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Op e ra ting Ma nua l
Ma rk Levinson®
Nº380
Pre a m p lifie r
Ma d rig a l Aud io La b ora torie s, Inc.
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Imp orta nt Sa fe ty Instruc tions
Please read all instructions and precautions carefully and completely before operating your Mark Levinson®
power amplifier.
1. ALWAYS disconnect your entire system from the AC mains before connecting or disconnecting
any cables, or when cleaning any component.
2. This product must be terminated 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.
3. AC extension cords are not recommended for use with 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® re-
tailer.
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.
15. ALWAYS unplug sensitive electronic equipment during lightning storms.
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From all of us at Madrigal Audio Laboratories, thank you for choosing the
Mark Levinson Nº380 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.
4
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Ta ble of Conte nts
Unp a c king a nd Pla c e me nt ........................................................................ 6
unp a c king ........................................................................................................... 6
insta lling the b a tte rie s in the re m ote c ontrol .................................................... 6
p la c e m e nt .......................................................................................................... 6
ve ntila tio n ............................................................................................................ 6
Op e ra ting Volta ge ...................................................................................... 7
A Quic k Sta rt… ............................................................................................ 8
Front Pa ne l ................................................................................................... 9
Re a r Pa ne l .................................................................................................. 12
b uild ing a link c a b le ................................................................................. 14
using a turnta b le ............................................................................................... 15
tip p ola rity fo r e xte rna l IR inp ut ................................................................ 15
Re mote Control ..........................................................................................16
Se tup a nd Insta lla tion ................................................................................18
c o nne c tions a nd c a b le s ................................................................................. 18
setup ove rvie w ................................................................................................. 19
a va ila b le inp ut na m e s ..................................................................................... 19
na m ing a n inp ut “EQ” ...................................................................................... 20
p ro g ra mming inp ut na me s ............................................................................. 20
a ssig ning re c ord o utp uts .................................................................................. 21
re sults of unre a listic te sts ................................................................................... 22
p ro g ra mming inp ut offsets .............................................................................. 22
p ro g ra mming a n a uto ma tic outp ut (vo lum e ) le ve l ...................................... 23
p ro g ra mming the mute func tion .................................................................... 25
vo lum e lo c k ...................................................................................................... 26
sta nd by time r .................................................................................................... 27
Op e ra tiona l Mod e s ................................................................................... 28
the monitor m o d e ............................................................................................ 28
the re c ord se le c t m o d e ................................................................................... 28
the b a la nc e mo d e .......................................................................................... 29
b a la nc e c ontrol tip .......................................................................................... 30
Using Surround Sound Proc e ssors ............................................................. 31
the SSP must not c o me a fte r the p re a mp ...................................................... 31
the SSP must not c o me b e fo re the p re a mp ................................................... 31
the SSP must not b e in a ta p e lo op ................................................................ 32
the SSP & the Nº380 ......................................................................................... 32
wiring d ia g ra m using a n SSP ........................................................................... 33
noise in a / v syste m s.......................................................................................... 33
Linke d Func tions ........................................................................................ 34
d isp la y inte nsity ................................................................................................. 34
sta nd by link ....................................................................................................... 34
p la y link ............................................................................................................. 34
re c ord link ......................................................................................................... 34
Ca re a nd Ma inte na nc e ............................................................................ 35
U.S. a nd Ca na d ia n Wa rra nty .................................................................... 36
90-d a y limite d wa rra nty ................................................................................... 36
five ye a r e xte nd e d wa rra nty ........................................................................... 36
Obta ining Se rvic e ..................................................................................... 37
Sp e c ific a tions ............................................................................................ 38
Dime nsions ................................................................................................ 39
5
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Unpa c king a nd Pla ce me nt
unp a c king Unpack your Nº380 Preamplifier and keep all packing materials for future trans-
port. Locate and remove all accessory items from the cartons. Accessories include:
1 90° shielded AC power cord
1 Nº380 remote control
2 alkaline batteries
1
1
5⁄64" Allen key
1⁄8" Allen key
Included with your new Mark Levinson product is a pair of knit, white gloves
designed to assist you in the initial unpacking and placement of your new pur-
chase. Please accept them as a token of our appreciation for having purchased
one of our products.
5
insta lling the b a tte rie s Using the supplied ⁄64" Allen key, remove the two screws in the bottom end cap
in the re mote c ontrol of the remote control (i.e., the end opposite the IR transmitter lens). Insert the
two alkaline batteries found in the Accessories box, being careful to follow the
polarity indications given on the inside of the battery compartment. Replace the
end cap and the screws, using the Allen key.
If at some point you notice that your remote control seems not to be performing
as well as it once did, its batteries are probably running low. Check the batteries
periodically, and replace batteries before they are “dead.” (Fully discharged batter-
ies are prone to leaking corrosive chemicals—the greenish “gunk” you may have
seen around battery terminals of other remote controls.)
p la c e me nt The Nº380 should be placed close to your source equipment, thus keeping inter-
connect cabling short. We strongly recommend shelf mounting to allow for
proper ventilation.
The Nº380 is designed for continuous operation, which is why it features a
sta nd by mode rather than a full “off” mode—it is designed to be connected to
the AC mains at all times for the best performance.
ve ntila tion Be sure to allow 3 to 4 inches of clearance above the Nº380 to allow heat dissi-
pation through air circulation.
Drawings are included in this manual to facilitate special installations and custom
cabinetry (see “Dimensions”).
Ca ution!
It is extre me ly imp orta nt tha t a ll c om p one nts in your syste m
b e p rop e rly g round e d. Und e r no c irc um sta nc e s should you
d e fe a t a thre e -p rong AC c ord with a “g round -lifte r” or
“c he a te r” a d a ptor, a s d oing so ma y a llow d a nge rous
volta ge s to b uild up b e twe e n c omp one nts. The p re se nc e of
the se volta ge s would p ose a thre a t to b oth your p e rson a nd
your e quip me nt.
6
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Ope ra ting Volta ge
The Nº380 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 Nº380 (adjacent to the AC
cord) indicates the correct AC operating voltage for your location.
If the voltage indicated on your Nº380 is incorrect, or if you wish to change the
AC operating voltage of your Nº380 as the result of moving to a different country
than the one in which you purchased your digital audio processor, see your Mark
Levinson dealer.
The Nº380 is easily powered by a normal 15-ampere AC mains line. If other de-
vices are also powered from the same AC line, their additional power consump-
tion should be taken into account.
7
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A Quic k Sta rt…
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 Nº380 Preampli-
fier incorporates many unusual features which enhance its operation.
Fortunately, we can help you get some music up and running on your system
quickly, so that you may begin enjoying your new preamplifier while reading
more about it. The goal here is simply to make some music quickly. (The follow-
ing procedure assumes that the rest of your system is already connected; e.g.,
power amplifier to speakers, etc.)
1
TURN OFF YOUR ASSOCIATED COMPONENTS
This minimizes the opportunity for a momentary electrical surge to disturb
your system while making connections. If you have a large power amplifier,
allow its power supply to fully discharge before proceeding.
