Operating Manual
Mark Levinson
Nº380
Preamplifier
®
Madrigal Audio Laboratories, Inc.
WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO
NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRICAL SHOCK, DO
NOT REMOVE COVER. NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.
REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral triangle, is intended to
alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the
presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature
accompanying the appliance.
Marking by the “CE” symbol (shown left) indicates compliance of this device with the EMC
(Electromagnetic Compatibility) and LVD (Low Voltage Directive) standards of the
European Community.
NOTICE
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential
installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee
that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause interference to radio or television
reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment on and off, the user is encouraged to try to correct the
interference by one or more of the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna;
• Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver;
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected;
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
CAUTION: Changes or modifications to this equipment not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user’s
authority to operate the equipment.
The information contained in the manual is subject to change without notice. The most current version of this manual will
be posted on our web site at http://www.madrigal.com.
Important Safety Instructions
Please read all instructions and precautions carefully and completely before operating your Mark Levinson
power amplifier.
1. ALWAYS disconnect your entire system from the AC mains before connecting or disconnecting
any cables, or when cleaning any component.
2. This product must be terminated with a three-conductor AC mains power cord which includes
an ear th ground connection. To prevent shock hazard, all three connections must ALWAYS be
used.
3. AC extension cords are not recommended for use with this product.
4. NEVER use flammable or combustible chemicals for cleaning audio components.
5. NEVER operate this product with any covers removed.
6. NEVER wet the inside of this product with any liquid.
7. NEVER pour or spill liquids directly onto this unit.
8. NEVER block air flow through ventilation slots or heatsinks.
9. NEVER bypass any fuse.
®
10. NEVER replace any fuse with a value or type other than those specified.
11. NEVER attempt to repair this product. If a problem occurs, contact your Mark Levinson® re-
tailer.
12. NEVER expose this product to extremely high or low temperatures.
13. NEVER operate this product in an explosive atmosphere.
14. ALWAYS keep electrical equipment out of the reach of children.
15. ALWAYS unplug sensitive electronic equipment during lightning storms.
From all of us at Madrigal Audio Laboratories, thank you for choosing the
Mark Levinson Nº380 Preamplifier.
A great deal of effort went into the design and construction of this precision
device. Used properly, it will give you many years of enjoyment.
4
Table of Con tents
Unpacking and Placement ........................................................................ 6
unpacking........................................................................................................... 6
installing the batteries in the remote control .................................................... 6
placement ..........................................................................................................6
ventilation............................................................................................................ 6
Operating V oltage ...................................................................................... 7
A Quick Start… ............................................................................................ 8
Front Panel ................................................................................................... 9
Rear Panel ..................................................................................................12
building a link cable ................................................................................. 14
using a turntable............................................................................................... 15
tip polarity for external IR input ................................................................ 15
Remote Control ..........................................................................................16
Setup and Installation ................................................................................18
connections and cables ................................................................................. 18
setup overview ................................................................................................. 19
available input names..................................................................................... 19
naming an input “EQ” ...................................................................................... 20
programming input names ............................................................................. 20
assigning record outputs ..................................................................................21
results of unrealistic tests................................................................................... 22
programming input offsets .............................................................................. 22
programming an automatic output (volume) level...................................... 23
programming the mute function .................................................................... 25
volume lock ...................................................................................................... 26
standby timer .................................................................................................... 27
Operational Modes................................................................................... 28
the monitor mode............................................................................................ 28
the record select mode................................................................................... 28
the balance mode .......................................................................................... 29
balance control tip .......................................................................................... 30
Using Surround Sound Processors .............................................................31
the SSP must not come after the preamp ...................................................... 31
the SSP must not come before the preamp ...................................................31
the SSP must not be in a tape loop................................................................ 32
the SSP & the Nº380 ......................................................................................... 32
wiring diagram using an SSP ........................................................................... 33
noise in a/v systems..........................................................................................33
Linked Functions ........................................................................................ 34
display intensity................................................................................................. 34
standby link .......................................................................................................34
play link .............................................................................................................34
record link ......................................................................................................... 34
Care and Maintenance ............................................................................ 35
U.S. and Canadian Warranty .................................................................... 36
90-day limited warranty................................................................................... 36
five year extended warranty ........................................................................... 36
Obtaining Service ..................................................................................... 37
Specifications ............................................................................................ 38
Dimensions ................................................................................................ 39
5
U n pac k in g an d P l ac e m en t
unpacking Unpack your Nº380 Preamplifier and keep all packing materials for future trans-
port. Locate and remove all accessory items from the cartons. Accessories include:
190° shielded AC power cord 15⁄64" Allen key
1 Nº380 remote control 11⁄8" Allen key
2 alkaline batteries
Included with your new Mark Levinson product is a pair 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
one of our products.
installing the batteries
in the remote control
placement The Nº380 should be placed close to your source equipment, thus keeping inter-
ventilation Be sure to allow 3 to 4 inches of clearance above the Nº380 to allow heat dissi-
Using the supplied 5⁄64" Allen key, remove the two screws in the bottom end cap
of the remote control (i.e., the end opposite the IR trans mitter lens). Insert the
two alkaline batteries found in the Accessories box, being careful to follow the
polarity indications given on the inside of the battery compartment. Replace the
end cap and the screws, using the Allen key.
If at some point you notice that your remote control seems not to be performing
as well as it once did, its batteries are probably running low. Check the batteries
periodically, and replace batteries before they are “dead.” (Fully discharged batter-
ies are prone to leaking corrosive chemicals—the greenish “gunk” you may have
seen around battery terminals of other remote controls.)
connect cabling short. We strongly recommend shelf mounting to allow for
pro per ventil a ti on.
The Nº380 is designed for continuous operation, which is why it features a
standby mode rather than a full “off” mode—it is designed to be connected to
the AC mains at all times for the best performance.
pation through air circulation.
Drawings are included in this manual to facilitate special installations and custom
cab inetry (see “Dimens ions”).
Caution! It is extremely important that all components in your system
6
be properly grounded. Under no circumstances should you
defeat a three-prong AC cord with a “ground-lifter” or
“cheater” adaptor, as doing so may allow dangerous
voltages to build up between components. The presence of
these voltages would pose a threat to both your person and
your equipment.
Operating Voltage
The Nº380 P reamplifier is set at the factory (internally) for 100V, 120V, 200V, 230V,
220V, or 240V AC mains operation @ 50 or 60Hz. (230V/50Hz only in European
Union countries, in compliance with CE regulations.) This voltage setting cannot
be changed by the user.
Make sure that the label on the bottom panel of the Nº380 (adjacent to the AC
cord) indicates the correct AC operating voltage for your location.
If the voltage indicated on your Nº380 is incorrect, or if you wish to change the
AC operating voltage of your Nº380 as the result of moving to a different country
than the one in which you purchased your digital audio processor, see your Mark
Levinson dealer.
The Nº380 is easily powered by a normal 15-ampere AC mains line. If other devices are also powered from the same AC line, their additional power consumption should be taken into account.
