Mark Levinson N390S User Manual

Owner’s Manual

Nº390S

CD

Processor

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.

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

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.

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 Support

Telephone: [phone]
Sales Fax: [phone]
Service Fax: [phone]

Product Shipments

16 Progress Road
Billerica, MA 01821-5730 USA

Part No. 070-630457 | Rev 1 | 04/04

From all of us at Mark Levinson, thank you for choosing the Mark
Levinson Nº390S CD Processor.

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.

5

Table of Contents

Unpacking and Placement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Unpacking the Nº390S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Remove the Transport Screw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Placement of the Nº390S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Operating Voltage & Frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

A Quick Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Break-in Period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Special Design Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

A New Generation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Digital Servo Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Digital Input/Output Versatility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Industrial Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Convenience Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Communications Links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Fully Balanced Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Advanced Digital Filter Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Digital to Analog Conversion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Balanced Analog Volume Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

State-of-the-Art Output Buffer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Front Panel, Nº390S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

The Extended Pause Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Sleep Timer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Rear Panel, Nº390S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

AC Power Cord Polarity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

IR Input Tip Polarity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Linking Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Standard Link Cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Amplifier Link Cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Remote Control, Nº390S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Random Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Analog Input Switching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Conditions that Affect IR Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Optimum IR Reception Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Setup and Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

Connecting AC Mains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Connecting Digital Audio Sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Connecting the Digital Audio Outputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Making Link Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Connecting Analog Outputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

6

Basic Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

Loading a CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

Playing a CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

Random Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Navigating the Disc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Direct Time Access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Pause . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

Repeat Disc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Repeat Track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

A-B Repeat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

Polarity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Programming the Nº390S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Introduction to Play Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Assembling a Play List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Programming by Omission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Saving a Play List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Reviewing a Play List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Deleting a Track from a Play List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Adding a Track to a Play List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Overriding a Play List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Erasing Play Lists from Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Why Polarity Programming? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Whole-Disc Polarity Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Track-by-Track Polarity Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

Overriding a Polarity Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Special Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

SOUND Menu Items: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Fixed/Variable Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Silent/Audible Cueing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Balance Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Mute Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Locked Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49

LINK Menu Items: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Standby Link . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Name Link . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49

Play Link . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Display Link . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

AUX IN’s Menu Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Changing Link Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Sleep Timer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

7

Using Learning Remote Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

Teaching Nº390S Front Panel Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Teaching Other Nº390S Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53

Special Commands Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

Care and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Installation Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

8

Unpacking and Placement

Unpacking the Nº390S Unpack your Nº390S CD Processor and remove all accessories

from the carton.

Important! Keep all packing materials for future transport of your Nº390S.

Shipping your new component in anything other than its
purpose-designed packing material may result in damage that is
not covered by the warranty.

Included with your new Mark Levinson CD processor 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.

Remove the Transport Place the Nº390S CD Processor upside-down on a soft, clean

Screw surface. Remove the transport screw from the bottom of the unit

and save it with the packing materials for future use.

Warning! The transport screw must be removed before operating the

Nº390S, since it immobilizes the transport mechanism during
shipping to prevent damage. This screw must also be replaced
before shipping the unit.

Placement of the The Nº390S should be placed close to your digital audio processor,

Nº390S thus keeping interconnect cabling reasonably short. It may be

placed on a shelf or in a cabinet where it is convenient to operate,
but should not be rack mounted, so as to leave access to the rear
panel power switch.

9

The Nº390S is designed for continuous operation—hence the
standby button on the front panel rather than a power button.
However, a rear panel power switch is provided for your convenience
should you want to disconnect the unit from the AC mains (as
when taking a vacation, for example).

Drawings are included in this manual to facilitate special
installations and custom cabinetry (see Dimensions on page 61).

Operating Voltage &
Frequency

The Nº390S CD Processor is set at the factory (internally) for 100V,
120V, 200V, 220V, or 240V AC mains operation as appropriate for
the country in which it is to be sold. Make sure that the label on
the rear of the Nº390S (adjacent to the power cord) indicates the
correct AC operating voltage for your location, as attempting to
operate the Nº390S at an incorrect voltage can damage the unit.

The Nº390S CD Processor is also set at the factory for operation
on either 50 or 60 Hz AC line frequencies, as appropriate for the
country in which it is to be sold. It will not operate if it senses an
incorrect line frequency.

