL UNTIL ALL APPROPRIATE OR DESIRED FRONT PANEL COMMANDS HAVE BEEN LEARNED BY YOUR REMOTE

4 WHEN FINISHED, EXIT THE TEACH IR MODE BY ALLOWING THE Nº31.5 TO

“TIMEOUT”

You may wish to teach your remote control some of the Nº31.5’s special commands (those for which there is no corresponding panel button); in this case, you should go directly to the next section. Otherwise, simply avoid pressing any buttons for about ten seconds, and the Nº31.5 will automatically return to normal operation.

At some point, however, you should test all your newly “learned” commands to ensure that they were “learned” correctly.

Teaching Other

Nº31.5 Commands

As mentioned above, the Nº31.5 has the capability to teach learning remote controls special commands for which there are no front panel counterparts. These commands can be especially helpful in solving problems in certain kinds of custom installations.

These “positive control” commands in the Nº31.5 will place it into a certain mode of operation regardless of its current state. For example, a positive control command to enter standby will leave the Nº31.5 in standby if already there, or switch it to standby if it is currently operating. This type of positive control is especially helpful when you do not necessarily know the current status of the Nº31.5, as might be the case in a multi-room home entertainment system (for example).

1 PLACE THE Nº31.5 IN ITS FRONT PANEL TEACHING MODE

As explained on the previous page, you do this by pressing and holding the

repeat disc button until the display rea d s TE ACH IR. If no further bu ttons

are pressed within ap proximately ten seconds, the Nº31.5 will “time out” and return to normal operation.

2 RELEASE, THEN PRESS AND HOLD THE REPEAT DISC BUTTON A SECOND

TIME TO PLACE THE Nº31.5 IN ITS CUSTOM IR MODE

After about five seco nds, the display will ch ange from TEACH IR to

IR CODE 01. This indicates tha t the special IR c od es that d o not correspon d

to front-panel buttons are now available for teaching to a learning remote control—including some that are designed to solve problems unique to custom installations.

3 PRESS THE REPEAT DISC BUTTON REPEATEDLY TO ADVANCE TO THE

DESIRED FUNCTION

The table on the next page lists the various commands that are available for the Nº31.5 for which there is no front-panel equivalent. In some cases, they represent “positive control” alternatives to commands which normally toggle between two settings (such as standby and operate). In other cases, they represent functions which exist only on the remote control. In the second column are the designations that will be displayed to indicate that the Nº31.5 is ready to fire the corresponding IR code.

Page 54

Pressing repeat disc will advance you to the next command in the table; when you re ach the end of the list, the Nº31.5 will return to the beginning. If no button is pushed for more than ten second s, the Nº31.5 will “time out” and return to normal operation.

special commands table

Command Display

positive “operate ” OP ERATE positi v e “stan db y” STAND BY positive “stop w/o moving lid” STOP, NO LID positive “display intensity to off” DISPLAY OFF positive “display intensity to medium” DISPLAY MED positive “leave pause” UNPAUSE positive “enter pause” PAUSE positive “turn off repeat” REPEAT OFF positive “turn on index mode” INDEX ON positive “turn off index mode” INDEX OFF positive “open lid” OPEN LID positive “close lid” CLOSE LID sing l e-b utt on “ran do m pl a y” RANDOM PLAY switch to analog-input switching mode ANALOG MODE switch to digital-input switching mode DIGITAL MODE

4 MOMENTARILY PRESS THE DISPLAY INTENSITY BUTTON TO TRANSMIT THE

SELECTED IR CODE

Line up the IR window of your remote control with the right side of the display of the Nº31.5, at a distance of approximately 2"-6". Select the to-belearned button on the remote, then fire the selected code from the Nº31.5 by pressing display intensity. The Nº31.5’ s d isplay will s how sendi n g c ode during the IR transmission.

(If you are uncerta in as to how to prepare your remote cont rol for learning new co mmands, refer to the instructions provide d with the rem ote con trol .)

5 REPEAT THE PROCESS OF “TEACHING” NEW SPECIAL COMMANDS

UNTIL ALL DESIRED COMMANDS HAVE BEEN LEARNED BY YOUR REMOTE CONTROL.

If yo u tak e longer than approximately ten secon ds between button pus hes, the Nº31.5 will time out and return to normal operation. If this occurs, return to step #1 in this section. You may cycle through the entire list by pressing repeat disc repeatedly.

6 WHEN FINISHED, RETURN TO NORMAL OPERATION BY ALLOWING THE

Nº31.5 TO “TIME OUT”

The Nº31.5 will “timeout” and return to normal operation after approximately ten seconds.

Page 55

Troubleshooting

In general, refer any service problems to your Mark Levinson dealer. Before contacting your dealer, however, check to see if the problem is listed here. If it is, try the suggested solutions. If none of these solves the problem, contact your Mark Levinson dealer.

1. THE Nº31.5 WON’T FUNCTION, AND THE DISPLAY IS DARK.

✓ The unit is is standby. Press the standby button. ✓ The Nº31.5 isn’t plugged into the AC mains or the main power

switch isn’t turned on.

