Madrigal Imaging Dual Monaural Power Amplifier User's Manual
Contents
1. Balanced bridging cable From preamplifier balanced main output 1 For balanced bridged operation you ll need a special three ended cable You may fabricate such a cable according to Figure 10 it s also available through your Mark Levinson dealer as part of a balanced bridging kit Note If fabricating the cable be sure to use high quality audio interconnect cable such as Madrigal HPC Connect the bridging cable s female XLR type connector to the appropriate channel of your preamplifier s balanced main output Figure 10 Balanced bridging cable Figure 11 Connections for single ended bridged operation 10 XLR female line mount rear view Signal ground 5 shield v 2 Left channel XLR male 4 7 line mount Right channel XLR male line mount rear view rear view Signal ground shield 2 3 mox oco NS N d Twisted pair I9 2 Connect the bridging cable s male XLR type connectors to the N229 s left and right channel XLR type input connectors taking care to insert the correct cable end into its designated channel 3 Connect the left channel positive or red output post of the N 29 to the positive or red input terminal of the appropriate loudspeaker Connect the right channel positive or red output post of the N 29 to the negative or black input terminal of the same loudspeaker 4 Repeat this procedure for the other N 29 to be bridged If your prea2. Connecting the speakers 3 Strip 1 2 of insulation from the speaker cable 4 Gently slide the 5 8 bare end of the 14 gauge wire into the center of the bare speaker cable be careful not to spread the individual wires of the speaker cable 1 2 12 7mm o Speaker cable Solder 5 Solder this connection A high wattage soldering gun may be necessary to provide adequate heat 6 Lightly tin the remaining 1 2 bare end of the 14 gauge wire 7 Gently slide a 1 length of shrink tubing over the connection and heat to shrink Color coded shrink tubing is available for polarity identification 5 8 15 8mm shrink tubing 8 Follow this procedure for the remaining speaker connections Depending upon the type of speaker terminal this procedure may also be used for the speaker end of the cable When the speaker cables are complete connect the left channel positive or red output post of the N 29 to the positive or red input terminal of the appropriate loudspeaker Connect the left channel negative or black output post of the N 29 to the negative or black input terminal of the appropriate loudspeaker Repeat this procedure for the right channel Note The N 29 provides two sets of output posts to accomodate the increasing number of loudspeakers that call for bi wiring For specific instructions on bi wiring refer to your loudspeaker owner s manual or see your Mark Levinson dealer Fo
3. MADRIGAL MADRIGAL AUDIO LABORATORIES 2081 South Main Street P O Box 781 Middletown Connecticut 06457 USA Telephone 203 346 0896 Fax 203 346 1540 ec eVinson is a registered trademark of Madrigal Audio Laboratories Inc 630042 1 1993 Madrigal Audio Laboratories Inc All rights reserved Printed in U S A
4. the N229 The pin assignments of these connectors are o SD Connect the XLR type male line mount connector to the preamplifier main output cable so that signal hot connects to Pin 3 and signal ground connects to Pin 1 Be sure to also connect Pin 2 to Pin 1 inside the XLR type male line mount connector with a piece of copper buss wire Cor similar material at the amplifier end of the cable Pin 1 Signal ground Pin 2 Signal non inverting Pin 3 Signal inverting G Connector ground lug chassis ground Note If you prefer not to connect Pin 2 to Pin 1 inside the XLR type male line mount connector pre shorted RCA type input connectors are available from your Mark Levinson dealer Insert one of these connectors into each of the RCA type inputs non inverting on the rear panel of the N 29 After completing the cables connect the main outputs of the preamplifier to the left and right channel XLR type inputs on the rear panel of the N 29 Be sure to remove the shorting strap between Pins 1 and 3 before inserting the output cable connectors RE fe a L Right Left Loudspeaker channel channel From preamplifier main output N 29 Right Loudspeaker Balanced normal non inverting operation Figure 5 Connections for balanced normal non inverting operation If your preamplifier is equipped with a balanced main output it s best to wire the N 29 for balanced operation pa
