Mark Levinson 30 Owners Manual

Operating Manual

Mark Levinson

Nº30

Reference Digital

Processor

Madrigal Audio Laboratories, Inc.

Important safety instructions

Please read all instructions and precautions carefully and completely before operating your Nº30 Reference Digital Processor.

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. 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.

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

5. NEVER operate this product with any covers removed.

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

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

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

9. NEVER bypass any fuse.

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

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

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

13. NEVER operate this product in an explosive atmosphere.

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

From all of us at Madrigal Audio Laboratories, thank you for choosing the Mark Levinson® Nº30 Reference Digital Processor.

A great deal of effort went into the design and construction of this precision device. Used properly, it will give you many years of enjoyment.

Table of contents

Front panel, Nº30 .........................................................................................1

Display, Nº30 ................................................................................................ 4

Rear panel, Nº30 ......................................................................................... 5

Male XLR output connector (analog) .......................................... 5

Female XLR input connector (digital) .......................................... 6

Male XLR output connector (digital) ............................................ 7

Rear panel, PLS-330 .................................................................................... 8

AC power cord polarity ................................................................. 9

Unpacking and placement .....................................................................10

Unpacking ............................................................................................ 10

Placement ........................................................................................... 10

Ventilation ............................................................................................ 10

Custom installations ............................................................................ 10

Voltage selection ......................................................................................11

Set-up and installation .............................................................................. 12

Assigning input aliases ........................................................................ 12

DIP switch positions for input aliases ........................................... 14

Preset DIP switch positions ........................................................... 14

Connectors and cable ....................................................................... 15

Accommodating digital sources with only RCA digital output ..... 15

Power connection and system activation ....................................... 16

Care and maintenance ...........................................................................17

Specifications ............................................................................................18

About de-emphasis… ......................................................................... 18

Dimensions................................................................................................. 19

Nº30 Reference Digital Processor ............................................... 19

PLS-330 Power Supply ................................................................... 20

8 9 4 10 6 2

display

intensity

polarity

invert

digital record

select

copy protect aes/ebu emphasis

12345678

Front panel, Nº30

1 standby

Provided the Nº30 is connected to AC power (via the PLS-330), pressing this button takes the Nº30 out of "standby" mode, turns the Display on, and enables the front-panel controls.

Pressing standby again places the Nº30 into standby mode, turns the Display off, and disables the front-panel controls.

MADRIGAL AUDIO LABORATORIES

REFERENCE DIGITAL

PROCESSOR

Nº 30

standby

PRECAUTION

2 standby LED

While the Nº30 is in standby mode, this LED flashes every five seconds. When the Nº30 is ready to operate (that is, when it's not in standby mode), this LED remains lighted.

3 Source selection buttons

Pressing these buttons selects the digital source, according to the input connections on the rear panel (see "Rear panel, Nº30"). Only one source at a time may be selected.

When changing source material with a digital source (like a DAT) that selects among different sampling frequencies, the Nº30 can generate a transient "click" as it locks onto the new sampling frequency. To prevent this click from coming through your loudspeakers, adjust your system's volume control to its lowest level before changing source material.

When power is first applied to the Nº30 (or when power is restored after an interruption), source 1 is automatically selected.

When the Nº30 is taken out of standby mode, the source last selected before going into standby will be automatically selected.

4 Display

See "Display, Nº30."

5 display intensity

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

When power is first applied to the Nº30 (or when power is restored after an interruption), the Display is automatically set to its brightest level.

Pressing the display intensity button once dims the Display one level; pressing it again dims it further; pressing it again turns the Display off. Pressing display intensity once more returns the Display to its brightest level.

6 digital record select

Pressing this button allows you to select the digital source you want to record.

It's possible to record a different digital source than the one selected for listening.

To record a digital source, press digital record select. The Nº30's Display will show RECORD followed by the source currently selected. For example:

PRECAUTION

If you want to record a different source than the one currently selected, press the corresponding source selection button; the Display will then show the input number of that source (for example, RECORD DBS2).

After a few seconds, the Display will return to normal.

When using a digital recorder (like a DAT) that also allows recording of analog signals, a specific combination of interconnections and settings on the digital recorder, the Nº30, and an associated preamplifier may create a "feedback loop" that may damage your system's loudspeakers. For guidance in avoiding such a feedback loop, consult your Mark Levinson dealer.

7 polarity invert

Pressing this button inverts the polarity of the digital signal, to compensate for differences in phase during the recording process. Some recordings may simply "sound better" when this function is active.

While polarity invert is selected, the LED above the button will light.

Note: polarity invert doesn't affect the digital outputs, and isn't available for inverting the polarity of digital signals to be recorded.

Note: polarity invert may be operated by infrared remote control, but only when the Nº30 is connected to certain compatible Mark Levinson components. Complete instructions are included in those components' operating manuals.

8 copy protect LED

This LED lights when the Nº30 detects encoded copy protection in the digital program being processed.

9 aes/ebu LED

This LED lights when the Nº30 detects that the digital program being processed conforms to the AES/EBU professional standard.

Note: The aes/ebu LED lights only when AES/EBU professionalstandard recording information is present in the data stream.

Using AES/EBU-standard interconnections doesn't activate this LED Playback of non-AES/EBU CDs or DATs won't activate the aes/ebu LED, even if the associated transport is connected according to the AES/EBU standard.

10 emphasis LED

This LED lights when the Nº30 detects recording pre-emphasis in the digital program being processed, and subsequently employs its de-emphasis circuitry (see "Specifications").

Note: The de-emphasis circuitry of the Nº30 is designed to be compatible with all known digital standards. Under certain conditions, however, the emphasis LED will light in error (that is, when the digital program doesn't contain recording preemphasis).

This isn't a malfunction of the Nº30. Rather, it's the result of incorrect signals generated by the program source's transport. Depending on your transport and how you operate it, you may never see this condition. Even when the condition exists, it has no effect on sonic quality.

unless

AES/EBU data is present in the source material.

Display, Nº30

1 2 3

1 Input alias

This part of the Nº30's Display shows the type of input selected, according to the settings of the internal DIP switches (see "Assigning input aliases" in the "Installation" section of this manual).

The input aliases available are: CD (Compact Disc), LD (Laser Disc), DBS (Digital Broadcast), DAT (Digital Audio Tape), VCR (Video Cassette), and AUX (other digital sources).

2 Input number

This part of the Nº30's Display shows the input number of the selected digital source, according to the connections on the rear panel (see "Rear panel, Nº30").

3 Sampling frequency

This part of the Nº30's Display shows the sampling frequency of the digital input being processed, expressed in kilohertz (kHz). One of three sampling frequencies will be shown: 32kHz, 44.1kHz, or 48kHz.

After you press one of the source selection buttons, the Nº30 will reduce the volume and this part of the Display will show:

While the Nº30 is attempting to lock onto a digital signal, this part of the Display will show:

If no digital signal is present (if the source is turned off, is improperly connected, or is disconnected), this part of the Display will show:

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