Mark Levinson No 40 Owners manual
Owner’s Manual
Nº40
Media
Console
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
audio/video processor.
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
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.
®
retailer.
Important! Please record your serial numbers here for future
reference. You will need this information should you
ever require service on your Nº40 Media Console.
Nº40 video processor serial number: ____________
Nº40 audio processor serial number: ____________
4
Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories. “Dolby,” “Pro
Logic,” and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.
Manufactured under license from Digital Theater Systems, Inc. US Pat.
No. 5,451,942, 5,956,674, 5,974,380, 5,978,762 and other world-wide
patents are issued and pending. *DTS*, *DTS-ES Extended Surround*,
and *Neo:6* are trademarks of Digital Theater Systems, Inc.
HDCD, the HDCD logo and High Definition Compatible Digital are registered trademarks. Microsoft and HDCD are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or
other countries. HDCD system manufactured under license from
Microsoft Corporation.
Table of Contents
Unpacking the Nº40 ..................................................................9
in the Nº40 Video Processor carton: ................................................... 9
in the Nº40 Audio Processor carton: ................................................... 9
Break-in period ................................................................................... 9
Placement Considerations........................................................ 11
Location ........................................................................................... 11
Shelf mounting .............................................................................. 11
Rack Mounting .............................................................................. 11
Heat & Ventilation ............................................................................ 11
Operating Voltage................................................................... 12
Special Design Features ...........................................................13
modular design ................................................................................ 13
extraordinary flexibility...................................................................... 13
input/output flexibility .................................................................... 13
graphic user interface .................................................................... 14
sound profiles ................................................................................ 14
home automation .......................................................................... 15
no-compromise audio ....................................................................... 15
incoming analog signals ................................................................ 15
incoming digital signals .................................................................. 16
digital processing ........................................................................... 16
fully independent zones ................................................................. 16
digital to analog conversion ........................................................... 17
analog volume control ................................................................... 17
state of the art output buffer .......................................................... 17
THX Ultra™ ...................................................................................... 18
Re-Equalization™ ........................................................................... 18
Timbre Matching™......................................................................... 18
Adaptive Decorrelation™................................................................ 18
THX Ultra™ .................................................................................... 19
no-compromise video ....................................................................... 19
high performance switcher ............................................................ 19
three video backplanes .................................................................. 19
transcoding ................................................................................... 20
Using the Nº40 .......................................................................22
input select ...................................................................................... 22
volume ............................................................................................. 22
surround mode ................................................................................ 23
sound profile .................................................................................... 23
zone ................................................................................................ 24
preview ............................................................................................ 24
Front Panel Nº40 Video Processor ............................................ 26
Front Panel Nº40 Audio Processor ...........................................33
Rear Panel Nº40 Video Processor ............................................. 39
Building PHAST cables .................................................................... 47
DC trigger tip polarity .................................................................... 49
IR input tip polarity ......................................................................... 49
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Rear Panel Nº40 Audio Processor............................................. 50
Optional Equipment ................................................................ 61
extra input modules ......................................................................... 61
rf demodulator ................................................................................. 62
extra Rzone cards ............................................................................. 62
The Remote Control................................................................. 63
Using the Menu System ...........................................................69
introduction to the Nº40 menus ....................................................... 69
navigating the menus....................................................................... 70
front panel menu navagation......................................................... 72
The About… Screen .................................................................73
firmware info.................................................................................... 73
system locked/unlocked ................................................................... 73
personalization ................................................................................. 74
The Speakers Menu ................................................................. 75
introduction ..................................................................................... 75
center .............................................................................................. 75
subwoofer........................................................................................ 76
surrounds......................................................................................... 76
aux speakers .................................................................................... 76
none ............................................................................................. 76
surround backs .............................................................................. 77
extra sub & Sb ............................................................................... 78
left sub & Sb .................................................................................. 79
extra sub only ................................................................................ 79
left sub only ................................................................................... 80
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Sb only .......................................................................................... 80
crossovers ........................................................................................ 81
if you are using THX-certified speakers… ........................................ 81
high pass sections .......................................................................... 81
low pass section ............................................................................ 82
listener position ................................................................................ 83
name............................................................................................. 84
distances ....................................................................................... 84
levels ............................................................................................. 85
bass peak limit .................................................................................. 85
The Sound Profile Menu...........................................................88
introduction ..................................................................................... 88
name ............................................................................................... 89
listener position ................................................................................ 89
multichannel signal .......................................................................... 89
2 channel signal ............................................................................... 90
mono signal ..................................................................................... 91
level trims ......................................................................................... 92
Dolby Digital compression ................................................................ 92
front L/R hpf..................................................................................... 93
aux channel options ......................................................................... 94
status of triggers 1, 2, 3.................................................................... 95
delete this profile .............................................................................. 95
add new .......................................................................................... 96
The Define Input Menu ............................................................ 97
introduction ..................................................................................... 97
name ............................................................................................... 97
audio ............................................................................................... 97
video................................................................................................ 99
