Mark Levinson 40 Owners Manual
Owner’s Manual
Nº40
Media
Console
Important Safety Instructions
1. Read these instructions.
2. Keep these instructions.
3. Heed all warnings.
4. Follow all instructions.
5. Do not use this apparatus near water.
6. Clean only with a dry cloth.
7. Do not block ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or another apparatus
that produces heat.
9. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two
blades with one wider than the other. A grounding-type plug has two blades and a third grounding
prong. The wide blade or third prong is provided for safety. If the provided plug does not fit into
the outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
10. Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched, particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, or the point where it exits from the apparatus.
11. Only use attachments and accessories specified by the manufacturer.
i
12. Install the unit so that the power switch can be accessed and operated at all times.
13. Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table specified by the manufacturer or
sold with the apparatus. When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus
combination to avoid injury or tip over.
14. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
15. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been
damaged in any way, such as when the power cord or plug has been damaged; liquid has been
spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus; or the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.
16. Ventilation should not be impeded by covering the ventilation openings with items such as newspapers, table cloths, curtains, and so on.
17. No naked flame sources, such as candles, should be placed on the apparatus.
18. The power cord is intended to be the safety disconnect device for this apparatus. Ready access to
the power cord should be maintained at all times.
19. Terminals marked with this symbol may be considered HAZARDOUS LIVE and the
external wiring connected to these terminals requires installation by an INSTRUCTED PERSON or the use of ready-made leads or cords.
Warning!
To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this apparatus to rain or moisture. Apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing. No objects filled with liquids, such as vases, shall
be placed on the apparatus.
FCC 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 harmful interference to radio or television reception,
which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, 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 an authorized Mark Levinson dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Caution!
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority
to operate the equipment.
Canada
This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada.
3 Oak Park
Bedford, MA 01730-1413 USA
Telephone: 781-280-0300
Fax: 781-280-0490
www.marklevinson.com
Customer Service
Telephone: 781-280-0300
Sales Fax: 781-280-0495
Service Fax: 781-280-0499
Product Shipments
16 Progress Road
Billerica, MA 01821-5730 USA
Part No. 070-17466 | Rev 0 | 03/06
“Mark Levinson” and the Mark Levinson logo are registered trademarks of Harman
International Industries. U.S. patent numbers and other worldwide patents issued and pending.
“Madrigal Audio Laboratories,” “Intelligent FIFO” and the Madrigal Audio Laboratories logo are
registered trademarks of Harman International Industries. U.S. patent numbers and other
worldwide patents issued and pending.
Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories. “Dolby,” “Pro Logic,” “Surround EX,”
and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.
Manufactured under license from Digital Theater Systems, Inc. U.S. Pat. No’s 5,451,942;
5,956,674; 5,974,380; 5,978,762; 6,226,616; 6,487,535 and other U.S. and world-wide patents
issued and pending. DTS, DTS-ES, NEO:6, and DTS 96/24 are trademarks of Digital Theater
Systems, Inc. Copyright 1996, 2003 Digital Theater Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
Manufactured under license from THX Ltd. U.S. patent numbers 5, 043,970; 5,189,703
and/or 5,222,059. European patent number 0323830. Other U.S. and foreign patents pending.
Ultra2, THX and Home THX are trademarks or registered trademarks of THX Ltd. Re-EQ,
Timbre Matching and Adaptive Decorrelation are trademarks of THX Ltd. THX may be
registered in some jurisdictions. All rights reserved. Surround EX is a trademark of Dolby
Laboratories. Used under authorization.
“HDMI,” the HDMI logo and High-Definition Multimedia Interface are trademarks or
registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC.
Microsoft, Windows, HDCD®, the HDCD logo and High Definition Compatible Digital® are
either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or
other countries.
“HDCP” and High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection are trademarks of Intel LLC.
“DVI” and Digital Video Interface are trademarks of the Digital Display Working Group.
Crestron® is a registered trademark of Crestron Electronics.
“Phastlink” is a trademark of PHAST Corporation.
AMX is a trademark of AMX Corporation.
Niles® is a registered trademark of Niles Audio Corporation.
PHAST® is a registered trademark of TranSwitch Corporation.
SHARC® is a registered trademark of Analog Devices, Inc.
“TosLink” is a registered trademark of Toshiba Corporation.
©2006 Harman International Industries, Incorporated. All rights reserved.
This document should not be construed as a commitment on the part of Harman Specialty
Group. The information it contains is subject to change without notice. Harman Specialty
Group assumes no responsibility for errors that may appear within this document.
