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Madrigal Audio Audio/Video Preamplifier Owner`s manual

1. 2 en a e eee A aaa aaa aaa Modes of Operation sssssesssesssessesssesssesses anna aa ananasas aaa aaa aa NOFMal OPeration ST T the record Select MOE LL a ski ania senis asa se aaa salas sia Ka Ie ia the balance Mode Lik ri i a i aa eel a a a a EE a DaldFIEe EOREFOLTI D roes aa a E eea ohars MONO aiee T Phono aligiment eT POIA ina n ai ia is a as a ii sia FESEL CETAUIES i si is is a i r ini dahon den iial eS operating without a preamplifier aaa aaa aaa Using Surround Sound Processors sse ses sse ses sse sese ee sese ee esen ee ese ee es the SSP must not come after the preamp eee eee aaa the SSP must not come before the preamMp 2 c0eeeceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees the SSP must not be in a tape IOOP sse eee ee eee the SSP 6 the V a viii ean aniseed a aaa sa a aaa sa ieee Noise IN A V SYSTEMS a sin coven ni feeder aie a eee jai i ERNE TKT n He Linked Functions 0ccccccceeeeneeseeeeeeeeeeeeeseeeeeseeeeeeeeeseeneeneeneeeeees display TNtEMSILY A T STAG DY RINK oesie eMedia Raney seta ee N T ota eck ec naan elo VOIUME LINK T lal Lai Sivek asas saaa a a ia a aaa aa a Es EE Play INK TTT eel MINK T HIDE DM Tle TTT Care and Maintenance cssssssssssssesssesss es ssssssssessesssss ananasas eenn ss U S and Canadian Warranty sssssesessee ss sses es sses nana ess ana senses sees 90 day limited Warranty sees eee five year extended warranty eee eee Obtaining Service sssssse sees ss es ssss ss sess sese a nana eee SPECIFIC
2. To prevent shock hazard all three connections must ALWAYS be used AC extension cords are not recommended for use with this product NEVER use flammable or combustible chemicals for cleaning audio components NEVER operate this product with any covers removed NEVER wet the inside of this product with any liquid NEVER pour or spill liquids directly onto this unit NEVER block air flow through ventilation slots or heatsinks NEVER bypass any fuse NEVER replace any fuse with a value or type other than those specified NEVER attempt to repair this product If a problem occurs contact your Mark Levinson retailer NEVER expose this product to extremely high or low temperatures NEVER operate this product in an explosive atmosphere ALWAYS keep electrical equipment out of the reach of children ALWAYS unplug sensitive electronic equipment during lightning storms From all of us at Madrigal Audio Laboratories thank you for choosing the Mark Levinson N 32 Reference 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 Table of Contents Special Design Features of the N 32 Reference Preamplifier 7 controller preamplifier 7 Sel lt en 7 a NOTE ADOULNOMENCIAUN EG asi sai shad a aga bako I ai aa Vai 7 AG regener tor i sanis aaa as e a ia ai a Usa asai
3. Reference Controller sin RS 232 communications ports master slvein ampie a gout tigin oo 0 RIGHT CHANNEL LEFT CHANNEL 1 666664 66660086 P record outputs record outputs main outputs 668 MARK LEVINSON REFERENCE Rear Panel N 32 Preamplifier 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 DC Power Inputs one per channel These keyed multi pin connectors accept the supplied DC power cables which should be connected between the N 32 Controller and the N 32 Preamplifier There is one cable per channel 2 Balanced Inputs 1 3 Accepts right channel and left channel balanced signals from source equipment with balanced outputs The pin assignments of these XLR type female input connectors are Pin 1 Signal ground Pin 2 Signal non inverting Pin 3 Signal inverting 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 connec tors correspond to the N 32 If not wire the cables so that the ap propriate output pin connects to the equivale
4. ais 7 d a Mono desig sias indai ais a ausa i a Aaaa a a tet sea a 8 extraordinary isolation lt e 8 fully balanced bele la 8 discrete attenuator coco sis ces is ki iais sias o iusi ia sis ania saaa 8 Arlon 25N circuit boards sss esse eee 9 Multiple OUTPUTS iss ak asi aa Aa paai as a ia a a Ia a a e 9 extensive CUSTOMIZATION JLL ee aaa kaka aaa kaka aaa aaa aaa aaa 9 optional phono Modules sse eee ee eee 10 Unpacking and Placement sesesssesessee es sses es sses anna ananasai 11 LUN PACKIN E secs casd octsa ee ccce T 11 installing the batteries in the remote control L 11 placement aa ki ces asis tiered tg darian tape R i a a eect et oem Das 11 CONUINUOUS OPeration vis wateeeee clits ed Sede ae Golden si 11 VONTIATION eerop TT 12 Operating Voltage cccscsescereeeeeeeeenseneneeeeeeeeeenenseneneseeenennensnanes 13 Warm up amp break in period sss sese eee 13 A Quick Start wo cccceeceeeeeeeeeee ence eee aaa aaa aaa aaa aaa aa aaa a aaa aaa 14 Front Panel sssssssssssesssssssssssssssssss aa aaa aa nana aaa aaa aaa aaa eee 16 SIE CONT ION israiska a Nad a esa tha An Aaa 20 Rear Panel N 32 Controller sss sss ss ssssssssssssssss sese sse esans nenes es 21 BUNGING lt AHINK CADIC a aaa a aaa eines Mesias Eee a te 23 tip polarity for external IR HOU 2 2 ccccc cece cece eee c cette aaa 23 Rear Panel N 32 Preamplifier ccccccccecceeeeeeeeeceseeeeeeeeeeeeneeees 26 Remote Control cccsceeeeeeee anna nana aa