7
A Qu ic k Start…
We recognize that many people are understandably eager to begin listening to
their new components, and that reading the manual is often done (if at all) at a
later time—perhaps while listening to music through the ne w product itself. We
strongly recommend that you read this manual thoroughly, as the Nº380 Preamplifier incorporates many unusual features which enhance its operation.
Fortunately, we can help you get some music up and running on your system
quickly, so that you may begin enjoying your new preamplifier while reading
more about it. The goal here is simply to make some music quickly. (The follow-
ing procedure assumes that the rest of your system is already connec ted; e.g.,
power amplifier to speakers, etc.)
1 TURN OFF YOUR ASSOCIATED COMPONENTS
This minimizes the opportunity for a momentary electrical surge to disturb
your system while making co nnections. If you have a large power am plifier,
allow its power supply to fully discharge before proceeding.
2 CONNECT A SOURCE TO INPUT 1 (
Connect the output of your CD player to the Left and Right Input 1 XLR
jacks on the r ear panel of your Nº380 preamplifier. (Use the Input 3 R CA
jacks if your source is single-ended. If used, press the Input 3 button on the
face of the Nº380 to select this input.) High quality interconnecting cables
such as Madrigal CZ Gel will yield superior results, and are strongly recommended.
3 CONNECT THE Nº380 OUTPUTS TO YOUR POWER AMP
The Left and Right Main Out jacks on the rear panel of the Nº380 should
be connected to the corresponding inputs of your power amplifier. If your
power amplifier has balanced inputs and you have appropriate high-quality
cables (with XLR plugs at both ends), we recommend using the Balanced
Main Outs. Otherwise, use the (single-ended) Main Outs from the preamplifier to your power amplifier. Once again, high quality interconnecting cables
such as Madrigal CZ Gel will yield superior results, and are strongly recommended.
4 PLUG THE Nº380 INTO THE WALL OUTLET
Connect the AC cord to the male IEC connector on the center of the bottom panel of the Nº380, then connect the AC cord to the AC mains. When
power is first applied, the Nº380 will initialize (showing all current input
names), automatically select the first available input (CD1), and set its output l evel to OFF. (If you used in p u t 3, se lect it now.)
INPUT 3 IF SINGLE-ENDED
)
5 TURN ON YOUR SOURCE COMPONENT; TURN ON YOUR POWER AMPLI-
8
FIER; SLOWLY RAISE THE VOLUME ON THE Nº380 TO A COMFORTABLE
LEVEL
Congratulations! You should now be able to enjoy your favorite music while
reading the rest of this manual.
display
intensity
mono
321 5
mode
monitor record select balance
123456
inverted
polarity
mute
64
PREAMPLIFIER Nº 380
standby
987
10
Front P ane l
1 DISPLAY INTENSITY BUTTON
Cycles among four levels of brightness (including “off”) for the display, allowing adjustment for various ambient lighting conditions. When “off,” the
display will turn on for a few seconds whenever a setting is changed. When
used in conjun ction with certain compat i ble Mark Levinson co mponents,
this button will control the display intensity of all linked components. (For
mor e information , see “Linked Functions.”)
2 ALPHANUMERIC DISPLAY
Provides a wide range of information concerning the operational status of
the Nº380. The information displayed depends on the operating mode the
Nº380 is in (determined by the mode button). The information displayed is
summarized below:
monitor Selected (audible) Source and Volume
record Select “RECD” and Source to be recorded
balance Direction and Magnitude of Offset
In addition, when used with Mark Levinson power amplifiers that incorporate our communications link circuitry, this display is used to indicate the
presence of a fault condition (if any) in the amplifier. Please refer to the
owner’s manual of your amplifier for more information. For more detailed
information on the preamp lifier’s use o f this disp lay, see “Operational
Modes.”
9
3 MODE INDICATORS
Three LEDs give visual confirmation of the operational mode the Nº380 is
in at any moment. When th e balance control of the Nº380 is “off-center,”
the balance LED remains lit as a reminder, in addition to other mode indi-
cators
tha t might be o n to indicate either monitor or record select.
4 MODE BUTTON
Cycles among the three primary operational modes of the Nº380: monitor
(the source being listened to); record select (the source being provided to
the Record Outputs); and balance (the relative volumes of the Left and
Right channels). Confirmation of these operating modes is given by the
mode indic ators below the alphan um e ric display . (See 3, a bove.)
5 INVERTED POLARITY INDICATOR
The polarity (sometimes inaccurately called “absolute phase”) of the output
of the Nº380 may be inverted via the Nº380 remote control, in which case
this LED will light as confirmation. A second press of the polarity button on
the remote control w ill restore the polarity of the output t o its original,
non-inverted state.
6 VOLUME KNOB
This control is normally used to adjust the listening volume, and does not
effect the level of the signal being sent to the Record Outputs. When in
balance mode, this knob is used to vary the relative output of the Left and
Right channels. It is also used during setup for various adjustments; see
“Setup an d I nsta llat ion .”
7 MONO BUTTON
This button toggles between stereo and mono operation. When in mono, it
activates circuitry which combines left and right input signals, and sends the
resulting monophonic signal to both left and right outputs. This circuit is
particularly useful when listening to older, monophonic source material,
since significant noise reduction is often realized by listening to mono recordings in mono.
8 SOURCE SELECTOR BUTTONS
Inputs 1–6 are selected by pressing their respective buttons. When in the
monitor mode, pressing one of these buttons will select the source to be
heard (i.e., se nt to the ma in output s); when in record select mode , pressing
one o f these buttons will select the source to be recorded (i.e., sent to t he
record outputs).
9 MUTE BUTTON
Pressing the mute button will reduce the main output level of the preamplifier by a user-modifiable amount, ranging from 1 to 60 decibels. Pressing
the Mute button a second time without adjusting the volume will return it
to its previous setting.
10
If you adjust the volume with either the volume knob or the remote control
while mute is engaged, the preamplifier will adjust its volume from the
muted volume and disengage the mute function. (This to prevent an un-
pleasant surprise when, having increased the volume while muted, someone un-mutes the system.)
The factory default settin g of the Mute circuit is -20 dB. (See “Setup and
Installation” for informati o n on cha nging t he fa ctory def ault setting.)
10 STANDBY BUTTON
To ggles t h e Nº380 be tw e e n n ormal ope ratio n a nd standby, wh er e in t he display is turned off, the outputs are disconnected, and all controls are inoperable. All critical circuitry remains powered-up during standby to ensure immedia te, opt imal performance when you are ready to listen to music.
The LED above the standby button will blink slowly when the Nº380 is in
standby, indicating that p owe r is s till being p rovi d ed to the u nit. (If the
Nº380 is Linked to other Mark Levinson components which are also in
standby, the y w ill b link in u n iso n .)
11
1 3 4 4
2
5
right balanced
main out
right
rec out 1
rec out 2
right balanced
right main out left main out
right balanced
input 1
PUSH PUSH PUSH PUSH
input 2
right
input 3
input 4
communication ports
right
right
slave external master
right
right
input 5
input 6
7
6
7
left
input 6
left
rec out 2
left
left
input 5
input 4
6 3
left
rec out 1
left
input 3
PREAMPLIFIER Nº380
PREAMPLIFIER Nº38
designed and manufactured in U.S.A.