ii
Table of Contents
Section 1: Getting Started
Document Conventions ....................................................1-1
Special Design Features ...................................................1-2
Modular Design ................................................................ 1-2
Extraordinary Flexibility ..................................................... 1-2
HDMI ............................................................................... 1-4
No-compromise Audio ...................................................... 1-6
THX Ultra2™ Processing ...................................................1-8
No-compromise Video ....................................................1-10
Installation Considerations .............................................1-13
Unpacking ..................................................................... 1-13
Product Registration ....................................................... 1-14
Placement and Ventilation .............................................. 1-14
Power Requirements ......................................................1-16
Break-in Period ...............................................................1-16
Operating States .............................................................1-16
While Reading the Manual... ..........................................1-17
Input Select .................................................................... 1-17
Volume .......................................................................... 1-17
Surround Mode .............................................................. 1-18
Sound Profile .................................................................. 1-18
Zone .............................................................................. 1-19
Preview .......................................................................... 1-19
iv
Section 2: Front Panel Operation
Video Processor Front Panel .............................................2-1
Power (AC Mains) Button .................................................. 2-2
Input Select Knob ............................................................. 2-2
LCD Display ...................................................................... 2-2
Zone Knob .......................................................................2-3
IR Window ....................................................................... 2-4
Preview Button ................................................................. 2-4
Display Mode Button ........................................................ 2-5
Menu Select Button .......................................................... 2-5
Enter Button .....................................................................2-6
Standby Button & LED Indicator ........................................ 2-6
Audio Processor Front Panel ............................................2-7
Power (AC Mains) Button .................................................. 2-7
Surround Mode Knob .......................................................2-8
Alpha-Numeric Display .....................................................2-9
Volume Knob ................................................................... 2-9
Sound Profile Button ........................................................ 2-9
Display Intensity Button .................................................. 2-10
Recall Button .................................................................. 2-10
Balance Button ............................................................... 2-10
Mute Button and LED Indicator ......................................2-12
Standby Button and LED Indicator .................................. 2-12
Table of Contents Mark Levinson
Section 3: Rear Panel Operation
Video Processor Rear Panel ............................................. 3-1
Composite Inputs ..............................................................3-2
Video Input Expansion ......................................................3-3
S-video Inputs ...................................................................3-3
Component Inputs ............................................................3-3
Video Input Expansion ......................................................3-4
Video RZone Expansion ....................................................3-4
Video RZones 1 & 2 ..........................................................3-4
Serial Number Label & IEC Power Input .............................3-5
Main S-video Output .........................................................3-6
Main Composite Output ....................................................3-6
Main Component Outputs ................................................3-6
Monitor Output ................................................................3-7
PHASTLink-Compatible Control Ports .................................3-7
RS-232 Control Ports .........................................................3-8
Nº40 Communications Port ...............................................3-9
DC Triggers ......................................................................3-9
IR input .............................................................................3-9
Audio Processor Rear Panel ........................................... 3-11
Balanced Analog Input ...................................................3-12
Audio Input Expansion Slot .............................................3-12
Single-ended Analog Inputs ............................................3-12
AES/EBU and S/PDIF on BNC Digital Inputs .....................3-13
S/PDIF on RCA and EIA-J Digital Inputs ............................3-14
v
Audio RZone Expansion ..................................................3-14
HDMI Inputs and HDMI Output .......................................3-14
Audio RZones 1 & 2 ........................................................3-16
Audio Processing and System Communications ...............3-16
IEC Power Input & Serial Number Label ...........................3-17
Front Left & Right Main Analog Outputs (slot A) ..............3-18
Center and Subwoofer Main Analog Outputs (slot B) .......3-18
Surround Left Rear & Right Main Analog Outputs (slot C) .3-19
Aux 1 & Aux 2 Main Analog Outputs (slot D) ...................3-20
Optional Equipment ...................................................... 3-21
Extra Input Modules ........................................................3-21
Extra RZone Cards ..........................................................3-22
Amp Communication Card ..............................................3-22
Digital Output Card ........................................................3-22
Six Channel Analog Input Card .......................................3-23
Section 4: Remote Control
Navigation Cluster ............................................................4-2
Enter Button .....................................................................4-2
Menu Button ....................................................................4-2
Input Select Rocker Button ................................................4-2
Surround Mode Rocker Button ..........................................4-3
Volume Rocker Button ......................................................4-3
Sound Profile Button .........................................................4-3
Balance Button .................................................................4-4
Mute Button .....................................................................4-5
F1, F2, F3 Function Keys ...................................................4-5
Light Button .....................................................................4-6
Nº40 Media Console Table of Contents
Standby Button ................................................................4-6
Battery Compartment ....................................................... 4-6
Section 5: Menu System
Overview .........................................................................5-1
Navigating The Menus ......................................................5-2
The About... Screen .........................................................5-5
System Locked/Unlocked ..................................................5-5
Personalization ................................................................. 5-5
The Speaker Setup Menu ..................................................5-6
Center Channel ............................................................... 5-6
Subwoofer Channel .......................................................... 5-6
Surround Channels ........................................................... 5-7
Aux Use ............................................................................ 5-7
Crossovers ...................................................................... 5-12
THX Audio Setup ............................................................ 5-14
Listening Position ........................................................... 5-15
Bass Peak Limiter ............................................................5-17
The Sound Profiles Menu ...............................................5-19
Name ............................................................................. 5-19
Listening Position ........................................................... 5-20
Mono Signal ...................................................................5-21
2 Channel Signal ............................................................5-21
Multichannel Signal ........................................................5-24
Level Trims ..................................................................... 5-26
Dolby Digital Compression ..............................................5-26
Front L/R HPF ................................................................. 5-27
Speaker Setup Changes .................................................. 5-28
2-channel Surround Backs ..............................................5-28
Surround Adjustments .................................................... 5-29
Triggers .......................................................................... 5-30
Delete This Profile ........................................................... 5-31
Add New ....................................................................... 5-31
The Define Inputs Menu .................................................5-32
Name ............................................................................. 5-32
HDMI ............................................................................. 5-33
Audio ............................................................................. 5-34
Video ............................................................................. 5-36
Sound Profile .................................................................. 5-38
Analog Input Offset ........................................................5-38