5. and left channel balanced main out puts of the N 32 to the appropriate balanced inputs of the power amplifier Single Ended Main Outputs Single ended unbalanced outputs using Madrigal designed RCA jacks are provided for compatibility with a wide range of as sociated components including power amplifiers and electronic crossovers If you use the single ended outputs connect them to the corre sponding inputs of your power amplifier Note that special fea tures of the N 32 enable it to be used optimally with a surround sound processor as one of its inputs We do not recommend hav ing a surround sound processor follow the N 32 in the signal path For more information see Using Surround Sound Proces sors Balanced XLR Record Output Connect these outputs to the right channel and left channel tape inputs of your balanced input recorder Make a note of which set of record outputs you used with which recording device It is im portant to name the inputs you use and to associate the correct record output with the appropriate recording device By giving the N 32 this information it can prevent accidental record loops that might otherwise create disturbing feedback See changing input names and setting record out on pages 36 39 These outputs are unaffected by the output level control on the front panel of the N 32 or by the source chosen to be monitored The record outputs will be disconnected when the pr
6. either the front panel or the re mote control to enter the setup mode accessing the N 32 s menu system navigate among different menu items using the select knob or the remote control s select buttons change the value of the selected menu item using either the volume knob or volume buttons on the remote move down a level within a menu or save the change by pressing enter on either the front panel or the remote control You can avoid saving an unwanted change by leaving the menu without pressing enter by pressing setup instead This four step process gives you extensive control over a wide variety of setup options and provides positive feedback that your changes have been accepted and saved for future use The complete N 32 Setup menu is shown below for your reference No32 Setup Set Inputs Set Input 1 Name INPUT 1 Gain 6 dB Offset 0 0 Rec Out NONE Set Input 2 repeats previous menu Set Input 3 repeats previous menu Set Input 4 repeats previous menu with 12 dB gain Set Input 5 repeats previous menu Set Input 6 repeats previous menu Set Input 7 repeats previous menu Set Input 8 repeats previous menu Set Phono 1 Name PH MC 1 Ph Gain 60 Gain 12 dB configuring line level inputs Offset 0 0 Bal lt 0 0 gt 20Hz HPF ON R Load 100 C Load 01luF Set Phono 2 Name PH MM 2 Ph Gain 40 Gain 12 dB Offset 0 0 Bal lt 0 0 gt 20Hz HPF ON R Load
7. enter to edit the item and make the change with the volume knob or use the volume buttons on the remote You can listen to the changes as they are being made making it easier to get the setting you want For more detailed information on how to navigate to this item see the point by point description under changing input names 40 setting record out configuring phono inputs Phono setup menu The N 32 gives you the ability to associate any of the three provided record outputs with any of the eight line level inputs This allows you to organize your sources in whatever order you deem most convenient while using the record outputs with whatever might need them By telling the N 32 which inputs are coming from sources that might be using particular record outputs the N 32 can help you avoid record loops feedback loops that would certainly be unpleasant and poten tially dangerous to your speakers or other components Thus if you want to set up one or more sources as recording devices navigate to the source in question press enter and then turn the select knob until the display reads Rec Out NONE Then turn the volume knob to change the setting from NONE to whichever record output you plan to use for the physical connection to teh recorder s input Press enter to save the change For more detailed information on how to navigate to this item see the point by point description under changing input names Note that