MADRIGAL S/N
by
left balanced
input 2
left balanced
input 1
2
Rear Panel
Note: All left-channel inputs and outp uts are on the left of the rear panel as seen
from the front, and all right-ch annel inputs and ou tputs are on the right of the
rear panel as seen from the front. This design minimizes any possible confusion
when changing connections once the unit is installed, while also maximizing
channel separation in this dual monaural preamplifier.
left balanced
main out
1
1 BALANCED MAIN OUTPUTS
If your power amplifier is equipped with balanced (sometimes called “diffe rential”) inputs, it is best to use these balanced outputs on your Nº380. A
balanced signal from preamplifier to power amplifier will offer the highest
possible performan ce with the best immunity from co mmon-mode noise,
such as radio frequency interference (RFI). The balanced output signal is
made available by way of precision male XLR connectors (requiring female
XLRs on the preamplifier end of the interconnecting cable).
The pin assignments of these XLR-type male outputs are:
Pin 1: Signal ground
12
3
Pin 2: Signal + (non-inverting)
Pin 3: Signal – (inverting)
Connector ground lug: chassis ground
Refer to your power amplifier’s operating manual to verify that the pin assignments of its input connectors correspond to the Nº380. If not, wire the
cable so that the appropriate output pin connects to the equivalent input
pin.
Connect the right-channel and left-channel balanced main outputs of the
Nº380 to the appropriate balanced inputs of the power amplifier.
12
If your system calls for multiple outputs from the Nº380 (as might be the
case for “passive” biamplification, for example), you may use balanced Yadapters to split each balanced output into two balanced outputs. The low
output impedance (6Ω) of the Nº380 can easily drive multiple power amplifiers.
2 SINGLE-ENDED MAIN OUTPUTS
Single-ended (“unbalanced”) outputs using Madrigal-designed RCA jacks are
provided for compatibility with a wide range of associated components, including power amplifiers and electronic crossovers.
If you use the single-ended outputs, connect them to the corresponding
inputs of your power amplifier (or other device). Note that special features
of the Nº380 enable it to be used optimally with a surround sound processor as one of its inputs. We do not recommend having a surround sound
processor follow the Nº380 in the signal path. (For more information, see
“Usin g S urround Sou n d P roc es so rs.”)
3 BALANCED INPUTS 1 AND 2
Accepts right-channel and left-channel balanced signals from source equipment with balanced outputs.
The pin assignments of these XLR-type female input connectors are:
PUSH
21
3
Pin 1: Signal ground
Pin 2: Signal + (non-inverting)
Pin 3: Signal – (inverting)
Connector ground lug: chassis ground
Refer to the operating manuals of your balanced-output line-level sources
to verify that the pin assignments of their output connectors correspond to
the Nº380. If not, wire the cables so that the appropriate output pin connects to the equivalent input pin.
Note: If you won’t be using the Nº380’s balanced inputs and need
more single-ended inputs, it is possible to fabricate a cable
to connect line-level sources with single-ended output to
these balanced inputs:
1
2
22-gauge
3
bus wire
Male RCA
(connect to source)
(connect to Nº380)
Male XLR
13
4 RECORD OUTPUTS
Connect these outputs to the right-channel and left-channel tape inputs of
your recorder. Make a note of which set of record outputs you used with
which recording device. It is important to name the inputs you use and to
associate t he corre ct record output with the appropriate recording devic e.
By giving the Nº380 this information, it can prevent accidental record loops
that might otherwise create disturbing feedback. (See “programming input
names” a n d “assigning record outputs” on p ages 2 0-21.)
These outputs are unaffected by the output level control on the front panel
of the Nº380, or by the source chosen to be monitored.
5 SLAVE AND MASTER COMMUNICATOR PORTS
These communications ports allow the Nº380 to “link” to certain compatibl e Mark Levinson c ompone nt s. (S ee “Linked Functions.”)
master
8 to 8 Link Cable
slave in
slave out
8 to 8 Link Cable
slave
master
6 to 6 Link Cable
R
MADRIGAL AUDIO LABORATORIES
REFERENCE
MONAURAL
AMPLIFIER
Nº 33
slave in
8 to 6 Link Cable
slave in
MADRIGAL AUDIO LABORATORIES
REFERENCE
MONAURAL
AMPLIFIER
Nº 33
slave out
processor
R
transport
preamp
power
amp(s)
The Mark Levinson Linking system uses a Digital Audio Processor as the
Master of (and central clearinghouse for) inter-component communications.
Other components such as digital transports are connected to the Master as
“S laves,” and can be “daisy-chained” using t heir Slave In and Slave Out jacks.
As the ultimate destination of all source signals, the Nº380 Preamplifier
must be the final “Slave” in the chain. (In technical terms, it terminates the
communications bus.) In turn, the Nº380 can se rve as a master to an asso-
ciated compatible Mark Levinson power amplifier—hence its “Master” communications port.
Thus, if the only other Mark Levinson Link-compatible component you
have is a digital audio processor, connect its master port to the Nº380’s
slave port using a “straight-through” RJ-45 cable. If there are additional Mark
Levinson Link-compatible components in the system, place the Nº380 at the
end of the chain by connecting the last slave out port to the Nº380’s slave
port. See the diagram (left) for clarification.
The RJ-45 cable needed for the Link connection between source components and the preamplifier may be purchased from your Mark Levinson
dealer. It may also be easily and inexpensively made to length using two
RJ-45 connectors and the appropriate length (up to 100 feet/30 meters) of
RJ-45 (flat, eight conductor) cable.
RJ-45 cables and connectors are used throughout the world for both telecommunications and computers, and are widely available at low cost. The
connectors are crimped on to the ends of the cable such that pin 1 at one
end is connected to pin 1 at the other end. Such a “straight-through” connection is (counter-intuitively) made by introducing a 180° twist in the
cable between the two ends, as shown below.
building a link cable
14
To Mark Levinson
digital processor
®
To Nº380
S
180° twist
Locking tabLocking tab
The power amplifier Link connection is made using a 6-conductor Link
cable. Connect the Nº380’s master port to the slave port of a compatible
Mark Levinson power amplifier.
Warning! Connecting the communication ports other than as
described in this manual can damage the Nº380 and the
associated Mark Levinson components, and will void those
products’ warranties.
6 INPUTS 3-6
Accepts right-channel and left-channel (single-ended) inputs from line-level
source equipment such as tuners, CD players, and tape decks.
using a turntable If a turntable is to be used with the Nº380, it must be used in conjunction
with a phono preamp such as the Mark Levinson Nº25. The phono preamp
used should provide RIAA equalization and deliver a line-level signal to the
input of the Nº380 (both standard functions of a phono preamplifier)..