sound profile .................................................................................. 100
analog input offset ......................................................................... 101
main audio delay............................................................................ 102
record loop check........................................................................... 102
video passthru................................................................................ 103
video options ................................................................................. 104
white level ................................................................................... 104
black level .................................................................................... 104
sharpness .................................................................................... 105
color level .................................................................................... 105
tint .............................................................................................. 106
video filter.................................................................................... 106
lock range ................................................................................... 106
delete this input ............................................................................. 107
add new ........................................................................................ 107
The Audio Defaults Menu ......................................................108
introduction ................................................................................... 108
multichannel .................................................................................. 109
two channel ................................................................................... 109
one channel ................................................................................... 109
The User options Menu.......................................................... 111
introduction ................................................................................... 111
volume options .............................................................................. 111
max volume ................................................................................. 111
mute level .................................................................................... 111
speed .......................................................................................... 111
display ......................................................................................... 111
display options ............................................................................... 112
lcd & monitor video ..................................................................... 112
messages ..................................................................................... 112
message time............................................................................... 112
lcd & monitor text ........................................................................ 113
main text ..................................................................................... 113
standby video .............................................................................. 113
main text position ........................................................................ 114
control options ............................................................................... 114
teach ir ........................................................................................ 114
toolbars #2-#6 ............................................................................. 115
keys F1, F2, F3 ............................................................................ 116
triggers 1, 2, 3 ............................................................................. 116
RS-232 updates ............................................................................ 116
The Output Zones Menu ........................................................ 117
introduction ................................................................................... 117
main zone name ............................................................................ 117
default video system ....................................................................... 118
component options ........................................................................ 118
component type .......................................................................... 118
video setup .................................................................................. 119
message position............................................................................ 119
message backdrop.......................................................................... 120
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audio delay .................................................................................... 120
Dolby downmix ........................................................................... 121
rzone 1 name ................................................................................. 121
type ............................................................................................. 122
audio output ............................................................................... 122
digital output ............................................................................... 123
Dolby downmix ........................................................................... 123
on screen text .............................................................................. 124
message backdrop.......................................................................... 124
Advanced User Features ........................................................ 126
introduction ................................................................................... 126
getting started................................................................................ 126
note patterns of use ....................................................................... 127
action movie ................................................................................ 127
most movies ................................................................................ 127
late night ..................................................................................... 128
2-ch music ................................................................................... 128
MC music .................................................................................... 128
reading........................................................................................ 128
adding simple automation .............................................................. 129
input association .......................................................................... 129
signal association ......................................................................... 129
a word on external control systems................................................. 130
Troubleshooting ....................................................................131
Care & Maintenance ..............................................................133
U.S. and Canadian Warranty ..................................................134
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90-Day Limited Warranty ................................................................ 134
Five Year Extended Warranty .......................................................... 134
Obtaining Service .................................................................. 135
Specifications ........................................................................136
Nº40 audio processor ..................................................................... 136
Nº40 video processor ..................................................................... 137
Dimensions: Nº40 Video Processor......................................... 138
Dimensions: Nº40 Audio Processor ........................................ 139
Rack Mount Kit ..................................................................... 140
Nº40 Video Processor Hookup Chart ...................................... 142
Nº40 Audio Processor Hookup Chart......................................143
Unpacking the Nº40
The Nº40 Media Console is a two-component system, each dedicated
to state of the art switching and processing of video and audio, respectively. These two components are shipped in separate boxes to avoid
becoming unwieldy, but they must be used together. They were designed as a single system.
Included with your new Nº40 are two pairs 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 our products.
Carefully unpack both components, along with their accessory kits,
power cords, etc. You should find the following:
in the Nº40 Video
Processor carton:
in the Nº40 Audio
Processor carton:
• Nº40 video processor
• one IEC-standard AC mains cord
• three BNC-to-RCA adapters
• one gray RJ-11 Nº40 communications link cable
• one gray RJ-45 PHASTLink™ communications cable
• one remote control for the Nº40
• one pair white gloves
• this owner’s manual
• Nº40 audio processor
• one IEC-standard AC mains cord
• one pair white gloves
After unpacking your audio and video processors, keep all packing materials for future transport. In the event that you need to ship your
Nº40, only the original, purpose-designed shipping carton is acceptable. Any other method of shipping these heavy components will almost certainly result in damage to them—damage that would not be
covered by the warranty.
9
Please inspect your Nº40 Media Console for any obvious damage due
to shipping. If you discover any problems, contact your Mark Levinson
dealer immediately so an appropriate freight claim can be made.
Break-in period Although your Mark Levinson Nº40 Media Console delivers outstand-
ing 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 system 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. This can occur due to: extended power outages;
unplugging the product from the wall during a vacation; or using the
front panel power buttons rather than one of the standby buttons. In
these cases you should expect a brief warm-up period before the sound
quality is at its best. (Fortunately, you will never have to repeat the full
300 hour break-in period.)
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Placement Considerations
PRECAUTION
Location
Shelf mounting
For your protection, review “Important Safety
Instructions” and “Operating Voltage” before you
install your Mark Levinson Nº40.
First and foremost, try to locate the video processor such that its LCD
screen is at a comfortable viewing height. This screen can be used to
preview or monitor video selections in any of the zones. It can also be
used to display menu screens without having to turn on the primary
display device. This facility allows easy and direct ad hoc changes when
listening to music.
