Mark Levinson 433 User Manual

Owner’s Manual

No 433

Power

Amplifier

Important Safety Instructions

WARNING

2

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

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRICAL 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.

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

1. ALWAYS disconnect the 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, or pour/
spill liquids directly onto this unit.

7. NEVER block airflow through ventilation slots or heat sinks.

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

Important Safety Instructions

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

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

11. NEVER operate this product in an explosive atmosphere.

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

13. ALWAYS unplug sensitive electronic equipment during lightning
storms.

14. 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.

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:

3

Caution!

• 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.

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.

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

4

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. 070-630694

| Rev 1 |09/05

“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.

©2005 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.

Nº433 Power Amplifier

Table of Contents

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

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

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

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

Ventilation .................................................................................7

Power Requirements .....................................................................9

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

Operating States ......................................................................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 .............................................................22

Link Controls ............................................................................25

Troubleshooting ..........................................................................26

Care & Maintenance ....................................................................29

Specifications ...............................................................................30

Declaration of Conformity ...........................................................31

Dimensions ..................................................................................32

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

5

Unpacking

Mark Levinson

Warning!

Caution!

6

DO NOT attempt to lift or move the Nº433 without adequate
assistance. Failure to follow the procedures included in this
section may result in personal injuries and/or product damage.

The Nº433 is a massive power amplifier. The Nº433 ships at 130.5
pounds (59.2kg). Rear panel handles are provided for safe, conve­nient lifting and moving. Proper lifting requires at least two people.

DO NOT attempt to lift the Nº433 from its packing carton alone.

DO NOT attempt to lift the Nº433 while bending at the waist. When
lifting, stand as straight as possible using the leg muscles to lift.

When unpacking the Nº433:

• DO save all packing materials for possible future shipping
needs.

• DO inspect the Nº433 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 Nº433 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.

Nº433 Power Amplifier

Installation Considerations

The Nº433 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” on page 2 and
“Power Requirements” on page 9 before installing the Nº433.

• DO place the Nº433 on a solid, flat, level surface such as a table,
shelf, or floor OR bolt the Nº433 into a rack-mounting system.
Use a purpose-built rack-mounting system to accommodate the
weight of the power amplifier. Refer to “Rack-Mounting” on
page 33 for additional information.

• DO position the Nº433 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 high­voltage signals required by loudspeakers.

• DO allow at least a six-inch (15cm) clearance behind the Nº433
for the power cord and signal cables to bend.

• DO refer to “Dimensions” on page 32 for assistance with custom
installations.

• DO NOT position the Nº433 near low-level components. This
power amplifier is capable of producing massive output
currents, which could generate significant magnetic fields and
induce noise in some sensitive components.

7

Caution!

Ventilation

• DO NOT place the Nº433 on a windowsill or in another location
in which it will be exposed to direct sunlight.

Before moving the Nº433, 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 Nº433 without adequate
assistance. Proper lifting requires at least two people.

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

• DO allow at least a two to three-inch (5 to 8cm) clearance above
the Nº433 for proper heat dissipation through air circulation.
The Nº433 is designed for passive, convection cooling.

• DO NOT obstruct the ventilation holes on the top and bottom
of the Nº433 or reduce airflow through the Nº433.

Mark Levinson

• DO NOT place the Nº433 on a thick rug or carpet or cover the
Nº433 with a cloth, as this might prevent proper cooling. If the
Nº433 is placed on the floor, use a thick piece of tempered glass
to provide firm support and proper ventilation.

• DO NOT expose the Nº433 to high temperatures, humidity,
steam, smoke, dampness or excessive dust. Avoid installing the
Nº433 near radiators or other heat-producing appliances.

Note

8

In general, better ventilation is required if the top of the Nº433 is
hot to the 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.

Nº433 Power Amplifier

Power Requirements

When shipped, the Nº433 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 Nº433, 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.

The Nº433 is capable of passing remarkable musical signals
regardless of signal and loudspeaker demands. On either an instan­taneous or continuous basis, this power amplifier 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, contact a licensed electrician to install a dedicated AC
circuit for the home entertainment system. 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.

9

Important

Warm-up & Break-In

Period

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 Nº433 is capable of using.
Contact a local, licensed electrician for information.

Although the Nº433 delivers superior performance from the 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 approximately 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 Nº433 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

Mark Levinson

power outage occurs. Power is not disconnected when the Nº433 is
in standby or sleep mode.

When power returns, the Nº433 will require a brief warm-up and
break-in period (not the full 300 hours). It is recommended that you
allow the Nº433 and other audio components to stabilize for a few
minutes.

10

Operating States

The Nº433 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
Nº433 requires a brief warm-up and break-in period. In sleep mode,
the Nº433 consumes approximately 10W 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 Nº433 remains warmed-up to deliver an optimal
performance. In standby, the Nº433 consumes approximately
100W of power.

4. On

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

Nº433 Power Amplifier

Special Design Features

Thank you for purchasing the Nº433 Power Amplifier. While this
amplifier is straightforward in everyday use, it includes several
design features that are responsible for its outstanding performance.
In particular, this amplifier defies 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

Balanced Design

The Nº433 features three large, robust power supplies. Each supply
includes a high-capacity, low-noise toroidal transformer, and two
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 lesser­performance 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 the massive power delivery and extraordinary finesse that
characterizes Mark Levinson amplifiers.

11

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,
minimizes magnetic field distortions that can occur with 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.