5. 17 8kg Connector complement Two RCA type connectors Two XLR type connectors Eight five way binding posts One IEC mains connector For more information see your Mark Levinson dealer or contact Madrigal Audio Laboratories Inc 2081 South Main Street Route 17 P O Box 781 Middletown Connecticut 06457 USA Telephone 203 346 0896 FAX 203 346 1540 If purchased in North America this Mark Levinson product s warranty is owner transferable Warranty conditions are valid only in the country where the product was originally purchased For warranty information and conditions on products purchased outside of North America contact your local dealer or regional distributor Figure 13A Dimensions A N 29 top view Figure 13B Dimensions N 29 side view Dimensions Vi 3 2 A A 1 3 44 5 e 1 7 16 TYP 17 1 2 4 29 64 36 5 17 1 4 444 5 113 1 438 2 1 TYP 25 4 1 9 16 1 3 32 39 7 godi 27 5 Y Y i 4 1 8 la 2 104 8 3 8 9 5 14 3 16 gle 29 32 i 360 4 23 0 21 32 16 7 A A X 1 716 RZ 3 45 64 94 1 5 7 8 5 1 4 6 11 16 174 8 133 4 1 5 8 169 9 41 3 j i y A A VJ 5 8 2 21 64 13 16 7 64 20 7 2 8 15 9 59 1 14
6. 9 use a feather duster To remove dirt and fingerprints use isopropyl alcohol applied to a soft cloth Poor connections cause sonic degradation We recommend therefore that you clean all speaker connection with denatured alcohol at least once a year Consult your Mark Levinson dealer for other ways to optimize connections The N 29 s fuses are located on the rear panel Replace the fuses with the same type only ALWAYS remove the AC cord before removing the fuses Specifications The correlation between published specifications and sonic quality is unreliable A list of numbers reveals virtually nothing All technical measurements must be subject to qualitative as well as quantitative interpretation Measurements of the N 29 yield excellent results by any standards However only those specifications that apply to the actual operation of the amplifier are included here E Rated power 50W minimum continuous sine wave power into 80 with both channels driven from 20Hz to 20KHz with no more than 0 1 THD FTC 100W minimum continuous sine wave power into 40 with both channels driven from 20Hz to 20KHz with no more than 0 296 THD FTC Peak output voltage 30 volts rated line voltage 80 Frequency response 3dB 4Hz 122KHz Input impedance 50KQ shunted by 1 5nF Voltage gain 2 dB Power consumption Typically 100W idle 200W rated power 80 Overall dimensions See Dimensions Shipping weight 39 25 Ibs
7. After the amplifier is turned on after being left unpowered allow for about one hour of warmup before expecting optimal sonic performance Under certain conditions an electrical malfunction or inadequate ventilation the N 29 s protection circuitry may activate turning off the amplifier before damage results When this happens the power switch on the front panel will be set automatically to the O off position After a brief cooling period you can reactivate the amplifier by setting the power switch to the I on position If this occurs regularly during normal use see your Mark Levinson dealer immediately Note While the protection circuitry is active the power switch won t stay in the I on position If after the amplifier has cooled the power switch still won t engage the protection circuitry still detects a malfunction see your Mark Levinson dealer immediately Balanced bridged operation Figure 9 Connections for balanced bridged operation Bridged operation When greater power output is desired the N 29 may be bridged for monophonic operation into load impedances of at least 20 Note Make sure the loudspeaker is rated to handle high power levels For example a bridged N 29 driving an 80 loudspeaker is capable of delivering 200W RMS For the best bridged performance we recommend balanced interconnection If your preamplifier provides balanced output follow the steps below Loudspeaker
8. Operating Manual Mark Levinson N 29 Dual Monaural Power Amplifier Madrigal Audio Laboratories Inc WARNING TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE CAUTION RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN CAUTION TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRICAL SHOCK DO NOT REMOVE COVER NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated dangerous voltage within the product s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance servicing instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance Important safety instrucfions Please read all instructions and precautions carefully and completely before operating your N 29 Dual Monaural 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 is equipped with a three conductor AC mains power cord which includes an earth ground connection To prevent shock hazard all three connections must ALWAYS be used If your electrical outlets will not accept this type of plug an adapter m
