Mark Levinson 515 User manual

N0 515
TURNTABLE OWNER’S MANUAL
N0 515 MC

N0 515 / N0 515 MC TURNTABLE /OWNER’S MANUAL
IMPORTANT: READ BEFORE PROCEEDING!
• Read and follow the instructions
• Keep all instructions for your reference.
• Save all packing materials. The N0515 should only be moved or shipped in its original
packaging to reduce the risk of damage in transit.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
PLEASE SEE ADDITIONAL SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE
FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW TO REDUCE
RISK OF ELECTRICAL HAZARD OR INJURY.
1. To avoid electrical shock, do not open the motor housing.
2. To avoid electrical shock, always plug the N0515 into a grounded outlet.
3. If the power cord provided with the N0515 does not reach an outlet, use a heavy-duty,
grounded extension cord.
4. Use the N0515 in a controlled temperature environment.
5. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
6. Refer to the operating instructions for power requirements. Be advised that different
operating voltages may require the use of different line cord and/or attachment plug.
7. Never attach audio power amplifier outputs directly to any of the unit’s connectors.
Please register your N0515 within 15 days of your purchase. Register online at
www.marklevinson.com. Retain your original, dated sales receipt as proof of
warranty coverage.
SPECIFICATIONS
Power requirements: 100-120 or 220-240VAC, 50-60Hz; factory set
40W maximum
Wow and flutter: <0.1%
Unit dimensions (H x W x D): 7.9" (200mm) x 21.0" (533mm) x 15.9" (404mm)
Weight: 58lb (26kg) net; 76lb (34kg) with packaging
UNPACKING THE BOX
The turntable and platter are packed in separate boxes very carefully to avoid damage during
shipping. It is important that you save the packing materials and box to use for shipping or
moving the N0515.
• Remove and set aside these items:
Alignment Jig
Record weight
Power cord
Stylus force gauge
Tools
Belts
N
0
515 Motor Assembly
• Remove the N
0
515 motor assembly and set it aside in a safe place, being careful not to hit or
damage the motor pulley.
SETTING UP THE N0515
The N0515 must be placed on a flat, level surface capable of supporting its considerable weight.
This will make setup easy and put less strain on the main bearing. The stronger and better
isolated the shelf or stand is, the better the N0515 will sound.
• Place the turntable chassis, with the motor cutout on the left, on the shelf or stand where it
will be used. Place the motor assembly in the cutout, being very careful not to hit or damage
the motor pulley. The motor assembly should sit close to the chassis but should not touch it.
• Remove the turntable platter and peel the tape off the bearing hole. If there is a black cap on
the bearing spindle, remove it. Carefully lower the platter on to the N0515 spindle. The platter
is lubed with PTFE grease and needs no maintenance for at least two years.
• Connect the power cord to the motor, put the three belts around the motor pulley and platter,
spin the platter by hand and the belts will self-level.
• Verify the turntable is level by using a 9 or 12-inch bubble level front-to-back and side-to-
side on the platter. If it is not level, rotate the feet up or down. If you must turn the N0515 feet
more than three full turns, level the shelf or platform the table sits on first.
INSTALLING AND ALIGNING A CARTRIDGE
(If you purchased the N
0
515 MC, a pre-mounted and calibrated cartridge is included; skip
this section.)
• For cartridges with threaded mounting holes, use the screws supplied by the cartridge
manufacturer. Other screws may not fit properly and may cause damage to the threads
and cartridge.
• For cartridges with pass-through mounting holes, use the hardware supplied with the
tonearm. Be sure to use washers under the screw heads.
• The tonearm wires are color-coded as follows:
Red – right hot
Green – right ground
White – left hot
Blue – left ground.
Note that if your phono preamp inverts polarity, you should swap the hot and ground wires to
the cartridge, e.g., red wire to green terminal and green wire to red terminal. Do not swap the
channels.
• Using tweezers or fine-tipped pliers, grip the center of the red wire’s connector – not the
wire itself – and push it onto the cartridge’s right hot terminal pin. Connect the remaining
connectors in the same way. To avoid damage to the cartridge, do not push the connectors
all the way on.
• Place the Alignment Jig on the spindle with the V-groove against the base of the gimbal
assembly and the hole over the record spindle. Tighten the screws so the jig fits snugly.
• Note that the following steps to align the cartridge must be performed without any stylus
guard or protection device in place. Be careful not to bump or damage the stylus or cantilever.
• Swing the tonearm over the jig so the stylus is as close as possible to the dot in the center
of the grid. Turning the black knob on the rear of the tonearm, set the counterweight for
just enough downward force to keep the stylus from moving when resting on the jig. Be
sure to lift the stylus off the jig whenever adjusting the counterweight so as not to damage
it or the cantilever.
• With the diamond stylus resting in the white dot on the alignment jig, use a flashlight and
look from the front of the cartridge to align the cantilever with the grid lines on the jig. The
alignment of the cartridge body is unimportant compared to that of the cantilever. Adjust the
cartridge mounting screws and counterweight as needed during this process.

