Madrigal Imaging N38 manual

Madrigal Audio Laboratories, Inc. Operating Manual Mark Levinson ® Nº38 Pr ea mp lifie r[...]

C A UT ION 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. WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE. NOTICE This equipment has been tested and found to comp[...]

I mport an t Saf e ty I nstru c tions Please read all instructions and precautions carefully and completely before operating your Nº38 Preamplifier. 1. ALWAYS disconnect your entire system from the AC mains before connecting or disconnecting any cables, or when cleaning any component. 2. This product is equipped with a three-conductor AC mains pow[...]

4 From all of us at Madrigal Audio Laboratories, thank you for choosing the Mark Levinson ® N º 38 Preamplifier. A great deal of effort went into the design and construction of this precision device. Used properly, it will give you many years of enjoyment.[...]

5 T able of C ont e n ts Unpacking and Placement ........................................................................ 7 Placement ............................................................................................. 7 Ventilation .............................................................................................. 7 Unpacking .[...]

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7 Unpacking and Placement Unpack your N º 38 Preamplifier and keep all packing materials for future transport. Locate and remove all accessory items from the cartons. Accessories include: 19 0 ° shielded AC power cord 1N º 38 remote control 1 5 ⁄ 64 " Allen key 1 1 ⁄ 8 " Allen key 2 alkaline batteries for the remote control Careful[...]

8 O per ati n g V olt age The N º 38 Preamplifier is set at the factory (internally) for 100V, 120V, 200V, 230V, 220V, or 240V AC mains operation @ 50 or 60Hz. ( 230V/ 50Hz only in European Union countries, in compliance with CE regulations. ) This voltage setting cannot be changed by the user. Make sure that the label on the bottom panel of the N[...]

9 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 N º 38 Preamplifier incor[...]

10 MADRIGAL AUDIO LABORATORIES R display intensity monitor record select balance inverted polarity mono 123456 standby PREAMPLIFIER Nº 38 mode mute 9 8 7 3 2 1 5 10 6 4 F r on t pan el 1 DISPLAY INTENSITY BUTTON Cycles among four levels of brightness (including “ off ” ) for the display, allowing adjustment for various ambient lighting conditi[...]

11 operating modes is given by the Mode Indicators below the Alphanumeric Display . (See 3, above.) 5 INVERTED POLARITY INDICATOR The polarity (sometimes inaccurately called “ absolute phase ” ) of the output of the N º 38 may be inverted via the N º 38 remote control, in which case this LED will light as confirmation. A second press of the P[...]

12 Rear panel Disconnect all associated equipment from the AC mains BEFORE making any signal connections and applying power to the N º 38. Note: All left-channel inputs and outputs are on the left of the rear panel as seen from the front , and all right-channel inputs and outputs are on the right of the rear panel as seen from the front . This des[...]

13 If your system calls for multiple outputs from the N º 38 (as might be the case for “ passive ” biamplification, for example), you may use balanced Y-adaptors to split each balanced output into two balanced outputs. The low output impedance (6 Ω ) of the N º 38 can easily drive multiple power amplifiers. 2 SINGLE-ENDED MAIN OUTPUTS Singl[...]

14 5 SLAVE AND MASTER COMMUNICATOR PORTS These communications ports allow the N º 38 to “ link ” to certain compatible Mark Levinson components. (See “ Linked Functions. ” ) The Mark Levinson Linking system uses a Digital Audio Processor as the Master of (and central clearinghouse for) inter-component communications. Other components such [...]

15 The RJ-45 cable needed for the Link connection between source components and the preamplifier may be purchased from your Mark Levinson dealer. It may also be easily and inexpensively made to length using two RJ-45 connectors and the appropriate length (up to 100 feet/30 meters) of RJ-45 (flat, eight conductor) cable. RJ-45 cables and connectors [...]

16 mode display polarity mono 12 34 56 volume mute 1 2 3 6 7 5 4 MADRIGAL AUDIO LABORATORIES R Re mot e C o ntr o l 1 MONO Pressing this button will toggle the N º 38 in and out of the Mono mode, having the same effect as pressing the front panel mono button. Mono mode activates circuitry which combines Left and Right input signals, and sends the [...]

17 Set-up and Installation The N º 38 incorporates both RCA-type and XLR-type connectors for audio signal input and output. The Madrigal-designed RCA-type connectors used for single-ended audio interconnection are a great improvement over ordinary RCA- type connectors, offering superior contact integrity and mechanical locking when used in conjunc[...]

18 The N º 38 Preamplifier has many provisions for custom-tailoring the system ’ s operation to match your preferences. The consistent method for modifying any of these settings is to enter a Set-Up mode by pressing and holding a button for several seconds; the setting is then modified, either by pressing a button or turning the volume knob; and[...]

19 The EQ alias also deserves special mention: if your loudspeaker requires a dedicated equaliser for proper operation (or if you have any other reason for using an EQ much of the time), you may connect the outputs of the equalizer to the input named “ EQ. ” By “ recording ” the source you wish to listen to (selecting it on the record path)[...]

20 You may elect not to use either Record Output with this particular device, as may be the case if you have several devices in your system that are capable of recording. In this case, leave the display on “ RECD NONE ” and move to Step 6. You may also select either Record Output 1 or 2 to be associated with this particular input. To do so, pre[...]