2
CONNECT A SOURCE TO INPUT 1 (INPUT 3 IF SINGLE-ENDED)
Connect the output of your CD player to the Left and Right Input 1 XLR
jacks on the rear panel of your Nº380 preamplifier. (Use the Input 3 RCA
jacks if your source is single-ended. If used, press the Input 3 button on the
face of the Nº380 to select this input.) High quality interconnecting cables
such as Madrigal CZ Gel will yield superior results, and are strongly recom-
mended.
3
CONNECT THE Nº380 OUTPUTS TO YOUR POWER AMP
The Left and Right Main Out jacks on the rear panel of the Nº380 should
be connected to the corresponding inputs of your power amplifier. If your
power amplifier has balanced inputs and you have appropriate high-quality
cables (with XLR plugs at both ends), we recommend using the Balanced
Main Outs. Otherwise, use the (single-ended) Main Outs from the preampli-
fier to your power amplifier. Once again, high quality interconnecting cables
such as Madrigal CZ Gel will yield superior results, and are strongly recom-
mended.
4
5
PLUG THE Nº380 INTO THE WALL OUTLET
Connect the AC cord to the male IEC connector on the center of the bot-
tom panel of the Nº380, then connect the AC cord to the AC mains. When
power is first applied, the Nº380 will initialize (showing all current input
names), automatically select the first available input (CD1), and set its out-
put level to OFF. (If you used input 3, select it now.)
TURN ON YOUR SOURCE COMPONENT; TURN ON YOUR POWER AMPLI-
FIER; SLOWLY RAISE THE VOLUME ON THE Nº380 TO A COMFORTABLE
LEVEL
Congratulations! You should now be able to enjoy your favorite music while
reading the rest of this manual.
8
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1
2
3 4
5
6
display
intensity
inverted
polarity
mode
PREAMPLIFIER Nº 380
standby
monitor
record select
balance
1
2
3
4
5
6
mono
mute
7
8
9
10
Front Pa ne l
1
DISPLAY INTENSITY BUTTON
Cycles among four levels of brightness (including “off”) for the display, al-
lowing adjustment for various ambient lighting conditions. When “off,” the
display will turn on for a few seconds whenever a setting is changed. When
used in conjunction with certain compatible Mark Levinson components,
this button will control the display intensity of all linked components. (For
more information, see “Linked Functions.”)
2
ALPHANUMERIC DISPLAY
Provides a wide range of information concerning the operational status of
the Nº380. The information displayed depends on the operating mode the
Nº380 is in (determined by the m od e button). The information displayed is
summarized below:
monitor
re c ord Se le c t
b a la nc e
Selected (audible) Source and Volume
“RECD” and Source to be recorded
Direction and Magnitude of Offset
In addition, when used with Mark Levinson power amplifiers that incorpo-
rate our communications link circuitry, this display is used to indicate the
presence of a fault condition (if any) in the amplifier. Please refer to the
owner’s manual of your amplifier for more information. For more detailed
information on the preamplifier’s use of this display, see “Operational
Modes.”
9
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3
4
MODE INDICATORS
Three LEDs give visual confirmation of the operational m od e the Nº380 is
in at any moment. When the b a la nc e control of the Nº380 is “off-center,”
the b a la nc e LED remains lit as a reminder, in addition to other mod e ind i-
c a tors that might be on to indicate either monitor or re c ord se le c t.
MODE BUTTON
Cycles among the three primary operational mod e s of the Nº380: monitor
(the source being listened to); re c ord se le c t (the source being provided to
the Record Outputs); and b a la nc e (the relative volumes of the Left and
Right channels). Confirmation of these operating modes is given by the
mod e ind ic a tors below the a lp ha nume ric d isp la y. (See 3, above.)
5
6
7
INVERTED POLARITY INDICATOR
The p ola rity (sometimes inaccurately called “absolute phase”) of the output
of the Nº380 may be inverted via the Nº380 remote control, in which case
this LED will light as confirmation. A second press of the p ola rity button on
the remote control will restore the polarity of the output to its original,
non-inverted state.
VOLUME KNOB
This control is normally used to adjust the listening volume, and does not
effect the level of the signal being sent to the Record Outputs. When in
b a la nc e mode, this knob is used to vary the relative output of the Left and
Right channels. It is also used during setup for various adjustments; see
“Setup and Installation.”
MONO BUTTON
This button toggles between ste re o and mono operation. When in mono, it
activates circuitry which combines left and right input signals, and sends the
resulting monophonic signal to both left and right outputs. This circuit is
particularly useful when listening to older, monophonic source material,
since significant noise reduction is often realized by listening to mono re-
cordings in mono.
8
9
SOURCE SELECTOR BUTTONS
Inputs 1–6 are selected by pressing their respective buttons. When in the
monitor mode, pressing one of these buttons will select the source to be
heard (i.e., sent to the main outputs); when in re c ord select mode, pressing
one of these buttons will select the source to be recorded (i.e., sent to the
record outputs).
MUTE BUTTON
Pressing the mute button will reduce the main output level of the preampli-
fier by a user-modifiable amount, ranging from 1 to 60 decibels. Pressing
the Mute button a second time without adjusting the volume will return it
to its previous setting.
10
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If you adjust the volume with either the volume knob or the remote control
while m ute is engaged, the preamplifier will adjust its volume from the
muted volume and disengage the mute function. (This to prevent an un-
pleasant surprise when, having increased the volume while muted, some-
one un-mutes the system.)
The factory default setting of the Mute circuit is -20 dB. (See “Setup and
Installation” for information on changing the factory default setting.)
10 STANDBY BUTTON
Toggles the Nº380 between normal operation and sta nd by, wherein the dis-
play is turned off, the outputs are disconnected, and all controls are inoper-
able. All critical circuitry remains powered-up during sta nd by to ensure im-
mediate, optimal performance when you are ready to listen to music.
The LED above the sta nd by button will blink slowly when the Nº380 is in
sta nd by, indicating that power is still being provided to the unit. (If the
Nº380 is Linked to other Mark Levinson components which are also in
sta nd by, they will blink in unison.)
11
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1
2
3
4
5
4
c
o
m
m
u
n
i
c
a
t
i
o
n
p
o
r
t
s
PREAMPLIFIER Nº380
right
right
left
left
designed and manufactured in U.S.A.
rec out 1 rec out 2
rec out 2 rec out 1
slave
external
master
by MADRIGAL
S/N
right balanced
main out
right balanced
input 1
right balanced
input 2
left balanced
input 2
left balanced
input 1
left balanced
main out
PUSH
PUSH
PUSH
PUSH
right
input 3
right
input 4
right
input 5
right
input 6
left
input 6
left
input 5
left
input 4
left
input 3
right main out
left main out
2
6
7
6
3
1
Re a r Pa ne l
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 design minimizes any possible confusion
when changing connections once the unit is installed, while also maximizing
channel separation in this dual monaural preamplifier.
