Mark Levinson 5302 User manual

POWER AMPLIFIER OWNER’S MANUAL
N05302

1
N05302 POWER AMPLIFIER /OWNER’S MANUAL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Overview 2
Installation 3
Unpacking, placement and ventilation 3
Power requirements, operating states 4
Connections 5
Rear panel overviews 5
External component connections 6
Control 11
Front panel overview 11
Browser setup page (BSP) 12
Setup 13
BSP setup menu 13
Firmware 13
Power 14
Network 15
Trigger 15
Faults 16
Config 16
Utility menu 17
Advanced updates menu 17
Troubleshooting 18
Specifications 20

2N05302 POWER AMPLIFIER /OWNER’S MANUAL
OVERVIEW
INTRODUCING THE MARK LEVINSON N
O
5302
POWER AMPLIFIER
Congratulations on your purchase of a Mark Levinson
®
power amplifier. You now possess one of the finest audio
reproduction devices in the world, a product that will provide
an exceptional music listening experience for years to come.
The N
0
5302 harnesses decades of superlative audio
engineering and the latest advancements to deliver
unmatched performance and value. With a bold industrial
design and fully discrete PurePath circuitry, the N
0
5302
delivers luxurious fidelity. The N
0
5302 is proudly designed,
engineered, and precision-crafted in the USA.
Industrial Design
Robust materials, lavish finishes and striking geometry
are hallmark attributes of Mark Levinson designs. The
one-inch-thick, bead-blasted, black-anodized, solid
aluminum front panels are machined and contoured to flow
seamlessly into sleek glass, which itself is recessed into a
clear-anodized aluminum bezel. Solid aluminum handles
add function and style.
Highlights
• Class AB design rated at 135 WPC into 8 ohms and
270 WPC into 4 ohms, stable into 2 ohm load
• Bridgeable to mono 1 x 550W into 4 ohms
• Separate rectifiers and filter capacitors for each channel
• System controls: Ethernet, RS-232, IR input, 12V trigger
input and output, USB (for software updates)
OVERVIEW

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N05302 POWER AMPLIFIER /OWNER’S MANUAL
INSTALLATION
UNPACKING
When unpacking your N
0
5302:
• Save all packing materials in case you need to ship your
amplifier in the future.
• Inspect your amplifier for signs of damage during
shipment. If you discover damage, contact your
authorized Mark Levinson
®
dealer for assistance in
making appropriate claims.
• Locate and remove the accessories from the shipping
carton. Make sure that all of the items listed below are
included. If any are missing, contact your authorized
Mark Levinson dealer.
1 x IEC power cord (terminated according to the region to
which the unit is shipped)
1 x Owner’s manual
1 x Safety information sheet
Please register your N
0
5302 within 15 days of your
purchase. Register online at www.MarkLevinson.com.
Retain your original, dated sales receipt as proof of
warranty coverage.
PLACEMENT AND VENTILATION
• Install the power amplifier on a shelf with nothing above
it, such as the top shelf in an open rack, to ensure proper
ventilation. DO NOT install the power amplifier inside of
an enclosed cabinet or rack.
• Ensure that you install the power amplifier on a solid, flat
and level surface.
• Install the power amplifier as close as possible to
associated audio components to keep interconnecting
cables as short as possible.
• Select a dry, well-ventilated location that is out of direct
sunlight.
• DO NOT expose the N
0
5302 to high temperatures,
humidity, steam, smoke, dampness, or excessive dust.
INSTALLATION