8. fact the display indicates that a line level signal is being passed through unchanged by showing LINE in the display where the volume would normally be displayed Thanks to this design innovation it is possible for the first time to cor rectly integrate a surround sound processor with a preamplifier send ing the processor s Left and Right outputs through the N 32 and on to the power amplifier for the main front speakers Since the output level of these channels cannot be changed by the N 32 while in SSP mode the preamplifier cannot corrupt 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 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 company 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 7560 7560 baluns isolation transformer you can easily construct one from the adaptors which probably came with your VCR and t
9. performance If AC mains power to the N 32 is interrupted the main output will be muted When power is restored the initialization sequence described above will restore the preamplifier to standby We recommend you allow the circuitry within your various sys tem components to stabilize for 1 to 2 minutes before use after such a power outage Earth ground connection In some countries there is no earth ground established when plugging into the AC mains If your AC mains does not establish an earth ground we recommend connecting this earth ground connection to a known earth ground Known earth grounds in clude water pipes that are known to run through the ground and 6 copper spikes that are driven into the ground for this reason If you have any doubts please ask your dealer for assistance N 32 Controller serial number label Please make a note of the serial number of your N 32 Controller as well as the different serial number of your N 32 Preamplifier see next section We suggest writing both into the front of this manual so you can find them easily should you need them with out having to pull the equipment off the shelf While you are at it fill out and send in your warranty card so we can stay in touch with you 26 right channel DC p main outputs s lease see bottom paki for additional informaifon aN control ports nasu compatible ac mains earth left channel DC O N 32
10. the appropriate input using the Select knob slowly raise the volume on the N 32 to a comfortable level Congratulations You should now be able to enjoy your favorite music while reading the rest of this manual record out display intensity _setuy enter balance mute Front Panel 1 Select Knob This knob is normally used to select among the various inputs of the N 32 with the resulting selections being shown in the display window immediately to the right of the select knob It is also used to select the input to be sent to the record outputs when the record out button is engaged The select knob is also used during setup to select among vari ous menu items available the volume knob being used to actually adjust those items For example if you are using only two or three inputs on your N 32 you may disable the unused ones so that the select knob selects only among connectors you are actually using For more information on customizing your preamplifier in this and other ways please see Customizing Your N 32 Polarity Indicator The polarity sometimes inaccurately called absolute phase of the output of the N 32 may be inverted via the N 32 remote con trol in which case the red LED under the word polarity within the display window will light as confirmation A second press of the polarity button on the remote control will restore the polarity of the output to its original non inverted state Al
11. the preamplifier We recommend that record outputs be turned OFF when not in use The balance 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 balance control will mute the output of the reduced channel entirely Once set this inter channel difference in volume re mains the same regardless of output level and selected input until it is changed again in the balance mode or when AC power is interrupted in which case the balance is reset to 0 0 or centered To enter the balance mode from normal operation press the balance button The balance indicator LED will light and the display will change 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 respect to one another Turning the volume knob which serves as a balance control in bal ance mode in either direction will change the balance in that direc tion 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 If balance is left in a non centered position the display will revert to its normal operation afte
