Madrigal Audio mark levinson N 30 User manual

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Madrigal Audio Laboratories, Inc.
Operating Manual
Mark Levinson®
Nº30
Reference Digital
Processor

25
Important safety instructions
Please read all instructions and precautions carefully and completely before operating your Nº30
Reference Digital Processor.
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 power cord which includes an earth
ground connection. To prevent shock hazard, all three connections must ALWAYS be used. If
your electrical outlets will not accept this type of plug, an adapter may be purchased. If an
adapter is necessary, be sure it is an approved type and is used properly, supplying an earth
ground. If you are not sure of the integrity of your home electrical system, contact a licensed
electrician for assistance.
3. AC extension cords are not recommended for use with this product. If an extension cord must
be used, be sure it is an approved type and has sufficient current-carrying capacity to power
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 dealer.
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.

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From all of us at Madrigal Audio Laboratories, thank you for choosing the Mark Levinson
®
Nº30
Reference Digital Processor.
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.

27
Table of contents
Front panel, Nº30 .........................................................................................1
Display, Nº30 ................................................................................................ 4
Rear panel, Nº30 .........................................................................................5
Male XLR output connector (analog) .......................................... 5
Female XLR input connector (digital) .......................................... 6
Male XLR output connector (digital) ............................................ 7
Rear panel, PLS-330 ....................................................................................8
AC power cord polarity ................................................................. 9
Unpacking and placement .....................................................................10
Unpacking ............................................................................................ 10
Placement ........................................................................................... 10
Ventilation ............................................................................................ 10
Custom installations ............................................................................ 10
Voltage selection ......................................................................................11
Set-up and installation ..............................................................................12
Assigning input aliases ........................................................................ 12
DIP switch positions for input aliases ........................................... 14
Preset DIP switch positions ........................................................... 14
Connectors and cable ....................................................................... 15
Accommodating digital sources with only RCA digital output ..... 15
Power connection and system activation ....................................... 16
Care and maintenance ...........................................................................17
Specifications ............................................................................................18
About de-emphasis…......................................................................... 18
Dimensions.................................................................................................19
Nº30 Reference Digital Processor ............................................... 19
PLS-330 Power Supply ................................................................... 20

1
display
intensity
copy protect aes/ebu emphasis
digital record
select
MADRIGALAUDIO LABORATORIES
polarity
invert 12345678 standby
REFERENCE DIGITAL
PROCESSOR
Nº 30
5
37
8 9 4 10 6 2
1
Front panel, Nº30
1 standby
Provided the Nº30 is connected to AC power (via the PLS-330),
pressing this button takes the Nº30 out of "standby" mode, turns the
Display on, and enables the front-panel controls.
Pressing standby again places the Nº30 into standby mode, turns
the Display off, and disables the front-panel controls.
2 standby LED
While the Nº30 is in standby mode, this LED flashes every five
seconds. When the Nº30 is ready to operate (that is, when it's not in
standby mode), this LED remains lighted.
3 Source selection buttons
Pressing these buttons selects the digital source, according to the
input connections on the rear panel (see "Rear panel, Nº30"). Only
one source at a time may be selected.
When changing source material with a digital source (like a
DAT) that selects among different sampling frequencies, the
Nº30 can generate a transient "click" as it locks onto the new
sampling frequency. To prevent this click from coming
through your loudspeakers, adjust your system's volume
control to its lowest level before changing source material.
When power is first applied to the Nº30 (or when power is restored
after an interruption), source 1 is automatically selected.
When the Nº30 is taken out of standby mode, the source last
selected before going into standby will be automatically selected.
PRECAUTION

2
4 Display
See "Display, Nº30."
5 display intensity
Pressing this button varies the brightness of the Display. Four
brightness levels are available.
When power is first applied to the Nº30 (or when power is restored
after an interruption), the Display is automatically set to its brightest
level.
Pressing the display intensity button once dims the Display one
level; pressing it again dims it further; pressing it again turns the
Display off. Pressing display intensity once more returns the Display
to its brightest level.
6 digital record select
Pressing this button allows you to select the digital source you want
to record.
It's possible to record a different digital source than the one
selected for listening.
To record a digital source, press digital record select. The Nº30's
Display will show RECORD followed by the source currently
selected. For example:
If you want to record a different source than the one currently
selected, press the corresponding source selection button; the
Display will then show the input number of that source (for
example, RECORD DBS2).
After a few seconds, the Display will return to normal.
When using a digital recorder (like a DAT) that also allows
recording of analog signals, a specific combination of
interconnections and settings on the digital recorder, the
Nº30, and an associated preamplifier may create a
"feedback loop" that may damage your system's
loudspeakers. For guidance in avoiding such a feedback
loop, consult your Mark Levinson dealer.
PRECAUTION

3
7 polarity invert
Pressing this button inverts the polarity of the digital signal, to
compensate for differences in phase during the recording process.
Some recordings may simply "sound better" when this function is
active.
While polarity invert is selected, the LED above the button will light.
Note: polarity invert doesn't affect the digital outputs, and
isn't available for inverting the polarity of digital signals to be
recorded.
Note: polarity invert may be operated by infrared remote
control, but only when the Nº30 is connected to certain
compatible Mark Levinson components. Complete
instructions are included in those components' operating
manuals.
8 copy protect LED
This LED lights when the Nº30 detects encoded copy protection in
the digital program being processed.
9 aes/ebu LED
This LED lights when the Nº30 detects that the digital program
being processed conforms to the AES/EBU professional standard.
Note: The aes/ebu LED lights only when AES/EBU professional-
standard recording information is present in the data stream.
Using AES/EBU-standard interconnections doesn't activate
this LED
unless AES/EBU data is present in the source material.
Playback of non-AES/EBU CDs or DATs won't activate the
aes/ebu LED, even if the associated transport is connected
according to the AES/EBU standard.
10 emphasis LED
This LED lights when the Nº30 detects recording pre-emphasis in the
digital program being processed, and subsequently employs its
de-emphasis circuitry (see "Specifications").
Note: The de-emphasis circuitry of the Nº30 is designed to be
compatible with all known digital standards. Under certain
conditions, however, the emphasis LED will light in error (that
is, when the digital program doesn't contain recording pre-
emphasis).
This isn't a malfunction of the Nº30. Rather, it's the result of
incorrect signals generated by the program source's
transport. Depending on your transport and how you
operate it, you may never see this condition. Even when the
condition exists, it has no effect on sonic quality.