Warning! Neither the voltage nor the line frequency setting may be

changed by the user. There are no user serviceable parts inside
the Nº390S. Only qualified, authorized service personnel may
open the Nº390S CD Processor, as hazardous voltages exist
within the unit.

If the AC mains voltage or frequency indicated on your Nº390S is
incorrect, please contact your local, authorized Mark Levinson
dealer or distributor.

The Nº390S can easily be 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.

10

A Quick 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 with the new product itself. We strongly recommend that
you read this manual thoroughly, as the Nº390S CD Processor
incorporates many unusual features that 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
CD player while reading more about it. The goal here is simply to
make some music as quickly as possible. The following procedure
assumes that you have a relatively conventional system and it is
already connected with the exception of the Nº390S (e.g.,
preamplifier to power amplifier, to speakers, etc.).

1. Turn off your associated components.

This minimizes the opportunity for a momentary electrical
surge disturbing your system while making connections. If
you have a large power amplifier, allow its power supply to
fully discharge before proceeding (which may take as long as
several minutes, depending on its design).

2. Remove the transport screw from the bottom of the Nº390S.

If you have not done so already, remove the knurled transport
screw from the bottom of the Nº390S now. Be sure to save it
and all packing material for possible future use. (Shipping the

Nº390S without proper packing material and without the transport
screw in its proper position may cause damage to the unit that
would not be covered by the warranty.)

3. Connect the Nº390S to AC power.

Connect the AC cord to the Nº390S at the receptacle on the
rear panel, and then to your AC outlet. Then turn on the
power switch just above the AC power receptacle. (The
international symbol for “on” is a single vertical line: |. “Off”
is symbolized by a circle: O.) The Nº390S will take a few
moments to initialize and will then be ready to use.

4. Connect either the XLR or the RCA analog outputs on the
Nº390S to an appropriate input of your preamplifier.

When properly implemented, balanced interconnection via
XLR connectors and high quality balanced cables offers superior
performance, and is preferred to single-ended RCA
interconnection. Both sets of outputs on your Nº390S have
been optimized to ensure maximum compatibility in a wide
range of systems. (Note that you should never connect a line-level

component such as a CD player to a phono input on a preamplifier.

11

Although no damage is likely to result to either CD player or
preamplifier, the sound will be badly distorted and the volume may
be much louder than you expect.)

4a. If going direct from the Nº390S to an amplifier!

See Special Functions setup on page 47 to set the Nº390S to
variable output mode.

5. Power up the rest of the system, leaving the power amplifiers
for last.

Always turn the power amplifier(s) off first, and on last. This
good habit minimizes the opportunity for unexpected tran­sients to be passed to your loudspeakers. Another good habit
is to reduce the volume on your preamplifier to minimum
value before you restore power to the system. When the
Nº390S is in its variable preamp mode, it powers up at a low
volume to minimize sudden changes in volume.

6. Load a disc in the drawer and press Play; slowly raise the
volume on your preamplifier.

Congratulations! You should now be able to enjoy your
favorite music while reading the rest of this manual. (Please,

do read the rest of this manual.)

Break-in Period Although your Mark Levinson Nº390S CD Processor delivers

outstanding performance straight out of the box, you should
expect to hear it continue to improve as it reaches its normal
operating temperatures and its various components “break-in.” It
has been our experience that the greatest changes occur within
the first 300 hours, as the Nº390S reaches thermal equilibrium
and capacitors become fully formed. After this initial break-in, its
performance will remain quite constant.

The only exception to this rule is if power is removed from the
unit for more than a few minutes, allowing it to cool down.
Depending on the degree of cooling involved, you should expect
a brief warm-up period before the Nº390S’s sound quality is at its
best. Unless your Nº390S was allowed to become quite chilled,
subsequent thermal re-stabilization should not take long.

12

Special Design Features

Congratulations on your purchase of the Nº390S CD Processor.
The design team is confident you will enjoy the outstanding
performance of the Nº390S for many years. In case you are
interested in technical details, what follows is a brief outline of
some of the key technologies in your new CD player.