1
BALANCED MAIN OUTPUTS
If your power amplifier is equipped with balanced (sometimes called “dif-
ferential”) inputs, it is best to use these balanced outputs on your Nº380. A
balanced signal from preamplifier to power amplifier will offer the highest
possible performance with the best immunity from common-mode noise,
such as radio frequency interference (RFI). The balanced output signal is
made available by way of precision male XLR connectors (requiring female
XLRs on the preamplifier end of the interconnecting cable).
The pin assignments of these XLR-type male outputs are:
Pin 1: Signal ground
Pin 2: Signal + (non-inverting)
1
2
3
Pin 3: Signal – (inverting)
Connector ground lug: chassis ground
Refer to your power amplifier’s operating manual to verify that the pin as-
signments of its input connectors correspond to the Nº380. If not, wire the
cable so that the appropriate output pin connects to the equivalent input
pin.
Connect the right-channel and left-channel b a la nc e d ma in outputs of the
Nº380 to the appropriate balanced inputs of the power amplifier.
12
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If your system calls for multiple outputs from the Nº380 (as might be the
case for “passive” biamplification, for example), you may use balanced Y-
adapters to split each balanced output into two balanced outputs. The low
output impedance (6Ω) of the Nº380 can easily drive multiple power am-
plifiers.
2
SINGLE-ENDED MAIN OUTPUTS
Single-ended (“unbalanced”) outputs using Madrigal-designed RCA jacks are
provided for compatibility with a wide range of associated components, in-
cluding power amplifiers and electronic crossovers.
If you use the single-ended outputs, connect them to the corresponding
inputs of your power amplifier (or other device). Note that special features
of the Nº380 enable it to be used optimally with a surround sound proces-
sor as one of its inputs. We do not recommend having a surround sound
processor follow the Nº380 in the signal path. (For more information, see
“Using Surround Sound Processors.”)
3
BALANCED INPUTS 1 AND 2
Accepts right-channel and left-channel balanced signals from source equip-
ment with balanced outputs.
The pin assignments of these XLR-type female input connectors are:
PUSH
Pin 1: Signal ground
Pin 2: Signal + (non-inverting)
Pin 3: Signal – (inverting)
2
1
3
Connector ground lug: chassis ground
Refer to the operating manuals of your balanced-output line-level sources
to verify that the pin assignments of their output connectors correspond to
the Nº380. If not, wire the cables so that the appropriate output pin con-
nects to the equivalent input pin.
Note :
If you won’t b e using the Nº380’s b a la nc e d inp uts a nd ne e d
more single -e nd e d inp uts, it is p ossib le to fa b ric a te a c a b le
to c onne c t line -leve l sourc e s with single -e nd e d outp ut to
the se b a la nc e d inp uts:
1
2
3
22-gauge
bus wire
Male RCA
(connect to source)
Male XLR
(connect to Nº380)
13
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4
RECORD OUTPUTS
Connect these outputs to the right-channel and left-channel tape inputs of
your recorder. Make a note of which set of re c ord outp uts you used with
which recording device. It is important to name the inputs you use and to
associate the correct re c ord outp ut with the appropriate recording device.
By giving the Nº380 this information, it can prevent accidental record loops
that might otherwise create disturbing feedback. (See “programming input
names” and “assigning record outputs” on pages 20-21.)
These outputs are unaffected by the outp ut leve l control on the front panel
of the Nº380, or by the source chosen to be monitored.
5
SLAVE AND MASTER COMMUNICATOR PORTS
These communications ports allow the Nº380 to “link” to certain compat-
ible Mark Levinson components. (See “Linked Functions.”)
p roc e ssor
The Mark Levinson Linking system uses a Digital Audio Processor as the
Master of (and central clearinghouse for) inter-component communications.
Other components such as digital transports are connected to the Master as
“Slaves,” and can be “daisy-chained” using their Slave In and Slave Out jacks.
As the ultimate destination of all source signals, the Nº380 Preamplifier
must be the final “Slave” in the chain. (In technical terms, it terminates the
communications bus.) In turn, the Nº380 can serve as a master to an asso-
ciated compatible Mark Levinson power amplifier—hence its “Master” com-
munications port.
m a ste r
8 to 8 Link Ca b le
sla ve in
tra nsp ort
sla ve out
8 to 8 Link Ca b le
sla ve
Thus, if the only other Mark Levinson Link-compatible component you
have is a digital audio processor, connect its ma ste r port to the Nº380’s
sla ve port using a “straight-through” RJ-45 cable. If there are additional Mark
Levinson Link-compatible components in the system, place the Nº380 at the
end of the chain by connecting the last sla ve out port to the Nº380’s sla ve
port. See the diagram (left) for clarification.
p re a m p
m a ste r
6 to 6 Link Ca b le
sla ve in
p owe r
a m p (s)
R
R
MADRIGAL AUDIO LABORATORIES
MADRIGAL AUDIO LABORATORIES
R
E
F
E
R
E
N
C
E
R
E
F
E
R
E
N
C
E
M
O
N
A
U
R
A
L
M
O
N
A
U
R
A
L
A
M
P
N
L
º
I
3
F
3
I
E
R
A
M
P
N
L
º
I
3
F
3
I
E
R
The RJ-45 cable needed for the Link connection between source compo-
nents 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.
sla ve in
sla ve out
RJ-45 cables and connectors are used throughout the world for both tele-
communications and computers, and are widely available at low cost. The
connectors are crimped on to the ends of the cable such that pin 1 at one
end is connected to pin 1 at the other end. Such a “straight-through” con-
nection is (counter-intuitively) made by introducing a 180° twist in the
cable between the two ends, as shown below.
8 to 6 Link Ca b le
b uild ing a link c a b le
To Ma rk Le vinson®
d ig ita l p roc e ssor
To Nº380S
Lo c king ta b
Lo c king ta b
180° twist
The power amplifier Link connection is made using a 6-conductor Link
cable. Connect the Nº380’s ma ste r port to the sla ve port of a compatible
Mark Levinson power amplifier.
14
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Wa rning !
Conne c ting the c om munic a tion p orts othe r tha n a s
d e sc rib e d in this ma nua l c a n d a ma ge the Nº380 a nd the
a ssoc ia te d Ma rk Levinson c om p one nts, a nd will void those
p rod uc ts’ wa rra ntie s.
6
INPUTS 3-6
Accepts right-channel and left-channel (single-ended) inputs from line-level
source equipment such as tuners, CD players, and tape decks.
using a turnta b le
If a turntable is to be used with the Nº380, it must be used in conjunction
with a phono preamp such as the Mark Levinson Nº25. The phono preamp
used should provide RIAA equalization and deliver a line-level signal to the
input of the Nº380 (both standard functions of a phono preamplifier)..
7
EXTERNAL IR INPUT
The Nº380 incorporates an infrared repeater input to facilitate a wide range
of installation options. If desired, the Nº380 may be placed inside a cabinet
or outside the normal line-of-sight in the listening area, with the controlling
IR signal being relayed to the Nº380 by any of a number of commercially-
available IR repeaters.