4
1 2 3
Display, Nº30
1 Input alias
This part of the Nº30's Display shows the type of input selected,
according to the settings of the internal DIP switches (see
"Assigning input aliases" in the "Installation" section of this manual).
The input aliases available are: CD (Compact Disc), LD (Laser Disc),
DBS (Digital Broadcast), DAT (Digital Audio Tape), VCR (Video
Cassette), and AUX (other digital sources).
2 Input number
This part of the Nº30's Display shows the input number of the
selected digital source, according to the connections on the rear
panel (see "Rear panel, Nº30").
3 Sampling frequency
This part of the Nº30's Display shows the sampling frequency of the
digital input being processed, expressed in kilohertz (kHz). One of
three sampling frequencies will be shown: 32kHz, 44.1kHz, or 48kHz.
After you press one of the source selection buttons, the Nº30 will
reduce the volume and this part of the Display will show:
While the Nº30 is attempting to lock onto a digital signal, this part
of the Display will show:
If no digital signal is present (if the source is turned off, is improperly
connected, or is disconnected), this part of the Display will show:

5
Rear panel, Nº30
right
analog output
balanced analog
output
analog dc in
left
analog output
balanced analog
output
analog dc in
digital
dc in 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
digital inputs
3 34 5 6 7 8 9
master slave
electrical
digital outputs
opticalelectrical
rec monitor rec
optical
communication
ports
balanced analog
output balanced analog output
PUSH PUSH PUSH PUSH PUSH
2
1
Disconnect all associated equipment from the AC mains BEFORE
making any signal connections and applying power to the Nº30/PLS-
330.
1 analog out
These outputs provide single-ended line-level analog audio (via
cables equipped with RCA-type connectors) to a preamplifier,
integrated amplifier, or receiver.
When using a digital recorder (like a DAT) that also allows
recording of analog signals, a specific combination of
interconnections and settings on the digital recorder, the
Nº30, and an associated preamplifier may create a
"feedback loop" that may damage your system's
loudspeakers. For guidance in avoiding such a feedback
loop, consult your Mark Levinson dealer.
2 balanced analog outputs
These outputs provide balanced line-level analog audio (via
cables equipped with XLR-type connectors) to a preamplifier,
integrated amplifier, or receiver equipped with balanced inputs
(see "Set-up and installation").
Pin 1: Signal ground
Pin 2: Signal +(non-inverting)
Pin 3: Signal –(inverting)
Connector ground lug: chassis ground
3 analog dc in
These inputs, one for each channel, accept DC power from the
PLS-330 (via the supplied cables equipped with five-pin
connectors).
Connect the left channel's audio dc in on the rear panel of the
Nº30 to the left audio dc out on the rear panel of the PLS-330;
likewise, connect the right channel's audio dc in on the rear panel
of the Nº30 to the right audio dc out on the rear panel of the PLS-
330.
PRECAUTION
PRECAUTION
12
3
Male XLR output
connector (analog)

6
4 communication ports
These ports are reserved for connection to certain compatible
Mark Levinson components. Complete instructions are included in
those components' operating manuals.
5 digital dc in
This input accepts DC power from the PLS-330 (via the supplied
cable equipped with two-pin connectors).
Connect dc in (digital) on the rear panel of the Nº30 to the dc out
(digital) on the rear panel of the PLS-330.
6 digital inputs, electrical (1 – 5)
These inputs accept digital audio (DAS, via cables equipped with
XLR-type connectors) from digital sources such as a compact disc
transport, laser disc transport, digital audio tape transport, digital
broadcast receiver, or video cassette recorder.
Pin 1: chassis ground
Pin 2: Signal +(non-inverting)
Pin 3: Signal –(inverting)
Connector ground lug: chassis ground
Note: To connect digital sources which provide digital output
only via RCA-type connectors, see "Accommodating digital
sources with only RCA digital output."
When using a digital recorder (like a DAT) that also allows
recording of analog signals, a specific combination of
interconnections and settings on the digital recorder, the
Nº30, and an associated preamplifier may create a
"feedback loop" that may damage your system's
loudspeakers. For guidance in avoiding such a feedback
loop, consult your Mark Levinson dealer.
7 digital inputs, optical (6 – 8)
These inputs accept digital audio (DAS, via cables equipped with
optical connectors) from digital sources such as a compact disc
transport, laser disc transport, digital audio tape transport, digital
broadcast receiver, or video cassette recorder.
Input 6 is an ST-type optical connector; inputs 7 and 8 are EIAJ-
type optical connectors.
When using a digital recorder (like a DAT) that also allows
recording of analog signals, a specific combination of
interconnections and settings on the digital recorder, the
Nº30, and an associated preamplifier may create a
"feedback loop" that may damage your system's
loudspeakers. For guidance in avoiding such a feedback
loop, consult your Mark Levinson dealer.
PRECAUTION
PRECAUTION
PUSH
21
3
Female XLR input
connector (digital)