Mark Levinson 383 Owner's Manual

Owner’s Manual

Nº383

Integrated

Amplifier

R

MADRIGAL AUDIO LABORATORIES

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/MLOM.htm

Important Safety Instructions

Please read all instructions and precautions carefully and completely before operating your Mark Levinson® integrated amplifier.

1.ALWAYS disconnect your entire system from the AC mains before connecting or disconnecting any cables, or when cleaning any component.

2.This product must be terminated 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.

3.AC extension cords are not recommended for use with 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® retailer.

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.

15.ALWAYS unplug sensitive electronic equipment during lightning storms.

	From all of us at Madrigal Audio Laboratories, thank you for choosing the Mark
	Levinson Nº383 Integrated Amplifier.
4	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

	Special Design Features of the Nº383 Integrated Amplifier	........ 7
	why an integrated? ............................................................................	7
	the power supplies .............................................................................	7
	the preamplifier ..................................................................................	8
	the volume control .............................................................................	8
	the power amplifier ............................................................................	8
	protection ..........................................................................................	8
	the remote control & user experience .................................................	9
	communication ..................................................................................	9
	construction .....................................................................................	10
	Unpacking and Placement .......................................................	11
	unpacking ........................................................................................	11
	installing the batteries in the remote control .....................................	11
	placement ........................................................................................	11
	continuous operation .......................................................................	11
	ventilation ........................................................................................	12
	Operating Voltage...................................................................	13
	Warm up & break-in period ...............................................................	13
	A Quick Start…........................................................................ 14
	Front Panel .............................................................................	15
	sleep timer .....................................................................................	18
	Rear Panel ...............................................................................	19	5
	a note about the inputs and outputs	19
	tip polarity for external IR input .......................................................	21
	building a link cable .......................................................................	22
	Remote Control .......................................................................	25
	Customizing Your Nº383 .........................................................	28
	setup overview .................................................................................	28
	the menu system ..............................................................................	28
	configuring line level inputs ..............................................................	29
	available input names ....................................................................	29
	changing input names ...................................................................	30
	input programming tip ..................................................................	30
	factory default input names ..............................................................	30
	using custom input names .............................................................	31
	naming an input “SSP” ...................................................................	31
	setting input gain...........................................................................	31
	setting input offsets ........................................................................	32
	setting record out ..........................................................................	33
	teach ir .............................................................................................	33
	setting a mute level ..........................................................................	33
	setting a maximum level ...................................................................	34
	configuring the DC trigger ...............................................................	34
	checking the software version ..........................................................	34

continued next page…

		.....................Using the Nº383 with Learning Remote Controls	35
		using the teach ir menu ...................................................................	35
		available ir commands ......................................................................	36
		Modes of Operation ................................................................	37
		normal operation .............................................................................	37
		the balance mode ............................................................................	37
		balance control tip .........................................................................	38
		polarity .............................................................................................	38
		reset defaults ....................................................................................	38
		Using Surround Sound Processors ............................................	40
		the SSP must not come after the preamp ..........................................	40
		the SSP must not come before the preamp ........................................	40
		the SSP must not be in a tape loop ...................................................	41
		the SSP & the Nº383 .........................................................................	41
		noise in a/v systems ..........................................................................	41
		Linked Functions .....................................................................	43
		display intensity ................................................................................	43
		standby link ......................................................................................	43
		volume link ......................................................................................	43
		select link .........................................................................................	43
		play link ...........................................................................................	44
		record link ........................................................................................	44
		HDCD™ link .....................................................................................	44
		Care and Maintenance .............................................................	45
		U.S. and Canadian Warranty ....................................................	46
		90-day limited warranty ....................................................................	46
	6	five year extended warranty .............................................................	46
		Obtaining Service	47
		Specifications ..........................................................................	48
		Dimensions, Nº383 Integrated Amplifier ..................................	49

Special Design Features of the

Nº383 Integrated Amplifier

why an integrated? For over 25 years, the Mark Levinson brand has been associated with the world finest separate components. So why, after all this time, do we introduce an integrated amplifier?

