M2TECH Marley User manual

M2TECH
MARLEY
DUAL-DRIVE CLASS-A HEADPHONES AMPLIFIER
USER MANUAL
REV. p r .a – 10/2013

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Warning!
Changes or modifications not authorized by the manufacturer can invalidate
the compliance to CE regulations and cause the unit to be no more suitable to
use. The manufacturer refuses every responsibility regarding damages to
people or things due to the use of a unit which has been subject to
unauthorized modifications or to misuse or to malfunction of a unit which has
been subject to unauthorized modifications.
This unit is compliant with the following CE regulations: CE EN 55022:2009 Class B (Radiated
Emissions), CE EN 55024:1999, CE EN 55024:A2/2003, CE EN 55024: S1/2008 (Radio Frequency
Electromagnetic Fields, 50Hz Magnetic Field mmunity Test and Electrostatic Discharges – ESD).
For a proper operation of this unit, all connections to other equipment in the system must be
done when all equipment are off. Failing to comply to this advice may lead to damage to the
Marley.

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The label above, printed on the product case, indicates that the product, when no more usable, can’t
be treated as generic garbage, but must be disposed of at a collection point for recycling of electrical
and electronic equipment, in compliance with the WEEE regulation (Waste of Electrical and Electronic
Equipment).
By making sure that this unit is correctly recycled, you will help preventing potential damages to
environment and human health, which could be caused by a wrong treatment of this product as
generic garbage. Materials recycling helps saving natural resources. For more in-depth information
about recycling this product, please contact M2Tech Srl.
W RNING: the information contained in this manual are considered to be reliable and accurate.
M2Tech reserves the right to change or modify the information any time, without prior advice.
It’s up to the customer to ensure that the manual being consulted is the latest version.

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Dear customer,
thank you for purchasing MARLEY. What you have is a first rate headphones amplifier
with many unique features conceived to obtain the best audio performance out of any
headphones and source.
MARLEY implements a specific set of functional and technological solutions, from the
double output stage to high bias, with the purpose of exalting sonic performance,
ease of use and reliability.
MARLEY is provided with a complete set of outputs which allow for using any kind of
headphones, be they fit for single-ended drive or for balanced drive. The high
maximum output level delivered by the MARLEY allows for effectively driving even the
most difficult headphones.
We’re sure that your expectations will be met by purchasing the MARLEY: you’ll hear
your favorite music like never before. Be ready for a new listening experience!
Nadia Marino, CEO
Please annotate your MARLEY serial number and purchase date for future reference:
S/N: ____________________________________
Date of Purchase: __________________________

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INDEX
1. Unpacking and Placing the Unit.............................................................................. 9
2. Front Panel ........................................................................................................... 11
3. Back Panel............................................................................................................ 13
4. Connecting and Powering the Unit ....................................................................... 15
5. Cleaning the Unit .................................................................................................. 17
6. Using the Marley................................................................................................... 18
6.1. Volume Setting............................................................................................... 19
6.2. Muting Toggle................................................................................................. 20
6.3. Source Selection ............................................................................................ 20
6.4. Balance Setting .............................................................................................. 21
6.5. Output Mode Selection................................................................................... 22
6.6. Volume Display Mode Selection..................................................................... 23
6.7. Auto Switch-Off Setting .................................................................................. 24
6.8. Display Dimming ............................................................................................ 26
6.9. Firmware Revision.......................................................................................... 27
6.10. Switch-Off..................................................................................................... 27
6.11. Notes About Menu Use ................................................................................ 28
7. Balanced Drive and Single-ended Drive ............................................................... 29
8. Technical Specifications ....................................................................................... 31

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1. Unpacking and Placing the Unit
Lay the box on a table and open it by separating it from the external paperwork and
removing or cutting the adhesive tape seal. The following items are included:
• one MARLEY;
• one wall wart;
• this manual.
Should one or more item be missing, please contact your dealer.
Extract the MARLEY from the foam enclosure and place it onto a stable base, far from
heat sources. Avoid full sunlight on the unit. Allow for ample room around the unit for
venting.
The MARLEY is a high bias amplifier which dissipates 30W while operating, even when
idle, thus a lot of heat is produced. t is thus necessary to guarantee adequate air
flow.
Avoid smoke, moisture, dirt and water reaching the unit.
Do not place the unit on thick carpets nor inside a box or piece of furniture, not even
close to curtains.

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2. Front Panel
Figure 1
1) On/off/mute/menu escape button. Push this button to turn the MARLEY on when
it’s off. When the MARLEY is on, a short push will toggle muting, unless the menu has
been previously accessed: in the latter, a short push will cause immediate menu
escape and configuration changes discard. A prolonged button push while the MARLEY
is on will cause its switch-off.
2) Display. Multi-function LCD display. During normal operation, it indicates the
listening level for the active outputs, the selected source and the mute status. When

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the menu is accessed, the display shows the selected menu item and the current
value associated to it.
3) Encoder. Allows for accessing and navigating the menu, as well as volume
setting. t may be rotated and pushed. Please read chapter 6 for details on its use.

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3. Back Panel
Figure 2
4) Inputs. Connect stereo music sources to these two inputs. Gold-flashed RCA
sockets. Black indicates left channel, red indicates right channel.
5) Tape output. Connect the input of a tape recorder to this output to record the
selected source. Gold-flashed RCA sockets. Black indicates left channel, red
indicates right channel.
6) Preamplifier output. f needed, connect a power amplifier to this output, to use
the MARLEY as a preamplifier. Gold-flashed RCA sockets. Black indicates left channel,
red indicates right channel.