The specifications for this IR input call for a triggering voltage of 5 volts at
1
no more than 100 milliamps of current, with the tip of the ⁄8" mini-plug
having positive polarity, as below:
tip p o la rity for e xte rna l IR inp ut
– +
5 volts @ less
than 100 mA
If you would like more information on the possibility of using an infrared
repeater with your Nº380, please contact your Mark Levinson dealer.
15
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Re mote Control
R
MADRIGAL AUDIO LABORATORIES
1
MONO
Pressing this button will toggle the Nº380 in and out of the m ono 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 resulting monophonic signal to both Left and Right outputs. This
circuit is particularly useful when listening to older, monophonic source ma-
terial, at which time significant noise reduction may be realized.
5
6
1
2
mono
polarity
display
mode
1
2
3
5
4
6
3
4
volume
mute
2
DISPLAY
7
Duplicates the function of the d isp la y inte nsity button on the front panel,
cycling among four levels of brightness (including “off”) for the display, al-
lowing adjustment for various ambient lighting conditions. (Tip: If pressed
and held for several seconds, the display button will place your Nº380 in
Standby.)
3
4
SOURCE SELECTION
These buttons provide remote selection of the six inputs of the Nº380.
Pressing any of these buttons (or the volume +/ - buttons) while the Nº380
is in standby will bring it fully on and operational. These buttons are gray
instead of black to serve as a reminder of this secondary function.
VOLUME +/ -
Raises the volume at either low speed for fine adjustments or high speeds
for larger changes. The Nº380 will slowly raise its output for the first 1.5 sec-
onds this button is depressed, then move to higher rates of change.
Pressing either volume +/ - button while the Nº380 is in standby will bring
it fully on and operational. These buttons are gray instead of black to serve
as a reminder of this secondary function.
Note that all volume and balance functions are disabled if a surround
sound processor [“ssp”] input is selected. For more information on this spe-
cial feature of the Nº380’s design, see “Using Surround Sound Processors.”
5
6
POLARITY
Inverts the p ola rity (sometimes inaccurately called “absolute phase”) of the
outputs of the Nº380. A second press of this button will restore the outputs
to their original, non-inverting polarity.
MODE
Duplicates the function of the Mode button on the front panel, cycling
through monitor, re c ord se le c t, and b a la nc e modes. As with the front panel
button, use it in conjunction with the Source Selection buttons when in ei-
ther monitor or re c ord se le c t mode and with the volume +/ - buttons when
in b a la nc e mode.
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7
MUTE
Toggles between normal output level and the user-programmable m ute
function, reducing the level by 1 to 60 decibels (depending on the user’s
programming). The factory default setting gives a 20 decibel reduction in
output.
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Se tup a nd Insta lla tion
c onne c tions a nd c a b le s The Nº380 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 intercon-
nection are a great improvement over ordinary RCA-type connectors, offering supe-
rior contact integrity and mechanical locking when used in conjunction with the
Madrigal cable-mounted RCAs. The gold-plated XLR-type connectors used for bal-
anced connections are made to professional application standards.
When connecting the Nº380 to source equipment and power amplifiers, we rec-
ommend Madrigal Audio Laboratories CZ Gel Interconnect Cable. CZ Gel is avail-
able in various lengths, in purpose-designed balanced and single-ended configu-
rations. See your Mark Levinson dealer for more information.
Connect the AC cord to the male IEC connector on the center of the bottom
panel of the Nº380, then connect the AC cord to the AC mains.
To Nº380
To AC m a ins
1 = Line (ho t)
1
2
1
2
2 = Ne utra l
3 = Ea rth g ro und
3
3
When power is first applied to the Nº380, the preamp will run through an auto-
matic initialization sequence which (among other things) provides a “role-call” of
the current input names (see “Names” on the next page), selects the first name
other than NOT USED or ssp , and sets the volume to OFF.
For optimal sonic performance and longevity, the Nº380 is designed to remain
powered at all times (the sta nd by switch merely mutes the preamplifier’s outputs
and turns off the display). There is an initial break-in period of approximately
300 hours before the Nº380 achieves optimum performance.
Note :
If AC ma ins p owe r to the Nº380 is inte rrupte d, the ma in outp ut
will b e mute d. Whe n p owe r is re store d, the initia liza tion
se que nc e d e sc rib e d a b ove will re store the p re a mp lifie r to
norma l op e ra tion, with the m a in outp ut m ute d a nd the
d isp la y ind ic a ting OFF.
We recommend you allow the circuitry within your various system components
to stabilize for 1 to 2 minutes before use after such a power outage.
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se tup ove rview The Nº380 Preamplifier has many provisions for custom-tailoring the system’s op-
eration to match your preferences. The consistent method for modifying any of
these settings is to enter a se tup 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 then the new preference is confirmed by pressing and holding
the original button again for several seconds.
This three-step process is simple and logical, yet provides positive feedback that
your change has been accepted and saved for future use. (If you allow the
preamp to “time out” after changing something, your change will still be saved.).
To facilitate operation in complex multisource systems, the Nº380 is capable of
displaying a wide variety of names for each of its six inputs. The available names
are listed below.
a va ila b le inp ut na me s
NOT USED (any unused input)
ssp
Surround Sound Processor
EQ
Equalizer
DAT
VCR
CAS
RTR
DCC
MD
Digital Audio Tape
Video Cassette Recorder
Cassette
Reel-To-Reel
Digital Compact Cassette
Mini-Disc
CDR
CDI
SAT
Compact Disc, Recordable
Compact Disc, Interactive
Satellite
PH
Phono
LD
LaserDisc
CD
Compact Disc
TUN
AUX
DAC
DMX
CDP
DVD
DAP
No30
No35
No36
No39
Tuner
Auxiliary
Digital to Analog Converter
Digital Music Express™ (a cable radio system)
Proceed™ CD Processor
(depends on who you ask…)
Proceed DAP
Mark Levinson Nº30(.5) Digital Audio Processor
Mark Levinson Nº35 Digital Audio Processor
Mark Levinson Nº36(S) Digital Audio Processor
Mark Levinson Nº39 CD Processor
Each name is normally followed by a number corresponding to the number of
the input being used. (The exceptions being the names like “No30” and “No35”
for the corresponding Mark Levinson products.) Thus, a DAT in Input 3 would
normally display a DAT3. In this way, you can have more than one CD player, for
example, and still tell at a glance which one is selected.
There is also a special name to indicate that an input is NOT USED.
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The factory default input name is NOT USED for each input except CD1 and CAS3
(for “cassette in input 3”, the most common recording device); these were config-
ured for the Quick Start portion of this manual. Any or all input names (includ-
ing these) may be changed easily to match the configuration of your particular
system.
na ming a n inp ut “EQ” The EQ name also deserves special mention: if your loudspeaker requires a dedi-
cated equalizer 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 re c ord path), and monitoring the EQ input (selecting EQ on the monitor
path), you will be able to run all signals through the equalizer prior to listening
to them. This is usually preferable to simply placing the EQ between the preamp
and the power amp, as most equalizers perform best at a (fixed) line level—
which is what they will receive in this hookup.