Actually, we have been thinking of creating an integrated amplifier that we would want to put the Mark Levinson name on for years. But creating such a product, one that does not compromise or tarnish the reputation of the Mark Levinson brand, required a great deal of thought and work. Sonic performance, construction details and sophisticated operation all help define what is a Mark Levinson – and what is not. We had no desire to simply put our name on a product that many would not consider a “real” Levinson.

Thus the challenge was clear: we needed to create an integrated amplifier that would do justice to Mark Levinson’s reputation. Some of the strategies necessary to achieve this goal include:

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the power supplies Three power supplies divide the task of providing clean and stable DC power to the various circuit elements. Common mode and differential filtering capacitors are used on the AC mains input to pre-filter high frequency noise. Both AC mains fuses and an AC mains relay are used in the overall protection scheme.

All communications and control circuitry are powered from a separate, low-voltage DC supply. This approach also prevents noise generated by control and communications circuitry from finding its way into the audio circuits.

As one would expect in a Mark Levinson amplifier, left and right channel audio circuits are powered by two independent power supplies. Large custom-designed toroidal transformers are used to reduce the AC mains voltage to the ±60Vrms required for the audio supplies. Independent rectification and filtering is followed by active regulation for voltage gain and volume control circuits.

Separate power supplies for left and right channels ensure that demand from one channel cannot modulate the power supply of the adjacent channel. This dual-mono approach results in the most effortless reproduction of dynamic contrast as well as stable and detailed stereo imaging.

the preamplifier Five analog input pairs are provided for use with balanced (2 pr. XLR) and single-ended (3 pr. RCA) sources. The inputs are independently buffered. As with other Mark Levinson preamplifiers, un-selected inputs have both their signal and ground connections lifted, eliminating a possible path where noise may enter the chassis.

The overall gain for the preamplifier section may be adjusted to optimize performance with each input, easily accommodating unusually highand lowline level source components within the same system. This degree of optimization was first offered in the Nº32 Reference Preamplifier.

All single-ended source signals are converted to balanced at the input and remain balanced up to the final current gain stage of the amplifier. In this respect as in so many others, the Nº383 emulates the topology of Mark Levinson separate components. The result is low noise, highly dynamic and detailed resolution of the music signal.

the volume control Precision electronic control of analog volume has been a standard feature of Mark Levinson preamplifiers for nearly a decade. Dual solidstate stepped attenuators offer precision attenuation of balanced analog signals. Local supply regulation and passive bypass components are

8 used to assure optimum results. As with so many of the individual component parts used in Mark Levinson products, selections were based on extensive listening tests. As it has always been, carefully controlled listening tests are crucial to the design process at Madrigal.

the power amplifier The Nº383 output stage uses the same devices (12 per channel) as the Mark Levinson 300-series and Nº33H amplifiers. All output devices are sorted by Madrigal technicians, allowing us to construct each channel using transistors of closely matched gain. In this way, we ensure that no one device works harder or runs hotter than any of its neighbors. The result is a better sounding, longer lasting amplifier.

The large output capability of this amplifier required that proper cooling be a consideration in the design. Output transistors are widely spaced along the current gain circuit board in order to facilitate heat dissipation. Ventilation is provided by custom heatsink extrusions mounted on the sides of the chassis.

protection Protection from internal or external component failure is an integral feature of the Mark Levinson design philosophy. The Nº383 employs several forms of protection, both for its own self-preservation as well as the protection of loudspeakers and other components to which it is

connected. Pre-filtering the AC line using capacitors and thermistors helps prevent damage from an occasional or prolonged influx of surges and spikes. An AC mains relay can be switched off when called upon by one of the Nº383’s other protection systems.