4N05302 POWER AMPLIFIER /OWNER’S MANUAL
INSTALLATION
POWER REQUIREMENTS
The N
0
5302 is configured at the factory for 100, 115, or 230
VAC power operation at 50Hz or 60Hz. Before operating the
amplifier, ensure that the power label on the rear panel
near the AC input connector indicates the correct operating
voltage. A detachable IEC power cable intended for use in the
region where the N
0
5302 is sold is included.
Connection to an AC voltage other than that for which the
N
0
5302 is intended can create a safety and fire hazard and
may damage the unit. If you have any questions about the
voltage requirements for your N
0
5302 or about the line
voltage in your area, contact your authorized Mark Levinson
dealer before plugging the N
0
5302 into an AC power outlet.
WARNING! MAKE SURE all components in the audio system
are properly grounded. Do NOT defeat the safety purpose
of polarized or grounding-type plugs with “ground-lifter”
or “cheater” adapters. Doing so may cause a dangerous
voltage to build up between components, which may result
in personal injuries and/or product damage.
Unplug the N
0
5302 from the AC wall outlet during lightning
storms and extended periods of non-use.
CAUTION: Before moving the unit, make sure it is powered
off by removing the power cord from the AC power outlet
and the unit’s rear panel.
Off: The AC mains power is disconnected by removing the
power cord from the rear panel.
Standby: The Standby mode has three settings that can
be selected via the Setup menu: Green, Power Save, and
Normal. (See page 14 for more information on changing
Standby mode settings.)
Green: This mode removes power from almost all of
the amplifier’s circuits, allowing the unit to be activated
only via a wired IR control signal, a 5V – 12V trigger or a
double press of the Standby button. This mode provides
maximum power conservation and is the factory-default
Standby mode.
Power Save: This mode removes power from the audio
circuits but keeps the control circuitry powered and ready
to receive commands from the front panel controls, or
the web-browser Browser Setup Page (BSP). This mode
provides moderate power conservation.
Normal: This mode mutes the amplifier’s audio outputs
but keeps all of its control and audio circuits powered. This
mode provides the least amount of power conservation
but allows the N
0
5302’s audio circuits to remain warmed
up to deliver optimal performance at all times.
ON: All circuits are fully powered.
Auto Off: The N
0
5302 has an Auto Off feature that
automatically places it into the Standby mode after 20
minutes of no user control input or audio signal passing
through the unit. The factory default setting for the Auto
Off feature is On (auto-off engaged) as required for certain
regions. You can disable the Auto Off feature in the Setup
menu (see page 14).

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N05302 POWER AMPLIFIER /OWNER’S MANUAL
CONNECTIONS
CONNECTIONS
REAR-PANEL OVERVIEW NO5302
Input Ground
Switches
Right Channel Stereo
Output Terminals
Left Channel Stereo
Output Terminals
Right Channel Balanced
Stereo Input
Left Channel/Bridged
Balanced Input
Right Channel Stereo
Single-Ended Input
Bridged Operation
Negative (-) Output Terminal
USB A
for Updates
IR In Trigger
In and Out
Stereo/Bridged
Selector Switch
Ethernet RS232
DB9F
Bridged Operation
Positive (+) Output Terminal
AC Mains Inlet
Fuse
Compartment
(see rear-panel
labeling for value)
Left Channel/Bridged
Single-Ended Input

6N05302 POWER AMPLIFIER /OWNER’S MANUAL
CONNECTIONS
EXTERNAL COMPONENT CONNECTIONS
CAUTION: Before making connections, make sure the
N
0
5302 and all associated components are powered off and
disconnected from electrical outlets.
One balanced and one single-ended (unbalanced) connector
are available for each audio channel input.
Ground switch: A small toggle switch selects the grounding
appropriate for either the balanced (XLR) or single-ended
(RCA) input connector(s). Make sure the toggle switch is
set all the way to the position closest to the connector you
are using. The switch does not select the connectors; it only
changes the grounding to suit the selected connector.
Balanced Input
Single-Ended Input
Balanced inputs: The N
0
5302 has two balanced XLR input
connectors which accept left-channel and right-channel
balanced input signals from source components with
balanced XLR type output connectors. When using the
N
0
5302 in bridged mode, use the left channel input only and
set the Stereo/Bridged mode switch to Bridged.
Balanced
Input Connector
(female XLR)
Pin
3
Pin
1
Pin
2
Balanced connector pin assignments:
• Pin 1: Signal ground
• Pin 2: Signal + (non-inverting) “hot”
• Pin 3: Signal – (inverting) “cold”
Single-ended inputs: The N
0
5302 has two analog RCA input
connectors per channel which accept left-channel and right-
channel single-ended input signals from source components
with unbalanced RCA type output connectors. When using
the N
0
5302 in bridged mode, use the left channel input only
and set the Stereo/Bridged mode switch to Bridged.