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7) Output for single-ended headphones. Connect the jack of a headphones set to
each of these two outputs. t is possible to use one output or both outputs at the
same time. These two connectors should be used as alternative to the balanced
headphones connector (item 8). 6,35mm (1/4”) stereo socket.
8) Output for balanced headphones. Connect the XLR connector of a headphones
set to this output. This connector should be used as alternative to the single-ended
headphones connectors (item 7). 4-pin female XLR socket.
9) Input for high-current, low-noise power supply. Connect the plug from the
dedicated high-current, low-noise power supply dedicated for the MARLEY. 4-pin, male
XLR socket.
10) Input for power from wall wart. Connect the jack from the 15V-2A wall wart
included in the package. 5.5/2.1mm jack with positive on tip.

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4. Connecting and Powering the Unit
W RNING: all connections between the MARLEY
MARLEYMARLEY
MARLEY and other equipment must be
made when all units are off. Failing to do so may cause damage to the MARLEY
MARLEYMARLEY
MARLEY
and/or other units.
Please refer to chapter 3, “Back Panel”.
Connect one or two high-level stereo audio sources (CD/SACD/DVD player, DAC
USB, tuner, preamplifier) to the inputs (Figure 2, 4). Low-level sources, such as
magnetic pick-ups, cannot be connected to the inputs.
f needed, connect MARLEY’s “TAPE OUT” output to a recorder’s input (Figure 2, 5).
f MARLEY‘s operation as preamplifier is desired or required, connect the “PRE OUT”
output to the input of a power amplifier (Figure 2, 6).
Connect one or two headphones to headphones outputs, avoiding using single-
ended and balanced outputs at the same time (Figure 2, 7/8).
Connect the wall wart jack to the MARLEY ‘s power supply input (Figure 2, 10).
Connect the wall wart to a mains outlet. The wall wart is designed to automatically fit
ant mains voltage 90V
AC
to 265V
AC
.
Turn the MARLEY on by pushing the front panel button (Figure 1, 1).
NOTE: it is possible to use a dedicated high-current, low-noise power supply
in place of the included wall wart for increased sonic performance. In this case,

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the power supply must be connected to the dedicated connector on MARLEY
MARLEYMARLEY
MARLEY‘s
back panel (Figure 2, 9).
W RNING: when the dedicated power supply is used, DO NOT connect the wall
wart also.

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5. Cleaning the Unit
The MARLEY should be cleaned with a soft, damp cloth. Do not use alcohol nor other
cleaning fluids as they could damage the unit.
Avoid fluids from dropping or leaking through the venting grid holes.
Pay attention not to scratch the plexiglas front screen.

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6. Using the Marley
At power up, the MARLEY observes a start-up heating wait lasting a few seconds,
during which the flashing writing in Figure 3 is displayed.
HEATING UP
POWER AMPLIFIERS
Figure 3
Once heating is completed, some general information about MARLEY operation appear
on the display, as shown in Figure 4 and Figure 5. The two pictures refer to the two
different output configurations (balanced and double single-ended). n Figure 4 the
word “MUTE” appears to indicate that muting is on.
MUTE VOL:-40DB
IN:1
Figure 4
>VOLA:-40DB
IN:1 VOLB:-40DB
Figure 5

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6.1. Volume Setting
Volume setting is performed by encoder knob rotation (Figure 1,3). Depending on the
output configuration, it is possible to set one or two volumes.
When the MARLEY is configured in balanced, The two stereo amplifiers which fit it are
bridged and make for a single balanced amplifier. This is why only one balanced
output is present and only one volume can be set (Figure 4).
When the MARLEY is configured in dual single-ended, each amplifier drives one jack
output. Each amplifier has its dedicated volume control, it is thus possible to set the
listening level of each amplifier independently. Two volumes are thus shown: “VOLA”,
related to output “A,” and “VOLB”, related to output “B”. The “>” sign indicates which
volume can be set. As shown in Figure 5, output “A” volume can be set by rotating
the encoder knob.
To set volume for output “B” it is necessary to push the encoder once, so that the “>”
moves to the front of “VOLB” (Figure 6).
VOLA:-40DB
IN:1 >VOLB:-40DB
Figure 6
NOTE: after setting output “B” volume, the button to the left of the front panel
may be pushed to restore equipment’s “idle” status as in Figure 4. s an
alternative, after a few seconds past the encoder rotation the unit automatically
reverts to “idle” status.

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6.2. Muting Toggle
The MARLEY is provided with a feature (muting) which allow for lowering the volume
20dB without touching the encoder knob. This feature is useful when user needs to
listen to another person for a moment, or while changing music program in the
source, etc.
Muting is toggled by pushing the button to the left of the front panel (Figure 1, 1).
When muting is engaged, the word “MUTE” appears on the display (Figure 4).
n dual single-ended mode, muting affects both outputs.
W RNING: carefully operate on volumes when muting is engaged: if volume is
raised too much and muting is disengaged, the resulting listening level could
be so high that damages to the headphones set or to listener ears may happen.
6.3. Source Selection
The MARLEY is provided with two inputs, it is thus possible to connect two sources to it
and select one for listening. To do this, it is necessary to push the encoder once in
balanced mode or twice in dual single-ended mode: the input selection feature is
then accessed as shown in Figure 7.
INPUT SELECT
INPUT:1
Figure 7