Mark Levinson No 32 Reference Owners manual
Owner’s Manual
Nº32
Reference
Preamplifier
Madrigal Audio Laboratories
R
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® preamplifier.
1. ALWAYS disconnect your entire system from the AC mains before connecting or dis-
connecting any cables, or when cleaning any component.
2. This product must be terminated with a three-conductor AC mains power cord which
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 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® 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.
From all of us at Madrigal Audio Laboratories, thank you for choosing the Mark
Levinson Nº32 Reference Preamplifier.
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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.
Table of Contents
Special Design Features of the Nº32 Reference Preamplifier .......7
controller/preamplifier ........................................................................ 7
architecture ........................................................................................ 7
a note about nomenclature ............................................................. 7
AC regeneration ................................................................................. 7
dual mono design .............................................................................. 8
extraordinary isolation ........................................................................ 8
fully balanced design.......................................................................... 8
discrete attenuator ............................................................................. 8
Arlon 25N circuit boards ..................................................................... 9
multiple outputs ................................................................................. 9
extensive customization ...................................................................... 9
optional phono modules .................................................................. 10
Unpacking and Placement .......................................................11
unpacking ........................................................................................ 11
installing the batteries in the remote control ..................................... 11
placement ........................................................................................ 11
continuous operation ....................................................................... 11
ventilation ........................................................................................ 12
Operating Voltage................................................................... 13
Warm up & break-in period............................................................... 13
A Quick Start…........................................................................ 14
Front Panel .............................................................................16
sleep timer ..................................................................................... 20
Rear Panel, Nº32 Controller ..................................................... 21
building a link cable ....................................................................... 23
tip polarity for external IR input....................................................... 23
Rear Panel, Nº32 Preamplifier.................................................. 26
Remote Control .......................................................................31
Customizing Your Nº32 ........................................................... 34
setup overview ................................................................................. 34
the menu system .............................................................................. 34
configuring line level inputs.............................................................. 35
available input names .................................................................... 36
changing input names ................................................................... 36
input programming tip .................................................................. 37
factory default input names ............................................................ 37
using custom input names ............................................................. 37
naming an input “SSP” ................................................................... 37
naming an input “EQ” .................................................................... 38
setting input gain........................................................................... 38
setting input offsets ........................................................................ 39
setting record out .......................................................................... 40
configuring phono inputs ................................................................. 40
phono setup menu ........................................................................ 40
phono parameters ......................................................................... 41
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continued next page…
teach ir............................................................................................. 42
setting a mute level .......................................................................... 43
setting a maximum level ................................................................... 43
configuring the DC trigger ............................................................... 43
checking the software version .......................................................... 44
Using the Nº32 with Learning Remote Controls ....................... 45
using the teach ir menu ................................................................... 45
available ir commands ...................................................................... 46
Modes of Operation ................................................................47
normal operation ............................................................................. 47
the record select mode ..................................................................... 47
the balance mode ............................................................................ 48
balance control tip ......................................................................... 48
mono modes .................................................................................... 49
phono alignment tip ...................................................................... 49
polarity............................................................................................. 49
reset defaults .................................................................................... 49
operating without a preamplifier ...................................................... 50
Using Surround Sound Processors ............................................51
the SSP must not come after the preamp .......................................... 51
the SSP must not come before the preamp........................................ 51
the SSP must not be in a tape loop ................................................... 52
the SSP & the Nº32 ........................................................................... 52
noise in a/v systems.......................................................................... 52
Linked Functions .....................................................................54
display intensity ................................................................................ 54
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standby link...................................................................................... 54
volume link ...................................................................................... 54
select link ......................................................................................... 54
play link ........................................................................................... 55
record link ........................................................................................ 55
HDCD™ link ..................................................................................... 55
Care and Maintenance .............................................................56
U.S. and Canadian Warranty ....................................................57
90-day limited warranty.................................................................... 57
five year extended warranty ............................................................. 57
Obtaining Service .................................................................... 58
Specifications ..........................................................................60
Dimensions, Nº32 Controller ...................................................62
Dimensions, Nº32 Preamplifier ................................................ 63
Special Design Features of the Nº32 Reference Preamplifier
controller/preamplifier
architecture
a note about nomenclature
AC regeneration The foundation upon which any audio component is built is the power
The Nº32 employs an unusual two-chassis design that optimizes the
division of labor within the product. The traditional two-box approach
to preamp design places the power supply in a box by itself, with all
control and audio circuitry in the other box. In the Nº32 Reference
Preamplifier, the audio circuitry has primacy of place with a chassis of
its own, with power supply and control circuitry in a separate chassis.
Thus the display and user controls are effectively isolated from the sensitive audio signals. The only signals entering the chassis that handles
audio signals are the audio signals themselves and extremely pure DC
power.
Within this manual, the chassis that contains the power supplies and
user controls will be referred to as the Controller; the chassis that contains the actual audio circuitry will be called the Preamplifier; when the
two-box system is being described, its name will be the Nº32 Reference
Preamplifier. This nomenclature is consistent with the engraved names
on the components themselves.
supply. Without an extremely clean, noise-free power supply, no audio
circuit can live up to its potential.
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Unfortunately, we live in a world in which the quality of AC mains
power is increasingly in question. The modern conveniences upon
which we have become so dependent introduce line noise, spikes, and
various other irregularities. Everything from refrigerators to televisions
and computers inject their peculiar contaminations back onto the AC
line, making it increasingly difficult for a high performance audio component to live up to its potential.
In the Nº32, we solve this problem by becoming our own power utility.
Strange as this sounds, it is effectively true. There are two independent,
unusually high quality power supplies dedicated to the two audio channels. The DC power from these supplies is then used to power a special
power amplifier that is fully optimized for reproducing only one frequency: 400 Hz. This extremely pure 400 sine wave is then rectified, filtered, and regulated again to create extraordinarily pure DC power for
the use of the critical preamplifier circuits.
By creating our own dedicated 400 Hz AC power and then using that to
create “second generation” DC power for the audio circuitry, we keep
the contamination of the modern electrical grid at a safe distance from
the sensitive audio circuits we look to for our musical enjoyment.
dual mono design As might be expected, the Nº32 uses a dual mono design that isolates
each channel from the other. In addition to separate power supplies for
the two audio channels (and additional, completely separate power
supplies for the control, display and communication circuitry in the
Controller), the Preamplifier chassis itself offers complete isolation between channels. In fact, there is a die-cast aluminum wall between the
two channels in the Preamplifier, separating Left from Right channels
physically as well as electrically.
The remarkable efforts to preserve isolation between channels in the
Nº32 deliver superior imaging specificity and accuracy, creating a vividly rich, three dimensional sonic image.
extraordinary isolation In addition to the isolation between channels, isolation between inputs
in the Nº32 is unsurpassed. By using a discrete “T-switch” input switching along with special shielding and board layout, the selected source
effectively has the preamplifier “all to itself.” By effectively “unplugging”
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inputs not being used, this design delivers better than 120 dB separation between even adjacent input connectors, ensuring that you hear
only the source you intend to hear, without even subtle contamination
from other active source components.
fully balanced design As with other current Mark Levinson preamplifiers, the Nº32 Refer-
ence Preamplifier is fully balanced from input to output. In fact, even
single-ended inputs are converted to balanced upon entering the
preamp, and are handled in a balanced fashion thereafter. The rigorous
implementation of the balanced circuitry within the Nº32 conveys all
of the information present in the source signal to the power amplifier,
without the limitations of assymetrical single-ended designs.
discrete attenuator The Mark Levinson Nº38 introduced revolutionary volume precision
and resolution to the world of high end preamplifiers, with the firstever 0.1 dB-step volume control. In the Nº32, this same approach is
taken to an even higher level in a discrete attenuator of Madrigal’s design that uses 66 surface-mounted, precision resistors per channel.
Used in combination, this balanced volume control gives us over
65,000 possible volume settings between zero- and maximum-attenuation. (Don’t worry, we don’t use them all.)
This design, implemented on an Arlon 25N printed circuit board with
local, discrete regulators, delivers greater transparency than any volume
control technology we have ever experienced. It also provides increments as small as 0.1 dB, allowing you to select precisely the correct
volume for any given recording, and to do so repeatably.
Arlon 25N circuit boards Madrigal designs have long explored new technologies that better serve
the cause of music, some of which have been quite esoteric. For example, the single biggest difference between a Nº380 and a Nº380S is
the printed circuit board material used in the more costly “S” version
(cyanate ester).
In the Nº32 Reference Preamplifier, a new circuit board material is introduced to the Mark Levinson product range: Arlon 25N™. This new
material outperforms even the already-remarkable material used in the
Nº380S preamplifier in terms of its uniformly low dielectric constant
and other critical characteristics.
Interestingly, the benefits of Arlon 25N accrue only on circuit boards
that contain active devices (such as transistors). On a board such as the
input board, which contains only signal traces and high performance
switches, neither Arlon 25N nor cyanate ester have been found to improve performance. Thus, in such areas we use the highest quality FR-4
glass epoxy circuit boards which, while still being premium quality,
provide significant cost savings over the more exotic materials without
any performance penalty.
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While in some ways it might be easier to simply use Arlon-25 everywhere, doing so would not yield good value. We understand that the
Nº32 represents a big investment for anyone to make in their music
system, and are careful to ensure that it is money well spent.
multiple outputs The Nº32 Reference Preamplifier includes two pairs of main outputs
per channel: a pair of balanced outputs on high quality XLRs, and a
pair of single-ended outputs on Madrigal-designed RCA jacks.
The XLR and RCA outputs are buffered independently of each other,
and may be used simultaneously without degrading performance. The
XLRs are wired in parallel with one another, as are the RCAs, to facilitate biamping and other applications.
extensive customization Although the Nº32 Reference Preamplifier may be used as it arrives
from the factory, without further setup or modifications, it may also be
customized rather extensively to suit the particulars of the system in
which it is used. For full information on this subject, please refer to the
section of this manual entitled “Customizing Your Nº32.”
For the purposes of this introduction, you should know that every input can be given alternative, custom names (e.g., “CD” instead of
“INPUT 4”), and that many details of the preamplifier’s operation may
be customized. For example, each input may be set up for its optimal
combination of gain (0, 6, 12, or 18 dB) and volume offsets (to ensure
that all sources are the same perceived volume when switching between
them, to within 0.1 dB). If you purchase the optional phono modules
(see below), they too may be extensively customized in their operation.
optional phono modules The Nº32 Reference Preamplifier also has, as an option, two mono Ref-
erence Phono preamplifiers that can be installed within the Preamplifier chassis by your dealer. This phono preamp is itself fully balanced
(phono cartridges are inherently balanced, being push-pull devices that
do not reference ground). All active circuitry resides on Arlon-25 circuit boards (even more important here than elsewhere, given the tiny
voltages present in a phono section).
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Phono loading and gain settings may be set independently for each of
the two included inputs, and remembered by the system. Even balance
may be fine-tuned to compensate for small errors in phono cartridges
(quite common), and remembered as you switch among inputs.
To fully optimize the functioning of your Nº32 phono preamplifier,
please see “Customizing Your Nº32” later in this manual.
Unpacking and Placement
unpacking Unpack your Nº32 Preamplifier and keep all packing materials for fu-
ture transport. Locate and remove all accessory items from the Accessory Box within the Controller shipping carton. Accessories include:
1 detachable AC power cord 2 multi-pin DC cables
1 Nº32 remote control 2 AAA alkaline batteries
15⁄64" Allen key 13⁄32" hex driver
Also included with your new Mark Levinson component is a pair of
knit, white gloves 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 Nº32 should be placed close to your source equipment, thus keep-
continuous operation The Nº32 is designed for continuous operation—it is designed to be
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 transmitter
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 batteries are prone to leaking corrosive
chemicals—the greenish “gunk” you may have seen around battery terminals of other remote controls.)
ing interconnect cabling short. We strongly recommend mounting each
chassis of the Nº32 on its own shelf to allow for proper ventilation.
connected to the AC mains at all times for the best performance. While
we also include a front-panel power switch that actually disconnects
the Nº32 from the AC mains, we recommend you use the standby button instead, which leaves the Nº32 warmed up and sounding its best at
all times.
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ventilation Be sure to allow 3 to 4 inches of clearance above the Nº32 to allow heat
dissipation through air circulation. Drawings are included in this
manual to facilitate special installations and custom cabinetry (see “Di-
mensions”).
Caution! It is extremely important that all components in your
system be properly grounded. Do not defeat a threeprong AC cords with “ground-lifter” or “cheater”
adaptors, 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.
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Operating Voltage
The Nº32 Reference Preamplifier is set at the factory (internally) for
100V, 120V, 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 near the AC receptacle of the Nº32 Controller
indicates the correct AC operating voltage for your location.
If the voltage indicated on your Nº32 Controller is incorrect, or if you
wish to change the AC operating voltage of your Nº32 as the result of
moving to a different country than the one in which you purchased
your preamplifier, see your Mark Levinson dealer.
The Nº32 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.
Warm up &
break-in period
Although your Mark Levinson Nº32 Reference Preamplifier 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 25-50 hours, but that
the preamplifier will continue to improve in sound quality for about
300 hours, after which time it remains quite constant.
The only exception to this rule is if power is removed from the unit, allowing it to cool down. In this case you should expect a brief warm-up
period before the preamplifier’s sound quality is at its best. (Fortunately, you do not have to repeat the full 300-hour break-in period.)
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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
through the new product itself. We strongly recommend that you read
this manual thoroughly, as the Nº32 Reference 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 following procedure assumes that the rest of your system is already connected; 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 connections. If you have a
large power amplifier, allow its power supply to fully discharge before proceeding.
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2 Connect the two DC cables between the Nº32 Controller
and the Nº32 Preamplifier; plug in the Controller; turn on
AC power on the front panel
The “Controller” chassis acts as both power supply and control panel
for the preamplifier, leaving the actual handling of the audio signal to
the dedicated “Preamplifier” chassis. Connect the DC cables first, then
plug the Controller into the wall (the IEC power connection is on the
rear panel of the Controller), then make sure that the power button
on the front of the Controller is pushed in. When power is first applied, the Nº32 will initialize, and set its output level to OFF.
3 Connect a source to any input, noting which you use
For example, connect the output of your CD player to the Left and
Right Input 1 XLR jacks on the rear panel of your Nº32 Preamplifier. High quality interconnecting cables such as Madrigal CZ Gel
will yield superior results, and are strongly recommended.
The Left and Right Main Out jacks on the rear panel of the Nº32
Preamplifier 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.
5 Turn on your source component; turn on your power ampli-
fier; select the appropriate input using the Select knob;
slowly raise the volume on the Nº32 to a comfortable level
Congratulations! You should now be able to enjoy your favorite
music while reading the rest of this manual.
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1 2 4 5
3
16
power
polarity
select
display intensity setup enter balancebalance mute
record out
7 8 9 10 11 12 136
MADRIGAL AUDIO LABORATORIES
REFERENCE PREAMPLIFIER
Nº32
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Front Panel
mono
volume
MADRIGAL AUDIO LABORATORIES
REFERENCE CONTROLLER
Nº32
standby
1 Select Knob
This knob is normally used to select among the various inputs of
the Nº32, with the resulting selections being shown in the display
window, immediately to the right of the select knob. It is also
used to select the input to be sent to the record outputs when the
record out button is engaged.
The select knob is also used during setup to select among various menu items available (the volume knob being used to actually
adjust those items).
For example, if you are using only two or three inputs on your
Nº32, you may disable the unused ones so that the select knob
selects only among connectors you are actually using. For more
information on customizing your preamplifier in this and other
ways, please see “Customizing Your Nº32.”
2 Polarity Indicator
The polarity (sometimes inaccurately called “absolute phase”) of
the output of the Nº32 may be inverted via the Nº32 remote control, in which case the red LED under the word polarity (within
the display window) will light as confirmation. A second press of
the polarity button on the remote control will restore the polarity
of the output to its original, non-inverted state.
3 Alphanumeric Display
This twelve-character display provides a wide range of information concerning the operation of the Nº32. The information displayed depends on what the Nº32 is doing. The information displayed is summarized below:
normal operation selected (audible) input name and volume setting
balance direction and magnitude of balance offset
record out “RECD” and Source to be recorded
setup setup menus and settings
In addition, this display will indicate any known fault conditions.
For example, it will also inform you if a DC cable between Controller and Preamplifier is not properly connected. When used
with Linked Mark Levinson power amplifiers, 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 preamplifier’s
use of this display, please refer to the following sections on the use
of the balance and record out buttons, as well as the section on
“Customizing Your Nº32.”
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4 Mono indicator
The mono button of the remote control toggles between stereo
and mono operation of the Nº32. The LED under the word
mono on the faceplate, within the display window, provides visual
confirmation of being in the mono mode.
There are multiple mono modes available in the Nº32:
• L+R (the factory default setting)
• L only
• R only
• L-R
(For more detailed information on these mono modes, please see
page 48.)
To access the non-default modes, press and hold the mono button
for several seconds; subsequent clicks of the mono button will
move you through the options. Having selected the one you want
as your new default, simply let the Nº32 “time out” and revert to
its normal display. The mono button will now toggle between stereo and your preferred mono.
5 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 out-
. When in balance mode, this knob is used to vary the rela-
puts
tive output of the Left and Right channels. It is also used during
setup for various adjustments; see “Customization of your Nº32.”
6 Power Button
This button connects and disconnects the Nº32 from the AC
mains power. It is normally intended to be left engaged at all
times, unless you plan to be away from your home for an extended
period. By using the standby button rather than power to turn
the system on and off, the Nº32 can remain warmed up and
sounding its best at all times.
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Should you disconnect the Nº32 from power for an extended period, either via this power button or by pulling its plug, it may
require a few hours to return to thermal equilibrium and optimal
performance.
7 Record Out Button
Pressing the record out button allows you to select the input to
be sent to the record outputs (using the select knob). Pressing it
again returns you to normal operation and turns of the record
LED indicator. Note that the record outputs will be muted
out
when the Nº32 is in standby.
8 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 conjunction with certain
compatible Mark Levinson components, this button will control
the display intensity of all linked components. (For more information, see “Linked Functions.” )
9 Setup Button
Pressing the setup button places the Nº32 into setup mode, and
lights the LED indicator immediately above the setup button.
While in setup mode, the display is used to show a series of menu
choices that allow you to customize the Nº32 rather extensively, to
better suit your system’s needs and personal preferences. For more
information on this customization, please see “Customizing Your
Nº32.”
10 Enter Button
Used in conjunction with the setup button, the enter button
allows you to save changes made to the Nº32 while in setup mode.
For more information on this customization, please see “Custom-
izing Your Nº32.”
11 Balance Button
Pressing the balance button allows you to adjust the relative volumes of the left and right channels. While in balance mode, the display changes to show you the current relative balance of the left and
right channels, displaying the magnitude of the offset in decibels. If
you leave the balance mode with the balance “off-center,” the LED remains lit to remind you that the balance is not “even.”
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12 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.
If you adjust the volume with either the volume knob or the re-
mote control
while mute is engaged, the preamplifier will adjust
its volume from the muted volume and disengage the mute function. (This is to prevent an unpleasant surprise when, having increased the volume while muted, someone unmutes the system.)
The factory default setting of the mute circuit is -20 dB. (See “Cus-
tomizing Your Nº32” for information on changing the factory default setting.)
13 Standby Button
The standby button toggles the Nº32 between normal operation
and standby, wherein the display is turned off, the outputs are disconnected, and all controls are inoperable. All critical circuitry remains powered-up during standby to ensure immediate, optimal
performance when you are ready to listen to music.
The LED above the standby button will blink slowly when the
Nº32 is in standby, indicating that power is still being provided to
the unit. (If the Nº32 is Linked to other Mark Levinson components which are also in standby, they will blink in unison.)
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sleep timer
The standby button includes a special function that allows you
to use the Nº32 as the heart of the world’s most exotic sleep timer.
By pressing and holding the standby button for several seconds,
you will see the display change to SLEEP -OFF-; subsequent clicks
of standby will cycle through a list of sleep timer settings ranging
from OFF through four hours, in 30 minute increments.
Setting the sleep timer to 1hr 0min for example, will cause the
Nº32 to enter standby after an hour, and will also return the sleep
timer’s status to OFF (so as to avoid unintentional interruptions
of your music at a later time). You may use the sleep timer function as often as you like, but you will have to set it as you want it
to behave each time. The default setting is OFF.
14 Nº32 Preamplifier Power Indicator
This LED glows to indicate that the Preamplifer chassis is receiving DC power from the Controller, and blinks in unison with the
standby LED on the Controller chassis when the Reference Preamplifier is in standby.
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