12. the record outputs are muted when the N 32 is in standby Configuring your phono inputs is quite similar to configuring line level inputs with the exception that there are several more items that may be set including the Ph Gain of the phono preamplifier as distinct from the Gain of the line level preamplifier the phono loading and even a balance offset that is unique to each phono input to compensate for the small er rors common in phono cartridges The phono portion of the menu system is reproduced below to refresh your memory on the available menu items Set Phono 1 Name PH MC 1 Ph Gain 60 Gain 12 dB Offset 0 0 Bal lt 0 0 gt 20Hz HPF ON R Load 100 C Load 01luF Set Phono 2 Name PH MM 2 Ph Gain 40 Gain 12 dB Offset 0 0 Bal lt 0 0 gt 20Hz HPF ON R Load 47k C Load 100pF shows only if phono module is installed phono parameters As you can see much of it looks like any other input but several phono specific items are added that may be adjusted to optimize the phono preamp for your system As with the rest of the menu system you navigate to these items using the select knob and enter alter their setting with the volume knob and save the changes with enter For more detailed information on how to navigate to this item see the point by point description under changing input names Name for the phono inputs may be either PHONO or a custom name chosen one letter at a time and in
13. transport slave out transport gt slave in next transport as needed slave out last transport gt slave preamplifier amplifier preamplifier gt slave in power amplifier slave out power amplifier gt slave in power amp as needed The RJ 45 cable needed for the Link connection between source components and the preamplifier may be purchased from your Mark Levinson dealer It may also be 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 building a link cable Warning tip polarity for external IR input RJ 45 cables and connectors are used throughout the world for both telecommunications 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 connection is counter intuitively made by introducing a 180 twist in the cable between the two ends as shown below To Mark Levinson lt _ digital processor To N 332 gt Locking tab Locking tab 180 twist The power amplifier Link connection is made using a 6 conductor Link cable Connect the N 32 s amplifier port to the slave in port of a compatible Mark Levinson power amplifier Connecting the communication ports other than as described in this manual can damage the N 32 and the associated Mark Levinson compo
14. you are at the bot tom level of the branch of the menu you are on it will allow you to edit that item Having changed the item you can then save the change by pressing enter again choose the name you want from the list using the volume knob or use the volume buttons on the remote If this seems a little complicated when you read about it just try it on the N 32 itself referring to the menu system on page 34 It really be comes intuitive quite quickly input programming tip factory default input names using custom input names naming an input SSP You can take advantage of a shortcut to the settings of the specific in put to which you are currently listening By pressing and holding the setup button on either the remote control or the front panel for a few seconds you will be taken directly to the first menu item for that par ticular input its name You may change anything pertaining to that input and when you leave that level of the menu by pressing setup again you will leave the menu system entirely The factory default names for the inputs are the somewhat generic IN PUT 1 through INPUT 8 This makes it easy to tell what connectors correspond to what input but you may find the system easier to use once you have customized the names to reflect the actual components you have connected If none of the default names seems quite right for a given source you may create a name of your own choosing u
15. 0896 fax 860 346 1540 internet www madrigal com Dimensions N 32 Controller 19 5 k 49 5cm gt polarity select volume record out display intensity setup mute U U U U 1 875 15 75 1 875 L 4 76cm gt lt 40 01cm lt 4 76cm 19 5 k 49 50m gt a 9 17 4 32cm S 11 375 6 28 89cm 7 675 19 49cm 12 96 32 91cm E 27 A 2 0 5 08cm vo w A 1 58 4 01cm y Y R 4 025 RB 9 525 RR 5 95 10 22cm 24 19cm 15 11cm Dimensions N 32 Preamplifier 19 5 k 49 5cm 3 187 E 8 09cm REFERENCE PREAMPLIFIER 0 18 0 46cm 1 875 15 75 1 875 4 76cm 40 01cm gt lt 476cm d leave extra room for cables of course 0 5 1 2om he 1 71 4 34cm na 11 385 7 675 28 92cm 140m y A 2 0 5 08cm t Y 1 875 15 75 1 875 4 76cm lt 40 01cm I 476cm d MADRIGAL Madrigal Audio Laboratories Inc 2081 South Main Street P O Box 781 Middletown Connecticut 06457 USA Telephone 860 346 0896 Fax 860 346 1540 www madrigal com aches eVINSONM MADRIGAL AUDIO LABORATORIES is a registered trademark of Madrigal Audio Laboratories Inc H a Harman International company 630349 2 3 1999 Madrigal Audio Laboratories Inc All rights reserved Printed in U S A