Main Audio Delay ........................................................... 5-39
Record Loop Check ........................................................ 5-40
Video Path ..................................................................... 5-40
Video Options ................................................................ 5-41
HDMI Options ................................................................ 5-44
Delete This Input ............................................................ 5-44
Move This Input ..............................................................5-45
Add New ....................................................................... 5-45
The Audio Defaults Menu ...............................................5-46
One Channel ..................................................................5-46
Two Channel .................................................................. 5-47
Multichannel .................................................................. 5-47
The User Options Menu .................................................5-49
Volume Options .............................................................5-49
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Table of Contents Mark Levinson
Display Options ..............................................................5-50
Control Options ..............................................................5-53
Surround Options ...........................................................5-55
The Output Zones Menu ............................................... 5-57
Main Zone Name ............................................................5-57
Default Video System ......................................................5-58
Component Type ............................................................5-58
Position ..........................................................................5-59
Message Backdrop ..........................................................5-60
Main Audio Delay ...........................................................5-60
Dolby Digital Downmix ...................................................5-60
RZone 1 Name ...............................................................5-61
Type ...............................................................................5-62
Audio Output .................................................................5-62
Digital Output ................................................................5-63
Dolby Digital Downmix ...................................................5-63
On Screen Text ...............................................................5-64
Message Backdrop ..........................................................5-64
The Audio Controls Menu .............................................. 5-65
Surround Mode ..............................................................5-65
Surround Adjust ..............................................................5-69
Balance ..........................................................................5-70
Listening Position ............................................................5-71
The Zone Status Display ..................................................5-72
Source ............................................................................5-72
Signal .............................................................................5-72
Volume ..........................................................................5-72
Signal Type ......................................................................5-72
Profile .............................................................................5-73
Surround ........................................................................5-73
Position ..........................................................................5-73
HDMI ..............................................................................5-73
Section 6: Using the RZones
RZone Card Capabilities ....................................................6-1
Setup ................................................................................6-1
RZone User Interface .........................................................6-2
Section 7: Advanced Features
Patterns of Use .................................................................7-2
External Control Systems ...................................................7-5
Section 8: Troubleshooting & Maintaining
Startup Sequence ..............................................................8-1
Problems/Solutions ...........................................................8-1
HDMI ................................................................................8-2
Care & Maintenance ........................................................ 8-2
Nº40 Media Console Table of Contents
Appendix
Audio Processor Specifications ........................................ A-1
Video Processor Specifications ......................................... A-3
Declaration of Conformity ............................................... A-5
Nº40 Video Processor Dimensions ................................... A-6
Nº40 Audio Processor Dimensions ................................... A-7
Rack Mount Kit ............................................................... A-8
Video Processor Hookup Chart ...................................... A-10
Audio Processor Hookup Chart ...................................... A-11
Index
viii
1
Getting Started
Document Conventions
This document contains general safety, installation and operation
instructions for the Nº40 Media Console. It is important to read this
document before attempting to use this product. Please pay particular attention to safety instructions.
Appears on the component to indicate the presence
of non-insulated, dangerous voltages inside the
enclosure – voltages that may be sufficient to
constitute a risk of shock.
Appears on the component to indicate important
operation and maintenance instructions included in
the accompanying documentation.
Appears on the component to indicate compliance
with the EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) and
LVD (Low-voltage Directive) standards of the European Community.
1-1
Warning! Calls attention to a procedure, practice, condition,
or the like that, if not correctly performed or
adhered to, could result in personal injury or
death.
Caution! Calls attention to a procedure, practice, condition,
or the like that, if not correctly performed or
adhered to, could result in damage or destruction
to part or all of the component.
Note Calls attention to information that is essential to high-
light.
Getting Started Mark Levinson
Special Design Features
1-2
Modular Design
Extraordinary
Flexibility
As seen from the rear panel, perhaps the most obvious characteristic of the Nº40 is its extraordinary modularity. Both the Audio
Processor and the Video Processor are built on “card cage” designs
that maximize hardware flexibility now and in the future. While
more costly than an “everything on one board” approach, the
extensive modularity of the Nº40's design is the best and most
logical response to the rapidly-changing world of high performance
audio and video.
The state of these arts (audio and video) is moving fast, and while
we will have legacy products such as analog VCRs for years to come,
we continually strive to accommodate new products and signal
formats. With the Nº40, we have done our best to ensure that our
options are kept open for future developments, while keeping pace
with industry standards such as High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI™) connectors, which the Nº40 now supports. HDMI is
the first and only standard digital interface for the transmission of
uncompressed digital video and audio signals. The Nº40 HDMI card
is one example of how the Nº40’s modular design provides us the
opportunity to integrate advances as they become available.
We have a truly remarkable assortment of source components that
can be brought into a sophisticated home entertainment system.
Hence the need for equally remarkable input and output capabilities, and a clear, powerful and flexible user interface. Also needed
are innovative approaches to simplifying the experience of an
admittedly complex system; and a variety of tools to facilitate
custom-installation applications that may require the Nº40 to
control other products, or for the Nº40 to be controlled by other
products.
Input/Output flexibility
The Nº40 is modular, and can accommodate many possible configurations. In its standard configuration, we have tried to meet the
needs of prospective owners by including the following features:
•3 HDMI inputs
• 1 HDMI output
• 7 analog audio input pairs (including XLR)
• 13 digital audio inputs (6 RCA, 4 TosLink™, 2 AES/EBU, 1 BNC)
• 12 analog video inputs (3 composite, 6 S-video, 3 component)
• 8 main zone audio outputs (balanced and unbalanced)
• 3 main zone video outputs (composite, S-video, component/
RGBSc)
Nº40 Media Console Getting Started
• 1 monitor video output
• 2 “RZone” output paths (assignable Remote or Record zones)
that each include composite and S-video outputs, two pairs of
stereo analog outputs, a digital audio output, and a zonespecific IR input for control purposes
• 2 PHASTLink™-compatible communications ports
• 2 RS-232 communications ports
• 3 programmable DC triggers
• 1 main zone infrared input jack
Of course, an expandable, modular design does little good without
some room for expansion. So, on top of all this standard capability,
we have left “slots” open in each processor for future applications,
which may include more I/O, secure digital audio or video interfaces, advanced video processing options, or additional DSP
resources.
Note
Graphic user interface
The front-panel feature that tends to attract the most attention on
the Nº40 is the small LCD screen on the Video Processor. This
screen can be used in several helpful ways, including the ability to
access all the setup menus and control options via our graphic user
interface. The user interface (which is also available on the monitor
output or overlaid on the main video output) makes setting up
even a complex system relatively straightforward, as it leads you
through the process in a logical manner.
The user interface on-screen display is not available on the HDMI
output. Also, HDMI input video is not available on the Nº40 front-panel
LCD display.
This user interface is implemented in the digital video domain for
the greatest clarity and legibility, and incorporates several proprietary Mark Levinson technologies. Its hierarchical structure is
logical and easily navigated, and presented visually in a manner
that always shows you where you are in the menu system, as well as
how you got there. It is virtually impossible to get “lost” in such a
system, no matter how deeply you delve into the hierarchy.