Since, in this scenario, you would spend most of your time in the re c ord path
(selecting the source to be equalized) rather than the monitor path, we have en-
abled the volume control function in the re c ord path when the input selected on
the monitor path is named EQ. Thus, you may adjust the volume of the selected
source without having to push the m od e button twice to return to the monitor
path.
p rog ra mm ing inp ut na me s To change the name of any particular input, follow these steps:
1
2
IN THE MONITOR MODE, SELECT THE INPUT YOU WISH TO RENAME
PRESS AND HOLD THE MODE BUTTON…
on the front panel until the display reads SET DATA, as below:
3
4
RELEASE THE MODE BUTTON; PRESS THE CHOSEN INPUT BUTTON RE-
PEATEDLY…
until the Name you desire appears in the display.
PRESS AND HOLD THE MODE BUTTON AGAIN…
until the display reads NEW DATA, as shown below. (Note: see Step 5 below
if you have selected an name of a device capable of recording.) This indi-
cates that your new name for that input has been stored in nonvolatile
memory. As a result, this new setting will survive power outages and other
interruptions of AC power to the preamp.
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a ssig ning re c ord outp uts
5
IF THE SOURCE IN QUESTION IS A RECORDABLE DEVICE…
You will be further prompted to associate a particular re c ord outp ut with
this particular device. Instead of showing “NEW DATA,” the display will read
“RCD: NONE” as shown below.
You may elect not to use either re c ord outp ut 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 “RCD: NONE” and move to
Step 6.
You may also select either re c ord outp ut 1 or 2 to be associated with this
particular input. To do so, press the input button repeatedly until you see
your choice of OUT1 or OUT2 in the display. (OUT1 is given as an example
below.)
6
STORE YOUR SELECTION
Save your choice in nonvolatile memory by pressing and holding the Mode
button until the display reads NEW DATA, as below.
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re sults of unre a listic te sts The Nº380 Preamplifier has been optimized to yield optimum sonic performance
under normal, real-world operating conditions. This approach involves no disad-
vantage when the unit is used as designed.
Unrealistic tests such as listening at full gain to an unterminated input which has
been associated with an unterminated record output may result in some small
amount of noise at the main output which does not occur when the Nº380 is
used correctly. Moreover, even under these unrealistic test conditions, any result-
ing noise is small and poses no danger.
Rather than compromise the sonic performance of the preamplifier in an effort to
eliminate even the remote possibility of this noise being detected, the setup pro-
cedure outlined above for programming input names was designed to make it
virtually impossible to create a condition under which any such noise can be
heard. We recommend using the input name NOT USED for all unused inputs.
p rog ra mming inp ut offse ts The Nº380 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 inp ut
offse ts are made relative to whichever source tends to be the loudest—that is,
you raise the outputs of the remaining sources to match that of your loudest
source. This is achieved as follows:
1
DECIDE WHICH SOURCE HAS THE HIGHEST OUTPUT
You should listen to several examples of each source before you decide
(e.g., to several different CDs when evaluating your CD player’s output, or to
several radio stations when evaluating your tuner’s output). The point is to
ascertain whether any source consistently plays more loudly than others,
and to bring the others up to its level. (For example, other things being
equal, balanced outputs of components are usually approximately 6 dB
stronger than the single-ended outputs.)
2
3
LISTEN TO THIS SOURCE LONG ENOUGH TO ESTABLISH ITS VOLUME
Use a particular output level setting to which you can easily return, such as
60.0 in the display. Develop a sense of the perceived volume at this setting,
which you will want to match with your other inputs. Optionally, you may
desire to measure its actual output at your chosen volume setting with a
sound pressure level (SPL) meter set to “Slow” or “Average” response.
SELECT THE FIRST OF THE SOURCES WHOSE OUTPUT YOU WILL RAISE
While music is playing from both your reference, “loudest” source and the
source you are about to adjust, select the latter so as to give you a sense of
the magnitude of the adjustment you are about to make.
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4
PRESS AND HOLD THE MODE BUTTON ON THE FRONT PANEL
After a few seconds the display will change to show SET DATA, as below.
Release the m od e button.
5
RAISE THE VOLUME TO MATCH YOUR REFERENCE
Using the volume knob, raise the volume of your “quieter” source until it
subjectively matches the volume level of your “loudest” source. The display
will show the name of the input you are adjusting and the degree of addi-
tional output you are assigning to it, measured in decibels (0.0 to 20.0 dB in
tenths of a decibel).
Note that “CD 1” in the example given above represents the currently cho-
sen 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 inp ut offse t has been stored in nonvolatile
memory. As a result, this new setting will survive power outages and other
interruptions in AC power to the preamp. You may wish to repeat this pro-
cess in order to refine your settings.
p rogra mming a n a utoma tic The Nº380 also features the ability to remember a “preferred” output level setting,
outp ut (volume ) leve l to which it will return whenever you select a particular input. This capability is a
great convenience when used with tuners, for example, since their output level is
often more consistent than other sources, and since tuners may be used primarily
for background (rather than critical) listening. This adjustment may be made for
each input independently of any other input.
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In order to take advantage of this a utoma tic outp ut leve l setting, follow the steps
below:
1
2
SELECT THE INPUT WHOSE LEVEL YOU WOULD LIKE TO “AUTOMATE”
ADJUST THE VOLUME TO YOUR PREFERRED LEVEL
This will be the preferred, programmed level.
3
PRESS AND HOLD THE MODE BUTTON ON THE FRONT PANEL
Hold the mode button until the display reads “SET DATA,” as below:
4
TURN THE VOLUME KNOB COUNTERCLOCKWISE FROM 0.0 UNTIL THE
DISPLAY READS “AUTO”
The display will initially look like the illustration below:
When the volume knob is rotated counterclockwise, the display will change
to resemble the illustration shown below:
In effect, you are setting the inp ut offse t of this input to remember an abso-
lute volume setting (whatever it was before you held the mod e button
down) rather than a relative setting (that is, relative to the current playback
volume).
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5
PRESS AND HOLD THE MODE BUTTON AGAIN…
until the display reads NEW DATA.
This indicates that your new a utoma tic outp ut leve l has been stored in
nonvolatile memory. Your Nº380 will now automatically return to this vol-
ume setting whenever this input is selected. To reverse this situation, simply
readjust the inp ut offse t as described above (in “programming input off-
sets”).
Note :
It is ne c e ssa ry for the Nº380 to ha ve a n Inp ut Offse t of 0.0 in
ord e r to a c c e ss the AUTO se tting. As a re sult, it will b e
ne c e ssa ry to sa ve a 0.0 Inp ut Offse t b e fore se le c ting AUTO if a
highe r offse t wa s p reviously sa ve d.
p rog ra mm ing the The Nº380 provides a user-defined mute function which quickly reduces the out-
m ute func tion put level by a predefined amount between 1 and 60 decibels. The factory default
setting is -20 dB.
If you regularly listen at relatively high sound pressure levels, you may wish to
increase the magnitude of the change brought about by engaging the mute but-
ton. For example, a -20 dB change from an average of 95 dB SPL would bring the
volume in the room down to 75 dB SPL. If used in response to the telephone
ringing, you would probably find 75 dB SPL of music in the background too loud
for a comfortable telephone conversation.