Thermal protection is controlled by four sensors mounted on each rail of the left and right channel output stages. If a sensor detects excessive heat, it instructs the amplifier to switch itself off. Thermal switches located inside each transformer housing will disconnect power if the transformer overheats.

Soft-clip circuits are used to prevent high-energy, high-frequency ringing artifacts from reaching and damaging loudspeakers if the amplifier is over-driven.

When the amplifier is over-driven for prolonged periods, or if a loudspeaker cable or output device has shorted, over-current protection switches the amplifier off.

DC servos are used to correct for potentially damaging DC-offset from a source component. As with other Mark Levinson components, the correction range is ±1V. If the problem exceeds the servo’s range, the amplifier will be switched off.

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the remote control A newly designed remote offers complete control in a small and elegant & user experience package. External control by IR is also offered via an eighth-inch mini-

jack on the rear panel, should the Nº383 be inside a cabinet where the IR commands cannot reach.

The user interface of the Nº383 is rooted in the advanced design of the Nº32 Reference Preamplifier. Large knobs for volume and input select help the unit retain the tactile benefits and functionality of traditional preamplifier designs. Of particular interest, inputs may be named appropriately, and the selector knob cycles only between those inputs that are actually used. In other words, the Nº383 can operate as if it were custom-designed for each source component.

communication The Nº383 features a software-controlled operating system that can be updated via its RS-232 port, located on the rear panel. Full compatibility with older Mark Levinson Linking communications buses makes the Nº383 ideal for customers who use Mark Levinson source components.

Two eighth-inch mini-jacks are provided to facilitate DC-trigger control. Triggers are set for level input and output.

construction Regardless of the technology used, numerous details must be executed to fully realize the potential of a Mark Levinson design. The quality of individual components, the care and craftsmanship with which they are assembled and the exhaustive inspection and testing we employ help raise the value of Mark Levinson products. The Nº383 is built to the same high construction standards as all other Mark Levinson products.

In addition to yielding the best performance, careful attention to details is the secret of achieving both reliability and longevity.

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Unpacking and Placement

unpacking Unpack your Nº383 Integrated Amplifier and keep all packing materials for future transport. Locate and remove all accessory items from the Accessory Box within the Controller shipping carton. Accessories include:

1detachable AC power cord

1Nº383 remote control

2AAA alkaline batteries

Also included with your new Mark Levinson component is a pair of knit, white gloves 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.

installing the batteries Using a #3 (small) Philips head screwdriver, remove the three screws in in the remote control the bottom plate of the remote control. Insert the two alkaline batteries

found in the Accessories box, being careful to follow the polarity indi-

cations given on the inside of the battery compartment. Replace the

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end cap and the screws.

If at some point you notice that your remote control seems not to be performing as well as it once did, its batteries are probably running low. Check the batteries periodically, and replace batteries before they are “dead.” (Fully discharged batteries are prone to leaking corrosive chemicals—the greenish “gunk” you may have seen around battery terminals of other remote controls.)

placement The Nº383 should generally be placed close to your source equipment, thus keeping interconnect cabling short. We strongly recommend mounting the Nº383 on its own shelf to allow for proper ventilation.

continuous operation The Nº383 is designed for continuous operation—it is designed to be connected to the AC mains at all times for the best performance. While we also include a front-panel power switch that actually disconnects the Nº383 from the AC mains, we recommend you use the standby button instead, which leaves the voltage gain stages of the Nº383 warmed up and sounding their best at all times.

(The exception to this suggestion is if you are going to be away for a prolonged period of time, perhaps on vacation.)

ventilation Be sure to allow 3 to 4 inches (8-10 cm) of clearance above the Nº383
	to allow heat dissipation through air circulation. Drawings are included
	in this manual to facilitate special installations and custom cabinetry
	(see “Dimensions”).
Caution!	It is extremely important that all components in your
	system be properly grounded. Do not defeat a three-
	prong AC cords with “ground-lifter” or “cheater”
	adaptors, as doing so may allow dangerous voltages to
	build up between components. The presence of these
	voltages would pose a threat to both your person and
	your equipment.

