Mark Levinson 431, 432 User Manual

Owner’s Manual

Nº432
Nº431

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.

This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise emissions from digital apparatus set out in the
Radio Interference Regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications.

Le present appareil numerique n'emet pas de bruits radioelectriques depassant les limites applicables aux appareils
numeriques de la class B prescrites dans le Reglement sur le brouillage radioelectrique edicte par le ministere des
Communications du Canada

CAUTION: Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance
could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.

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

Important Safety Instructions

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
that 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 airflow through ventilation slots or heat sinks.

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.

16. In CE countries, this amplifier is considered “professional equipment.” In order
to comply with CE requirements, the customer is required to obtain permission
from the local supply authority before connecting this equipment.

4

“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” and the Madrigal Audio Laboratories logo
are registered trademarks of Harman International Industries. U.S. patent
numbers and other worldwide patents issued and pending.

©2004 Harman Specialty Group. 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.

3 Oak Park

Bedford, MA 01730-1413 USA

Telephone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

www.marklevinson.com

Customer Service

Telephone: [phone]

Sales Fax: [phone]

Service Fax: [phone]

Product Shipments

16 Progress Road

Billerica, MA 01821-5730 USA

Part No. 070-630670 | Rev 4 | 05/04

From all of us at Mark Levinson, thank you for choosing a Mark
Levinson Power Amplifier.

5

Table of Contents

Unpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Product Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Installation Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Placement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Ventilation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Power Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Warm-up & Break-in Period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Operating States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Continuous Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Special Design Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Massive Power Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Balanced Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Extensive Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Rear Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Linking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Making Link Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Constructing Link Communication Cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Creating a Slave Chain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Link Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Care & Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Declaration of Conformity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Dimensions, Nº432 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Dimensions, Nº431 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Rack-Mounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

6

Unpacking

Warning! DO NOT attempt to lift or move the Nº432/431 without

adequate assistance. Failure to follow the procedures included
in this section may result in personal injuries and/or product
damage.

The Nº432/431 are massive power amplifiers. The Nº432 ships at
125 pounds (57kg) and the Nº431 ships at 105 pounds (48kg).
Rear panel handles are provided for safe, convenient lifting and
moving. Proper lifting requires at least two people.

Caution! DO NOT attempt to lift the Nº432/431 from its packing carton

alone.

DO NOT attempt to lift the Nº432/431 while bending at the
waist. When lifting, stand as straight as possible using the leg
muscles to lift.

When unpacking the Nº432/431:

• DO save all packing materials for possible future shipping

needs.

• DO inspect the Nº432/431 for signs of damage during

shipment. If damage is discovered, contact an authorized
Mark Levinson dealer for assistance making appropriate
claims.

Product Registration Please register the Nº432/431 within 15 days of purchase. To do

so, register online at www.marklevinson.com or complete and
return the included product registration card. Product registration
serves no warranty purposes. Retain the original, dated sales
receipt as proof of warranty coverage.

7

Installation Considerations

The Nº432/431 requires special care during installation to ensure
optimal performance. Pay particular attention to the precautions
included in this section and to other precautions included
throughout this owner’s manual.

Placement • DO review “Important Safety Instructions” and “Power

Requirements” before installing the Nº432/431.

• DO place the Nº432/431 on a solid, flat, level surface such as

a table, shelf, or floor OR bolt the Nº432/431 into a rack­mounting system. Use a purpose-built rack-mounting system
to accommodate the weight of the power amplifier. Refer to
“Rack-Mounting” for additional information.

• DO position the Nº432/431 close to associated loudspeakers

to keep loudspeaker wires as short as possible. Use longer
interconnecting cables between the preamplifier and the
power amplifier. This is preferable because interconnecting
cables pass low-voltage signals, which transmit over distances
with greater accuracy than the high-voltage signals required
by loudspeakers.

• DO allow at least a 6-inch (15cm) clearance behind the

Nº432/431 for the power cord and signal cables to bend
without crimping or straining.

• DO refer to “Dimensions” for assistance with custom

installations.

• DO NOT position the Nº432/431 near low-level compo-

nents. These power amplifiers are capable of producing mas­sive output currents, which could generate significant magnet­ic fields that induce noise in some sensitive components.

• DO NOT place the Nº432/431 on a windowsill or in another

location in which it will be exposed to direct sunlight.

Caution! Before moving the Nº432/431, make sure it is powered off with

the front panel power button. Then, make sure the power cord
is disconnected from the ~ac mains connector and the electrical
outlet. Do not attempt to move the Nº432/431 without adequate
assistance. Proper lifting requires at least two people.

8

Ventilation • DO select a dry, well-ventilated location out of direct sunlight.

• DO allow at least a 2 to 3-inch (5 to 8cm) clearance above the

Nº432/431 for proper heat dissipation through air circulation.
The Nº432/431 is designed for passive, convection cooling.

• DO NOT obstruct the ventilation holes on the top and bottom

of the Nº432/431 or reduce airflow through the Nº432/431.

• DO NOT place the Nº432/431 on a thick rug or carpet or

cover the Nº432/431 with a cloth, as this might prevent proper
cooling. If the Nº432/431 is placed on the floor, use a thick
piece of tempered glass to provide firm support and proper
ventilation.

• DO NOT expose the Nº432/431 to high temperatures,

humidity, steam, smoke, dampness, or excessive dust. Avoid
installing the Nº432/431 near radiators and other heat-producing
appliances.