To alter the change introduced by the Mute function:
1
PRESS AND HOLD THE MUTE BUTTON
Wait until the display reads “MUTE” and a number (which will read “-20” as
delivered from the factory).
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2
3
ADJUST THE VOLUME KNOB TO YOUR PREFERRED SETTING
You may select any value between -1 and -60 decibels (inclusive), in one-
decibel increments.
PRESS AND HOLD THE MUTE BUTTON AGAIN
When the display reads NEW DATA, the Nº380 will have saved your new set-
ting in nonvolatile memory.
The mute button will toggle you back and forth between the “normal” playback
level and a level which is as many decibels below that level as you have elected
to use as your mute function.
However, if you adjust the volume with either the volume knob or the remote
control while in the mute mode, the preamplifier will adjust its volume from the
muted volume and disengage the mute function. This design guards against unex-
pected (and possibly unpleasant) large increases in volume when the m ute but-
ton is disengaged after raising the volume with the knob.
volume loc k The Nº380 also allows a “maximum volume setting” to be established. Using this
feature, it now becomes possible to “lock out” volume settings above a certain
point in the preamplifier’s range.
In systems that have highly sensitive loudspeakers, the available +18.9 dB of gain
may allow the system to be driven to dangerously loud levels. Alternatively, the
presence of children in the home may lead the owner of the system to desire
some restriction on how loudly it can be played.
In either case, setting the maximum volume is quite simple:
1.
TURN THE VOLUME TO THE DESIRED “MAXIMUM VOLUME”
2.
PRESS AND HOLD THE MONO BUTTON UNTIL THE DISPLAY READS LOCK
SET
The display will time out after a few seconds and revert to its normal display, ex-
cept that it will no longer allow you to exceed the chosen maximum volume.
(Exception: the SSP mode will still override this feature and pass the surround
processor’s front channels through at unity gain, regardless of the setting of the
Volume Lock.)
If and when you want to restore the volume control to its normal, full range op-
eration, simply press and hold the mono button again to toggle back into the nor-
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mal volume mode of operation. The display will read LOCK OFF to indicate the
return to normal operation.
sta nd by time r In a similar fashion, you may elect to have the preamplifier (and the entire sys-
tem, if Linked) go into sta nd by after a certain period of time, much like a “Sleep
Timer” on many alarm clocks. To engage the sta nd by time r on the Nº380:
1.
PRESS AND HOLD THE STANDBY BUTTON UNTIL THE DISPLAY READS TIME
OFF.
2.
TURN THE VOLUME KNOB TO SELECT A TIME BETWEEN 1 AND 120 MIN-
UTES.
An example might be: TIME 60 would turn off the system in an hour.
3.
THE DISPLAY WILL NOW TIME OUT AND RETURN TO NORMAL
The preamp (or entire Linked system) will go into sta nd by at the appointed time
one time only (so you don’t have to live with the product turning itself off every
60 minutes thereafter…).
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Ope ra tiona l Mode s
the monitor mod e The majority of time you spend with your Nº380 will be spent in the monitor
mode. In this mode, the display indicates the name of the input you have se-
lected and the listening volume (in decibels). The output control acts as a vol-
ume knob, increasing or decreasing the volume in 0.1 dB increments above 39.0
(with gradually increasing increments below this low level). The inp ut se le c tion
buttons select the source to be listened to at any point in time. In short, in the
monitor mode, the Nº380 acts precisely as you would expect a preamplifier to
act.
There are several refinements which may not be immediately apparent to the ca-
sual user, however. When turned quickly by hand, the effect of the outp ut c ontrol
will accelerate (i.e., yield a greater change per revolution of the knob) so as to
reach your preferred volume more quickly. Conversely, when the knob is turned
slowly, the volume changes at maximum resolution to facilitate fine adjustments
and precise level control (0.1 dB through most of the range).
However, if the volume knob is spun quickly (as though it were a flywheel), the
rate of change will decrease again. This design helps avoid accidental bumps of
the preamplifier’s Output Level knob sending potentially dangerous signal levels
to your loudspeakers.
Lastly, the corresponding buttons on the re mote c ontrol behave in a similar fash-
ion when in the monitor mode. If the volume +/ - buttons are held for more than
approximately 1.5 seconds, the Nº380 infers that you would like to change volume
more quickly and accelerates the volume change.
While in the monitor mode, the inp ut se le c tor buttons choose the source which
will be heard over the loudspeakers.
the re c ord se le c t mod e When you wish to send a signal out to be recorded, push the mod e button once
to enter the re c ord se le c t mode. In this mode, the display indicates “RECD” on
the left side and the name of the input currently being supplied to the Record
Outputs on the right. An example is given below:
To select a different input for recording, simply press the appropriate Input Selec-
tion button while in this mode. Note that the Nº380 will not allow a recording
device to serve as its own source while monitoring itself, as this would allow po-
tentially dangerous feedback to be reproduced by the loudspeakers. (See “pro-
gramming input names” for more details.)
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The re c ord outp uts may be disconnected (or “defeated”) by pressing the inp ut
se le c tor button of the currently selected (to-be-recorded) input a second time.
Doing so will toggle the re c ord outp uts on and off. The display will alternatively
read the name of the chosen input and RECD OFF as shown below.
Defeating the re c ord outp uts eliminates even the possibility that the input im-
pedance of a recording device could have an effect on the sound quality of the
preamplifier. We recommend that re c ord outp uts be turned OFF when not in use.
the b a la nc e mod e The b a la nc e mode gives you extremely fine control over the relative volumes of
the Left and Right channels, by changing the volume of one relative to the other
in increments of 0.1 dB, up to 20.0 dB. (Beyond this point, the b a la nc e control
will mute the output of the reduced channel entirely.) Once set, this inter-channel
difference in volume remains the same regardless of output level and selected
input, until it is changed again in the b a la nc e mode, or when AC power is inter-
rupted (in which case the balance is reset to 0.0).
To enter the b a la nc e mode from the monitor mode, press the mod e button
twice (once from the re c ord se le c t mode). When the balance is set to a neutral
position, favoring neither channel over the other, the display will show a double-
headed arrow and “0.0” decibels—that is, that the channels are balanced with re-
spect to one another.
Turning the knob (which serves as a balance control in b a la nc e mode) in either
direction will change the balance in that direction. The display will reflect this by
changing to the appropriate single-headed arrow to indicate the direction of
change and by showing the number of decibels by which that channel has been
increased (in tenths of a decibel), as below:
In this example, the right channel is 2.3 decibels louder than the Left.
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b a la nc e c ontrol tip Precise b a la nc e control is essential for obtaining accurate soundstaging. Output
imbalances due to asymmetrical placement of the loudspeakers in the room are
common, and degrade imaging accuracy.
To correct this problem, place the Nº380 in mono mode and center the resulting
image (which should be quite small) directly between the loudspeakers, using
the b a la nc e control. Differences as small as 0.1 or 0.2 decibels have been found
to be significant. Try it.