1-3
Sound profiles
One innovation of which we are particularly proud is the notion of
a sound profile. With many years of multichannel, audio/video experience, we have an appreciation of the degree to which people
would like to have their system configured differently, based on
what they are playing.
Getting Started Mark Levinson
When watching an action movie, many people like to turn up the
surround channels and subwoofer a bit to enhance the excitement;
additionally, they may require THX™ processing, and particular
bass management settings to suit the explosive nature of such films.
However, when the movie is over and you put on some relaxing
music, all those settings that were so perfect for the action movie
now sound quite inappropriate, if not outright dreadful.
Sound profiles capture the many characteristics you can define for a
particular activity, and make them available at the push of a button.
In fact, you can even set up the Nº40 so that you need not even
push the button. Instead, you can associate a profile with either a
particular type of audio signal (for example, 96 kHz PCM, Dolby
Digital, etc.) or with a particular input (for example, CD, VCR,
DVD, etc.). With a little creativity, you can readily have the system
reconfigure itself on the fly, automatically. With rare exceptions, all
you or your family has to do is select the source they want, and
adjust the volume. Our sound profiles can take care of the rest.
Home automation
1-4
HDMI
The growth of systems like AMX®, Audioaccess®, Crestron®,
Niles®, PHAST® and others stand as testimony to the variety of
needs felt by various luxury goods customers.
The Nº40 responds to such requirements in two ways. It can control
other products in certain logical and related ways, and it allows
itself to be controlled by external home automation systems.
With two PHASTLink™ ports, two fully bi-directional RS-232 ports,
three programmable DC triggers, and a rear panel hard-wired IR
input, the Nº40 can direct the actions of things like motorized
screens and drapes (according to the sound profile selected), and
control the operational status of associated power amplifiers. It can
also respond to external control from systems like those listed
above, or from the Microsoft® Universal Plug 'N 'Play initiative.
Speaking of Microsoft®, we have also created a Windows® Setup
Utility for the Nº40 that is primarily for the convenience of installers. It is strictly optional, as all Nº40 operations can be performed
without this utility. However, installers will find it helpful in that it
provides for off-line pre-configuration of systems and also for the
backing up of system setup data.
The Nº40 features High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)
connectors, which are the industry standard for the transmission of
uncompressed digital video and audio sources to components. The
Nº40 Audio Processor features three HDMI inputs and one HDMI
output.
Nº40 Media Console Getting Started
High Definition Video
The Nº40 supports the high-definition formats 720p and 1080i. It
also supports standard and enhanced definition formats such as
480i, 480p, 576i and 576p.
Resolution is defined by the number of horizontal lines displayed
on-screen that comprise each frame of a video image. The more
lines of resolution used to create each frame of video, the greater
the detail and sharpness of the image. For example, the resolution
known as 480p refers to 480 horizontal lines of progressive video.
The resolution known as 1080i refers to 1080 lines of interlaced
video.
The Nº40 setup menu defines the formats of 480i and 576i as Standard Definition. High Definition is defined as 480p, 576p and
higher formats.
The Advanced Television System Committee (ATSC) specification
for high-definition broadcasts and equipment requires the resolution of either 1080i or 720p, benchmarks which the Nº40 easily
delivers.
For purposes of comparison, most standard TV broadcasts have a
resolution of 480i. Non-HDTV digital TV broadcasts use 480p,
which is also the native resolution of DVD.
HDMI can carry standard definition and high definition
resolutions.
Digital Audio
The Nº40’s HDMI connectors support up to eight channels of
digital audio signals at 96kHz. The Nº40 supports the following
audio encoded formats: PCM, Dolby Digital, DTS, AAC and THX.
Two HDMI audio routing paths are available:
• Repeater path: Audio from the selected HDMI input is simply
passed to the HDMI output. Audio formats will be limited to
those supported by the display device.
• Audio processing path: HDMI audio available as a digital audio
input. Processed audio is not passed to the HDMI output.
A great advantage of using HDMI technology is the transmission of
both digital video and digital audio signals through a single high
bandwidth cable, simplifying connections with other components,
while providing stunning video and audio performance.
1-5
Note
Some source devices may have limitations. For example, not all disc
players with HDMI connectors can support multichannel audio. Check
the specifications of your source components for compatibility.
Getting Started Mark Levinson
1-6
No-compromise Audio
As befits the first multichannel, audio/video product to carry the
Mark Levinson name, the Nº40 Media Console offers no-compromise audio performance that is worthy of its heritage.
Extraordinary measures have been taken in both design and manufacturing to ensure that the sounds you enjoy from your
Nº40-based system will be emotionally involving and rewarding,
whether you are enjoying conventional stereo recordings or the
latest multichannel blockbuster movie.
Incoming digital signals
All digital audio signals are received using Intelligent FIFO™ digital
receiver technology to reject distortion-inducing jitter and maximize the performance potential of the incoming signal.
Significantly, this remarkably effective jitter-rejection circuitry is
used for all digital signals, on all paths. Remote and record zones
also benefit from the sonic improvements of the Intelligent FIFO.
Digital processing
Digital processing of the signal in the main zone is performed by
four powerful SHARC® DSP chips. These DSPs perform 32-bit fixed
point processing as well as 32-bit and 40-bit floating point processing. This compares rather favorably with more conventional 24-bit
DSPs, as 32-bit parts have resolution that is 256 times greater than
that of 24-bit parts.
In short, the main zone has a terrific amount of DSP power at its
disposal, allowing it to easily perform all of the following simultaneously and in real time:
• Signal decoding (Dolby Digital, DTS, MPEG, etc.).
• Various music and film surround modes to provide a multichannel experience from two-channel material.
• Second-level decoding like Dolby Digital EX and DTS ES 6.1
Matrix processing.
• Speaker crossovers and bass redirection/management.
• Post-processing (for example, the latest THX Ultra2™ algorithms).