We advise locating each component on its own shelf, rather than stacking them directly on top of each other. Doing so minimizes the opportunity for any build-up of heat. Using separate shelves also reduces the
clutter of cables that inevitably tends to focus on the control center of
audio/video systems, since the audio and the video cables will be somewhat removed from one another.
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Rack Mounting
Heat & Ventilation
If your equipment is bolted into a dedicated rack, you will be glad to
know that purpose-designed rack mounting shelves are available for
your Nº40. These solidly-built shelves not only provide for the requisite
ventilation, but also for the “dressing” of the many cables behind the
system. Information can be found in Rack Mount Kit, at the end of this
manual. Please contact your local dealer for additional information.
The Nº40 video processor dissipates approximately 75 watts of energy.
The Nº40 audio processor dissipates about 100 watts. It is therefore
normal and perfectly safe for them to run somewhat warm to the
touch—think of a box that had a 100 watt light bulb running in it all
the time. They will not normally become uncomfortably hot to the
touch, however.
Mechanical drawings are included in this manual to facilitate special
installations where necessary (see “Dimensions” at the end of this
manual).
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Operating Voltage
Mark Levinson products 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.
If you have more than one circuit feeding the system with power, please
ask your electrician to ensure that they are all operating with a solid,
low impedance ground reference that is the same for all products in the
system.
The Nº40 has three operating states:
•
Off AC mains power is disconnected, either via the
black front panel power button or by unplugging the unit from the wall.
• Standby Everything is powered up and ready to go, but
audio outputs are muted and video outputs are
either off or fed a “black screen” signal (sync
but not picture information). The standby
button toggles between Standby and On.
• On Everything is powered up and ready to go, with
outputs active.
The operating voltage of the Nº40 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 Nº40, or if the voltage indicated on the rear
panel label is not available in your area, contact your Mark Levinson
dealer for assistance.
Special Design Features
modular design As seen from the rear panel, perhaps the most obvious characteristic of
the Nº40 is its extraordinary modularity. Both the audio processor and
the video processor are built on “card cage” designs that maximize
hardware flexibility now and in the future. While more costly than an
“everything on one board” approach, the extensive modularity of the
Nº40’s design is the best and most logical response to the rapidlychanging world of high performance audio and video.
The state of these arts (audio and video) are moving fast, and while we
will have legacy products like traditional analog VCRs for years to
come, we must also be prepared to accommodate new products and
signal formats that we cannot predict today. With the Nº40, we have
done our best to ensure that our options are kept open for the future.
extraordinary flexibility Even today, however, we have a truly remarkable assortment of source
components that may be brought into a sophisticated home entertainment system. Hence the need for equally remarkable input and output
capabilities; a clear, powerful and flexible user interface; innovative approaches to simplifying the experience of an admittedly complex system; and a variety of tools to facilitate custom-installation applications
that may require the Nº40 to control other products, or for the Nº40 to
be controlled by other products.
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input/output flexibility
The Nº40 is modular, and can accommodate many possible configurations. But in its standard configuration, we have tried to meet the needs
of perhaps 95% of the prospective owners of such a product. With
• 7 analog audio inputs (one of which is balanced)
• 13 digital audio inputs (6 RCA, 4 Toslink™, 2 AES/EBU, 1 BNC)
• 12 analog video inputs (3 composite, 6 S-video, 3 component)
• 8 main zone audio outputs (which can be configured in many
ways to suit different systems)
• 3 main zone video outputs (composite, S-video, Component/
RGBSc)
• 1 monitor video output
• 2 “Rzone” output paths (assignable Remote or Record zones) that
each include composite and S-video outputs, two pairs of stereo
analog outputs, a digital audio output, and a zone-specific IR input for control purposes
• 2 PHASTLink™-compatible communications ports
• 2 RS-232 communications ports
• 3 programmable DC triggers
• 1 main zone infrared input jack
Of course, an expandable, modular design does little good without
some room for expansion. So, on top of all this standard capability, we
have left several “slots” open in each processor for future applications,
which may include more I/O, secure digital audio or video interfaces,
advanced video processing options, or additional DSP resources.
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graphic user interface
sound profiles
The front-panel feature that tends to attract the most attention on the
Nº40 is the inclusion of a small LCD screen on the video processor.
This screen can be used in several helpful ways, including the ability to
access all the setup menus and control options via our graphic user interface, or GUI. The GUI (which is also available on the
monitor out-
put or overlaid on the main video output) makes setting up even a
complex system relatively straightforward, as it leads you through the
process in a logical manner.
This GUI is implemented in the digital video domain for the greatest
clarity and legibility, and incorporates several proprietary Madrigal
technologies. Its hierarchical structure is logical and easily navigated,
and presented visually in a manner that always shows you where you
are in the menu system, as well as how you got there. It is virtually impossible to get “lost” in such a system, no matter how deeply you delve
into the hierarchy.
One innovation of which we are particularly proud is the notion of a
sound profile. With many years of multichannel, audio/video experi-
ence, we have an appreciation of the degree to which people would like
to have their system configured differently, based on what they are
playing.