Note that this “mono trick” can correct only for differences that occur after the
preamplifier in the signal chain, things like asymmetrical placement of loud-
speakers or slight mismatches in sensitivity between speakers. If a particular re-
cording is out of balance, you will have to adjust the balance more subjectively, as
always.
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Using Surround Sound
Proce ssors
The Nº380 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 understand a bit about
the nature of a surround sound processor.
One obvious and fundamental difference between stereo listening and multi-
channel listening is the number of channels that must be controlled. When listen-
ing to two-channel stereo, one must have a two channel volume control so both
speakers increase or decrease in volume in concert with one another. Similarly,
when listening to six- or eight-channel surround sound recordings (whether mov-
ies or music), one must have a corresponding six- or eight-channel volume con-
trol.
This simple fact has made combining a high quality two-channel preamp with an
outboard surround sound processor extremely difficult over the years. In fact, un-
til the Mark Levinson Nº38 was introduced in 1993, it was virtually impossible to
combine the two and have the system work reliably well.
the SSP m ust not Dolby Pro Logic decoders incorporate a form of Dolby noise reduction similar to
c ome a fte r the p re a mp the Dolby B one finds in cassette decks. This form of noise reduction is level-
sensitive. That is, Dolby noise reduction intentionally treats strong signals differ-
ently than weak signals. In order to operate correctly, the signal strength of the
source must be “calibrated” to the expectations of the Dolby noise reduction cir-
cuitry. (It is for this reason that one finds “Record Calibration” features on better-
quality cassette decks.) It is therefore inappr opr ia te to feed a sur r ound
sound decoder with the va r ia ble output of a prea mplifier. Were you to do
so, every change of the volume control on the preamplifier would cause the
Dolby circuitry to mistrack. In extreme cases, severe distortion can result as the
Dolby circuitry overloads.
the SSP m ust not The next logical alternative might be to use the Pro-Logic decoder ahead of the
c ome b e fore the p re a mp preamplifier, sending its Left and Right outputs through the preamplifier as a se-
lectable Source. Sending the Right a nd Left Outputs fr om a sur r ound
sound decoder to a pa ir of inputs on a conventiona l prea mplifier is a lso
ina ppr opr ia te, since any change of the preamp’s volume control would then
throw the carefully calibrated output levels of the decoder out of adjustment,
changing the volume of the Left and Right speakers while leaving the Center and
Surround speakers unaffected.
One could attempt to restore the proper balance by marking a “calibrated” point
on the preamplifier’s volume control and then using only the Pro-Logic decoder
to adjust the volume of the system, but this method is both crude and imprecise,
yielding inconsistent performance at best.
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the SSP m ust not The last remaining alternative would seem to be to insert the decoder “within” a
b e in a ta p e loop preamplifier by hooking it up in a tape loop. Unfortunately, this setup returns the
Left and Right outputs of the decoder to the preamplifier, where they can be in-
appropriately changed without changing the Center and Surround outputs. It is
therefore ina ppr opr ia te to pla ce sur r ound sound decoders in a ta pe
loop.
It would seem that there is no way to properly integrate a surround sound pro-
cessor with a preamplifier for a high quality, dual-purpose system.
the SSP & the Nº380 The Nº380 solves this dilemma by virtue of a specially-designed surround sound
processor interface. When you select the ssp name for a particular input on the
Nº380, the output level and balance controls are defeated and the preamplifier
operates in a “unity gain” mode, passing through whatever signal enters that input
without changing its volume in any way. In fact, the display indicates that a line-
level signal is being “passed through” unchanged by showing “LINE” in the display.
Thanks to this design innovation, it is possible for the first time to cor rectly
integra te a sur r ound sound pr ocessor with a prea mplifier , sending the
processor’s Left and Right outputs through the Nº380 (and on to the power am-
plifier for the main front speakers). Since the output level of these channels can-
not be changed by the Nº380 while in “ssp” mode, the preamplifier cannot cor-
rupt the careful calibration of the processor’s output levels. And since the audio
portion of audio/video sources are fed directly to the processor’s audio input(s)
at a line level, input calibration cannot be disturbed by the preamplifier.
Note :
the Nº380 will not a llow a n inp ut with a n “ssp” na me to b e
se le c te d d uring initia liza tion, sinc e a llowing a line leve l signa l
to p a ss through una tte nua te d a t sta rt-up p re se nts a p ote ntia l
ha za rd to your loud sp e a ke rs.
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wiring d ia g ra m using a n SSP
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Ce nte r/ Sub Powe r Am p lifie r
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Surro und So und Pro c e sso r
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m
ute
Liste ning Ro o m
noise in a / v syste m s In some cases, connecting your audio and video systems together can result in
noise, typically a 50/60 Hz or 100/120 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 com-
pany. The simplest way of solving this problem is to break the cable company’s
ground by using an isolation transformer on the incoming cable line, before it
reaches your television or VCR. If you cannot find a 75Ω-75Ω balans (isolation)
transformer, you can easily construct one from the adaptors which probably came
with your VCR and television, as shown below.
Ground Isolation Adaptor
75Ω 300Ω
300Ω 75Ω
place in-line with your cable feed, prior to the system connection
The assembly shown above may cause some loss of video signal strength and/or
bandwidth, and should be used as a temporary fix. It is useful in determining the
cause of some video-related noise problems, however, and costs only a few dol-
lars. If it seems to correct a problem, consult with your dealer regarding a long-
term solution which does not degrade video performance.
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Linke d Functions
The Nº380 has the ability to “link” several of its functions to certain compatible
Mark Levinson components (such as the Nº30.5 or Nº36S digital processors and
the Nº31.5 and Nº37 CD transport).
Note :
To ta ke a d va nta ge of linke d func tions, you m ust c onne c t the
Nº380 to the othe r, c omp a tib le Ma rk Levinson c omp one nts
via the ir c ommunic a tion p orts. (Se e “Re a r Pa ne l” a nd “Se tup
a nd Insta lla tion.”)
There are four linked functions in the Nº380:
d isp la y inte nsity Adjusting the d isp la y inte nsity on any Linked component will adjust the displays
in the other Linked components as well, keeping them all at a consistent bright-
ness level.
sta nd by link Placing the Nº380 into sta nd by will also place the compatible Mark Levinson
digital processor and transport into sta nd by, except during a digital recording
session (see re c ord link section, below). Placing either digital component into
sta nd by will have no effect on the Nº380, since you might well wish to continue
listening to a different source component such as a tuner.
Taking a Linked Mark Levinson source component out of Standby will also cause
the Nº380 to come out of Standby (and select the appropriate input—see p la y
link, below).
p la y link Placing your Mark Levinson transport in p la y will activate both the corresponding
Mark Levinson digital processor and the Nº380 if either or both is in standby. In
addition, the appropriate inputs will be selected on the digital processor and on
the Nº380 (specifically, the input which has an name of a Mark Levinson source
component such as Nº30, No36 or No39).