All of this, with power left over for future applications.
Fully independent zones
One of the design criteria of the Nº40 was complete independence
of its five “zones” (that is, the main theater and as many as four
remote and/or record zones). “Independence” in this case means
“any input to any output,” or what is known technically as a “full
crosspoint switch.”
Nº40 Media Console Getting Started
In support of this goal, each of the “RZone” (Remote or Record
Zone) audio cards has two SHARC DSP chips of its own. With this
level of processing power, it becomes possible (for example) to
select a Dolby Digital 5.1 channel signal for enjoyment in the
master bedroom, and have the signal both decoded and then downmixed to two channels for reproduction. You do not have to think
about the format of a given source – the Nº40 works everything out.
In fact, each “RZone” card is much like an entire Nº40 Audio
Processor in microcosm, with full A/D, DSP, D/A, and volume
control capability.
Digital to analog conversion
Digital to analog conversion is also done at an extraordinarily high
level, as you would expect. The main zone uses a special Levinsondeveloped implementation of the Analog Devices AD1853, a
multi-bit Sigma/Delta converter. In fact, each of the eight main
output channels uses two fully balanced channels of these DACs, in
a dual differential configuration. The output of these DACs is then
converted from current back to a voltage by a custom-designed
Levinson I/V converter with superlative rise time and bandwidth
characteristics. This approach, normally reserved for critical
medical and scientific instrumentation, yields distortion and noise
levels that are vanishingly low.
Even the remote zones are fully 24-bit, 192 kHz capable, and will
easily surpass the main zone audio performance of any other
surround processor now on the market.
1-7
Analog volume control
Once the signal is analog, we use precision solid-state stepped
attenuators to control the volume. Having digital control over an
analog attenuator provides the best of both worlds: the convenience of comprehensive system control with the performance of
state-of-the-art analog volume control.
Specifically, the volume control circuitry of the Nº40 provides
1.0dB resolution from 0 to 20dB. Thereafter, it provides 0.1dB resolution up to 80dB, providing a full 80dB of volume control.
Significantly, the Nº40 maintains the full performance of its
remarkable DACs at all levels, something impossible with digital
volume controls.
State-of-the-art output buffer
Finally, the output buffer circuitry used in the Nº40 employs the
same topology used in the Mark Levinson Nº32 Reference Preamplifier. This circuit has proven itself both sonically transparent and
exceptionally immune to adverse interactions with interconnecting
cables and unusual input impedance characteristics of power ampli-
Getting Started Mark Levinson
fiers. While we would hope you would consider matching Mark
Levinson power amplifiers to go with your Nº40, we recognize our
responsibility to preserve your choice in the matter. Providing this
singularly robust output stage does just that, allowing the Nº40 to
make the most of whatever cables and amplifiers you elect to use.
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THX Ultra2™
Processing
THX is an exclusive set of standards and technologies established
by the world-renowned film production company, THX Ltd. THX
grew from George Lucas' personal desire to make your experience of
the film sound track, in both movie theaters and in your home
theater, as faithful as possible to what the director intended.
Movie sound tracks are mixed in special movie theaters called
dubbing stages, and are designed to be played back in movie
theatres with similar equipment and conditions. This same sound
track is then transferred directly onto VHS tape, DVD, etc., and is
not changed for playback in a small home theater environment.
THX engineers developed patented technologies to accurately
translate the sound from the movie theater environment into the
home, correcting the tonal and spatial errors that occur. The Nº40
adds the following THX features when a THX Cinema or THX
Surround EX™ mode is indicated.
THX Re-EQ™ (Re-Equalization)
The tonal balance of a film sound track will be excessively bright
and harsh when played back over audio equipment in the home
because film sound tracks were designed to be played back in large
movie theatres using very different professional equipment. Re-EQ
(Re-Equalization) restores the correct tonal balance for watching a
movie sound track in a small home environment.
THX Timbre Matching™
The human ear changes our perception of a sound depending on
the direction from which the sound is coming. In a movie theater,
there is an array of surround speakers so that the surround information is all around you. In a home theater, you often use only two
speakers, located to the sides of your head. The Timbre Matching
feature filters the information going to the surround speakers so
that they more closely match the tonal characteristics of the sound
coming from the front speakers. This ensures seamless panning
between the front and surround speakers.
THX Adaptive Decorrelation™
In a movie theater, a large number of surround speakers help create
an enveloping surround sound experience, but in a home theater
there are often only two speakers. This can make the surround
speakers sound like headphones that lack spaciousness and envelopment. The surround sounds will also collapse into the closest
Nº40 Media Console Getting Started
speaker as you move away from the middle seating position. Adaptive Decorrelation slightly changes one surround channel's time
and phase relationship with respect to the other surround channel.
This expands the listening position and creates – with only two
speakers – the same spacious surround experience as in a movie
theater.
THX Surround EX™
Dolby Digital Surround EX is a joint development of Dolby Laboratories and THX. In a movie theater, film sound tracks that have
been encoded with Dolby Digital Surround EX technology are able
to reproduce an extra channel which has been added during the
mixing of the program. This channel, called Surround Back, places
sounds behind the listener in addition to the currently available
front left, front center, front right, surround right, surround left
and subwoofer channels. This additional channel provides the
opportunity for more detailed imaging behind the listener and
brings more depth, spacious ambience and sound localization than
ever before.
THX Surround EX is the home theater version of Dolby Digital
Surround EX. THX Surround EX decodes a back surround signal
from the left and right surround channels on specially encoded
DVD movie releases.
A list of movies created using Dolby Digital Surround EX technology can be found on the Dolby web site at www.dolby.com. A list of
available THX Certified DVD titles can be found at www.thx.com.
The Nº40 can also engage the “THX Surround EX” mode during the
playback of 5.1 channel material that is not Dolby Digital Surround
EX encoded. In this case the information delivered to the Surround
Back channel will be program dependent and may not be very
pleasing, depending on the particular sound track and your individual taste.