7 EXTERNAL IR INPUT
The Nº380 incorporates an infrared repeater input to facilitate a wide range
of installation options. If desired, the Nº380 may be placed inside a cabinet
or outside the normal line-of-sight in the listening area, with the controlling
IR signal being relayed to the Nº380 by any of a number of commerciallyavailable IR repeaters.
tip polarity for external IR input
The specifications for this IR input call for a triggering voltage of 5 volts at
no more than 100 milliamps of curre nt, w ith the tip of the 1⁄8" mini-plug
having positive polarity, as below:
+–
5 volts @ less
than 100 mA
If you would like more information on the possibility of using an infrared
repeater with your Nº380, please contact your Mark Levinson dealer.
15
Remote Control
R
MADRIGAL AUDIO LABORATORIES
1
2
3
polaritymono
modedisplay
12
34
56
1MONO
5
6
Pressing this button w ill toggle the Nº380 in a nd out of the mono mode,
having the same effect as pressing the front panel mono button. Mono
mode activates circuitry which combines Left and Right input signals, and
sends the resulting monophonic signal to both Left and Right outputs. This
circuit is particularly useful when listening to older, monophonic source material, at which time significant noise reduction may be realized.
4
volume mute
2 DISPLAY
7
Duplicates the function of the display intensity button on the front panel,
cycling among four levels of brightness (including “off”) for the display, allowing adjustment for various ambient lighting conditions. (Tip: If pressed
and held for several seconds, the display button will place your Nº380 in
Standby.)
3 SOURCE SELECTION
These bu ttons provide remote s election of the six inputs of the Nº380 .
Pressing any of these buttons (or the volume +/- buttons) while the Nº380
is in standby will bring it fully on and operational. These buttons are gray
instead of black to serve as a reminder of this secondary function.
4 VOLUME +/-
Raises the volume at either low speed for fine adjustments or high speeds
for larger changes. The Nº380 will slowly raise its output for the first 1.5 seconds this button is depressed, then move to higher rates of change.
Pressing either volume +/- button while the Nº380 is in standby will bring
it fully on and operational. These buttons are gray instead of black to serve
as a reminder of this secondary function.
5 POLARITY
6MODE
16
Note that all volume and balance functions are disabled if a surround
sound processor [“ssp”] input is selected. For more information on this specia l featu re of the Nº380’s des ign, see “Using Su rround Sound Processo rs.”
Inverts the polarity (sometimes inaccurately called “absolute phase”) of the
outputs of the Nº380. A second press of this button will restore the outputs
to their original, non-inverting polarity.
Duplicates the function of the Mode button on the front panel, cycling
through monitor, record select, and balance modes. As with the front panel
button, use it in conjunction with the Source Selection buttons when in either monitor or record select mode and with the volume +/- buttons when
in balance mode.
7MUTE
Toggles between normal output level and the user-programmable mute
function, reducing the level by 1 to 60 decibels (depending on the user’s
programming). The factory default setting gives a 20 decibel reduction in
output.
17
Set u p an d Inst al lat ion
connections and cables The Nº380 incorporates both RCA-type and XLR-type connectors for audio signal
input and output.
The Madrigal-desi g ned RCA-type conn e ctors used for single-e n ded aud i o interconnect i on are a gr eat improvem e nt ove r ordinary R CA-type co nnector s, o ffering superior c ontact integrity and m e chani c al locking when used in conjuncti on with th e
Ma drigal c able-mounted RCAs. The gold-plated XLR-type co nnector s u s ed for ba lanc ed connections ar e made to p r ofes s i onal appli c ation s tandar ds.
When connecting the Nº380 to source equipment and power amplifiers, we recommend Madrigal Audio Laboratories CZ Gel Interconnect Cable. CZ Gel is available in various lengths, in purpose-designed balanced and single-ended configurations. See your Mark Levinson dealer for more information.
Connect the AC cord to the male IEC connector on the center of the bottom
panel of the Nº380, then connect the AC cord to the AC mains.
To Nº380 To AC mains
132
1
3
2 = Neutral
3 = Earth ground
1 = Line (hot)
2
When power is first applied to the Nº380, the preamp will run through an automatic initialization sequence which (among other things) provides a “role-call” of
the current input names (see “Names” on the next page), selects the first name
other t han NO T USE D or ssp, and set s th e volu m e t o OFF.
For optimal sonic performance and longevity, the Nº380 is designed to remain
powered at all times (the standby switch merely mutes the preamplifier’s outputs
and turns off the display). There is an initial break-in period of approximately
300 hours before the Nº380 achieves optimum performance.
Note: If AC mains power to the Nº380 is interrupted, the main output
will be muted. When power is restored, the initialization
sequence described above will restore the preamplifier to
normal operation, with the main output muted and the
display indic ati ng OFF.
We recommend you allow the circuitry within your various system components
to stabilize for 1 to 2 minutes before use after such a power outage.
18
setup overview The Nº380 Preamplifier has many provisions for custom-tailoring the system’s op-
eration to match your preferences. The consistent method for modifying any of
these settings is to enter a setup mode by:
• pressing and holding a button for several seconds;
• the setting is then modified, either by pressing a button or turning
the volume knob;
• and then the new preference is confirmed by pressing and holding
the original button again for several seconds.
This three-step process is simple and logical, yet provides positive feedback that
your change has been accepted and saved for future use. (If you allow the
preamp to “time out” after changing something, your change will still be saved.).
To facilitate operation in complex multisource systems, the Nº380 is capable of
displaying a wide variety of names for each of its six inputs. The available names
are listed below.
available input names
NOT USED (any unused input)
ssp Surround Sound Processor
EQ Equalizer
D AT Digita l Au d io Tape
VCR Video Cassette Recorder
CAS Cassette
RTR Reel-To-Reel
DCC Digital Compact Cassette
MD Mini-Disc
CDR Compact Disc, Recordable
CDI Compact Disc, Interactive
SAT Satellite
PH Phono
LD LaserDisc
CD Compact Disc
TUN T uner
AUX Auxiliary
DAC Digital to Analog Converter
DMX Digital Music Express™ (a cable radio system)
CDP Proceed™ CD Processor
DVD (depends on who you ask…)
DAP Proceed DAP
No30 Mark Levinson Nº30(.5) Digital Audio Processor
No35 Mark Levinson Nº35 Digital Audio Processor
No36 Mark Levinson Nº36(S) Digital Audio Processor
No39 Mark Levinson Nº39 CD Processor
Each name is normally followed by a number corresponding to the number of
the input being used. (The exceptions bein g the names l ike “No30” and “No35”
for the corresponding Mark Levinson products.) Thus, a DAT in Input 3 would
normally display a DAT3. In this way, you can have more than one CD p layer, for
example, and still tell at a glance which one is selected.
There is also a special nam e to indic ate tha t an input is NOT USED.
19
The factory default input name is NOT USED for each input except CD1 and CAS3
(fo r “cassette in input 3”, the most common recording device); these were config-
ured for the Quick Start portion of this manual. Any or all input names (including these) may be changed easily to match the configuration of your particular
system.
naming an input “EQ ” The EQ name also deserves special mention: if your loudspeaker requires a dedi-
cated equalizer for proper operation (or if you have any other reason for using
an EQ much of the time), you may connect the outputs of the equalizer to the
input named “EQ.” By “recording” the source you wish to listen to (selecting it on
the record path), and monitoring the EQ input (selecting EQ on the monitor
path), you will be able to run all signals through the equalizer prior to listening
to them. This is usually preferable to simply placing the EQ between the preamp
and the power amp, as most equalizers perform best at a (fixed) line level—
which is what they will receive in this hookup.