When watching an action movie, many people like to turn up the surround channels and subwoofer(s) a bit to enhance the excitement; additionally, they may require THX processing, and particular bass management settings to suit the explosive nature of such films. However,
when the movie is over and you put on some relaxing music, all those
settings that were so perfect for the action movie now sound quite inappropriate, if not outright dreadful.
Sound profiles capture the many characteristics you may want to de-
fine for a particular activity, and make them available at the push of a
button.
In fact, you can even set up the Nº40 so that you need not even push
the button. Instead, you can associate a profile with either a particular
type of audio signal (e.g., 96 kHz PCM, Dolby Digital, etc.) or with a
particular input (e.g., CD, VCR, DVD, etc.). With a little creativity, you
can readily have the system reconfigure itself on the fly, automatically.
With rare exceptions, all you or your family has to do is select the
source they want, and adjust the volume. Our sound profiles can take
care of the rest.
home automation
Of course, there are always those who want to do more. The growth of
systems like AMX®, Audioaccess®, Crestron®, Niles®, PHAST® and
others stand as testimony to the variety of needs felt by various luxury
goods customers.
The Nº40 responds to such requirements in two ways. It can control
other products in certain logical and related ways, and it allows itself to
be controlled by external home automation systems.
With two PHASTLink™ ports, two fully bi-directional RS-232 ports,
three programmable DC triggers, and a rear panel hard-wired IR input,
the Nº40 can direct the actions of things like motorized screens and
drapes (according to the
sound profile selected), and control the op-
erational status of associated power amplifiers. It can also respond to
external control from systems like those listed above, or from
Microsoft’s Universal Plug ‘N ‘Play initiative.
Speaking of Microsoft, we have also created a Windows Setup Utility
for the Nº40 that is primarily for the convenience of installers. It is
strictly optional, as there is nothing you can do with the system that
cannot be done without this program. However, installers will find it
helpful in that it provides for off-line pre-configuration of systems and
also for the backing up of system setup data.
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no-compromise audio As befits the first multichannel, audio/video product to carry the Mark
Levinson name, the Nº40 Media Console offers no-compromise audio
performance that is worthy of its heritage. Extraordinary measures
have been taken in both design and manufacturing to ensure that the
sounds you enjoy from your Nº40-based system will be emotionally involving and rewarding, whether you are enjoying conventional stereo
recordings or the latest multichannel blockbuster movie.
incoming analog signals
All analog audio signals are converted to and processed at 24-bit, 96
kHz resolution, to preserve every nuance of the original recording. The
new, Madrigal-designed 24/96 analog to digital converter is truly transparent, having been subjected to a strict “bypass test,” comparing the
sound of the analog-to-digital conversion and subsequent digital-to-
analog conversion to the sound of the most neutral interconnect cable
we know of (our own CZ Gel-1 balanced interconnect).
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incoming digital signals
digital processing
All digital audio signals are received using Madrigal’s Intelligent
FIFO™ digital receiver technology to reject distortion-inducing jitter
and maximize the performance potential of the incoming signal. Significantly, this remarkably effective jitter-rejection circuitry is used for
all digital signals, on all paths. Remote and record zones also benefit
from the sonic improvements of the Intelligent FIFO.
Digital processing of the signal in the main zone is performed by four
powerful SHARC DSP chips. These DSPs perform 32-bit fixed point
processing as well as 32-bit and 40-bit floating point processing. This
compares rather favorably with more conventional 24-bit DSPs, as 32bit parts are 256 times more accurate than 24-bit parts.
In short, the main zone has a terrific amount of DSP power at its disposal, allowing it to easily perform all of the following simultaneously
and in real time:
• signal decoding (e.g., Dolby Digital, DTS, MPEG, etc.)
• various music and film surround modes to provide a multichannel experience from two-channel material
• second-level decoding like Surround•EX and DTS ES 6.1
Matrix processing
• speaker crossovers and bass redirection/management
• post-processing (e.g., the latest THX Ultra™ algorithms)
fully independent zones
All of this, with power left over for future applications. In addition,
should it become necessary to support additional simultaneous processing in the future, another four SHARCs may be added to the existing set of four. Obsolescence is unlikely any time soon.
One of the design criteria of the Nº40 was complete independence of
its five “zones” (that is, the main theater and as many as four remote
and/or record zones). “Independence” in this case means “any input to
any output,” or what is known technically as a “full crosspoint switch.”
In support of this goal, each of the “Rzone” (Remote or Record Zone)
audio cards has two SHARC DSP chips of its own. With this level of
processing power, it becomes possible (for example) to select a Dolby
Digital 5.1 channel signal for enjoyment in the master bedroom, and
have the signal both decoded and then downmixed to two channels for
reproduction. The user does not have to think about what format a
given source might be in—the Nº40 simply makes everything work
out.
In fact, each “Rzone” card is much like an entire Nº40 audio processor
in microcosm, with full A/D, DSP, D/A, and volume control capability.
digital to analog conversion
analog volume control
Digital to analog conversion is also done at an extraordinarily high
level, as you would expect. The main zone uses a special Madrigal-developed implementation of the Analog Devices AD1853, a new multibit
Sigma/Delta converter. In fact, each of the eight main output channels
uses two fully balanced channels of these DACs, in a dual differential
configuration. The output of these DACs is then converted from current back to a voltage by a custom-designed Madrigal I/V converter
with superlative rise time and bandwidth characteristics. This approach, normally reserved for critical medical and scientific instrumentation, yields distortion and noise levels that are vanishingly low.