9. ay be purchased If an adapter is necessary be sure it is an approved type and is used properly supplying an earth ground If you are not sure of the integrity of your home electrical system contact a licensed electrician for assistance 3 AC extension cords are not recommended for use with this product If an extension cord must be used be sure it is an approved type and has sufficient current carrying capacity to power this product 4 NEVER use flammable or combustible chemicals for cleaning audio components 5 NEVER operate this product with any covers removed 6 NEVER wet the inside of this product with any liquid 7 NEVER pour cr spill liquids directly onto this unit 8 NEVER block air flow through ventilation slots or heatsinks 9 NEVER bypass any fuse 10 NEVER replace any fuse with a value or type other than those specified 11 NEVER attempt to repair this product If a problem occurs contact your Mark Levinson dealer 12 NEVER expose this product to extremely high or low temperatures 13 NEVER operate this product in an explosive atmosphere 14 ALWAYS keep electrical equipment out of the reach of children Thank you for choosing the Mark Levinson N 29 Dual Monaural Power Amplifier 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 Table of contents Unpacking and placement eeeeeeseesces
10. ealer immediately To keep speaker cables as short as possible place the N 29 as close to the loudspeakers as practical Place the N 29 at least three feet from the turntable and preamplifier Otherwise the N 29 may induce hum into these sensitive components The N 29 may be placed in a cabinet or on a shelf but adequate ventilation must be provided to prevent overheating The clearance provided by the unit s feet must be maintained to ensure unrestricted air flow across the bottom of the chassis Placing the N 29 on carpeting for example may prevent adequate air circulation Clearance above the unit must also be maintained to allow air circulation and to prevent heat buildup The N 29 incorporates thermal sensors located near each group of output devices If the internal heatsink temperature becomes excessive these sensors will shut off the amplifier before damage results After a brief cooling period the amplifier can be reactivated via the front panel switch If this occurs regularly during normal use it s an indication that the ventilation provided for the amplifier is inadequate If there s adequate ventilation and the problem continues see your Mark Levinson dealer immediately For those involved in custom installations and cabinetry this information may be useful m All temperature measurements are made at the bottom of the internal heatsink 2 inches above the chassis floor E Normal heatsink temperature at idle aft
11. eeeeeeeene enne UNGAN G RM TE 1 PIACSTMA NT cer w A A vcre err oe E aa Det EKG e pe rr AE Aa 1 V nillenije g E EA E E TI 1 C storminstallgtiOris sss oos cte cct ie t n P ee Y ete i Ra e 1 Voltage selection noce rire reiner ne A Vogue Ks ead 2 Figure 1 Rear panel label sss 2 Signal connectliornis iret ricette er as asi nana ska basa Deren tended reae Ea 3 Ge eoM EE 3 olo DT 3 Connection methods and operating modes secese 3 Single ended normal non inverting operation LL 3 Figure 2 Connections for single ended normal non inverting ODEIATIOFI E 3 Figure 3 Female input connector seessss en 4 Single ended inverting operation LL aaa 4 Figure 4 Connections for single ended inverting operation 4 Balanced normal non inverting operation 5 Figure 5 Connections for balanced normal non inverting ODOM OM ia wh siais ia ri i ka O Ke i da i eaten dies 5 Speaker conneclioris edi c sext aaa vika sana aaa 6 opedker cables er RD ERR PE PE DRE ATE EE bb IKE 6 LUg CONRNECNONM eC T 6 Figure 6 Spade and hook lugs sse 6 PIGTAM COMMSCSTION ics ceo sitire Ert ien tia ni iE De r HUE E Lb Rn 6 Figure 7A Pigtail connection 6 Figure 7B Pigtail connection esa aaa 7 Figure 7C Pigtail connection wassat 7 Connecting the speakers ssssseee eee 7 Power conneclion 2 cederent erret ndm Ca
12. er warmup with unrestricted airflow at 22 C 72 F ambient temperature 35 C 95 F E Maximum permissible heatsink temperature before thermal protection is activated 80 C 176 F Drawings are included in this manual to facilitate special installations and custom cabinetry see Dimensions For your protection review Important safety instructions before you install your N 29 Figure 1 Rear panel label PRECAUTION Voltage selection The N229 is factory set internally for 100V 120V 200V 220V or 240V AC mains operation Check that the label on the rear panel of the amplifier indicates the correct AC operating voltage for your location Voltage ko oO indication bg Pr nezo OUTPUT BVINSON DUAL MONAURAL AMPLIFIER O00 BALANCED BALANCED OPERATING VOLTAGE wu s NPT O s BOR 90 110 VAC INPUT INPUT 105 125 VAC WARNING RIGHT CHANNEL LEFT CHANNEL 180 220 VAC HAZARDOUS VOLTAGES AVAILABLE INSIDE DISCONNECT AC MAINS CABLE BEFORE REMOVING ANY 210 240 VAC COVERS HIGH ENERGY AVAILABLE AT LOAD TERMINALS REFER TO OWNER S MANUAL FOR PROPER TERMINATION INSTRUCTIONS DISCONNECT AMPLIFIER FROM AC MAINS BEFORE REPLACING FUSES 230 250 VAC MAINS FUSES PLEASE CONSULT OWNER S MANUAL SERIAL NO Em 747 400 HZ DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED IN U S A BY MADRIGAL AUDIO LABORATORIES INC If the voltage indicated is incorrect see your Mark Levinson dealer If you wish