Since, in this scenario, you would spend most of your time in the r ecord path
(selecting the source to be equalized) rather than the monitor path, we have en-
abled the volume control function in the record path when the input selected on
the moni tor path is named EQ. Thus , you may adjust the volu m e of the selected
source without having to push the mode button twice to return to the monitor
path.
programming input names To change the name of any particular input, follow these steps:
1 IN THE MONITOR MODE, SELECT THE INPUT YOU WISH TO RENAME
2 PRESS AND HOLD THE MODE BUTTON…
on the front panel until the display reads SET DATA, as below:
3 RELEASE THE MODE BUTTON; PRESS THE CHOSEN INPUT BUTTON RE-
PEATEDL Y…
until the Name you desire appears in the display.
4 PRESS AND HOLD THE MODE BUTTON AGAIN…
until the display reads NEW DATA, as shown below. (Note: see Step 5 below
if you have selected an name of a device capable of recording.) This indi-
cates that your new name for that input has been stored in nonvolatile
memory. As a result, this new setting will survive power outages and other
interruptions of AC power to the preamp.
20
assigning record outputs 5 IF THE SOURCE IN QUESTION IS A RECORDABLE DEVICE…
You will be further prompted to associate a particular record output with
this particular device. Instead o f showing “NEW DATA,” the display will read
“RCD: NON E” as shown below.
You may elect not to use either record output with this particular device, as
may be the case if you have several devices in your system that are capable
of recording. In this ca se, leave t he disp lay on “RCD: NONE” and move to
Step 6.
You may also select either record output 1 or 2 to be associated with this
particular input. To do so, press the input button repeatedly until you see
your choice of OUT1 or OUT2 in the display. (OUT1 is given as an example
below.)
6 STORE YOUR SELECTION
Save your choice in nonvolatile memory by pressing and holding the Mode
button until the display reads NEW DATA, as below.
21
results of unrealistic tests The Nº380 Preamplifier has been optimized to yield optimum sonic performance
under normal, real-world operating conditions. This approach involves no disadvantage when the unit is used as designed.
Unrealistic tests such as listening at full gain to an unterminated input which has
been associated with an unterminated record output may result in some small
amount of noise at the main output which does not occur when the Nº380 is
used correctly. Moreover, even under these unrealistic test conditions, any resulting noise is small and poses no danger.
Rather than compromise the sonic performance of the preamplifier in an effort to
eliminate even the remote possibility of this noise being detected, the setup procedure outlined above for programming input names was designed to make it
virtually impossible to create a condition under which any such noise can be
heard. We recommend using the input name NOT USED for all unused inputs.
programming input offsets The Nº380 allows you to adjust the relative outputs of your various sources with
respect to one another, so as to avoid disturbing and/or potentially dangerous
changes in output levels as you switch from one source to the next. These input
offsets
are made relative to whichever source t ends to be the loudest—that is,
you raise the outputs of the remaining sources to match that of your loudest
source. This is achieved as follows:
1 DECIDE WHICH SOURCE HAS THE HIGHEST OUTPUT
You should listen to several examples of each source before you decide
(e.g., to several differe nt CDs when evaluatin g your CD player’s ou tput, or to
several radio stations when evaluating your tuner’s output). The point is to
ascertain whether any source consistently pl ays more l o udly than others,
and to bring the others up to its level. (For example, other things being
equal, balanced outputs of components are usually approximately 6 dB
stronger than the single-ended outputs.)
2 LISTEN TO THIS SOURCE LONG ENOUGH TO ESTABLISH ITS VOLUME
Use a particular output level setting to which you can easily return, such as
60.0 in the display. Develop a sense of the perceiv ed vol ume at this setting,
which you will want to match with your other inputs. Optionally, you may
desire to measure its actual output at your chosen volume setting with a
sound pressure level (SPL) meter set to “Slow” or “Average” response.
3 SELECT THE FIRST OF THE SOURCES WHOSE OUTPUT YOU WILL RAISE
While music is playing from both your reference, “loudest” source and the
source you are about to adjust, select the latter so as to give you a sense of
the magnitude of the adjustment you are about to make.
22
4 PRESS AND HOLD THE MODE BUTTON ON THE FRONT PANEL
After a few sec onds the display will change to show SET DATA, as below.
Release the mode button.
5 RAISE THE VOLUME TO MATCH YOUR REFERENCE
Using the volume knob, raise the volume of your “quieter” source until it
subjectively matches the volume level of your “loudest” source. The display
will show the name of the input you are adjusting and the degree of additional output you are assigning to it, measured in decibels (0.0 to 20.0 dB in
tenths of a decibel).
programming an automatic
output (volume) level
Note that “CD 1” in the example given above represents the currently chosen input, and “2.8” indicates the current offset for that input.
6 PRESS AND HOLD THE MODE BUTTON AGAIN…
unt il the display reads NEW DATA, as below.
This indicates that your new input offset has been stored in nonvolatile
memory. As a result, this new setting will survive power outages and other
interruptions in AC power to the preamp. You may wish to repeat this process in order to refine your settings.
The Nº380 als o features the ability to re member a “preferred” output level setting,
to which it will return whenever you select a particular input. This capability is a
great convenience when used with tuners, for example, since their output level is
often more consistent than other sources, and since tuners may be used primarily
for background (rather than critical) listening. This adjustment may be made for
each input independently of any other input.
23
In order to take advantage of this automatic output level setting, follow the steps
below:
1 SELECT THE INPUT WHOSE LEVEL YOU WOULD LIKE TO “AUTOMATE”
2 ADJUST THE VOLUME TO YOUR PREFERRED LEVEL
This will be the preferred, programmed level.
3 PRESS AND HOLD THE MODE BUTTON ON THE FRONT PANEL
Hold the mode butto n until the display reads “SET DATA,” as below:
4 TURN THE VOLUME KNOB COUNTERCLOCKWISE FROM 0.0 UNTIL THE
DISPLAY READS “AUTO”
The display will initially look like the illustration below:
When the volume knob is rotated counterclockwise, the display will change
to resemble the illustration shown below:
In effect, you are setting the input offset of this input to remember an abso-
lute volume setting (whatever it was before you held the mode button
down) rather than a relative setting (that is, relative to the current playback
volume).
24
5 PRESS AND HOLD THE MODE BUTTON AGAIN…
unt il the display reads NEW DATA.
This indicates that your new automatic output level has been stored in
nonvolatile memory. Your Nº380 will now automatically return to this volume setting whenever this input is selected. To reverse this situation, simply
readjust the input offset as described above (in “programming input off-
sets”).