A New Generation The task of a CD player is easy to define: it must recover the

correct data from the disc and convert that data to a series of
analog voltages with neither amplitude nor timing errors
(sometimes called “jitter”). As simple as this sounds, achieving it
in reality has been extremely difficult—as evidenced by the
significant sonic differences between various CD players.

Conventional CD player design depends heavily on the quality of
the oscillator used to control the rate at which the disc spins. This
oscillator exists in an extremely “noisy” electrical environment
close to the motor that spins the disc. The electrical noise
introduces timing errors in the delivery of the digital signal that
have come to be known as “jitter.” Subsequent handling of the
digital audio signal in traditional CD player designs cannot
improve upon this “jittery” signal, lacking a better reference. To
the contrary, the various stages of signal processing between the
laser pickup and the actual conversion to analog can only
contribute additional jitter of their own.

The Mark Levinson Nº390S leaps beyond conventional digital
audio technology by employing a proprietary, closed-loop jitter­reduction system in conjunction with a double speed CD-ROM
drive. Using a custom-made crystal oscillator with better than five
part-per-million accuracy, the digital signal is re-clocked immediately
before its conversion to analog, eliminating transport-related jitter
from the digital audio signal. This same crystal oscillator controls
the all-digital servo used to control the rate at which the disc
spins, and the digital to analog conversion process.

In effect, the design of the Nº390S turns the accepted status quo on
its head. By placing the all-important reference clock immediately
prior to digital to analog conversion, and slaving all the mechanical
sub-assemblies to it rather than the other way around, the signal
presented to the outputs of the Nº390S is uncontaminated by
electrically- or mechanically-induced jitter. The sonic advantages
of this design are immediately apparent in the clarity, warmth and
stunning dynamic contrasts exhibited by the Nº390S.

13

Digital Servo Control The laser mechanism used in the Nº390S uses all digital servo

controls of its operations. Critical functions such as focus and
tracking are handled completely in the digital domain with
mathematical precision. A digital servo remains stable over time,
never needing readjustment under normal conditions.

Digital Input/Output The Nº390S CD player incorporates two digital inputs, allowing

Versatility two external digital sources such as a laser disc player and digital

cable radio to benefit from the excellent digital processor
incorporated within. The two most common digital interfaces are
supported for the widest compatibility: EIAJ (sometimes called
“TosLink™”) and S/PDIF coaxial, via an RCA connector.

Two high quality digital output configurations are also supported
in the Nº390S. A new complementary driver for the balanced
AES/EBU electrical output delivers outstanding performance to the
high quality XLR connector. A single-ended S/PDIF electrical
output is also provided via an RCA connector. These digital
outputs may be used to feed the input of digital recorders or an
outboard digital processor, and they both benefit from the closed­loop jitter reduction circuitry described above. (In effect, they
duplicate the functionality and performance of the corresponding
outputs on a Mark Levinson Nº37 CD transport.)

All digital interfaces have been carefully optimized to deliver the
finest performance each interface standard allows. As a direct
result, the Nº390S performs optimally with any digital processor,
without having to resort to techniques which would limit its
compatibility with other products.

Industrial Design The Nº390S shares the handsome industrial design of other Mark

Levinson components such as the Nº380 preamplifier. The
combination of the hand-brushed, black-anodized aluminum
faceplate and bead-blasted custom-machined buttons make
operating the Nº390S a tactile as well as a sonic pleasure.

A large, easily read display provides information as to the
operational status of the Nº390S from across the room, making
the supplied remote control more genuinely useful than on
products lacking such a display.

In keeping with its sophisticated design, the Nº390S also
incorporates a Mark Levinson-designed loading mechanism.
Contrasting strongly with the bulky, plastic drawers commonly
used, the slim 1⁄8 inch drawer is machined from a solid piece of
aluminum and rides on highly polished bearings. Its variable­speed design opens and closes quickly, but without jarring the
disc contained within, nor risking a jam from dislodging it.

14

Convenience Features Too often, high performance CD players have eschewed convenience

in the hopes of seeming more “performance-oriented.” While there
were good arguments for such a “minimalist” design in the days
of analog turntables, the time is long gone when the audiophile
needed to give up operational convenience for musical performance.
After all, convenience features in a digital product are largely a
matter of writing appropriate software, and have no affect on the
quality of the digital data itself.