21 The N º 38 allows you to adjust the relative outputs of your various sources with respect to one another, so as to avoid disturbing and/or potentially dangerous changes in output levels as you switch from one source to the next. These Input Offsets are made relative to whichever source tends to be the loudest — that is, you raise the outputs [...]

22 currently chosen input, and “ 2.8 ” indicates the current offset for that input. 6 PRESS AND HOLD THE MODE BUTTON AGAIN… until the display reads NEW DATA , as below. This indicates that your new Input Offset has been stored in non- volatile memory. As a result, this new setting will survive power outages and other interruptions in AC power[...]

23 In effect, you are setting the Input Offset of this input to remember an absolute volume setting (whatever it was before you held the Mode button down) rather than a relative setting (that is, relative to the current playback volume). 5 PRESS AND HOLD THE MODE BUTTON AGAIN… until the display reads NEW DATA . This indicates that your new Automa[...]

24 2 ADJUST THE VOLUME KNOB TO YOUR PREFERRED SETTING You may select any value between -1 and -60 decibels (inclusive), in one-decibel increments. 3 PRESS AND HOLD THE MUTE BUTTON AGAIN When the display reads NEW DATA, the N º 38 will have saved your new setting in non-volatile memory. The Mute button will toggle you back and forth between the “[...]

25 Time-outs in the Nº38 In a similar fashion, the user of a N º 38 or N º 38S can elect to have the preamplifier (and the entire system, if Linked) go into standby after a certain period of time, much like a “ Sleep Timer ” on many alarm clocks. To engage the Standby Timer on the N º 38/S: 1. press and hold the standby button until the dis[...]

26 Operational Modes The majority of time you spend with your N º 38 will be spent in the Monitor mode. In this mode, the display indicates the alias of the input you have selected and the listening volume (in decibels). The Output Control acts as a volume knob, increasing or decreasing the volume in 0.1 dB increments above 39.0 (with gradually in[...]

27 display will alternatively read the alias of the chosen input and “ RECD OFF ” as shown below. Defeating the Record Outputs eliminates even the possibility that the input impedance of a recording device could have an effect on the sound quality of the preamplifier. We recommend that Record Outputs be turned OFF when not in use. The Balance m[...]

28 U si n g Surr oun d Soun d P r oc e s sors The N º 38 Preamplifier incorporates a special surround sound processor mode which makes it uniquely capable of integrating the highest performance audio with surround sound — that is, dual-purpose music and movie systems. In order to better understand the value of this design, it is essential to und[...]

29 The last remaining alternative would seem to be to insert the decoder “ within ” a preamplifier by hooking it up in a tape loop. Unfortunately, this set-up returns the Left and Right outputs of the decoder to the preamplifier, where they can be inappropriately changed without changing the Center and Surround outputs. It is therefore inapprop[...]

30 In some cases, connecting your audio and video systems together in this fashion can result in noise, typically a 60 Hz or 120 Hz hum. The most common cause for this noise is a “ ground loop ” caused by the presence of two ground references in the system: one from the power company and another from the cable-television company. The simplest w[...]

31 Linked Functions The N º 38 has the ability to “ link ” several of its functions to certain compatible Mark Levinson components (such as the N º 30 and N º 35 digital processors and the N º 31 CD transport). Note: to take advantage of linked functions, you must connect the N º 38 to the other, compatible Mark Levinson components via the[...]

32 Car e an d m ain t en an c e To remove dust from the cabinet of the N º 38, use a feather duster. To remove dirt and fingerprints, we recommend isopropyl alcohol and a soft cloth. Apply the alcohol to the cloth first and then lightly clean the surface of the N º 38, going with the grain of the brushed aluminum. At no time should liquid cleaner[...]

33 U .S . an d Can adian W arr an ty This Mark Levinson ® product is warranted to be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of purchase. To extend the warranty of this Mark Levinson product, return the warranty registration card along with a copy of the original receipt of purc[...]

34 Ob t a inin g S er v ice We take great pride in our dealers. Experience, dedication, and integrity make these professionals ideally suited to assist with our customers ’ service needs. If your Mark Levinson component must be serviced, please contact your dealer. Your dealer will then decide whether the problem can be remedied locally, or wheth[...]

35 Specifications The correlation between published specifications and sonic quality is unreliable. A list of numbers reveals virtually nothing. All technical measurements must be subject to qualitative as well as quantitative interpretation. Measurements of the N º 38 yield excellent results by any standards. However, only those specifications th[...]

36 Dimensions, N º 38, top view Dimensions, N º 38, side view Dimensions (AC input) 13.38" 34 cm 7.68" 19.5 cm 13.38" 34 cm 2.25" 5.7 cm 2.96" 7.5 cm 3.76" 9.5 cm 0.08" 2 mm 3.125" 7.9 cm 0.5" 1.3 cm 0.925" 2.3 cm 15.55" 39.5 cm 0.425" 1.1 cm 0.10" 2.00" 5.1 cm 15.75" 40 c[...]

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® MADRIGAL AUDIO LABORATORIES 2081 South Main Street, P.O. Box 781 Middletown, Connecticut 06457 USA Telephone: (860) 346-0896 Fax: (860) 346-1540 http://www.madrigal.com/ is a registered trademark of Madrigal Audio Laboratories, Inc. a Harman International company 630124-6 ©1/1997 Madrigal Audio Laboratories, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in[...]