Note: It is necessary for the Nº380 to have an Input Offset of 0.0 in
order to access the AUTO setting. As a result, it will be
necessary to save a 0.0 Input Offset before selecting AUTO if a
higher offset was previously saved.
programming the
mute function
The Nº380 provides a user-defined mute function which quickly reduces the output level by a predefined amount between 1 and 60 decibels. The factory default
setting is -20 dB .
If you regularly listen at relatively high sound pressure levels, you may wish to
increase the magnitude of the change brought about by engaging the mute but-
ton. For example, a -20 dB change from an average of 95 dB SPL would bring the
volume in the room down to 75 dB SPL. If used in response to the telephone
ringing, you would probably find 75 dB SPL of music in the background too loud
for a comfortable telephone conv ersation.
To alter the change introduced by the Mute function:
1 PRESS AND HOLD THE MUTE BUTTON
Wait until the displ ay reads “MUTE” and a number (which will r ead “-20” as
delivered from the factory).
25
2 ADJUST THE VOLUME KNOB TO YOUR PREFERRED SETTING
You may select any value between -1 and -60 decibels (inclusive), in onedecibel increments.
3 PRESS AND HOLD THE MUTE BUTTON AGAIN
When the display reads NEW DATA, the Nº380 will have saved your new setting in nonvolatile memory.
The mute button will toggle you back and forth between the “normal” playback
level and a level which is as many decibels below that level as you have elected
to us e a s your mute function.
However, if you adjust the volume with either the volume knob or the remote
control while in the mute mode, the preamplifier will adjust its volume from the
muted volume and disengage the mute function. This design guards against unex-
pected (and possibly unpleasant) large increases in volume when the mute button is disengaged after raising the volume with the knob.
volume lock The Nº380 also allows a “maximum volume setting” to be established. Using this
feature, it now becomes possible to “lock out” volume settings above a certain
point in the preamplifier’s range.
In systems that have highly sensitive loudspeakers, the available +18.9 dB of gain
may allow the system to be driven to dangerously loud levels. Alternatively, the
presence of children in the home may lead the owner of the system to desire
some restriction on how loudly it can be played.
In either case, setting the maximum volume is quite simple:
1. TURN THE VOLUME TO THE DESIRED “MAXIMUM VOLUME”
2. PRESS AND HOLD THE MONO BUTTON UNTIL THE DISPLAY READS LOCK
SET
The display will time out after a few seconds and revert to its normal display, except that it will no longer allow y ou to exceed the chosen maximu m volume.
(Exception: the SSP mode will still override this feature and pass the surround
processor’s front channels through at unity gain, regardless of the setting of the
Volume Lock.)
If and when you want to restore the volume control to its normal, full range operation, simply press and hold the mono button again to toggle back into the nor-
26
mal volume mode of operation. The display will read LOCK OFF to indicate the
return to normal operation.
standby timer In a similar fashion, you may elect to have the preamplifier (and the entire sys-
tem, if Linked) go into standby after a certain period of time, much like a “Sleep
Timer” on many alarm clocks. To engage the standby timer on the Nº380:
1. PRESS AND HOLD THE STANDBY BUTTON UNTIL THE DISPLAY READS TIME
OFF.
2. TURN THE VOLUME KNOB TO SELECT A TIME BETWEEN 1 AND 120 MINUTES.
An example might be: TIME 60 would turn off the system in an hour.
3. THE DISPLAY WILL NOW TIME OUT AND RETURN TO NORMAL
The preamp (or entire Linked system) will go into standby at the appointed time
one time only (so you don’t have to live with the product turning itself off every
60 minutes thereafter…).
27
Ope r at ion al M ode s
the monitor mode The majority of time you spend with your Nº380 will be spent in the monitor
mode. In this mode, the display indicates the name of the input you have selected and the listening volume (in decibels). The output control acts as a volume knob, increasing or decreasing the volume in 0.1 dB increments above 39.0
(with gradually increasing increments below this low level). The input selection
buttons select the source to be listened to at any point in time. In short, in the
monitor mode, the Nº380 acts precisely as you would expect a preamplifier to
act.
There are several refinements which may not be immediately apparent to the casual user, however. When turned quickly by hand, the effect of the output control
will accelera te (i.e., yield a greater cha nge per r evoluti on of the knob) so as to
reach your preferred volume more quickly. Conversely, when the knob is turned
slowly, the volume changes at maximum resolution to facilitate fine adjustments
and precise level control (0.1 dB through most of the range).
However, if the volume knob is spun quickly (as though it were a flywheel), the
rate of change will decrease again. This design helps avoid accidental bumps of
the preamplifier’s Output Level knob sending potentially dangerous signal levels
to your loudspeakers.
Lastly, the corresponding buttons on the remote control behave in a similar fash-
ion when in the monitor mode. If the volume +/- buttons are held for more than
approximately 1.5 seconds, the Nº380 infers that you would like to change volume
more quickly and accelerates the volume change.
While in the monitor mode, the input selector buttons choose the source which
will be heard over the loudspeakers.
the record select mode When you wish to send a signal out to be recorded, push the mode button once
to enter the record select mode. In this mode, the display ind icate s “RECD” on
the left side and the name of the input currently being supplied to the Record
Outputs on the right. An example is given below:
To select a different input for recording, simply press the appropriate Input Selection button while in this mode. Note that the Nº380 will not allow a recording
device to serve as its own source while monitoring itself, as this would allow potentially dangerous feedback to be reproduced by the loudspeakers. (See “pro-
gramming inpu t n ames” for m ore deta ils.)
28
The record outputs may be disconnected (or “defeated”) by pressing the input
selector
button of the currently select ed (to-be-recorded) input a second time.
Doing so will toggle the record outputs on and off. The display will alternatively
read the name of the chosen input and RECD OFF as shown below.
Defeating the record outputs eliminates even the possibility that the input im-
pedance of a recording device could have an effect on the sound quality of the
preamplifier. We recommend that record outputs be turned OFF when not in use.
the balance mode The balan ce mode gives you extremely fine control over the relative volumes of
the Left and Right channels, by changing the volume of one relative to the other
in increments of 0.1 dB, up to 20.0 dB. (Beyond this point, the balance control
will mute the output of the reduced channel entirely.) Once set, this inter-channel
difference in volume remains the same regardless of output level and selected
input, until it is changed again in the balance mode, or when AC power is interrupted (in which case the balance is reset to 0.0).
To enter the balance mode from the monitor mode, press the mode button
twice (once from the record select mode). When the balance is set to a neutral
position, favoring neither channel over the other, the display will show a doubleheaded arrow and “0.0” decibels—that is, that the channels are balanced with respect to one another.
Turning the knob (which serves as a balance control in balance mode) in either
direction will change the balance in that direction. The display will reflect this by
changing to the appropriate single-headed arrow to indicate the direction of
change and by showing the number of decibels by which that channel has been
increased (in tenths of a decibel), as below:
In this example, the right channel is 2.3 decibels louder than the Left.
29
balance control tip Precise balance control is essential for obtaining accurate soundstaging. Output
imbalances due to asymmetrical placement of the loudspeakers in the room are
common, and degrad e imaging acc u racy.