The Nº390S supports a variety of custom programming options,
including “delete programming” wherein selected tracks are
omitted from the play list. This allows the user to skip the one or
two songs on an otherwise good disc that have been overplayed
ad nauseam. The Nº390S will remember such programs for
thousands of discs, should you want to save that many programs.

Communications Links As with all Mark Levinson 30-series components, the Nº390S

incorporates a sophisticated inter-component communications
bus. Unique among high performance audio systems, Mark
Levinson 30-series components offer a degree of system integration
that makes even complex systems a pleasure to use.

For example, bringing the Nº390S CD Processor out of standby
will also bring the Linked preamplifier and power amplifier(s) out
of standby, and select the appropriate inputs on the preamplifier
so that a CD can be enjoyed. Even a sophisticated system with
many components can thus offer one-button simplicity of
operation.

In short, the Mark Levinson Nº390S establishes a new standard for
performance and practicality among high end CD players and
should be auditioned by anyone who desires the finest in digital
audio.

Fully Balanced Design The Nº390S is fully balanced in both the analog and digital

domains. Information from the disc and single-ended digital
inputs are immediately converted to balanced signals and routed
to balanced DACs by way of an LVDS (Low Voltage Differential
Signal) transmission line. This design technique, borrowed from
separate Mark Levinson digital processors, preserves the faultless
timing of the digital audio signal made possible by our Closed
Loop Jitter Reduction (CLJR) system mentioned earlier in this
manual.

An Arlon 25N® printed circuit board provides the foundation for
the critical analog audio circuit. First used in the Nº32 Reference
Preamplifier, this superior material offers superb dielectric properties
and helps the Nº390S achieve remarkable performance with
complex audio signals.

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Design of the fully balanced DAC/analog output module follows
the Mark Levinson tradition of rigorous component selection. An
unusual hybrid design approach incorporating both advanced
Surface-Mount and “through-hole” technologies, allows us to
utilize the optimum part at each location in the circuit, without
the constraints on parts selection normally associated with
traditional PCB assembly practices. Every active device has been
painstakingly selected for top technical performance, with final
selections of top performing devices determined by numerous,
controlled sonic evaluations.

Advanced Digital Filter Just as with Mark Levinson separate Digital Audio Processors, such

Techniques as our Nº30.6 Reference, the Nº390S incorporates advanced digital

filter techniques carefully chosen to optimize the sonic performance
of its on-board digital processor. Whether playing a CD, or decoding
a digital signal received through an auxiliary input, sample depth
is increased to 24 bits and sample rate increased to 352.8kHZ or
384kHz (input rate dependent) prior to conversion to an analog
signal. This sophisticated “processing” of the digital signal before
conversion (referred to variously as “unconversion”, “upsampling”,
or “oversampling”) is a fundamental contributor to the excellent
sound achieved by all Mark Levinson digital processors. The
Nº390S confirms its internal conversion rate on its front panel
display each time a disc is loaded, or an auxiliary input is chosen
and locked.

The Nº390S also incorporates High Definition Compatible
Digital® decoding to take full advantage of the resolution avail­able from HDCD encoded 16-bit CDs. The HDCD format retains
more of the resolution inherent in modern high resolution record­ings than can be accommodated by the normal CD standard by
encoding information more efficiently within the 16-bit space
available on the disc.

Digital to Analog Digital to analog conversion within the Nº390S is performed at an

Conversion extraordinarily high level and features a Mark Levinson-developed,

balanced implementation of the Analog Devices AD1853—a new
class of multi-bit Sigma/Delta DAC devices delivering superb
technical performance. In addition to its unusual multi-bit
architecture and unlike typical Sigma/Delta devices, the AD-1853
has a differential current output stage, which allows us to optimize
the critical current-to-voltage(I/V) conversion stage with dedicated
operational amplifiers possessing superlative rise time and bandwidth
characteristics. Following this, a new active analog filter circuit,
implemented in a differential amplifier, sums both halves of the
balanced signal and provides superb common mode noise rejection
in addition to its outstanding filter characteristics.

This approach to the Digital-to-Analog circuit block yields distortion
and noise levels that are extraordinarily low and contributes greatly
to the natural sound of the Nº390S.