ASA (Advanced Speaker Array)
ASA is a proprietary THX technology which processes the sound fed
to the two surround speakers and the two back speakers to provide
the optimal surround sound experience. When you set up your
home theater system using all eight speaker outputs (Left, Center,
Right, Surround Right, Surround Back Right, Surround Back Left,
Surround Left and Subwoofer), placing the two Surround Back
speakers close together facing the front of the room will provide the
largest sweet spot. If you have to place the Surround Back speakers
apart, you will need to go to the THX Audio Setup screen and
choose the setting that most closely corresponds to the speaker
spacing, which will re-optimize the surround sound-field.
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ASA is used in two new modes: THX Ultra2 Cinema and THX Music
Mode.
Getting Started Mark Levinson
•THX Ultra2 Cinema Mode
THX Ultra2 Cinema mode plays 5.1 movies using all 8 speakers
giving you the best possible movie watching experience. In this
mode, ASA processing blends the side surround speakers and
back surround speakers providing the optimal mix of ambient
and directional surround sounds.
•THX Music Mode
For the replay of multi-channel music, the THX Music Mode
should be selected. In this mode THX ASA processing is applied
to the surround channels of all 5.1 encoded music sources such
as DTS, Dolby Digital and DVD-Audio to provide a wide, stable
rear soundstage.
BGC (Boundary Gain Compensation)
If your chosen listening position results in most of the listeners
being close to the rear wall, the resulting bass level can be sufficiently reinforced by the boundary that the overall sound quality
“booms” too much. THX Ultra2 provides the Boundary Gain
Compensation (BGC) feature to provide an improved bass balance.
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No-compromise Video
THX Ultra2™
Before any home theater component can be THX Ultra2 certified, it
must incorporate all the features above and also pass a rigorous
series of quality and performance tests. Only then can a product
feature the THX Ultra2 logo, which is your guarantee that the
Home Theatre products you purchase will give you superb performance for many years to come. THX Ultra2 requirements cover
every aspect of the product performance and operation, including
hundreds of parameters in both the digital and analog domain.
Movies which have been encoded in Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Pro
Logic, Dolby Pro Logic II, Dolby Pro Logic IIx, Stereo and Mono can
all benefit from activating one of the THX modes. THX Cinema
modes (including THX Surround EX) need not be activated for
music, movies that were made especially for television, or shows
such as sports programming, talk shows, etc. This is because sources
like these were mixed in a small room environment.
You might think the foregoing discussion of audio performance
features would be a tough act to follow. In fact, in many respects we
are even more proud of our accomplishments in the Nº40 Video
Processor, because the entire system integrates powerful features in
a way that makes the system incredibly simple to use, by even the
most technology averse member of the family. Both the resident
videophile and the novice can enjoy the system equally for what it
offers.
Nº40 Media Console Getting Started
High performance switcher
When operating as a switcher, the Nº40 offers performance comparable to the finest professional switchers that you might find in
post-production houses in Hollywood.
The key here is the video crosspoint switch (the circuitry that
allows any input to be routed to any or all outputs simultaneously).
It has video frequency response in excess of 70MHz, with a signalto-noise ratio better than 60dB.
Three video backplanes
The Nº40 Video Processor has three separate video “backplanes.” (A
“backplane” is the circuitry that the cards of the card cage plug
into, that is responsible for distributing all signals to wherever they
have to go.)
The analog video backplane, as discussed, rivals the finest matrix
switchers used in the professional video world. In addition, the
Nº40 has a standard definition digital video backplane, and a dedicated high definition digital video backplane. The standard
definition digital video backplane is used for routing transcoded
video signals within the Nº40 (more in a moment), and for our
digital graphic user interface. In all, there are over 2000 “nets”
(connections) in the video backplanes to ensure that you can get
the signal you want to where you want it.
1-11
Note
Transcoding
You may remember that a goal of the Nº40 was to operate with full
independence among its five zones. In the realm of video, this
requires a “Universal Translator” function that can convert between
the various video signal formats likely to be encountered, within a
given broadcast standard.
The Nº40 Video Processor will receive standard, interlaced composite, S-video, and component signals and transcode them to provide
all of those formats simultaneously on all zones. It will convert
signals “up” or “down” as needed to ensure that all outputs are
active, all the time, regardless of input signal. (Note, however, that
the Nº40 does not change frame rates or broadcast standards. For
example, we do not convert from 60 frames per second NTSC to 50
frames per second PAL or vice versa.) The Nº40 also allows you to
assign Standard or High-Definition video to the same logical input.
There is no cross-conversion from HDMI video to analog video or vice
versa.
Thus you can make whatever connection is best for your subsequent video processing or display device, and not concern yourself
Getting Started Mark Levinson
about switching between formats as you select sources – the Nº40
takes care of that for you.
Also, high-definition or progressive input signals cannot be routed
to RZones, since no definition for progressive composite or S-video
signal format exists. If you have a progressive source, we suggest
connecting both its progressive output (for use in the main zone,
without any further signal processing) and its S-video or composite
output (for use in remote or record zones). Set up two inputs, one
for each type of video, naming them something like DVD-p and
DVD-i. Use the interlaced signal in the RZones.
In the RZones, the Nº40 also provides both composite and S-video
connections that are always active, even when the selected source is
a component signal.
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Nº40 Media Console Getting Started
Installation Considerations
The Nº40 Media Console requires special care during installation to
ensure optimal performance. Pay particular attention to instructions included in this section and to precautions included
throughout this owner’s manual.
Unpacking
The Nº40 Media Console is a two-component system, each dedicated to state of the art switching and processing of video and
audio, respectively. These two components are shipped in separate
boxes to avoid becoming unwieldy, but they must be used together.
They were designed as a single system.
Included with your new Nº40 are two pairs 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 our products.
When unpacking the Nº40:
DO save all packing materials for possible future shipping needs.
Only the original, purpose-designed shipping carton is acceptable
for return to the factory.