13. g single ended inverting and balanced normal non inverting operation If you have questions about these or other methods of signal connection see your Mark Levinson dealer Before making any signal or speaker connections make sure that the N 29 is disconnected from your preamplifier and from Ihe AC mains Typical audio systems require that the amplifier be of the non inverting type This means that the output signal of the amplifier will be in phase with the input signal For this type of operation connect the main outputs of the preamplifier to the appropriate left and right channel RCA type inputs non inverting on the rear panel of the N 29 Be sure that the shorting strap is inserted into the XLR type connectors between Pins 1 and 3 n ON Shorting strap Right Left Loudspeaker Right Left Loudspeaker channel channel From preamplifier main output Single ended inverting operation Figure 3 Female input connector Figure 4 Connections for single ended inverting operation Inverting operation should be used if a phase reversal is required In this mode of operation the output signal of the amplifier will be 180 out of phase with the input signal This may be required if one component in the system inverts the signal and absolute phase at the loudspeaker is desired For inverting operation the main output cables of the preamplifier must be connected to the XLR type inputs on the rear panel of
14. mplifier provides only single ended output follow the steps below Bridging cable Left is channel s Loudspeaker From preamplifier main output 1 Connect the appropriate channel of your preamplifier s single ended main output to the left channel RCA type input on the rear panel of the N 29 Figure 12 Single ended bridging cable 2 Connect the bridging cable between the left and right channel XLR type input connectors taking care to insert the correct cable end into its designated channel You may fabricate such a cable according to Figure 12 it s also available through your Mark Levinson dealer as part of a single ended bridging kit Note If fabricating the bridging cable be sure to use high quality audio interconnect cable such as Madrigal HPC 22 guage buss wire Signal ground shield Left channel f 42 UN _XLR male 6 line moun 3 2 Right channel rear view JD XLR male 3 line mount rear view Signal hot center conductor mawia Connect the left channel positive or red output post of the N 29 to the positive or red input terminal of the appropriate loudspeaker Connect the right channel positive or red output post of the N 29 to the negative or black input terminal of the same loudspeaker 4 Repeat this procedure for the other N 29 to be bridged 11 12 Cleaning Fuses PRECAUTION Care and maintenance To remove dust from the cabinet of the N 2
15. n ssa in 8 Connecting the AC power Cord esse eene 8 Figure 8 AC power cord polarity aa 8 Performance Tips s s a ete reete eth hens einen a M eet we M eR GETA 8 ProteciiOn GIFEUNMTY d m EM 8 Bridged operation nente dre rena de tni 9 Balanced bridged Operation wa a eee nae i 9 Figure 9 Connections for balanced bridged operation 9 Figure 10 Balanced bridging cable sse IO single ended bridged operation sss eene 10 Figure 11 Connections for single ended bridged operation IO Figure 12 Single ended bridging cable ess 17 Care and maintenance zaszla aoi saaa ie ia ias 12 S ola aiol I S 12 BUM IT EE 12 Specificaliors reise t ccce acre e en rne cuta brane Ka Ner aei 13 Dimensions 1 ine aaa i n vd i a cs eau d RE cec ben woda igala 14 Figure 13A Dimensions N 29 top VIEW aaa 14 Figure 13B Dimensions N 29 side view 14 Unpacking PRECAUTION Placement Ventilation Custom installations PRECAUTION Unpacking and placement Unpack your N 29 amplifier and keep all packing materials for future transport To avoid damaging the connectors on input cables attached to the rear panel NEVER rest the N 29 on the rear panel and NEVER tip it back in a way that would put stress on these connectors Carefully inspect your N 29 for damage and flaws If you find any see your Mark Levinson d
16. r the best sonic peformance we recommend against using the two sets of output posts to connect two sets of full range loudspeakers Doing so however won t damage the N 29 as long as the total load impedance is at least 20 Connecting the AC power cord Figure 8 AC power cord polarity Performance tips Protection circuitry Power connection After making your loudspeaker connections apply power to your preamplifier and allow it to stabilize Mark Levinson preamplifiers for example require about one minute to stabilize Connect the AC power cord included in the accessory pack to the AC connector on the rear panel of the N 29 then to the AC mains outlet To N 29 To AC mains 1 Line hot 2 Neutral 3 Earth ground Turn on the N 29 by setting the power switch on the front panel to the I on position Note You may hear a transient click or pop through your speakers a few seconds after you operate the N 29 s power switch This noise is normal and won t damage your speakers The N 29 won t achieve its sonic potential right away its sonic performance is close to the optimum after about 100 hours of use For the best performance you may leave your N 29 powered at all times except when you won t be using it for a long period see Important Safety Instructions The N 29 is designed to be power cycled that is turned on and off without affecting its longevity