Even the remote zones are fully 24-bit, 192 kHz capable, and will easily
surpass the main zone audio performance of any other surround processing now on the market.
Once the signal is analog, we use precision solid-state stepped attenuators to control the volume. Having digital control over an analog attenuator provides the best of both worlds: the convenience of comprehensive system control with the performance of state of the art analog
volume.
17
state of the art output buffer
Specifically, the volume control circuitry of the Nº40 provides 0.1 dB
resolution of its volume control over an 80 dB range, and 1.0 dB resolution over the bottom 20 dB of its range.
Significantly, the Nº40 maintains the full performance of its remarkable DACs at all levels, something impossible with digital volume controls.
Finally, the output buffer circuitry used in the Nº40 employs the same
topology used in the Mark Levinson Nº32 Reference Preamplifier. This
circuit has proven itself both sonically transparent and exceptionally
immune to adverse interactions with interconnecting cables and unusual input impedance characteristics of power amplifiers. While we
would hope you would consider matching Mark Levinson power amplifiers to go with your Nº40, we recognize our responsibility to preserve your choice in the matter. Providing this singularly robust output
stage does just that, allowing the Nº40 to make the most of whatever
cables and amplifiers you elect to use.
THX Ultra™ THX is an exclusive set of standards and technologies established by
the world-renowned film production company, Lucasfilm Ltd THX
grew from George Lucas’ personal desire to make your experience of
the film soundtrack, in both movie theaters and in your home theater,
as faithful as possible to what the director intended.
Movie soundtracks are mixed in special movie theaters called dubbing
stages, and are designed to be played back in movie theatres with similar equipment and conditions This same soundtrack is then transferred directly onto Laserdisc, VHS tape, DVD, etc., and is not changed
for playback in a small home theater environment.
THX engineers developed patented technologies to accurately translate
the sound from the movie theatre environment into the home, correcting the tonal and spatial errors that occur On the Nº40, when the THX
indicator is on, the following THX features are automatically added:
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Re-Equalization™
Timbre Matching™
Adaptive Decorrelation™
The tonal balance of a film soundtrack will be excessively bright and
harsh when played back over audio equipment in the home because
film soundtracks were designed to be played back in large movie theatres using very different professional equipment. Re-Equalization restores the correct tonal balance for watching a movie soundtrack in a
small home environment.
The human ear changes our perception of a sound depending on the
direction from which the sound is coming In a movie theater, there is
an array of surround speakers so that the surround information is all
around you In a home theater, you often use only two speakers, located
to the sides of your head. The Timbre Matching feature filters the information going to the surround speakers so that they more closely
match the tonal characteristics of the sound coming from the front
speakers This ensures seamless panning between the front and surround speakers.
In a movie theater, a large number of surround speakers help create an
enveloping surround sound experience, but in a home theater there are
often only two speakers This can make the surround speakers sound
like headphones that lack spaciousness and envelopment The surround sounds will also collapse into the closest speaker as you move
away from the middle seating position Adaptive Decorrelation slightly
changes one surround channel’s time and phase relationship with respect to the other surround channel This expands the listening position and creates—with only two speakers—the same spacious surround experience as in a movie theater.
THX Ultra™
Before any home theater component can be THX Ultra certified, it
must incorporate all the features above and also pass a rigorous series
of quality and performance tests Only then can a product feature the
THX Ultra logo, which is your guarantee that the Home Theatre products you purchase will give you superb performance for many years to
come THX Ultra requirements cover every aspect of the product performance and operation, including hundreds of parameters in both the
digital and analog domain.
Movies which have been encoded in Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Pro
Logic, Stereo and Mono can all benefit from activating the THX mode.
THX should be activated only when watching movies which were
mixed for playback in large movie theatre environments THX need
not be activated for music, movies that were made especially for television or shows such as sports programming, talk shows, etc This is because they were mixed in a small room environment.
no-compromise video You might think the foregoing discussion of audio performance fea-
tures would be a tough act to follow. In fact, in many respects we are
even more proud of our accomplishments in the Nº40 video processor,
as it contains many innovations that have never before been available
to consumers at any price. Moreover, the entire system integrates these
powerful features in a way that makes the system incredibly simple to
use, by even the most technologically-averse member of the family.
Both the resident videophile and the technologically averse can enjoy
the system equally for what it offers.
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high performance switcher
three video backplanes
When simply operating as a switcher, the Nº40 offers performance
comparable to the finest professional switchers that you might find in
post-production houses in Hollywood.
The key here is the video crosspoint switch (the circuitry that allows
any input to be routed to any or all outputs simultaneously). It has
video frequency response in excess of 60 MHz ± 0.1 dB, with a signalto-noise ratio better than 70 dB. When you look at the more traditional
-3dB point, the numbers get even better, with well over 200 MHz of
bandwidth. This is significant because it exceeds even the highest frequencies for any HDTV system that has even been proposed, much less
implemented.