To correct this problem, place the Nº380 in mono mode and center the resulting
image (which should be quite small) directly between the loudspeakers, using
the balance control. Differences as small as 0.1 or 0.2 decibels have been found
to be signifi c a nt . Try it.
Note that this “mono trick” can correct only for differences that occur after the
preamplifier in the signal chain, things like asymmetrical placement of loudspeakers or slight mismatches in sensitivity between speakers. If a particular recording is out of balance, you will have to adjust the balance more subjectively, as
alw ays.
30
U si n g Surround Sound
Processors
The Nº380 Preamplifier incorporates a special surround sound processor mode
which makes it uniquely capable of integrating the highest performance audio
with surround sound—that is, dual-purpose music and movie systems. In order to
better understand the value of this design, it is essential to understand a bit about
the nature of a surround sound processor.
One obvious and fundamental difference between stereo listening and multichannel listening is the number of channels that must be controlled. When listening to two-channel stereo, one must have a two channel volume control so both
speakers increase or decrease in volume in concert with one another. Simila rly,
when listening to six- or eight-channel surround sound recordings (whether movies or music), one must have a corresponding six- or eight-channel volume control .
This simple fact has made combining a high quality two-channel preamp with an
outboard surround sound processor extremely difficult over the years. In fact, until the Mark Levinson Nº38 was introduced in 1993, it was virtually impossible to
combine the two and have the system work reliably well.
come
come
the SSP must not
after
the preamp
the SSP must not
before
the preamp
Dolby Pro Logic decoders incorporate a form of Dolby noise reduction similar to
the Dolby B one finds in cassette decks. This form of noise reduction is levelsensitive. That is, Dolby noise reduction intentionally treats strong signals differently than weak signals. In order to operate correctly, the signal strength of the
source must be “calibrated” to the expectations of the Dolby noise reduction circuitry. (It is for this reason that one finds “Record Calibration” features on betterquality cassette decks.) It is therefore inappropriate to feed a surround
sound decoder with the variable output o f a preamplifier. Were you to do
so, every change of the volume control on the preamplifier would cause the
Dolby circuitry to mistrack. In extreme cases, severe distortion can result as the
Dolby circuitry overloads.
The next logical alternative might be to use the Pro-Logic decoder ahead of the
preamplifier, sending its Left and Right outputs through the preamplifier as a selectable Source. Sending the Right and Left Outputs from a surround
sound decoder to a pair of inputs on a conventional preamplifier is also
inappropriate, since any chan ge of the preamp’s volume control would then
throw the ca refully calibrated output levels of the dec oder out of a djustment,
changing the volume of the Left and Right speakers while leaving the Center and
Surr ound spe a kers unaff e ct ed.
One could attempt to restore the proper balance by marking a “calibrated” point
on the preamplifier’s volume control and then using only the Pro-Logic decoder
to adjust the volume of the system , but this method is both crude and imprecise,
yielding inconsistent performance at best.
31
the SSP must not
be in a tape loop
The last remaining alternative would seem to be to insert the decoder “within” a
preamplifier by hooking it up in a tape loop. Unfortunately, this setup returns the
Left and Right outputs of the decoder to the preamplifier, where they can be inappropriately changed without changing the Center and Surround outputs. It is
therefore inappropriate to place surround sound decoders in a tape
loop.
It would seem that there is no way to properly integrate a surround sound processor with a preamplifier for a high quality, dual-purpose system.
the SSP & the Nº380 The Nº380 solves this dilemma by virtue of a specially-designed surround sound
processor interface. When you select the ssp name for a particular input on the
Nº380, the output level and balance controls are defeated and the preamplifier
operates in a “unity gain” mode, passing through whatever signal enters that input
without changing its volume in any way. In fact, the display indicates that a linele vel signal is being “ p assed through” unch anged by showing “LIN E” in the display.
Thanks to this design innovation, it is possible for the first time to correctly
integrate a su rround sound proce ssor with a preamplifier, sendin g t h e
processor’s Left and Right outputs through the Nº380 (and on to the power amplifier for the main front speakers). Since the output level of these channels cannot be changed by the Nº380 while in “ssp” mode, the preamplifier cannot corrupt the careful calibration of the processor’s output levels. And since the audio
portion of audio/video sources are fed directly to the processor’s audio input(s)
at a line level, input calibration cannot be disturbed by the preamplifier.
Note: the Nº380 will not allow an input with an “ssp” name to be
selected during initialization, since allowing a line level signal
to pass through unattenuated at start-up presents a potential
hazard to your loudspeakers.
32
wiring diagram using an SSP
noise in a/v systems In some cases, connecting your audio and video systems together can result in
video 1 video 2 video 3 video 4
Surround Sound Processor
RFLF
display
intensity
monitor record select balance
123456
mon
o
inverted
mode
polarity
mute
MADRIGAL AUDIO LABORATORIES
PREAMPLIFIER Nº 380
standby
R
LS
RS
Ctr
Sub
RF
LF
Listening Room
Surround Power Amplifier
Center/Sub Power Amplifier
Main (Front) Power Amplifier
LS
RS
Ctr
Sub
RF
LF
noise, typically a 50/60 Hz or 100/120 Hz hum. The most common cause for this
noise is a “ground loop” caused by the presence of two ground references in the
system: one from the power company and another from the cable-television company. The simplest way of solving this problem is to break the cable company’s
ground by using an isolation transformer on the incoming cable line, before it
reaches your television or VCR. If you cannot find a 75Ω-75Ω balans (isolation)
transformer, you can easily construct one from the adaptors which probably came
with your VCR and television, as shown below.
Ground Isolation Adaptor
75Ω 300Ω
place in-line with your cable feed, prior to the system connection
300Ω 75Ω
The assembly shown above may cause some loss of video signal strength and/or
bandwidth, and should be used as a temporary fix. It is useful in determining the
cause of some video-related noise problems, however, and costs only a few dollars. If it seems to correct a problem, consult with your dealer regarding a longterm solution which does not degrade video performance.
33
Linked Fun c t ions
The Nº380 has the ability to “link” several of its functions to certain compatible
Mark Levinson components (such as the Nº30.5 or Nº36S digital processors and
the Nº31.5 and Nº37 CD transport).
Note: To take advantage of linked functions, you must connect the
Nº380 to the other, compatible Mark Levinson components
via their communication ports. (See “Rear Panel” and “Setup
and Installation.”)
There are four linked functions in the Nº380:
display intensity Adjusting the display intensity on any Linked component will adjust the displays
in the other Linked components as well, keeping them all at a consistent brightness level.
standby link Placing the Nº380 into standby will also place the compatible Mark Levinson
dig ital proc essor an d t r ansport into standby, exc ep t du ring a dig ital reco r d ing
session (see record link section, below). Placing either digital component into
standby will have no effect on the Nº380, since you might well wish to continue
liste n ing to a dif ferent source c ompon ent such as a tuner.