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Operating Voltage

The Nº383 Integrated Amplifier is set at the factory (internally) for 100V, 120V, 230V, 220V, or 240V AC mains operation @ 50 or 60Hz. (230V/50Hz only in European Union countries, in compliance with CE regulations.) This voltage setting cannot be changed by the user.

Make sure that the label near the AC receptacle of the Nº383 indicates the correct AC operating voltage for your location.

If the voltage indicated on your Nº383 is incorrect, or if you wish to change the AC operating voltage of your Nº383 as the result of moving to a different country than the one in which you purchased your preamplifier, see your Mark Levinson dealer.

The Nº383 is 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.

Warm up & Although your Mark Levinson Nº383 Integrated Amplifier delivers

break-in period outstanding performance straight out of the box, you should expect to

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hear it continue to improve as it reaches its normal operating temperatures and its various components “break-in.” It has been our experience that the greatest changes occur within the first 25-50 hours, but that the Nº383 will continue to improve in sound quality for about 300 hours, after which time it remains quite constant.

The only exception to this rule is if power is removed from the unit, allowing it to cool down. In this case you should expect a brief warm-up period before its sound quality is at its best. (Fortunately, you do not have to repeat the full 300-hour break-in period.)

		A Quick Start…
		We recognize that many people are understandably eager to begin lis-
		tening to their new components, and that reading the manual is often
		done (if at all) at a later time—perhaps while listening to music
		through the new product itself. We strongly recommend that you read
		this manual thoroughly, as the Nº383 Integrated Amplifier incorpo-
		rates many unusual features which 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 system while
		reading more about it. The goal here is simply to make some music
		quickly.
		1 Turn off your associated components.
		This minimizes the opportunity for a momentary electrical surge
		to disturb your system while making connections.
		2 Connect a source to any input, noting which you use.
	14	For example, connect the balanced outputs of your CD player to
		the Left and Right Input 1 XLR jacks on the rear panel of your
		Nº383. High quality interconnecting cables such as Madrigal CZ
		Gel will yield superior results, and are strongly recommended.
		3 Connect your speaker cables to the appropriate speaker ter-
		minals on the rear of the Nº383.
		We recommend high quality spade lugs for your speaker cables, as
		they combine the largest surface area with the possibility of a
		good, tight mechanical connection. In fact, the Madrigal-designed
		speaker terminals were specifically designed to allow tight connec-
		tions without having to resort to finger-busting effort, or special
		tools (that are never around when you need them).
		4 Turn on your source component; turn on your Nº383; select
		the appropriate input using the Select knob; slowly raise
		the volume on the Nº383 to a comfortable level
		Congratulations! You should now be able to enjoy your favorite
		music while reading the rest of this manual. (You are going to read
		the rest of this manual, aren’t you?)

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3

4

5

polarity

	select	CD		47.3	volume		MADRIGAL AUDIO LABORATORIES
power	display intensity	setup	enter	balance		mute	standby

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7

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10

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Front Panel

1 Power Button

This button connects and disconnects the Nº383 from the AC	15
mains power. It is normally intended to be left engaged at all
times, unless you plan to be away from your home for an extended
period. By using the standby button rather than power to turn
the system on and off, the Nº383 can remain warmed up and
sounding its best at all times. It can also respond to commands
from its remote control when in standby, something it obviously
cannot do when disconnected from AC mains power.
Should you disconnect the Nº383 from power for an extended pe-
riod, either via this power button or by pulling its plug, it may
require a few hours to return to thermal equilibrium and optimal
sonic performance.

2Select Knob

This knob is normally used to select among the various inputs of the Nº383, with the resulting selections being shown in the display window, immediately to the right of the select knob.

The select knob is also used during setup to select among various menu items available (the volume knob is used to actually adjust those items).