The Nº40 has three separate video “backplanes.” (A “backplane” is the
circuitry that the cards of the card cage plug into, that is responsible for
distributing all signals to wherever they have to go.)
The analog backplane, as discussed, rivals the finest matrix switchers
used in the professional video world.
In addition, the Nº40 has a standard definition digital video backplane,
and a dedicated high definition digital video backplane. The standard
definition digital video backplane is used for routing transcoded video
signals within the Nº40 (more in a moment), and for our digital
graphic user interface.
The high definition digital backplane is not even used as yet, simply because there is no standard for getting HDTV signals out of one box and
into the next in digital form. But we hope there will be a standard for
this someday, and have included this capability in the system’s infrastructure in order to be able to take advantage of it if and when the
time comes. (For now, HDTV signals are routed in analog form, and
use the analog backplane which has more than enough capability to
handle any challenge they can present.)
In all, there are over 2000 “nets” (connections) in the video backplanes
to ensure that you can get the signal you want to where you want it.
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transcoding
But you may remember that a goal of the Nº40 was to operate with full
independence among its five zones. In the realm of video, this requires
a “Universal Translator” function that can convert between the various
video signal formats likely to be encountered, within a given broadcast
standard.
The Nº40 video processor will receive standard, interlaced composite,
S-video, and component signals and transcode them to provide all of
those formats simultaneously on all zones. It will convert signals “up”
or “down” as needed to ensure that all outputs are active, all the time,
regardless of input signal. (Note, however, that the Nº40 does not change
frame rates or broadcast standards, e.g., we do not convert from 60 fps
NTSC to 50 fps PAL or vice versa.)
Also, progressive input signals cannot be routed to Rzones, since no
definition for a progressive composite or S-video signal format exists. If
you have a progressive source, we suggest connecting both its progressive output (for use in the main zone, without any further signal processing) and its S-video or composite output (for use in remote or
record zones). Set up two inputs, one for each type of video, naming
them something like DVD-p and DVD-i. Use the interlaced signal in
the Rzones.
Thus you can make whatever connection is best for your subsequent
video processing or display device, and not concern yourself about
switching between formats as you select sources—the Nº40 takes care
of all that for you.
In the remote zones, the Nº40 also provides both composite and Svideo connections that are always active, even when the selected source
is a component signal.
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Using the Nº40
This section is merely a brief introduction, and assumes that your installer has already programmed the system for you. For complete information on using your Nº40 based system and customizing it to suit
your individual preferences, please continue reading this manual. We
hope you will be able to do so while listening to some outstanding music on your new system.
The controls you will use most often on your Nº40 Media Console include: Input Select, Volume, Surround Mode, Profile, Zone, and Preview.
input select Turning the input select knob (or using the input select rocker
switch
defined inputs. It does not require you to turn the knob endlessly
through a long list of connections you may not yet be using.
on the remote) cycles you forward or back through the list of
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“Defined inputs” are ones that have been set up in the input menu.
Each input can be associated with one video connection and as many
as three audio connections.
Multiple audio connections are supported for products like laserdisc
players that might require any of three different types of connection,
depending on what disc is inserted into the player (e.g., AC-3 RF demodulator, digital, and analog). In such cases, the Nº40 will lock onto
the first signal in the list that it recognizes as a valid signal, establishing
a prioritized response. No further input is required on your part beyond selecting the appropriate input by name.
volume As you might imagine, turning the volume knob (or using the vol-
ume rocker switch
system to suit your preferences. Unlike other systems you may have
used, the Nº40 provides 0.1 dB resolution throughout an 80 decibel
range of operation; it provides 1 dB resolution for an additional 20 dB
below this, providing a full 100 dB of volume control.
This extraordinary resolution allows you to “dial in” precisely the desired volume, for the most realistic reproduction. When listening to
music, for example, strive to play the music at the volume you would
experience it at a live concert, when sitting in the best seat in the house.
(This assumes your amplifiers and speakers are up to the task, of
course. Some prudence is called for.)
on the remote) raises or lowers the volume of the
surround mode Once you have selected the source and set the volume, you may find
that a different surround sound processing mode would better complement the material you are playing. The surround mode knob (and
the surround mode rocker switch on the remote) gives you access to
all available and appropriate surround mode options, based on the nature of the signal you have selected.
For example, a two-channel analog signal might be music, or a twochannel Dolby Pro Logic encoded movie soundtrack, or any of several
other possibilities. The Nº40 offers many options for such a signal, all
accessed by the
surround mode knob (or rocker switch).
This control is context-sensitive. For example, it will not present you
with processing options designed for two-channel signals when you are
receiving a discrete multichannel soundtrack. Instead, it will only give
you processing options that make sense in the context of the signal being received.
sound profile The Mark Levinson Nº40 Media Console introduces a new concept to
high performance home entertainment systems. When you create a
sound profile, you are in effect defining a comprehensive system con-
figuration that complements a particular use of the system. By selecting
that sound profile, the system will reconfigure itself “on the fly” to
meet your requirements.