Taking a Linked Mark Levinson source component out of Standby will also cause
the Nº380 to come out of Standby (and select the appropriate input—see play
link
, be low).
play link Placing your Mark Levinson transport in play will activate both the corresponding
Mark Levinson digital processor and the Nº380 if either or both is in standby. In
addition, the appropriate inputs will be selected on the digital processor and on
the Nº380 (specifically, the input which has an name of a Mark Levinson source
component such as Nº30, No36 or No39).
Similarly, activating a Linked Mark Levinson digital processor will select the appropriate input on the Nº380 (should you be using the processor with an unlinked
DAT machine, for example).
record link Placing the Nº380 into standby while your Mark Levinson digital audio processor
is in record mode and a Mark Levinson transport is in Record Link mode will
cause a warning to be displayed on the digital component. Both digital components will be prevented from going into standby without explicit confirmation at
those components that this is what you desire. In this way, inadvertent interruption of a digital recording in process can be avoided.
34
Car e an d M ain ten an c e
To remove dust from the cabinet of the Nº380, use a feather duster. To remove
dirt and fingerprints, we recommend isopropyl alcohol and a soft cloth. Apply the
alcohol to the cloth first and then lightly clean the surface of the Nº380, going
with the grain of the brushed aluminum.
Warning! At no time should liquid cleaners be applied directly to the
Nº380, as direct application of liquids may result in damage
to electronic components within the unit.
35
U.S . and Canadi an Warranty
90-day limited warranty This Mark Levinson
workmanship under normal use for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of
purchase. To extend the warranty of this Mark Levinson product, return the war-
ranty registration card along with a copy of the original receipt of purchase to
Madrigal Audio Laboratories, Inc., P. O. Box 781, Middletown, CT 06457.
five year extended warranty The extended warranty for this Mark Levinson product is five (5) years from the
date of purchase. During the warranty period, any Mark Levinson component exhibiting defects in materials and/or workmanship will be repaired or replaced, at
our option, without charge for either parts or labor, at our factory. The warranty
will not apply to any Mark Levinson component that has been misused, abused
or altered.
Any Mark Levinson component not performing satisfactorily may be returned to
the factory for evaluation. Return authorization must first be obtained by either
calling or writing the factory prior to shipping the component. The factory will
pay for return shipping charges only in the event that the component is found to
be defective as above mentioned. There are other stipulations that may apply to
shipping charges.
There is no other express warranty on this component. Neither this warranty nor
any other warranty, express or implied, including any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness, shall extend beyond the warranty period. No responsibility
is assumed for any incidental or consequential damages. Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts and other states do not
allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so that
the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.
®
product is warranted to be free from defects in material and
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights
which vary from state to state. This warranty is applicable in the United States and
Canada only. Outside of the U.S. and Canada, please contact yo ur local, autho-
rized Mark Levinson distributor for warranty and service information.
36
Obt aining Servic e
We take great pride in our dealers. Experience, dedication, and integrity make
these professionals ideally suited to assist with our customers’ service needs.
If yo ur Mark Levinson compo nent must be serviced, please contact your dea ler.
Your dealer will then decide whether the problem can be remedied locally, or
whether to contact Madrigal for further service information or parts, or to obtain
a Return Authorization. The Madrigal Technical Services Department works
closely with your dealer to solve your service needs expediently.
Important! Return authorization must be obtained from Madrigal’s
Technical Services Department BEFORE a unit is shipped for
service.
It is extremely important that information about a problem be explicit and complete. A specific, comprehensive description of the problem helps your dealer and
the Madrigal Technical Services Department locate and repair the difficulty as
quickly as possible.
A copy of the original bill of sale will serve to verify warranty status. Please include it with the unit when it is brought in for warranty service.
Warning! All returned units must be properly packaged (preferably in
their original packing material), and the proper return
authorization numbers must be marked on the outer carton
for identification. If the packaging to protect the unit is, in our
opinion or that of our dealer, inadeq uate to protect the unit,
we reserve the right to repackage it for return shipment at the
owner’s expense. Neither Madrigal nor your dealer can be
responsible for shipping dam age due to improper (that is,
non-original) packaging.
Your dealer can order a new set of shipping materials for you if you need to ship
your component and no longer have the original materials. There will be a
charge for this service. We strongly recommend saving all packing materials in
case you need to ship your unit some day.
37
Specifi c ati ons
The correlation between published specifications and sonic quality is unreliable. A
list of numbers reveals virtually nothing. All technical measurements must be subject to qualitative as well as quantitative interpretation.
Measurements of the Nº38 0 yield excellent resul ts by any standards. However,
only those specifications that apply to its actual operation are included here.
■ Power consumption: 40W maximum
■ Mains voltage: 100V, 120V, 200V, 220V, or 240VAC @ 50/60Hz
■ Overall dimensions: See “Dimensions”
■ Shipping weight: 35 lbs. (16 kg)
■ Inputs: 2 stereo balanced (Swiss XLR female)
4 stereo single-ended (Madrigal RCA female)
1 Mark Levinson Link communications connector
1 1⁄8" mini-jack for external IR repeater
■ Outputs: 2 stereo record outputs (Madrigal RCA female)
1 stereo balanced main out (Swiss XLR male)
1 stereo single-ended main out (Madrigal RCA female)
1 Mark Levinson Link communications connector
■ Gain:
■ Gain range: -72.1 dB to +18.9 dB
■ Gain resolution: 0.1 dB steps above 38.8 in display (-34 dB),
gradually increasing step size at lower levels
■ Input overload: greater than 16V (0 dB output)
■ Input impedance: 100kΩ shunted by 220pF
■ Output impedance: less than 6Ω
■ Maximum output (MAIN outputs): 16V rms, balanced
For more information, see your Mark Levinson dealer, or contact:
Madrigal Audio Laboratories, Inc.
P. O. Box 781
2081 South Main Street
Middletown, Connecticut 06457 USA
Phone (860) 346-0896
FAX (860) 346-1540
WWW http://www.madrigal.com
38
Di m ensi ons
2.85"
7.24 cm
13.38"
34 cm
7.68"
19.5 cm
0.425"
1.1 cm
15.55"
39.5 cm
2.00"
5.1 cm
11.55"
29.3 cm
2.00"
5.1 cm
0.875"
2.2 cm
7.34"
18.6 cm
1.19"
3 cm
7.34"
18.6 cm
6.5"
16.5 cm
0.10"
0.10"
2.5 mm
0.925"
2.3 cm
2.00"
5.1 cm
4.45"
11.3 cm
15.75"
40 cm
3.76"
9.5 cm
2.96"
7.5 cm
2.25"
5.7 cm
13.38"
34 cm
(AC input)
2.25"
5.7 cm
0.08"
2 mm
0.08"
2 mm
0.5"
1.3 cm
2.00"
5.1 cm
3.125"
7.9 cm
39
Madrigal Audio Laboratories, Inc.
2081 South Main Street, P.O. Box 781
Middletown, Connecticut 06457 USA
Telephone: (860) 346-0896
Fax: (860) 346-1540
http://www.madrigal.com/
R
is a registered trademark of Madrigal Audio Laboratories, Inc.
630264-2 © 6/1998 Madrigal Audio Laboratories, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.
MADRIGAL AUDIO LABORATORIES
a Harman International company
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