Similarly, activating a Linked Mark Levinson digital processor will select the appro-
priate input on the Nº380 (should you be using the processor with an unlinked
DAT machine, for example).
re c ord link Placing the Nº380 into sta nd by while your Mark Levinson digital audio processor
is in re c ord mode and a Mark Levinson transport is in Record Link mode will
cause a warning to be displayed on the digital component. Both digital compo-
nents will be prevented from going into sta nd by without explicit confirmation at
those components that this is what you desire. In this way, inadvertent interrup-
tion of a digital recording in process can be avoided.
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Ca re a nd Ma inte na nce
To remove dust from the cabinet of the Nº380, 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 Nº380, going
with the grain of the brushed aluminum.
Wa rning !
At no time should liquid c le a ne rs b e a p p lie d d ire c tly to the
Nº380, a s d ire c t a p p lic a tion of liquid s ma y re sult in d a ma ge
to e le c tronic c omp one nts within the unit.
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U.S. a nd Ca na dia n Wa rra nty
90-d a y limite d wa rra nty 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 war-
ranty registration card along with a copy of the original receipt of purchase to
Madrigal Audio Laboratories, Inc., P. O. Box 781, Middletown, CT 06457.
five ye a r exte nd e d wa rra nty The extended warranty for this Mark Levinson product is five (5) years from the
date of purchase. During the warranty period, any Mark Levinson component ex-
hibiting defects in materials and/or workmanship will be repaired or replaced, at
our option, without charge for either parts or labor, at our factory. The warranty
will not apply to any Mark Levinson component that has been misused, abused
or altered.
Any Mark Levinson component not performing satisfactorily may be returned to
the factory for evaluation. Return authorization must first be obtained by either
calling or writing the factory prior to shipping the component. The factory will
pay for return shipping charges only in the event that the component is found to
be defective as above mentioned. There are other stipulations that may apply to
shipping charges.
There is no other express warranty on this component. Neither this warranty nor
any other warranty, express or implied, including any implied warranties of mer-
chantability or fitness, shall extend beyond the warranty period. No responsibility
is assumed for any incidental or consequential damages. Some states do not al-
low limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts and other states do not
allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so that
the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights
which vary from state to state. This warranty is applicable in the United States and
Canada only. Outside of the U.S. and Canada, please contact your local, autho-
rized Mark Levinson distributor for warranty and service information.
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Obta ining Se rvice
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
whether to contact Madrigal for further service information or parts, or to obtain
a Return Authorization. The Madrigal Technical Services Department works
closely with your dealer to solve your service needs expediently.
Imp orta nt!
Re turn a uthoriza tion must b e ob ta ine d from Ma d riga l’s
Te c hnic a l Se rvic e s De p a rtme nt BEFORE a unit is ship p e d for
se rvic e.
It is extremely important that information about a problem be explicit and com-
plete. A specific, comprehensive description of the problem helps your dealer and
the Madrigal Technical Services Department locate and repair the difficulty as
quickly as possible.
A copy of the original bill of sale will serve to verify warranty status. Please in-
clude it with the unit when it is brought in for warranty service.
Wa rning !
All re turne d units must b e p rop e rly p a c ka ge d (p re fe ra b ly in
the ir origina l p a c king ma te ria l), a nd the p rop e r re turn
a uthoriza tion numb e rs must b e m a rke d on the oute r c a rton
for id e ntific a tion. If the p a c ka ging to p rote c t the unit is, in our
op inion or tha t of our d e a le r, ina d e qua te to p rote c t the unit,
we re se rve the right to re p a c ka ge it for re turn ship me nt a t the
owne r’s exp e nse. Ne ithe r Ma d riga l nor your d e a le r c a n b e
re sp onsib le for ship p ing d a ma ge d ue to imp rop e r (tha t is,
non-origina l) p a c ka ging.
Your dealer can order a new set of shipping materials for you if you need to ship
your component and no longer have the original materials. There will be a
charge for this service. We strongly recommend saving all packing materials in
case you need to ship your unit some day.
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Spe c ific a tions
The correlation between published specifications and sonic quality is unreliable. A
list of numbers reveals virtually nothing. All technical measurements must be sub-
ject to qualitative as well as quantitative interpretation.
Measurements of the Nº380 yield excellent results by any standards. However,
only those specifications that apply to its actual operation are included here.
■ Power con sum ption :
■ Main s voltage:
■ Overall dim en sion s:
■ Sh ippin g weigh t:
■ In puts:
40W maximum
100V, 120V, 200V, 220V, or 240VAC @ 50/60Hz
See “Dimensions”
35 lbs. (16 kg)
2 stereo balanced (Swiss XLR female)
4 stereo single-ended (Madrigal RCA female)
1 Mark Levinson Link communications connector
1
1 ⁄8" mini-jack for external IR repeater
■ Outputs:
2 stereo record outputs (Madrigal RCA female)
1 stereo balanced main out (Swiss XLR male)
1 stereo single-ended main out (Madrigal RCA female)
1 Mark Levinson Link communications connector
■ Gain :
■ Gain ran ge:
■ Gain resolution :
-72.1 dB to +18.9 dB
0.1 dB steps above 38.8 in display (-34 dB),
gradually increasing step size at lower levels
greater than 16V (0 dB output)
■ In put overload:
■ In put im pedan ce:
■ Output im pedan ce:
■ Maxim um output (MAIN outputs):
100kΩ shunted by 220pF
less than 6Ω
16V rms, balanced
For more information, see your Mark Levinson dealer, or contact:
Madrigal Audio Laboratories, In c.
P. O. Box 781
2081 South Main Street
Middletown, Connecticut 06457 USA
Phone (860) 346-0896
FAX
(860) 346-1540
WWW http://www.madrigal.com
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Dime nsions
13.38"
34 c m
0.425"
1.1 c m
7.68"
19.5 c m
2.85"
7.24 c m
0.10"
2.00"
5.1 c m
4.45"
11.3 c m
7.34"
18.6 c m
2.00"
5.1 c m
15.55"
39.5 c m
11.55"
29.3 c m
1.19"
3 c m
6.5"
16.5 c m
0.875"
2.2 c m
15.75"
40 c m
7.34"
18.6 c m
2.00"
5.1 c m
0.10"
2.5 m m
0.925"
2.3 c m
13.38"
34 c m
0.08"
2 m m
2.96"
7.5 c m
2.00"
5.1 c m
3.125"
7.9 c m
3.76"
9.5 c m
(AC inp ut)
0.08"
2 m m
2.25"
5.7 c m
2.25"
5.7 c m
0.5"
1.3 c m
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Ma d rig a l Aud io La b o ra to rie s, Inc .
2081 So uth Ma in Stre e t, P.O. Bo x 781
Mid d le to wn, Co nne c tic ut 06457 USA
Te le p ho ne : (860) 346-0896
Fa x: (860) 346-1540
R
MADRIGAL AUDIO LABORATORIES
is a re g iste re d tra d e m a rk o f Ma d rig a l Aud io La b o ra to rie s, Inc .
a Ha rm a n Inte rna tio na l c o m p a ny
630264-2
© 6/ 1998 Ma d rig a l Aud io La b o ra to rie s, Inc . All rig hts re se rve d .
Printe d in U.S.A.
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