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Balanced Analog Rather than use the digital attenuator on-board the DAC, the

Volume Control Nº390S incorporates a fully balanced analog volume control similar

to that found in Mark Levinson separate preamplifiers. When
activated (by turning on the variable output function under
setup: sound), the output of the Nº390S may be attenuated in
precise 0.1dB steps through most of the range. Significantly, the
Nº390S maintains the full performance of its remarkable DACs at
all volume levels—something impossible with digital volume
controls, regardless of what techniques may be employed to mask
the sonic consequences of this design approach.

State-of-the-Art The balanced discrete output buffer circuitry used in the Nº390S

Output Buffer employs the same topology used in the remarkable Mark Levinson

Nº32 Reference Preamplifier. A hallmark of Mark Levinson
preamplifier and digital processor design, this circuit has proven
itself time and time again to be both sonically transparent and
exceptionally immune to adverse interactions with interconnecting
cables and unusual input impedance characteristics of power
amplifiers or preamplifiers. The Nº390S features a new, ultra
compact, implementation of the Mark Levinson output buffer
circuit pushing noise coupling and parasitic effects to vanishingly
small levels. This exceptionally robust output stage allows the
Nº390S to make the most of what whatever combination of
preamplifier, power amplifier, or cables you choose to use.

Front Panel, Nº390S

1. display intensity

Pressing this button varies the brightness of the display. Four
brightness levels are available, including “display off.” All
other front panel LEDs change their brightness levels
appropriately, except that they remain at the dimmest level
when the display itself is off.

When power is first applied to the Nº390S (or when power is
restored after an interruption), the display is automatically set
to its highest level.

Pressing the display intensity button once dims the display
one level; pressing it again turns the display off; pressing
display intensity once more returns the display to its brightest
level; pressing it a fourth time will return it to medium. (If
other Mark Levinson components in the system are “Linked”
to the Nº390S, all display intensities can change in unison.
See Special Functions for more information.)

If the display is set to “off,” pressing any key will cause it to
light at medium intensity for approximately four seconds in
order to display the action of the key press.

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2. Infrared Transceiver (within display)

Infrared commands transmitted from the remote control are
received by a receiver behind this section of the display.
Remote control of the Nº390S may be unreliable if there is not
a clear line of sight between the remote control and the
receiver (if the remote is far off-axis, or if the Nº390S is within
a cabinet, for example). In such a case consider using a third­party IR repeater to route the signal to the IR input jack on
the rear panel (see Rear Panel, Nº390S).

In addition to receiving IR commands, the Nº390S has the
ability to teach a learning remote control its own commands
from an IR transmitter located in this same area. (See Using
Learning Remote Controls for more information.)

3. Special Mode Indicator

The first character in the display is reserved for indication of
special modes of operation. For example, a P is displayed in
this space to indicate a Program (a special sequence of tracks)
is being played: A and B alternate while an A-B loop is being
repeated. Similarly, an R is displayed to denote random play,
and is displayed to denote pause.

4. Track Indicator

The next two characters are used to indicate the number of
the track being played. When a compact disc is loaded but the
transport is in the stop mode, this same space indicates the
total number of tracks on the disc (or in the program for the
current disc, if programmed).

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5. Time Indicator

The time section of the display can be set to display any of
the following four indications of time in minutes and seconds:

• time elapsed in track (neither LED lit)

• time elapsed on disc (time on disc LED lit)

• time remaining on track (time remaining LED lit)

• time remaining on disc (time on disc and time remaining

LEDs lit)

In effect, the Nº390S assumes you will be most interested
seeing elapsed time on the current track; only departures from
that assumption are denoted by LEDs. The Nº390S will
remember the last display mode selected and continue to
display that information until you change it, except in stop
(when it always defaults to showing the time remaining on
disc, or in the disc’s play list if it has been programmed). Once
in stop, the time indication may be changed to show any of
the other display modes (if desired).

These four options are accessed by pressing the mode button
to the right of the display until TIMES is shown in the display
(see 6, below). Then, use the mode + or mode – keys to cycle
through the four modes of time display, using the time on
disc and time remaining LEDs to indicate which mode is
chosen at any moment.

6. mode button

The mode button beside the display cycles through the four
functions that can be controlled by the mode + and mode –
buttons (either on the front panel or the remote control).