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N05302 POWER AMPLIFIER /OWNER’S MANUAL
Speaker output binding posts: The amplifier features gold-
plated, high-current loudspeaker binding posts. The positive
binding posts, labeled + (positive), are red; the negative
binding posts are black and are labeled – (negative). The
binding posts accept bare wire, spade lugs and banana plugs
as illustrated.
For bare wire and spade lugs, first loosen the binding
post thumb nut, insert the wire or spade and finger-
tighten the nut.
For banana plugs, simply insert the plug into the binding
post. The banana plug connections are covered on
European models due to safety regulations.
Be careful to not short the positive and negative outputs
together. Do not short the positive or negative outputs to
chassis or any other safety ground. The amplifier must be
powered off during installation and whenever input and/or
output cables are being connected.
CAUTION: DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN the binding posts. DO NOT
USE A TOOL to tighten; over-tightening may strip the thumb
nut threads. High-contact, tight pressure connections are
achieved when finger-tightened.
DO NOT FORCE the binding posts over a bent or oversized
connector. Doing so may damage the binding post.
When using the N
0
5302 in bridged mode connect the speaker
positive (+) cable to the left channel red (positive, or +) binding
post, and the speaker negative (-) cable to the right channel
red (negative, or - bridged) binding post. Use only the two red
binding posts for bridged operation. Set the Stereo/Bridged
mode switch to Bridged.
NOTE: When connecting the loudspeaker make sure
that at least one positive and one negative binding post
is used.
NOTE: The audio outputs of these power amplifiers are
considered Class 2 (CL2) circuits in North America. This
means the wire connected between this amplifier and
the speaker(s) shall be rated at minimum Class 2 (CL2)
and shall be installed according to the U.S. National
Electrical Code (NEC) Article 725 or Canadian Electrical
Code (CEC) Section 16.
CONNECTIONS

8N05302 POWER AMPLIFIER /OWNER’S MANUAL
CONNECTIONS
USB port: This USB Type-A connector allows you to perform
firmware upgrades that may be offered in the future, and to
import and export setup configurations via a standard USB
drive or memory stick (FAT32 formatted). Firmware updates
may also be accomplished via download when the unit is
connected to a local area network (LAN) via an Ethernet
cable. (See page 13 for more detailed firmware update
instructions.)
IR input connector: This connector accepts IR (infrared)
control signals from other equipment.
See www.MarkLevinson.com for IR code data.
RS-232 port: This DB9F connector provides serial control
through a standard RS-232 protocol.
See www.MarkLevinson.com for RS232 code data.
Trigger output connector: This 3.5mm tip/sleeve connector
can be used to activate other components in the audio
system and listening room, such as amplifiers, lights and
window shades. A 12V 100mA DC signal is output whenever
the N
0
5302 is on. (See illustration below.)
Trigger input connector: This 3.5mm tip/sleeve connector
can be connected to the trigger output of another system
component or control system that supplies a trigger voltage.
Whenever the unit detects a voltage between 5V and 12V DC
at this connection it will turn ON. When the trigger signal
at this connection ceases the N
0
5302 will enter the Standby
mode. (See illustration above.)
Ethernet port: This RJ45 jack supports connection to a home
network via Cat5e or Cat6 Ethernet cable and allows you to
access the Setup menu and other controls via a browser-
based setup panel.
AC mains connector: This connector provides AC power
to the N
0
5302 when the supplied power cord is connected
from it to an AC electrical outlet. This should be the LAST
connection you make in the hookup process.
We recommend that you unplug the unit from the AC wall
outlet during lightning storms and extended periods of
non-use.
Stereo/Bridged selector switch: Use this switch to select
Stereo or Bridged mode. The mode can only be changed
when the unit is in Standby . Please make sure the speakers
are wired correctly for the selected mode. The switch will
illuminate when the unit is on and set to bridged mode.

