Mark Levinson 515, 515 MC Owner's Manual

N

0

515

TURNTABLE OWNER’S MANUAL

N

0

515 MC

N0 515 / N0 515 MC TURNTABLE / OWNER’S MANUAL

IMPORTANT: READ BEFORE PROCEEDING!

• Read and follow the instructions

• Keep all instructions for your reference.

• Save all packing materials. The N0515 should only be moved or shipped in its original
packaging to reduce the risk of damage in transit.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

PLEASE SEE ADDITIONAL SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE

FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW TO REDUCE
RISK OF ELECTRICAL HAZARD OR INJURY.

1. To avoid electrical shock, do not open the motor housing.

2. To avoid electrical shock, always plug the N

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515 into a grounded outlet.

3. If the power cord provided with the N

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515 does not reach an outlet, use a heavy-duty,

grounded extension cord.

4. Use the N

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515 in a controlled temperature environment.

5. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

6. Refer to the operating instructions for power requirements. Be advised that different

operating voltages may require the use of different line cord and/or attachment plug.

7. Never attach audio power amplifier outputs directly to any of the unit’s connectors.

Please register your N0515 within 15 days of your purchase. Register online at
www.mark levinso n.co m. Retain your original, dated sales receipt as proof of
warranty coverage.

SPECIFICATIONS

Power requirements: 100-120 or 220-240VAC, 50-60Hz; factory set
40W maximum
Wow and flutter: <0.1%
Unit dimensions (H x W x D): 7.9" (200mm) x 21.0" (533mm) x 15.9" (404mm)
Weight: 58lb (26kg) net; 76lb (34kg) with packaging

UNPACKING THE BOX

The turntable and platter are packed in separate boxes very carefully to avoid damage during
shipping. It is important that you save the packing materials and box to use for shipping or
moving the N

0

515.

• Remove and set aside these items:

Alignment Jig
Record weight
Power cord
Stylus force gauge
Tools
Belts

N0515 Motor Assembly

• Remove the N

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515 motor assembly and set it aside in a safe place, being careful not to hit or

damage the motor pulley.

SETTING UP THE N0 515

The N0515 must be placed on a flat, level surface capable of supporting its considerable weight.
This will make setup easy and put less strain on the main bearing. The stronger and better
isolated the shelf or stand is, the better the N

0

515 will sound.

• Place the turntable chassis, with the motor cutout on the left, on the shelf or stand where it
will be used. Place the motor assembly in the cutout, being very careful not to hit or damage
the motor pulley. The motor assembly should sit close to the chassis but should not touch it.

• Remove the turntable platter and peel the tape off the bearing hole. If there is a black cap on
the bearing spindle, remove it. Carefully lower the platter on to the N

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515 spindle. The platter

is lubed with PTFE grease and needs no maintenance for at least two years.

• Connect the power cord to the motor, put the three belts around the motor pulley and platter,
spin the platter by hand and the belts will self-level.

• Verify the turntable is level by using a 9 or 12-inch bubble level front-to-back and side-to­side on the platter. If it is not level, rotate the feet up or down. If you must turn the N

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515 feet

more than three full turns, level the shelf or platform the table sits on first.

INSTALLING AND ALIGNING A CARTRIDGE

(If you purchased the N0515 MC, a pre-mounted and calibrated cartridge is included; skip
this section.)

• For cartridges with threaded mounting holes, use the screws supplied by the cartridge
manufacturer. Other screws may not fit properly and may cause damage to the threads
and cartridge.

• For cartridges with pass-through mounting holes, use the hardware supplied with the
tonearm. Be sure to use washers under the screw heads.

• The tonearm wires are color-coded as follows:

Red – right hot
Green – right ground
White – left hot
Blue – left ground.

Note that if your phono preamp inverts polarity, you should swap the hot and ground wires to
the cartridge, e.g., red wire to green terminal and green wire to red terminal. Do not swap the
channels.

• Using tweezers or fine-tipped pliers, grip the center of the red wire’s connector – not the
wire itself – and push it onto the cartridge’s right hot terminal pin. Connect the remaining
connectors in the same way. To avoid damage to the cartridge, do not push the connectors
all the way on.

• Place the Alignment Jig on the spindle with the V-groove against the base of the gimbal
assembly and the hole over the record spindle. Tighten the screws so the jig fits snugly.

• Note that the following steps to align the cartridge must be performed without any stylus
guard or protection device in place. Be careful not to bump or damage the stylus or cantilever.

• Swing the tonearm over the jig so the stylus is as close as possible to the dot in the center
of the grid. Turning the black knob on the rear of the tonearm, set the counterweight for
just enough downward force to keep the stylus from moving when resting on the jig. Be
sure to lift the stylus off the jig whenever adjusting the counterweight so as not to damage
it or the cantilever.

• With the diamond stylus resting in the white dot on the alignment jig, use a flashlight and
look from the front of the cartridge to align the cantilever with the grid lines on the jig. The
alignment of the cartridge body is unimportant compared to that of the cantilever. Adjust the
cartridge mounting screws and counterweight as needed during this process.