These four modes are:

• PROGRAM (for creating custom play lists)

• INPUTS (for selecting a digital source)

• TIMES (for selecting a time indication)

• VOLUME* (for controlling the volume of the Nº390S*)
* (Note that the volume control is only made available if

the Nº390S’s variable output mode is engaged; see Special
Functions for more information.)

Any of these four modes (three modes if using the fixed output)
may be accessed by repeatedly pressing the mode button,
thereby cycling through the options.

Once a particular mode is chosen, pressing the mode + and
mode – buttons “increases” or “decreases” that particular

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function. For example, mode + would either: add a track to a
play list; select the next digital input; advance to the next
time indication; or raise the volume.

Along with mode + and mode –, the mode button is also used
to change the option settings. (See Special Functions.)

7. Repeat button

You may choose to either repeat the entire disc (including any
programs you might have entered for that particular disc) or
an individual track by pressing the repeat button. From
normal operation, the first press of the repeat button will
light the disc repeat LED below the display (number 11 in the
front panel illustration). Pressing the repeat button again will
light the track repeat LED (number 13 in the front panel
illustration). Pressing it a third time will cycle out of any
repeating mode, as will pressing stop/drawer at any time. In
either case, both repeat LEDs will be extinguished to indicate
the absence of any repeat mode.

8. Drawer

The Nº390S employs an elegant, slim drawer that is machined
from a solid piece of aluminum. It is normally opened and
closed by pressing the stop/drawer button (number 15 in the
front panel illustration). If opened, it may also be closed
simply by gently pushing the front edge inward (as though
you were going to close it manually). The Nº390S will interpret
this as a request to close the drawer and take over for you,
smoothly closing the drawer.

If the Nº390S senses an obstruction during opening of the
drawer mechanism, it will attempt to re-close. If successful, it
will read the disc’s table of contents and display the disc’s
number of tracks and total time (followed by the play list’s
track and time information, if one exists). If for any reason
the drawer does not close fully, the display will show DRAWER
to indicate the problem. After removing the obstruction, press
the stop/drawer button again to close the drawer normally.

Similarly, if the Nº390S senses an obstruction during the
closing of its drawer, it is designed to stop immediately and
will attempt to reopen. If the nature of the obstruction
prevents this also, it will stop where it is and wait for your
intervention, displaying STOPPED! to indicate the problem.
After removing the obstruction, press the stop/drawer button
again to close the drawer.

9. HDCD® indicator

This LED will illuminate when the Nº390S is playing HDCD­encoded material, whether from the CD transport or from an
external digital source.

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10. mode – and mode + buttons

Using these two buttons in conjunction with the mode button,
any of four different Nº390S functions can be controlled from
the front panel:

• PROGRAM (for creating custom play lists)

• INPUTS (for selecting a digital source)

• TIMES (for selecting a time indication)

• VOLUME* (for controlling the volume of the Nº390S*)
* (Note that the volume control is only made available if

the Nº390S’s variable output mode is engaged; see Special
Functions for more information.)

Any of these four modes (three modes if using the fixed output)
may be accessed by repeatedly pressing the mode button,
thereby cycling through the options.

Once a particular mode is chosen, pressing the mode + and
mode – buttons “increases” or “decreases” that particular
function. For example, mode + would either: add a track to a
play list; select the next digital input; advance to the next
time indication; or raise the volume.

Along with mode + and mode –, the mode button is also used
to change the option settings. (See Special Functions.)

For detailed information on programming the Nº390S, see
Programming the Nº390S later in this manual.

11. disc repeat LED

This LED is lit when the Nº390S is set to repeat a disc (or a
disc’s program, if it has one) endlessly. This feature is accessed
using the repeat button (see number 7, page 19).

12. prev/rew button

Pressing this button momentarily will return you to the begin­ning of the previous track. Pressing and holding this button will
instead perform a reverse scan of the music, reminiscent of
the rewind function found on many tape decks. This scanning
mode may be either audible or silent (according to your
choice in the setup: sound menu; see Special Functions), and it
allows you to quickly find a particular point within a track.
(Incidentally, if you wish to listen to the current track over
again from the beginning, simply press play while the track is
playing.)