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N05302 POWER AMPLIFIER /OWNER’S MANUAL
CONNECTIONS
EXTERNAL COMPONENTS CONNECTIONS NO5302
STEREO MODE
Source Player
No5302 Amplifier
Right
Speaker
Left
Speaker
Preamplifier or
Source Player
with Volume Control

10 N05302 POWER AMPLIFIER /OWNER’S MANUAL
CONNECTIONS
EXTERNAL COMPONENTS CONNECTIONS NO5302
BRIDGED MODE
Source Player
No5302 Amplifier
Right
Speaker
Left
Speaker
No5302 Amplifier
Preamplifier or
Source Player
with Volume Control

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N05302 POWER AMPLIFIER /OWNER’S MANUAL
CONTROL
The N05302 is highly flexible and allows a variety of means
of setup and control including IP, IR (input), RS232, trigger
and 3rd party control systems. For most applications
simply switching between Standby and On would be the
extent of the control needed. Additionally, an internal
webpage allows technicians and advanced users access
to power operation parameters, diagnostic information,
and firmware updates using a PC or tablet and a standard
web browser.
FRONT-PANEL OVERVIEW
Standby button: Press this button to put the N
0
5302 into and
out of the Standby mode.
LED: Illuminates red when the unit is On , flashes slowly
when the unit is in Standby mode, and illuminates blue
when loading software. During fault conditions the LED
will illuminate white.
CONTROL
Standby
Button
LED

12 N05302 POWER AMPLIFIER /OWNER’S MANUAL
BROWSER SETUP PAGE (BSP)
The BSP is a highly convenient means of selecting the
Standby mode, keeping the firmware of your amplifier up to
date, and monitoring operational faults and parameters. It is
accessed via an up-to-date web browser on a PC or tablet.
In order to access the BSP, you must first connect the unit to
your Local Area Network (LAN). Connect the Ethernet port
on the rear panel of the N
0
5302 to an Ethernet port on your
home network’s router, switch or hub with a Category 5e or
Category 6 Ethernet cable.
Connect a USB flash drive to the N
0
5302’s USB port for 15
seconds and remove it. The amplifier’s software will write
two files on the drive: a .txt file with the unit’s IP address, and
an index.html file.
Insert the flash drive into the PC connected to the N
0
5302,
open the text file and write the IP address here for future
reference:
IP Address:__________________________________
Open a web browser and copy the IP address into the address
field. The BSP will open in your browser. Bookmark the IP
address for easy future access.
Alternatively, simply click the index.html file to open the BSP
in your browser.
CONTROL

13
N05302 POWER AMPLIFIER /OWNER’S MANUAL
Connect your Mark Levinson amplifier to a PC or tablet via
your home network as described above and open a browser.
Network speed and quality of the connection will affect the
response time of the BSP.
SETUP MENU
Click the Setup menu button on the left side of the BSP
screen to reveal a series of collapsible sub-menus.
FIRMWARE
Click Firmware to reveal the firmware version and date
loaded on your unit. To check if your unit’s firmware is up to
date, go to the N
0
5302 product page on www.MarkLevinson.
com, select the Downloads tab and look for the latest
firmware update file. If there is a later version, you may use
any of the options described below to update your unit. If
your unit’s firmware version is the same as the one displayed
on the website, no further action is required.
Browser method:
Make sure your unit is connected to a network with Internet
access. Click the SW Update button to open the Mark
Levinson FTP site. You will be prompted for confirmation.
Push OK and the unit will begin the update sequence. Please
be patient and DO NOT INTERRUPT the update process.
Updating can take up to 15 minutes. The unit will return to
Standby mode when complete.
Flash drive method:
1. Download the firmware file from the product page at
www.MarkLevinson.com and save it to a USB drive.
2. While the amplifier is out of the Standby mode (On) insert
the thumb drive in the USB port on the rear panel. The
N
0
5302 will read the USB drive.
3. The front panel LED will flash blue while the update is in
process.
4. When the firmware update is complete, the N
0
5302 will
enter standby mode.
The installation process takes at least 15 minutes and
should not be interrupted. The unit will cycle through
several stages of downloading and installing new operating
files and go in and out of Standby mode. BE PATIENT. The
unit will then enter Standby mode. Wait for the Standby
LED to start blinking before attempting to turn on the unit.
BE PATIENT.
SETUP
SETUP