1-13
DO inspect the Nº40 for signs of damage during shipment. If
damage is discovered, contact an authorized Mark Levinson dealer
for assistance making appropriate claims.
DO locate and remove the accessory kits from the cartons. Make
sure they contain all of the items listed in the table below. If not,
contact an authorized Mark Levinson dealer.
In the Nº40 Video Processor carton:
Item Quantity
Nº40 Video Processor 1
Detachable AC power cord 1
BNC-to-RCA adapters 3
Gray RJ-11 Nº40 communications link cable 1
Gray RJ-45 PHASTLink™ communications cable 1
Remote Control 1
AAA alkaline batteries 2
White gloves 1
Warranty & Product Registration Card 1
Nº40 Media Console Owner’s Manual (this document) 1
Getting Started Mark Levinson
In the Nº40 Audio Processor carton:
Item Quantity
Nº40 Audio Processor 1
Detachable AC power cord 1
White gloves 1
1-14
Product Registration
Placement and
Ventilation
Note For your protection, review “Important Safety Instructions” on page i
Please register the Nº40 within 15 days of purchase. To do so, register online at www.marklevinson.com or complete and return the
included product registration card. Retain the original, dated sales
receipt as proof of warranty coverage.
Try to locate the Video Processor so that its LCD screen is at a
comfortable viewing height. This screen can be used to preview or
monitor video selections in any of the zones. It can also be used to
display menu screens without having to turn on the primary
display device. This facility allows easy and direct ad hoc changes
when listening to music.
before you install your Mark Levinson Nº40.
DO install each Nº40 chassis on its own shelf for proper
ventilation.
DO install each Nº40 chassis on a solid, flat, level surface.
DO select a dry, well-ventilated location out of direct sunlight.
DO allow at least 3 to 4 inches (8 to 10cm) of clearance above each
Nº40 chassis for proper heat dissipation.
DO see “Care & Maintenance” on page 8-2 for information about
routine care and maintenance.
DO see “Nº40 Video Processor Dimensions” on page A-6 and
“Nº40 Audio Processor Dimensions” on page A-7 for assistance with
custom installations.
DO NOT place either Nº40 chassis on a thick rug or carpet or
cover either chassis with a cloth, as this might prevent proper
cooling.
DO NOT expose either Nº40 chassis to high temperatures, humid-
ity, steam, smoke, dampness, or excessive dust. Avoid installing
either Nº40 chassis near radiators and other heat-producing
appliances.
Nº40 Media Console Getting Started
DO NOT install either Nº40 chassis near unshielded TV or FM
antennas, cable TV decoders, or other RF-emitting devices that
might cause interference.
DO NOT place either Nº40 chassis on a windowsill or in another
location in which it will be exposed to direct sunlight.
DO NOT obstruct the IR receiver/transmitter located on the right
side of the Video Processor front panel display. When the Nº40 is
not using the IR input connector, the remote control IR transmitter
must be in line-of-sight with the front panel display IR receiver/
transmitter for proper remote control operation. See “Remote
Control” on page 4-1 for additional information.
Warning! MAKE SURE all components are properly grounded. Do not
defeat the safety purpose of polarized or grounding-type plugs
with “ground-lifter” or “cheater” adaptors. Doing so can cause
dangerous voltages to build up between components. The
presence of these voltages may result in personal injuries and/or
product damage.
Rack mounting
If your equipment is bolted into a dedicated rack, you will be glad
to know that purpose-designed rack mounting shelves are available
for your Nº40. These solidly-built shelves not only provide for the
requisite ventilation, but also for the “dressing” of the many cables
behind the system. See “Rack Mount Kit” on page A-8. Please
contact your Mark Levinson dealer for additional information.
Heat considerations
The Nº40 Video Processor dissipates approximately 75 watts of
energy. The Nº40 Audio Processor dissipates about 100 watts. It is
therefore normal and perfectly safe for them to run somewhat
warm to the touch – think of a box that had a 100 watt light bulb
running in it all the time. They will not normally become uncomfortably hot to the touch, however.
Mechanical drawings are included in this manual to facilitate
special installations where necessary (See “Nº40 Video Processor
Dimensions” on page A-6, and “Nº40 Audio Processor Dimensions”
on page A-7).
1-15
Getting Started Mark Levinson
Power Requirements
Mark Levinson products are factory-set for 100V, 120V, 220V, 230V
or 240V AC mains operation at either 50 or 60Hz, based on the
country for which they are manufactured.
If you have more than one circuit feeding the system with power,
please ask your electrician to ensure that they are all operating with
a solid, low impedance ground reference that is the same for all
products in the system.
The operating voltage of the Nº40 cannot be changed by the user,
and any attempt to do so will void the warranty. If you need to
change the operating voltage of your Nº40, or if the voltage indicated on the rear panel label is not available in your area, contact
your Mark Levinson dealer for assistance.
1-16
Break-in Period
Operating States
Although your Mark Levinson Nº40 Media Console 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.” It has been
our experience that the greatest changes occur within the first
25-50 hours, but that the system 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. This can occur because of:
• Extended power outages
• Unplugging the product from the wall during a vacation
• Using the front panel power button(s) rather than one of the
standby buttons.
In these cases you should expect a brief warm-up period before the
sound quality is at its best. (Fortunately, you will never have to
repeat the full 300 hour break-in period.)
The Nº40 has three operating states:
• Off AC mains power is disconnected using the front
panel power button or by unplugging the unit
from the wall.
• Standby The Nº40 is powered up, but audio outputs are
muted and video outputs are either off or fed a
“black screen” signal (sync but not picture information).
• On Everything is powered up and outputs are active.
Nº40 Media Console Getting Started
While Reading the Manual...
The following brief introduction to the Nº40 Media Console
assumes that your installer has already programmed the system for
you. For complete information on using your Nº40 and customizing it to suit your individual preferences, please continue reading
this manual. We hope you will be able to do so while listening to
some outstanding music on your new system.