✓ The wall socket, adapter, or extension cord is faulty. ✓ There’s a tripped circuit breaker or blown fuse in the wall outlet’s

circuit.

✓ A fuse is blown in your Nº31.5 (contact your Mark Levinson

dealer).

2. THE DISPLAY IS LIT, BUT THERE IS NO OUTPUT

✓ The proper source isn’t selected on your digital processor. ✓ The proper source isn’t selected on your preamplifier. ✓ The interconnecting cables are connected incorrectly or are faulty.

3. THE Nº31.5 DISPLAY READS “NO DISC”

✓ There is no disc in the drawer for the transport to read. ✓ The disc is upside down and therefore cannot be read. ✓ The disc has loaded improperly and cannot be read—open the

drawer, ensure that the disc is placed properly in the drawer, and try again.

4. THE Nº31.5 DISPLAY READS “NO DAMPER”

✓ There is no damper in the transport well; reopen the lid and

place the damper on the disc.

✓ The damper is incorrectly positioned; center it on the CD

spindle.

✓ The lid was interrupted before it could close, and therefore could

not sense the damper’s presence; remove the obstruction and allow the lid to close.

5. THE Nº31.5 WON’T PLAY A CD INSERTED IN THE PLAYER.

✓ The CD is inserted upside down. Be sure to insert it shiny side

down (label side up).

✓ There may be condensation (moisture) on the laser pickup. This

can happen if the Nº31.5 is moved from a cold environment (such as a warehou s e or a shipper’s truck) to a warm, hu mid one. Set the main power switch to its "|" position, and leave it on for at least one hour to warm up, then try playing a CD again.

6. WHEN A CD IS PLAYING, THE SOUND "SKIPS."

✓ The CD is severely scratched or dirty. ✓ The Nº31.5 is on an unstable surface or is too close to your

speakers.

Page 56

6. THE LINKED FUNCTIONS DON’T WORK.

✓ Try to SET OPTIONS (press and hold display mode). Once you

have SET OPTIONS in the display, click on display mode a couple times. If the display never advances beyond INDEX Ø, then your Link connection is not active. Check your Link cables.

✓ There is no “master” on the Link system: a Mark Levinson digital

processor normally serves as central clearinghouse of information being passed from one component to the next. Without it, the Linking system cannot work.

✓ The digital audio cable is disconnected, or is connected incor-

rectly (in which case the display link function would continue to work correctly, but many others would not work).

✓ Try turning off/disconnecting AC power from both the processor

and the Nº31.5. After several seconds, restore AC power to the digital processor, then turn on the Nº31.5’s main power s witch.

✓ You may have older versions of the system software in your asso-

ciated Mark Levinson components which do not fully support all Settin g O pt io ns .

Mark Levinson components normally displa y a “code” number when powering up that corresponds to the version number of their software. (On the Nº31.5, you can also display this

number by pressing and holding the

code number for each component. With this information, your dealer can determine whether you need to update some software in your system. If so, new EPROMs will be provided at no charge.

stop

butto n.) Write down the

7. THE REMOTE CONTROL DOESN’T OPERATE THE Nº31.5.

✓ The R e mote Control is a t the wrong an gle re lative to t he Nº31.5,

and the Nº31.5 can’t receive the signal.

✓ The sensor window on the front panel of the Nº31.5 is dirty or

blocked.

✓ The Remote Control’s projection lens is dirty. ✓ Fluorescent lighting or sunlight is interfering with the operation

of the Remote Control.

✓ The Remote Control’s batteries are weak and need to be replaced. ✓ The Remote Control’s batteries are installed incorrectly.

Page 57

Car e an d M ain ten an c e

To remove dust from the cabinet of the Nº31.5, use a feather duster. To remove dirt and fingerprints, we recommend isopropyl alcohol and a soft cloth.

Caution! Always apply the isopropyl alcohol to the soft cloth and then

wipe the Nº31.5 with the dampened cloth. Never pour or spray even small amounts of any liquid directly on the Nº31.5, as doing so may allow the liquid to reach the circuitry inside the unit. Any liquid inside the unit poses a hazard to both the user and to the unit, and must be avoided.

Make sure that the Remote sensor window on the front panel and the Remote Control’s projection lens are kept clean and dust-free.

Fluorescent lighting and sunlight may interfere with the operation of the Remote Control. Avoid placing the Nº31.5 near fluorescent lamps or in direct sunlight.

When the Remote Control’s batteries need to be replaced, use only AA batteries; always replace both batteries at the same time. If you don’t plan to use the Remote Control often, remove the batteries. When not used for an ext ended period, even “leakproof” batteries can leak corrosive acids that will damage the Remote Control (and will void the warranty).

A CD, handled carefully, will last indefinitely. A warped, dusty, or scratched CD can cause playback problems, including audible skipping or other noises. Handle a CD by the outer edges only; if necessary, support it with your index finger at the center hole.

When you’re finished playing a CD, always return it to its plastic case. Store your CDs where they won’t be exposed to direct sunlight, high humidity, or extremely high or low temperatures.