16. 47k C Load 100pF Teach IR Mute 20 0 MaxVol 80 0 Trig 12v L Sw 1 07 1 02 the software version numbers The N 32 s extensive menu system allows you to customize the way the preamplifier operates to better suit the needs of your system and your personal preferences We will review the following information in more detail in the coming pages on an item by item basis Don t worry it isn t really as complicated as it seems when you take it one step at a time 35 Each line level input may be customized in four ways Name the name of the input shown in the front panel s display when the input is selected this may be one of a list of predetermined names or a custom name created by the user Gain the amount of gain available for that particular input 0 dB attenuation only 6 dB 12 dB or 18 dB used to optimize the match between the output level of any given source and the preamplifier s gain structure Offset automatic volume adjustments implemented whenever switching to this particular input used to ensure that all source play back at the same volume even when their outputs may be quite different the range is 20 0 dB in 0 1 dB increments Record Output used to assign a record output to this particular input options are NONE 1 2 3 To facilitate operation in complex multisource systems the N 32 is ca pable of displaying a wide variety of names for each of its eight or with o
17. ATIONS T Dimensions N 32 Controller ssss ss sssssssssssessssss sassa senesan eane s Dimensions N 32 Preamplifier sssssssses sse ses sse ses sses esse anna controller preamplifier architecture a note about nomenclature AC regeneration Special Design Features of the N 32 Reference Preamplifier The N 32 employs an unusual two chassis design that optimizes the division of labor within the product The traditional two box approach to preamp design places the power supply in a box by itself with all control and audio circuitry in the other box In the N 32 Reference Preamplifier the audio circuitry has primacy of place with a chassis of its own with power supply and control circuitry in a separate chassis Thus the display and user controls are effectively isolated from the sen sitive audio signals The only signals entering the chassis that handles audio signals are the audio signals themselves and extremely pure DC power Within this manual the chassis that contains the power supplies and user controls will be referred to as the Controller the chassis that con tains the actual audio circuitry will be called the Preamplifier when the two box system is being described its name will be the N 32 Reference Preamplifier This nomenclature is consistent with the engraved names on the components themselves The foundation upon which any audio component is built is the power supply Without an extremely clean noise free po
18. N 360S should be named No360S and so forth In fact as long as the first four characters are correct even custom names will be recognized and operate properly For example you could refer to a No30xyz and it would still be recognized as a member of the N 30 family Though why you would want to do so remains a mystery 56 Warning Care and Maintenance To remove dust from the cabinet of the N 32 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 N 32 going with the grain of the brushed aluminum At no time should liquid cleaners be applied directly to the N 32 as direct application of liquids may result in damage to electronic components within the unit 90 day limited warranty five year extended warranty U S and Canadian Warranty 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 warranty registration card along with a copy of the original receipt of purchase to Madrigal Audio Labo ratories Inc P O Box 781 Middletown CT 06457 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 exhibi