23
Imagine how you might configure the system for watching an action
movie: the surround speakers and subwoofers might be turned up a
little to make it more exciting; you might use an 80 Hz crossover frequency in order to make the best use of your subwoofers; you might
engage THX processing (since you are watching a film); you might program one of the DC triggers to turn on, so as to lower a projection
screen for your television. Having decided what the “ideal” setup of the
system would be for such things, you could give it a name: “Action
Movie.”
Now imagine that you want to listen to some classical music. Suddenly,
the exaggerated bass and rear channels sound ludicrous; you might
prefer a 30 Hz crossover on your front speakers (assuming they have
tighter bass than your subwoofers); THX is completely inappropriate
(since you are listening to music), and a stereo surround mode makes
more sense; the DC trigger should turn off so as to rid the room of the
screen that is no longer needed. Fine: give it a name like “Classical.”
Having created a few profiles that match your tastes in such things, you
can recall all the settings by touching the sound profile button on the
24
audio processor’s front panel, or the profile button on the remote
control.
Alternatively, you may choose to associate a profile with either a particular type of signal (e.g. Dolby Digital 5.1), or with a particular defined input. You can even create multiple versions of the same input
(with the only real difference being the associated profile) to make
switching between profiles on a given source component easy. Thus
you might have two defined inputs labelled “DVD-Film” and “DVDMusic” that would automatically configure the system appropriately for
either music or movies, depending on the type of disc you put in your
DVD player.
Admittedly, this is a lot of information to absorb right now. But it is
one of the most powerful innovations available to you in the Nº40, if
you take the time to make it work for you.
zone The standard configuration of the Nº40 is as a three zone system. This
means that you can have the signals from any connected source component sent to any of three different “zones,” in any combination. For
example, you might have: the main Theater zone; a “Record” zone used
for VCRs, cassette decks, and CD-R decks; and a “Remote” zone used to
enjoy music and/or films in another part of the house. The Nº40 Media
Console supports up to five completely independent zones (additional
“Rzone” cards can be ordered at additional cost from your dealer).
If you want to change what is being sent to a Remote or Record zone,
simply turn the zone knob on the front panel of the video processor
to select the zone you want to change, and then turn the input select
knob
to send the desired signal to that zone. The LCD display on the
video processor will show you what you are doing as you do it. After a
short delay, the display will revert to normal and the Nº40 will default
back to controlling the main (theater) zone.
preview Sometimes, you may want to “preview” a source without actually
changing what is being sent to any particular zone. This can be used to
“cue up” a video selection for some guests without their having to
watch the cueing process, or to assist in a simple video editing process.
To do so, press the preview button on the front panel of the video
processor. The LED indicator above the button will light up, and the
LCD display will switch to preview mode. Turning the input select
while in preview mode will have no effect on what is being sent
knob
to the chosen zone. (Pressing preview while on a remote or record
zone “locks” you into preview mode on that zone to avoid the timeout
that would normally take place). Once you have found the exact point
in the video you want, pressing enter again will extinguish the LED indicator and send the selected source to the selected zone.
25
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input select zone
display mode menu selectpower
preview enter
MADRIGAL AUDIO LABORATORIES
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Front Panel Nº40 Video Processor
1 Power (AC Mains) button
The power button may be used to disconnect the Nº40 video
processor from the AC mains without having to actually unplug it
from the wall outlet.
If you plan to be away for an extended period, or have any other
reason to turn the system completely off, you may either unplug
your components, or you may use the power buttons on your
various Mark Levinson components.
When first connected to the AC mains, the audio and the video
portions of the Nº40 have extensive self-diagnostics to run before
they can respond to your commands. Please wait until the
standby LED indicators on both units begin to blink, indicating
that they have completed their initialization procedures and are in
Standby. If either or both units fail to enter standby normally,
make sure that both are turned on and the Nº40 communications
cable is properly installed between the two components.
Note: If the power button has been used to “turn off” the
system, it cannot respond to commands from remote
controls or external control systems. We suggest using
Standby except perhaps on those occasions when you
will be away for an extended period of time.
2 Input Select knob
Use the input select knob to select from among all the defined
inputs on the Nº40. Doing so will select both the sound and the
picture (if any) for the chosen input.
A “defined input” is minimally a single audio connection that has
been given a name to help you select what you want, when you
want it (for example, “CD”). More often, a “defined input” will be
a combination of one video connection and as many as three audio connections, the latter listed in a priority order. (Examples
might include “DVD” or “Laserdisc.”) You or your installer may define inputs as you see fit in the
.
menu
input menu, within the setup
When used in conjunction with the zone knob, the input select
can also be used to select the signal being sent to an “Rzone”
knob
(a Remote or Record zone). To do so, select the zone you wish to
change on the zone knob, and then select the input you wish to
send to that zone on the input select knob. The video signal you
have selected (assuming there is one) will be displayed on the
front panel LCD display for a few seconds, and then it will
timeout and return to its previous operation.
3 LCD display
The color LCD display on the Nº40 video processor can be used in
any of several ways:
• for quick and easy access to the menu system, without
having to turn on the main video display;
• optionally, as your sole access to the menu system (if
you prefer to not have such distractions on your main
display);
• to “cue up” the next video source prior to sending the
signal to the main display;
• to monitor what is happening on any Remote or Record
zones (“Rzones”).