N0 515 / N0 515 MC TURNTABLE /OWNER’S MANUAL
• When the cartridge is properly positioned, tighten the cartridge mounting screws and recheck
the alignment. Remove the alignment jig. Tighten the screws just enough to securely hold
the cartridge in place; you can damage the surface by over tightening.
SETTING THE TRACKING FORCE
AND TONEARM HEIGHT
Tracking force is adjusted by rotating the black knob on the back of the tonearm. This will move
the counterweight forward and back on its shaft. Although the tonearm does not have a built-in
tracking force gauge, a precision digital tracking force gauge is supplied.
The following setup steps must be performed without any stylus guard or protection device in
place and with anti-skating disabled. Be careful not to damage the stylus or cantilever.
• Place the gauge on the platter (stopped, with no record).
• Loosen the two black thumb screws in the mounting base of the tonearm, and turn the large
black knob on top of the VTA tower to adjust the height of the tonearm so it is parallel to the
platter when the stylus is resting on the stylus force gauge. When the arm is at the desired height,
lightly tighten the thumbscrews. This is important to assure accurate tracking force adjustment.
• Set the tracking force according to the cartridge manufacturer’s recommendation. If the
manufacturer specifies a range of tracking forces, we recommend the maximum setting.
High-frequency vibrations of a light-tracking stylus can cause more groove damage than
secure tracking at higher force. Be sure to lift the stylus off the gauge whenever adjusting
the counterweight so as not to damage it or the cantilever.
• If you choose not to use anti-skating, we recommend for most cartridges that you set the
tracking force 0.1 gram above the maximum specified.
• To adjust the vertical tracking angle (VTA), put a record on the platter and lower the stylus
onto the record. Using the large black knob on top of the VTA tower, adjust the height of
the tonearm so it is parallel to the surface of the record. After this is set, tighten the two
thumbscrews on the tonearm mounting base.
SETTING THE AZIMUTH
• Although the azimuth is calibrated at the factory, we suggest a quick check after cartridge
alignment. Place the long aluminum rod in the groove behind the mounting screws on the
tonearm headshell. Make sure the rod is parallel to the platter surface.
• If it is not level, carefully loosen the two set screws on the side of the tonearm, rotate the
tonearm wand to align the aluminum rod, and gently tighten the set screws.
SETTING THE ANTI-SKATING
• With modern tonearms and cartridges, not all users prefer to enable anti-skating devices.
The N0515 anti-skating device is mounted on the rear of the VTA tower; enable it by looping
the thin line around the first post, as shown. Anti-skating force can be adjusted by adding
or removing rubber washers from the two posts on the device, as well as by moving the
washers up or down the posts.
• Put a record on the platter, turn the motor on, and put the stylus down on the record. Looking
from the front, observe whether the cantilever is deflected while the record is playing, or
if the tonearm shifts when lifting the stylus out of the groove. If the cantilever is deflected
toward the center of the record (i.e. the tonearm is being forced away from the center of the
record) then the anti-skating force is too high. The force can be reduced by moving the rubber
washers toward the central pivot or by removing one or more of them.
• Check the anti-skating force at several points between the outer and inner grooves of the
record, and adjust the weight on both posts as needed. The post with the line attached has
the dominant effect on tracking force near the outside of the record, while the other post has
the most control over the inner grooves.
• Additionally, anti-skating can be adjusted by listening to a record. Excessive distortion in the
left channel indicates too much anti-skating force, whereas distortion in the right indicates
not enough force.
GENERAL USE
• Allow at least 20 hours of break-in time.
• The motor will make some low-level noise. This will not get into the system. The motor and
bearings will become quieter as you use your N0515.
• After two years of use the platter bearing should be re-lubed with PTFE super grease.
• You can experiment with different platter mats, but be sure to recheck and adjust the VTA
setting as needed.

HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated
8500 Balboa Boulevard
Northridge, CA 91329 USA
[phone] (USA only)
© 2017 HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated. All rights reserved.
Mark Levinson is a trademark of HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated,
registered in the United States and/or other countries.
www.marklevinson.com