Page 58

U.S . and Canadi an Warranty

90-Day Limited Warranty This Mark Levinson

workmanship under normal use for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of purchase. To extend the warranty of this Mark Levinson product, return the war- ranty registration card along with a copy of the original receipt of purchase to Madrigal Audio Laboratories, Inc., P. O. Box 781, Middletown, CT 06457.

Fiv e Year Extended Warran ty The extended warranty for this Mark Levinson product is five (5) years from the

date of purchase. During the warranty period, any Mark Levinson component exhibiting defects in materials and/or workmanship will be repaired or replaced, at our option, without charge for either parts or labor, at our factory. The warranty will not apply to any Mark Levinson component that has been misused, abused or altered.

Any Mark Levinson component not performing satisfactorily may be returned to the factory for evaluation. Return authorization must first be obtained by either calling or writing the factory prior to shipping the component. The factory will pay for return shipping charges only in the event that the component is found to be defective as above mentioned. There are other stipulations that may apply to shipping charges.

There is no other express warranty on this component. Neither this warranty nor any other warranty, express or implied, including any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness, shall extend beyond the warranty period. No responsibility is assumed for any incidental or consequential damages. Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts and other states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so that the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.

product is warranted to be free from defects in material and

This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state. This warranty is applicable in the United States and Canada only. Outside of the U.S. and Canada, please contact yo ur local, autho- rized Mark Levinson distributor for warranty and service information.

Page 59

Obt aining Servic e

We take great pride in our dealers. Experience, dedication, and integrity make these professionals ideally suited to assist with our customers’ service needs.

If yo ur Mark Levinson compo nent must be serviced, please contact your dea ler. Your dealer will then decide whether the problem can be remedied locally, or whether to contact Madrigal for further service information or parts, or to obtain a Return Authorization. The Madrigal Technical Services Department works closely with your dealer to solve your service needs expediently.

Important! Return authorization must be obtained from Madrigal’s

Technical Services Department BEFORE a unit is shipped for service.

It is extremely important that information about a problem be explicit and complete. A specific, comprehensive description of the problem helps your dealer and the Madrigal Technical Services Department locate and repair the difficulty as quickly as possible.

A copy of the original bill of sale will serve to verify warranty status. Please include it with the unit when it is brought in for warranty service.

Warning! All returned units must be properly packaged (preferably in

their original packing material), and the proper return authorization numbers must be marked on the outer carton for identification. If the packaging to protect the unit is, in our opinion or that of our dealer, inadeq uate to protect the unit, we reserve the right to repackage it for return shipment at the owner’s expense. Neither Madrigal nor your dealer can be responsible for shipping dam age due to improper (that is, non-original) packaging.

Your dealer can order a new set of shipping materials for you if you need to ship your component and no longer have the original materials. There will be a charge for this service. We strongly recommend saving all packing materials in case you need to ship your unit some day.

Page 60

Specifi c ati ons

The correlation between published specifications and sonic quality is unreliable. A list of numbers reveals virtually nothing. All technical measurements must be subject to qualitative as well as quantitative interpretation.

Measurements of the Nº31.5 yield excellen t results by any standards. However, only those specifications that apply to its actual operation are included here.

■ Direct digital output, XLR: AES/EBU 110Ω, 3.5V

■ Direct digital output, RCA: S/PDIF 75Ω, 0.5V

■ Direct digital output, ST: Hewlett-Packard® ST optical

■ Direct digital output, EIAJ: Sharp® EIAJ optical

■ Mains voltage: 100V, 120V, 200V, 220V, 240V,

factory set for destination country only

■ Mains frequency: 50 or 60 Hz,

factory set for destination country only

■ Power consumption: 36 watts maximum

■ Overall dimensions: See Dimensions

■ Shipping weight: 63 lbs. (28 kg)

■ Connector complement: 1 male XLR-type connector

1 female RCA-type connector

1 ST-type optical connector

1 EIAJ-type optical connector

2 RJ45 connectors

1 IEC mains connector

(with built-in fuse holder)

Madrigal provides an owner-transferable, five year limited warranty on all Mark Lev i nson products with in t he U. S. and Canada ONLY. Warranty and service policies outside the U. S. and Canada are set by the local, authorized distributor and ar e appl ic abl e in t h e c oun try of pu r c h ase ONLY. Madri g al products are designed to operate at set voltages appropriate for the country of sale and may be damaged if operated at the wrong voltage.

Page 61

Di m ensi ons

19.375"

49.21 cm

11.861"

30.13 cm

1.100"

2.79 cm

5.560"

14.12 cm

11.93"

30.30 cm

12.261"

31.14 cm

13.726"

34.86 cm

.308"

.782 cm

5.432"

13.80 cm

Page 62

I nst al lat ion Note s

Software Code Version: _______ Sent in Warranty Registration? Yes / No

Page 63

Page 64

Madrigal Audio Laboratories, Inc.

2081 South Main Street, P.O. Box 781

Middletown, Connecticut 06457 USA

Telephone: (860) 346-0896

Fax: (860) 346-1540

http://www.madrigal.com/

is a registered trademark of Madrigal Audio Laboratories, Inc.

MADRIGAL AUDIO LABORATORIES

a Harman International company

Madrigal Audio Mark Levinson N31.5 Operating Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual