Mark Levinson No 334, No 335, No 336 Owners manual

Owner’s Manual

Nº334

Nº335

Nº336

R

Madrigal Audio Laboratories

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 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 your Mark

Levinson 300-series Dual Monaural Power Amplifier.

4	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

	Unpacking Your Amplifier .........................................................	6
	Break-in period ...................................................................................	6
	Placement Considerations..........................................................	8
	Ventilation ..........................................................................................	8
	Operating Voltage, Nº336 .......................................................	10
	Nº336 AC mains maximum current requirements ...........................	11
	Nº336 rear-panel label ...................................................................	12
	Operating Voltage, Nº335 & Nº334 .........................................	13
	Nº335 AC mains maximum current requirements ...........................	14
	Nº334 AC mains maximum current requirements ...........................	14
	Nº335 rear-panel label ...................................................................	15
	Special Design Features ...........................................................	16
	Massive Power Supply ......................................................................	16
	Balanced design ...............................................................................	16
	True Voltage Source ..........................................................................	17
	Adaptive Biasing of the Output Stage ...............................................	17
	Extensive Protection .........................................................................	18
	Front Panel .............................................................................	19
	Rear Panel ...............................................................................	20
	PHASTLink® control cable ..............................................................	23
	Remote turn-on tip polarity ............................................................	24
	Bridged Operation ..................................................................	28	5
	Bridging Explained	28
	Balanced Bridging ............................................................................	28
	Balanced Bridging Kit .....................................................................	29
	Balanced Bridged Input Connection ...............................................	30
	Single-Ended Bridging ......................................................................	31
	Single-Ended Bridging Kit ...............................................................	31
	Single-Ended Bridged Input Connection .........................................	32
	Biamplification ........................................................................	34
	Balanced Y-adapter ........................................................................	35
	Passive biamping wiring diagram ...................................................	35
	Troubleshooting ......................................................................	36
	Care & Maintenance ................................................................	38
	U.S. and Canadian Warranty ....................................................	39
	90-Day Limited Warranty ..................................................................	39
	Five Year Extended Warranty ............................................................	39
	Obtaining Service ....................................................................	40
	Specifications ..........................................................................	41
	Dimensions: Nº336 & Nº335 ....................................................	42
	Dimensions: Nº334 ..................................................................	44

Unpacking Your Amplifier

Warning!	Under no circumstances should you consider
	unpacking your amplifier without adequate assistance,
	as both personal injury and damage to the product is
	likely unless you follow the procedures listed below.

	The shipping weight of your Dual Monaural Power Amplifier is over
	100 lbs. (45 kg)—the Nº336, for example, weighs in at 150 pounds (68
	kg)! Any freight this massive must be handled with extreme care to
	avoid injury. At least two strong people are required to unpack these
	amplifiers safely.
	Included with your new Mark Levinson amplifier are two pairs of knit,
	white gloves designed to assist you in the initial unpacking and place-
	ment of your new purchase. Please accept them as a token of our ap-
	preciation for having purchased one of our products.
6
Caution!	Do not attempt to lift your power amplifier from its
	packing carton alone.
	Never attempt to lift your power amplifier while
	bending from the waist.
	Always stand as straight as possible and use your leg
	muscles to lift your amplifier.
	After unpacking your power amplifier, keep all packing materials for
	future transport. In the event that you need to ship your amplifier,
	only the original, purpose-designed shipping carton is acceptable. Any
	other method of shipping this heavy product will almost certainly re-
	sult in damage to the amplifier—damage that would not be covered by
	the warranty.
	Carefully inspect your amplifier for possible damage due to shipping. If
	you discover any, contact your Mark Levinson dealer immediately.
Break-in period	Although your Mark Levinson 300-series power amplifier delivers out-
	standing performance straight out of the box, you should expect to
	hear it continue to improve as it reaches its normal operating tempera-
	tures 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 amplifier 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 amplifier’s sound quality is at its best. (Fortunately, you will never have to repeat the full 300 hour break-in period.)

7

Placement Considerations

	PRECAUTION	For your protection, review “Important Safety
		Instructions” and “Operating Voltage” before you
		install your amplifier.
		Your Mark Levinson 300-series power amplifier is specifically designed
		to stand on the floor, and must be used as a freestanding unit. In most
		installations, locating it near the loudspeakers is best. Obviously, this
		approach minimizes the length of the speaker wires and necessitates
		longer interconnecting cables from the preamplifier to the power am-
		plifier. The advantage to this strategy lies in the fact that the intercon-
		necting cables carry low-current signals which are more readily trans-
		mitted over distances with great accuracy than are the necessarily high
		current signals required by loudspeakers.
		Note that adequate clearance for the AC cord and connecting signal
		cables must be left behind your amplifier. We suggest leaving at least six
	8	inches (15 cm) of free space behind your amplifier so all cables have
		sufficient room to bend without crimping or undue strain.
		If yours is a CE-certified unit (e.g., European market), the amplifier
		should also be placed in such a way that the power switch on the rear
		panel is easily accessible. This switch disconnects power from even the
		supervisory power supply, resulting in effective disconnection of the
		amplifier from the AC mains. (Note that under these conditions, the
		amplifier cannot respond to remote-turn-on commands, etc.)
	Ventilation As a freestanding unit, your power amplifier normally has no problem
		with ventilation. Regardless of where you choose to locate your ampli-
		fier, we advise locating the amplifier well away from sensitive low-level
		components, typically near the floor. (The massive output currents of
		which the 300-series amplifiers are capable can generate significant
		magnetic fields, which could conceivably induce noise in some sensitive
		components.)
		The Nº336 dual monaural power amplifier dissipates approximately
		350 watts of energy as heat when “at idle.” The Nº335 and Nº334 dissi-
		pate about 325 and 260 watts at idle, respectively. It is therefore normal
		and perfectly safe for them to run somewhat warm. They do, however,
		require free air flow around them to allow adequate heat dissipation
		through air circulation. The top plate and heatsinks of the amplifier

must be kept free from any obstruction that would reduce the free flow of air.

Allow at least 4–6 inches above the amplifier and at least 2 inches to sides for adequate ventilation. If the amplifier becomes too warm to touch, the ventilation is inadequate. (Note that your new amplifier is protected against thermal damage. Inadequate ventilation may cause nuisance shutdowns, but should not cause permanent damage to the amplifier.)

Mechanical drawings are included in this manual to facilitate special installations where necessary (see “Dimensions” at the end of this manual).

9

		Operating Voltage, Nº336
		Your Mark Levinson Dual Monaural Power Amplifier is characterized
		by its remarkable ability to pass a musical signal with utter integrity,
		regardless of how demanding that signal and the loudspeakers used
		might be. When called upon to do so, your amplifier is capable of gen-
		erating truly prodigious power levels into virtually any speaker load, on
		either an instantaneous or a continuous basis.
		Depending on the demands placed on the amplifier by your loud-
		speaker and your listening habits, it is possible (although unlikely) for
		the capabilities of your electrical service to become the limiting factor
		in the performance of your system. As a result, the Nº336 has been de-
		signed to be capable of taking advantage of dedicated high current AC
		mains supplies which cannot limit its performance.
		For compatibility with existing household outlets, a standard three
		prong, 15 ampere plug is provided on the captive, high current AC
		mains cable. If you decide to use a dedicated, higher-current (30 am-
		pere) line for your Nº336, the only thing that needs to be changed is
		the AC plug itself.
10
Important:		When it comes to high current AC wiring such as the
		Nº336 is capable of using, building regulations and
		electrical codes vary from region to region, and even
		from one municipality to the next. For this reason, it is
		impossible for us to anticipate the requirements of
		your area with regard to high current AC hookups. If
		you plan to install a dedicated, high current AC line for
		your Nº336, please review this section carefully and
		then contact a local electrical contractor for advice.
		The Mark Levinson Nº336 amplifiers may be factory-set for 100V,
		120V, 200V, 220V, 230V or 240V AC mains operation at either 50 or
		60Hz, based on the country for which they are manufactured. Depend-
		ing on local electrical codes and regulations, the plug on the supplied
		AC input module may need to be replaced by a local, licensed electrical
		contractor. The maximum current requirements (in amperes) at these
		various voltages under various test conditions are listed in the table
		shown below. (Note that only 230V units are sold in the European Union
		countries, per CE requirements.)

Nº336 AC mains maximum

current requirements

		100V	120V	200V	220V	230V	240V
Off		0.12	0.10	0.06	0.05	0.05	0.05
Standby		2.35	1.96	1.17	1.07	1.02	0.98
On, at idle		4.01	3.35	2.01	1.83	1.75	1.68
350w @ 8Ω	*	21.25	17.71	10.63	9.66	9.23	8.86
700w @ 4Ω	*	36.69	30.59	18.29	16.68	15.99	15.30
1400w @ 2Ω	*	62.33	51.98	31.17	28.41	27.14	25.99

* power ratings are continuous (rms) with less than 0.5% THD, from 20-20,000 Hz.

11

It is important to understand that these are worst-case requirements under severe test conditions, which are extremely unlikely to be encountered in normal use.

The power demands that a single Nº336 might conceivably make when being used to reproduce music with actual loudspeakers are substantially lower, safely within the normal abilities of 100V and 120V, 15 ampere lines. Still, for the best possible performance with extremely difficult loads, we recommend installing a dedicated AC line for the amplifier with 30-ampere capability.

The operating voltage of the Nº336 cannot be changed by the user, and any attempt to do so will void the warranty. If you need to change the operating voltage of your Nº336 power amplifiers, or if the voltage indicated on the rear panel label is not available in your area, contact your Mark Levinson dealer for assistance.

Nº336 rear-panel label

DUAL MONAURAL POWER AMPLIFIER Nº336

S/N

WARNING: BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THIS DEVICE,

REFER TO OWNER’S MANUAL FOR PROPER OPERATING 12 INSTRUCTIONS AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS. HAZARDOUS

VOLTAGE AVAILABLE INSIDE; DISCONNECT AC-MAINS CABLE BEFORE OPENING UNIT.

No User Serviceable Components Inside

For service, contact Madrigal Audio Laboratories or an Authorized Dealer.

Any modifications to this equipment will void all warranties.

®

designed and manufactured in USA

Operating Voltage,

Nº335 & Nº334

	Your Mark Levinson Dual Monaural Power Amplifier is characterized
	by its remarkable ability to pass a musical signal with utter integrity,
	regardless of how demanding that signal and the loudspeakers used
	might be. When called upon to do so, your amplifier is capable of gen-
	erating truly prodigious power levels into virtually any speaker load, on
	either an instantaneous or a continuous basis.
	Depending on the demands placed on your amplifier by your loud-
	speaker and your listening habits, it may use a significant portion of the
	total current capability of a standard, 15 ampere household AC mains
	circuit. Fortunately, most installations do not require special attention
	be paid to the AC mains service. If you have multiple, powerful ampli-
	fiers such as you new Mark Levinson amplifier, or other appliances on
	the same circuit that use significant current, you may want to consider
	having a dedicated AC line installed for your home entertainment sys-
	tem.
	For compatibility with existing household outlets, a standard three	13
	conductor, 15 ampere, IEC-standard, detachable AC mains cable is pro-
	vided for use with your amplifier.
	Mark Levinson power amplifiers may be factory-set for 100V, 120V,
	200V, 220V, 230V or 240V AC mains operation at either 50 or 60Hz,
	based on the country for which they are manufactured. Depending on
	local electrical codes and regulations, the plug on the supplied AC in-
	put module may need to be replaced by a local, licensed electrical con-
	tractor. The maximum current requirements at these various voltages
	under various test conditions are listed in the tables shown below.
	(Note that only 230V units are sold in the European Union countries, per
	CE requirements.)

Nº335 AC mains maximum current requirements

Nº334 AC mains maximum current requirements

14

		100V	120V	200V	220V	230V	240V
Off		0.12	0.10	0.06	0.05	0.05	0.05
Standby		2.35	1.96	1.17	1.07	1.02	0.98
On, at idle		3.73	3.11	1.86	1.69	1.62	1.55
250w @ 8Ω	*	14.72	12.31	7.34	6.67	6.37	6.11
500w @ 4Ω	*	25.07	20.93	12.54	11.37	10.88	10.42
1000w @ 2Ω	*	43.47	36.34	21.74	19.78	18.98	18.17

* power ratings are continuous (rms) with less than 0.5% THD, from 20-20,000 Hz.

		100V	120V	200V	220V	230V	240V
Off		0.12	0.10	0.06	0.05	0.05	0.05
Standby		1.24	1.04	0.62	0.56	0.54	0.52
On, at idle		2.99	2.53	1.52	1.38	1.32	1.27
125w @ 8Ω	*	8.42	7.02	4.21	3.83	3.68	3.51
250w @ 4Ω	*	14.26	11.96	7.13	6.47	6.21	5.95
500w @ 2Ω	*	24.73	20.70	12.42	11.27	10.81	10.33

* power ratings are continuous (rms) with less than 0.5% THD, from 20-20,000 Hz.

It is important to understand that these are worst-case requirements under severe test conditions, which are extremely unlikely to be encountered in normal use. The power demands that a single amplifier might conceivably make when being used to reproduce music with actual loudspeakers are substantially lower. Still, for the best possible performance with extremely difficult loads, we recommend installing a dedicated AC line for your amplifier

The operating voltage of your amplifier cannot be changed by the user, and any attempt to do so will void the warranty. If you need to change the operating voltage of your power amplifiers, or if the voltage indicated on the rear panel label is not available in your area, contact your Mark Levinson dealer for assistance.