14 N05302 POWER AMPLIFIER /OWNER’S MANUAL
Reload
Click to open a webpage that displays the N
0
5302’s
configuration information.
Save
Click to save the webpage setup configuration settings.
Restore
Click to restore the amplifier to the factory settings. The unit
will enter the “green” Standby mode when the restoration is
complete. The amplifier will lose network connection after
this step. Use the front panel Standby switch to exit standby
mode and restore your network connection as outlined on
page 12.
POWER
Browser (BSP) method
Click Power to expand the menu and reveal the available
power management choices.
Standby: This setting lets you set the Standby mode to one of
the following options:
Green: This mode removes power from almost all of the
N
0
5302’s circuits, allowing the unit to be activated only
via a wired IR control signal, a 5V – 12V trigger voltage
or a press of the Standby button. This mode provides
maximum power conservation and is the factory-default
Standby mode.
Power Save: This mode removes power from the N
0
5302’s
audio circuits but keeps the control circuitry powered and
ready to receive commands from any of the control inputs.
This mode provides moderate power conservation.
Normal: This mode mutes the amplifier’s audio outputs
but keeps all of its control and audio circuits powered. This
mode provides the least amount of power conservation
but allows the audio circuits to remain warmed up to
deliver optimal performance at all times.
Auto Off: This setting lets you engage or disengage the
Auto Off function, which puts the N
0
5302 into the Standby
mode after 20 minutes of inactivity (no audio signal, and
no user-control input).
Standby button method
Disconnect the amplifier’s power cable from the AC mains.
Reattach the power cable while pressing and holding the
front-panel Standby button. Continue to hold the Standby
button until the Status LED flashes rapidly. The amplifier is
now in Standby Select mode. Each subsequent press of the
Standby button selects the next Standby mode:
• Rapid red flash: Green mode
• Rapid blue flash: Power Save mode
• Rapid white flash: Normal mode
To exit Standby Select mode, wait approximately ten seconds
until the Standby LED stops rapidly flashing. The amplifier
will enter Standby and save your selection. The Standby LED
will flash red, slowly.
SETUP

15
N05302 POWER AMPLIFIER /OWNER’S MANUAL
NETWORK
Click Network to expand the menu. This menu offers access
to the following network-related parameters. They are useful
only if you want to connect your unit to a network to access
controls and setup functions via PC or tablet.
Name: Displays your N
0
5302’s network name in this format
N5302XXXX (the X’s represent the last four characters of the
unit’s unique MAC address). Use your mouse and keyboard
to change the network name.
Current Gateway: Displays the Gateway IP address. This
setting is informational only and does not provide any user
adjustments.
DHCP: Lets you toggle DHCP mode (network auto-
configuration) "On" or "Off". The factory default behavior is
"On". When the mode is set to "Off", you can specify static IP
and Subnet addresses for your N
0
5302.
Current IP: Shows the IP address currently assigned at the
factory (or by DHCP or manually) to your N
0
5302. Enter this
number in the address (URL) line of a browser connected to
the Internet. (This setting is informational only and does not
provide any user adjustments.)
Current Subnet: Shows the subnet address currently
assigned (by DHCP or manually) to your N
0
5302. (This
setting is informational only and does not provide any user
adjustments.)
TRIGGER
Trigger: This setting configures the 12V trigger. NOTE: Using
a trigger input overrides the Standby button.
Mode: These choices determine how the 12V trigger signals
are sent and received.
Normal: The default setting, appropriate for most other
components.
Pulsed: Some products (such as some older Mark Levinson
components) require a pulsed trigger signal.
Off: Disables the Trigger In/Out connections.
Delay: This setting determines the amount of time after
fully exiting the Standby mode that the unit waits to pass
a trigger signal to the trigger output jack. The choices are
0 - 10 seconds, with 0 being the default. NOTE: as it can
take a few seconds for the N05302 to enter and exit Standby
mode, the net trigger delay time will be longer than the
value you select.
SETUP