17. rminals The N 29 is equipped with gold plated high current five way binding posts for output termination to a loudspeaker system To take full advantage of the sonic quality of the N 29 we recommend using high quality speaker cable See your Mark Levinson dealer for recommendations There are two recommended methods for connecting speaker cables to the N 29 A high quality spade or hook type lug soldered to the cable is best Ge C k p Spade lug Hook lug We confidently recommend Madrigal binding post lugs made of oxygen free copper with gold over silver plating These lugs are available for round cable see your Mark Levinson dealer for more information Many lug connectors are designed to be crimped onto the cable However soldering will ensure a better electrical connection Note If you have no experience in soldering see your Mark Levinson dealer for assistance The pigtail is another method of connection which uses a short piece of 14 gauge wire soldered to the speaker cable The other end of this 14 gauge wire is inserted through the hole in the five way binding posts on the rear panel of the N 29 1 Begin with 3 of 14 gauge copper wire 2 Strip 5 8 of insulation from one end and strip 1 2 of insulation from the opposite end 5 8 1 2 15 8mm 12 7mm gt gt 14 gauge wire 3 lt lt 76 2MM Figure 7B Pigtail connection Figure 7C Pigtail connection
18. rticularly if long cable lengths are required between the preamplifier and the N 29 See Figure 3 for the pin assignments of the N 29 s XLR type inputs Connect the XLR type male line mount connector to the preamplifier carefully observing pin assignments Refer to your preamplifier s operating manual to verify that the pin assignments of its output correspond to the diagram above If they don t wire the connector so that the appropriate output pin connects to the equivalent input pin When complete connect the main outputs of the preamplifier to the left and right channel XLR type inputs on the rear panel of the N 29 Be sure to remove the shorting strap between Pins 1 and 3 before inserting the output cable connectors Note For proper balanced operation no connector pre shorted or otherwise should be inserted into the RCA type inputs on the rear panel of the N 29 SEE T 60 60 s s Right Left Loudspeaker Right Left Loudspeaker channel channel From preamplifier balanced main output PRECAUTION PRECAUTION PRECAUTION Speaker cables Lug connection Figure 6 Spade and hook lugs Pigtail connection Figure 7A Pigtail connection Speaker connections NEVER connect the N 29 s output terminals to any device other than a loudspeaker NEVER short circuit the amplifier output terminals NEVER connect the left channel output terminals to the right channel output te
19. to change the AC operating voltage of your N 29 see your Mark Levinson dealer A N 29 may be powered by a 15 ampere AC mains line If other devices are also powered from the same AC feed their additional power consumption must be considered The N 29 s fuses are located on the rear panel Replace the fuses with the same type only ALWAYS remove the AC cord before removing the fuses Connectors Cables Connection methods and operating modes PRECAUTION Single ended normal non inverting operation Figure 2 Connections for single ended normal non inverting operation Signal connections The N 29 incorporates RCA type and XLR type connectors for audio signal input The Madrigal designed RCA type connectors used for single ended audio interconnection are a great improvement over ordinary RCA type connectors The gold plated XLR type connectors employed are of European design and are made to professional application standards For connecting the N 29 to a preamplifier we recommend Madrigal Audio Laboratories HPC Interconnect Cable HPC is available in various lengths pre terminated with RCA XLR and Camac connectors For more information see your Mark Levinson dealer The N 29 can be operated in either single ended or balanced mode In each of these modes the N 29 can be operated either normally non inverting or inverting This manual describes the connections for single ended normal non invertin
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