27
The behavior of the LCD display is affected by the preference setting found in the User options menu. See The Nº40 Menu System
for more details.
4 Zone knob
The Nº40 Media Console is a “multi-zone” system, by which we
mean that it can manage several signals at once, almost as though
it were several separate systems. This multiplies the value of all the
source components connected to the Nº40, since they are now
more widely available.
For example, you can be watching television on your satellite receiver, while copying a home video from your camcorder to a
VCR, while someone else is in the study listening to music—all
from the same system. In fact, you can have as many as four remote or record “zones” of independent operation in addition to
the main zone, simply by adding a few extra cards to your Nº40.
Any source connected to the system can be sent to any zone,
whether for recording purposes or enjoyment in a remote part of
the house. Since any of these zones can be used for either Recording or for Remote access to the system, we call them “Rzones.”
28
The zone knob controls which of these “zones” (main zone or
Rzone) you are either monitoring or controlling at any point in
time. By turning the zone knob, you will call up an on-screen list
of the available zones, from which you can choose the one you
wish to use. Once selected, the audio and video signals chosen for
that zone are presented in the main room for your review and
control. You can select a different source (using the input select
), cue up something to be recorded, or simply check to see
knob
what is going on in a different zone.
If you want to see what is happening in another zone without affecting what happens in the main room, press the preview button
before you select anything with the zone knob. This allows you to
see (though not to hear) the signal being sent to a different zone
without interrupting the music or movies playing in the main
room.
The Mark Levinson Nº40 normally includes two Rzones (both audio and video) as standard equipment, in addition to the main
room’s outputs. If you would like to have additional Rzones installed, please contact your authorized Mark Levinson dealer.
Lastly, thanks to its proximity to the menu select and enter buttons on the front panel, when in a menu the zone knob may also
be used to select from among items in a menu. Turning it moves
the cursor up or down in the list, highlighting different items in
turn. You may press menu select to cancel out of a menu item
(moving back up one level in the hierarchy), or
enter to save a
change or advance to the next level. Please refer to Using the Menu
System for more information.
5 IR window
As with most contemporary electronic products, the Nº40 can be
controlled by its included infrared remote control. (See The Re-
mote Control for more details.) This dark window on the right side
of the Nº40 video processor is the location of that infrared sensor.
(Though dark to the human eye, it is transparent at infrared frequencies.)
Unlike most consumer electronics products, the Nº40 can also
emit infrared commands from this same window. This ability allows the Nº40 to “teach” learning remote controls all of its commands, including many special-purpose commands that are not
included in the supplied remote control. For example, all “toggle”
commands (like the “operate/standby” toggle) also have positive
control equivalents (“go to operate” and “go to standby”).
29
You do not generally need such commands when you are in the
same room as the system, and operating it from our remote control or the front panel. However, their availability makes possible
the creation of reliable macros on learning remote controls like
Madrigal’s own IRIQ, or any of several other sophisticated remote
controls from other companies. You could (for example) create a
macro titled “CNN” that turned on the entire system, adjusted the
volume, selected the television tuner, and changed the channel to
your favorite news station—all with a single touch of the button.
Using
sound profiles, you could expand this capability even fur-
ther. (See Advanced User Features, later in this manual.)
6 Preview button
There may be times when you would prefer to “preview” a source
you are about to send to another zone, without actually sending it
there. You may want to “cue up” a particular movie for your guests
without forcing them to endure the legal notices about piracy or
the unnecessarily complicated menu systems found on many
DVDs. Or you may need to “cue up” a particular segment of a
home movie when readying a tape you wish to make for your
children’s grandparents.
To take advantage of this ability to hold a signal in abeyance temporarily:
• press the preview button (the LED indicator above
the preview button will light to let you know you are in
preview mode);
• select the zone with which you wish to work, using the
zone knob;
• select the input you wish to preview, using the
select knob
;
input
• cue up your source as desired, watching it on the LCD
display
When you have everything the way you want it, press the enter
button
again to send the signal to the zone you had originally indicated. Doing so will change whatever was happening in that
zone until that time, making it possible to be a “VJ” (a video disc
jockey) if that’s what you want to do.
7 Display Mode button
Pressing this button repeatedly will toggle the LCD display of the
Nº40 between always on and preview only.
30
If you want the LCD display to reflect whatever the currently selected zone activity is, leave it in always on mode. This allows you
to use the LCD display as a small second monitor, one that is
quite handy when making a recording on your Record zone, while
watching something else in the main theater.
If you prefer the LCD display to remain dark until it is explicitly
required (as when you press the preview button), use the dis-
play mode
button to toggle the LCD display into preview only
mode.
Note that the LCD display will always display the Nº40 menu sys-
tem when you access it.
8 Menu Select button
The menu select button displays the toolbar (a “menu of
options”) along the top edge, middle, or bottom edge of the
screen according to your preference. This toolbar will appear on
the LCD display and the Monitor output, and may also appear
on the Main Video Output (also according to your preference).
This toolbar provides quick and easy access to the important
setup menu as well as to other menus and features. (You may
customize the toolbar to better meet your particular needs and
preferences.)
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