16 N05302 POWER AMPLIFIER /OWNER’S MANUAL
FAULTS
This page displays the fault threshold values for important
operational parameters. These values are informational for
use by technicians and are not user adjustable.
CONFIG
This sub-menu group allows you to import or export Setup
configuration settings.
Config Export: Once you have your unit’s configuration
precisely as you would like it, we strongly recommend you
save a Config Export file to a local drive or thumb drive in
case an untoward event erases your configuration settings.
Click to open a browser window that shows the setup
configuration information. Save the webpage to your PC or
a thumb drive.
Config Import: Press Enter to import the setup configuration
file that was saved in the export process.
Restore: Restores all N
0
5302 parameters to their factory-
default conditions.
SETUP

17
N05302 POWER AMPLIFIER /OWNER’S MANUAL
UTILITY MENU
When clicked, this menu item opens a page where you will see
various status indicators, including operating temperature
(shown in degrees Celsius). In the unlikely event of a failure,
note the indicators and open the “Fault History” file. This
data may help you or a technician diagnose any amplifier
malfunctions or adverse conditions.
ADVANCED UPDATE MENU
This page’s functions are used for uploading individual
software files from the FTP server, a USB drive or your PC’s
hard drive. It is highly unlikely an end user will need to use
this page. This page should be accessed by trained installers
or service professionals.
To check if your unit’s firmware is up to date, go to the
N
0
5302 product page on www.MarkLevinson.com, select the
Downloads tab and look for the latest firmware update file.
If there is a later version, you may use either of the options
described on page 13 to update your unit. If your unit’s
firmware version is the same as the one displayed on the
website, no further action is required.
SETUP

18 N05302 POWER AMPLIFIER /OWNER’S MANUAL
TROUBLESHOOTING
Incorrect operation is sometimes mistaken for malfunction. If problems occur, see this section for troubleshooting information.
If problems persist, contact your authorized Mark Levinson dealer.
TROUBLESHOOTING
NO POWER
Examine the power cord to ensure that it is connected to both the AC mains connector and a working, unswitched electrical outlet.
Examine the electrical circuit breaker to ensure that power is being supplied to the electrical outlet to which the amplifier is connected.
Make sure the amplifier is not in Standby. The front-panel standby LED illuminates fully and continually when the amplifier is On. The LED
flashes red slowly when the amplifier is in Standby mode. When the amplifier is configured for Green or Power Save mode, it will automatically
put itself in Standby after 20 minutes without any input signal.
NO SIGNAL AT THE OUTPUTS
Examine all audio cables to ensure a solid connection between the amplifier and all associated components. Examine the speaker cables to
ensure a solid connection between the amplifier and the amplifiers. Make sure that the connected speakers are operational.
Make sure the volume is set to an audible level.
Make sure the preamp is not muted. Make sure the preamp’s Offset setting for the selected input is not reducing the volume to an inaudible level.
Make sure all associated components are connected to working electrical outlets and powered on. Make sure the source device connected to the
preamplifier’s selected input is producing an output signal.
AUDIO HUM
Disconnect components one at a time to isolate the problem. Once the problem is identified, make sure the problematic component is properly
grounded and connected to the same electrical circuit as the amplifier.
Make sure the Input Ground toggle switches are set correctly and that the switch handles are moved completely to the appropriate side.
See page 6 for more information about ground switches.
NO NETWORK CONNECTIVITY
Verify that the network cables are properly connected between the router, switch or hub and the amplifer.
Verify the age of the router, switch or hub. If the router, switch or hub is more than ten years old, there may be a communication issue with the
amplifer. Power cycle the amplifer and use a newer router, switch or hub between the network and the amplifer.
PROTECTION CIRCUIT FAULTS
Make sure the amplifier is not in a fault condition. Faults are indicated by the front panel LED flashing or steadily glowing white.