The controls you will use most often on your Nº40 Media Console
include: Input Select, Volume, Surround Mode, Sound Profile, Zone,
and Preview.
Input Select
Turning the input select knob (or using the input select rocker
switch on the remote) cycles forward or back through the list of
defined inputs. It does not require you to turn the knob endlessly
through a long list of connections you may not yet be using.
“Defined inputs” are ones that have been set up in the input menu.
Each input can be associated with two video connections, one
HDMI connection and as many as three audio connections.
Auto-migration
1-17
You can associate multiple sources of audio with an input. When
the input is selected, the Nº40 processes the audio in the following
order of priority: HDMI, digital, and analog. If HDMI and digital are
not available, the audio from the analog input is processed. The
analog input is always considered active. No further interaction is
required on your part beyond selecting the appropriate input by
name.
If multiple signals are present and you need to choose one, you can
use the direct command “force migrate” to manually change the
source. This command must be added to the toolbar, set to one of
the “f” keys on the remote control or input via RS-232.
Volume
Turning the volume knob (or using the volume rocker switch on
the remote) raises or lowers the volume of the system. Unlike other
systems, the Nº40 provides 1.0dB resolution from 0 to 20dB. Thereafter, it provides 0.1dB resolution up to 80dB, providing a full 80dB
of volume control.
This extraordinary resolution allows you to “dial in” precisely the
desired volume for the most realistic reproduction. When listening
to music, for example, strive to play the music at the volume you
would experience it at a live concert, when sitting in the best seat in
the house (This assumes your amplifiers and speakers are up to the
task).
Getting Started Mark Levinson
Surround Mode
Sound Profile
Once you have selected the source and set the volume, you may
find that a different surround sound processing mode would better
complement the material you are playing. The surround mode
knob (and the surround mode rocker switch on the remote) gives
you access to all available and appropriate surround mode options,
based on the nature of the signal you have selected.
For example, a two-channel analog signal might be music, a twochannel Dolby Pro Logic encoded movie soundtrack, or any of
several other possibilities. The Nº40 offers many options for such a
signal, all accessed by the surround mode knob (or rocker switch).
This control is context-sensitive. For example, it will not present
you with processing options designed for two-channel signals when
you are receiving a discrete multichannel soundtrack. Instead, it
will only give you processing options that make sense in the
context of the signal being received.
The Mark Levinson Nº40 Media Console introduces a new concept
to high performance home entertainment systems: The Sound
Profile. When you create a sound profile, you are in effect defining
a comprehensive system configuration that complements a particular use of the system. By selecting that sound profile, the system
will reconfigure itself “on the fly” to meet your requirements.
1-18
Imagine how you might configure the system for watching an
action movie: the surround speakers and subwoofers might be
turned up a little to make it more exciting; you might use an 80Hz
crossover frequency in order to make the best use of your subwoofers; you might engage THX processing (since you are watching a
film); you might program one of the DC triggers to turn on, so as to
lower a projection screen for your television. Having decided what
the “ideal” setup of the system would be for such things, you could
give it a name: “Action Movie.”
Now imagine that you want to listen to some classical music. The
exaggerated bass and rear channels are inappropriate; you might
prefer a 30Hz crossover on your front speakers (assuming they have
tighter bass than your subwoofers); a stereo surround mode makes
more sense; the DC trigger should turn off so as to rid the room of
the screen that is no longer needed. Fine: give it a name like
“Classical.”
Having created a few profiles matching your tastes in such things,
you can recall all the settings by touching the sound profile button
on the Audio Processor's front panel, or the profile button on the
remote control.
Alternatively, you can associate a sound profile with either a particular type of signal (like Dolby Digital 5.1), or with a particular
defined input. You can even create multiple versions of the same
input (with the only real difference being the associated profile) to
make switching between profiles on a given source component
Nº40 Media Console Getting Started
easy. You might have two defined inputs labeled “DVD-Film” and
“DVD-Music” that would automatically configure the system for
either music or movies, depending on the type of disc you put in
your DVD player.
Zone
The standard configuration of the Nº40 is as a three zone system.
This means that you can have the signals from any connected
source component sent to any of three different “zones,” in any
combination. For example, you might have: the main theater zone;
a “Record” zone used for VCRs, cassette decks, and CD-R decks; and
a “Remote” zone used to enjoy music and/or films in another part
of the house. The Nº40 Media Console supports up to five
completely independent zones (additional “RZone” cards can be
ordered at additional cost from your Mark Levinson dealer).
If you want to change what is being sent to a remote or record zone,
turn the zone knob on the front panel of the Video Processor to
select the zone you want to change, and then turn the input select
knob to send the desired signal to that zone. The LCD display on
the Video Processor will show you what you are doing as you do it.
After a short delay, the display will revert to normal and the Nº40
will default back to controlling the main (theater) zone.
You can access zone control and status from the remote control by
the right arrow navigation key if no other menus are being
displayed. This will show you a list of zones with the main zone
being highlighted. Using the down arrow you can select the other
zones and their status will be displayed. Hitting the left arrow will
then bring you to the input select menu for the highlighted zone.
See “The Zone Status Display” on page 5-72 for more information.
1-19
Note
Preview
HDMI inputs are not available to zone video outputs. Analog video
connections are necessary.
You can “preview” a source without actually changing what is being
sent to any particular zone. This can be used to “cue up” a video
selection for some guests without their having to watch the cuing
process, or to assist in a simple video editing process.
To do so, press the preview button on the front panel of the Video
Processor. The LED indicator above the button will light up, and the
LCD display will switch to preview mode. Turning the input select
knob while in preview mode will have no effect on what is being
sent to the chosen zone. (Pressing preview while on a remote or
record zone “locks” you into preview mode on that zone to avoid
the timeout that would normally take place). Once you have found
the exact point in the video you want, pressing enter will extinguish the LED indicator and send the selected source to the selected
zone. Note that HDMI inputs are not available for preview on the
LCD display.
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