Note In general, better ventilation is required if the top of the

Nº432/431 is too hot to touch when the power amplifier is
“idle.” Open equipment racks provide the best ventilation for
power amplifiers. However, if the power amplifier must be
placed in a cabinet that restricts airflow, consider drilling holes
in the shelf underneath the power amplifier to improve
ventilation or using fans to increase air circulation.

Power Requirements

When shipped, the Nº432/431 is configured for 100V, 120V, 220V,
230V or 240V AC power operation at 50 or 60Hz based on the
country for which it is manufactured. Before operating the
Nº432/431, make sure the ~ac mains connector label indicates the
correct operating voltage for the current location.

Caution! Do not attempt to adjust the operating voltage. Consult an

authorized Mark Levinson dealer if the operating voltage is
incorrect or if the operating voltage must be changed for
relocation purposes.

Be advised that different operating voltages may require the
use of different power cords and/or attachment plugs. Contact
an authorized Mark Levinson dealer for assistance.

9

The Nº432/431 is capable of passing remarkable musical signals
regardless of signal and loudspeaker demands. On either an
instantaneous or continuous basis, these power amplifiers can
drive exceptional power levels into most all loudspeaker loads.
Depending on listening habits, loudspeaker demands, and the
number of power amplifiers present in the system – it is possible
for the electrical service to become the limiting performance factor.

In this case, consider installing a dedicated AC circuit for the home
entertainment system. Contact a licensed electrician for assistance.
If more than one AC circuit is providing power to the system,
contact a licensed electrician to ensure that all components are
operating with the same solid, low-impedance ground reference.

Important: Building regulations and electrical codes differ from location to

location, making it impossible to anticipate the requirements of
high-current AC circuits such as the Nº432/431 are capable of
using. Contact a local, licensed electrician for information.

Warm-up & Break-in Although the Nº432/431 delivers superior performance from the

Period first time it is powered on, this performance will continue to

improve as the power amplifier reaches its normal operating
temperature and various components “break in.” The greatest
performance improvements will occur within the first 25 to 50
hours of use. Sound quality will continue to improve for about
300 hours.

After this initial period, performance will remain consistent unless
power is disconnected from the ~ac mains connector. Power is
considered disconnected when the Nº432/431 is powered off with
the power button; the power cord is disconnected from the ~ac
mains connector or the electrical outlet; or an extended power
failure or power outage occurs. Power is not disconnected when
the Nº432/431 is in standby or sleep mode.

When power returns, the Nº432/431 will require a brief warm-up
and break-in period (not the full 300 hours). It is recommended to
allow the Nº432/431 and other audio components to stabilize for
about 2 minutes.

10

Operating States The Nº432/431 has four operating states:

1. Off

Power is disconnected from the ~ac mains connector.

2. Sleep Mode

Power is connected to a small power supply, communication
circuits, and control circuits. When taken out of sleep mode,
the Nº432/431 requires a brief warm-up and break-in period.
In sleep mode, the Nº432/431 consumes less than 15W of
power.

3. Standby

Power is connected to the main power supply and voltage
gain stages. Power is not connected to the output (current
gain) stage. Because voltage gain stages are kept at their normal
operating temperatures, the Nº432/431 remains warmed-up to
deliver an optimal performance. In standby, the Nº432/431
consumes about 50W of power.

4. On

Power is connected to the ~ac mains connector and all power
amplifier components.

Continuous Operation The Nº432/431 should be unplugged during lightning storms and

extended periods of non-use. Otherwise, it is designed for continuous
operation. For best performance, make sure power is connected to
the ~ac mains connector at all times. During normal operation,
do not use the power button to power off the Nº432/431. Instead,
use the standby button to place the Nº432/431 into standby,
which allows the power amplifier to remain warmed-up to deliver
optimal performance at all times.

11

Special Design Features

Thank you for purchasing the Nº432/431 Power Amplifier. While
these amplifiers are straightforward in everyday use, they include
several design features that are responsible for their outstanding
performance. In particular, these amplifiers defy the accepted
wisdom that it is impossible to design a large, powerful amplifier
that also has all the finesse of the finest smaller amplifiers. A few
of the technical highlights that make this possible are described
below.

Massive Power Supply The Nº432/431 features two large, robust power supplies. Each

supply includes a high-capacity, low-noise toroidal transformer,
and four large, low ESR (“Equivalent Series Resistance”) capacitors.

Heavy oxygen-free copper bus bars enhance the efficiency of
power distribution within the amplifier and eliminate variances
introduced by the wiring harnesses that are commonly found in
even high-performance amplifiers. High-frequency power supply
bypass is accomplished on individual PC boards by components
of several film types. The resulting uniformly low power supply
impedance seen by the various circuits within the amplifier lays
the foundation for massive power and extraordinary finesse that
characterizes Mark Levinson amplifiers.

Balanced Design A truly balanced input topology eliminates the need for an input

buffer amplification stage, allowing the first stage differential
amplifier to be driven directly by the source. Matched impedances
are presented to the source. Both signals travel through identical
circuit paths.

Meticulous attention to the layout of the amplifier, including
careful mirror-imaging of circuits to cancel magnetic fields, was
essential to minimize magnetic field distortions that can occur
with such a massive power delivery system. A balanced input
signal remains balanced throughout the voltage gain stages.
Rejection of common mode noise and distortion is achieved in
the final, current gain stage.