19. NCI EXIT BALANCE DISPLAY OFF DISPLAY DIM DISPLAY HALF DISPLAY FULL GI Using these commands in conjunction with a macro capable learning remote control you should be able to automate almost anything that the N 32 is capable of doing normal operation the record select mode Modes of Operation The majority of time you spend with your N 32 will be spent in nor mal operation During normal operation the display indicates the name of the input you have selected and the listening volume in deci bels The volume knob increases or decreases the volume in 0 1 dB increments above 23 0 and in 1 0 dB steps below this low level The select knob selects the source to be listened to at any point in time In short in normal operation the N 32 acts precisely as you would expect a preamplifier to act There are several refinements which may not be immediately apparent to the casual user however When turned quickly by hand the effect of the volume knob will accelerate i e yield a greater change per revo lution 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 too quickly as though it were a flywheel the rate of change will decrease again This design helps avoid accidental bumps of
20. Owners Manual Reference paii adrigal Audio Laboratories 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 Electromagnetic Compatibility and LVD Low Voltage Directive standards of the European Marking by the CE symbol shown left indicates compliance of this device with the EMC Community NOTICE This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation This equipment generates uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and if not installed and used in accordance with the instructi
21. S should be named No360S and so forth Placing your Mark Levinson transport in play will activate both the corresponding Mark Levinson digital processor and the N 32 if either or both is in standby In addition the appropriate inputs will be se lected on the digital processor and on the N 32 specifically the input which has an name of a Mark Levinson source component such as N 30 6 No360S or No39 Similarly activating a Linked Mark Levinson digital processor will se lect the appropriate input on the N 32 should you be using the pro cessor with an unlinked DAT machine for example Placing the N 32 into standby while your Mark Levinson digital audio processor is in record mode and a Mark Levinson transport is in Record 55 Link mode will cause a warning to be displayed on the digital compo nent Both digital components will be prevented from going into standby without explicit confirmation at those components that this is what you desire In this way inadvertent interruption of a digital re cording in process can be avoided After changing any of the Linked functions cycle power on the N 32 to ensure that they take effect Linked Mark Levinson digital processors will implement the required six decibel change in volume for HDCD recordings in the N 32 auto matically if they are both properly Linked and if their name has been set to match the appropriate name from the Name List Thus a N 30 6 should be named No30 6 a
22. The select buttons are also used when accessing the setup menu system in the N 32 For more information on what you can do with these menus please see Customizing Your N 32 later in the manual Volume Up and Down Buttons Raises the volume at either low speed for fine adjustments or higher speeds for larger changes The N 32 will slowly raise its output for the first 1 5 seconds this button is depressed then move to higher rates of change Note that all volume and balance functions are disabled if a sur round sound processor SSP input is selected For more informa tion on this special feature of the N 32 s design see Using Sur round Sound Processors Standby Button As you might expect pressing this button toggles the N 32 be tween standby mode and normal operation The N 32 disables its 33 outputs and controls when in standby but its circuitry remains active so as to be warmed up and sounding its best at a moment s notice Battery Compartment Using the supplied hex wrench remove this casting to access the battery compartment when it becomes necessary to replace batter ies The N 32 remote control uses two standard AAA batteries 34 setup overview the menu system Customizing Your N 32 The N 32 Preamplifier has many provisions for custom tailoring the system s operation to match your preferences The method for modify ing any of these settings is to press the setup button on
23. a a nana aa aaa aaa aaa aaa eee 31 Customizing Your N 32 sssssssssesssesese sees eee nana nesne a 34 SETUD OVEMVIEW Lit sai iais is Kai i ai a I a a ene che Gija Ss ais iene ete 34 THE MENU Syste pee aka a aa a sis aa ai a a aa k S aa eate 34 configuring line level INPUTS sss eee eee 35 AVaNADIE IAPUETIGINES 55 das Riven sesh ete das aina phen ia a do aa aga 36 CHANGING Gea NAINOS 3 ski ia arai E io S i ns O S a 36 Hale PLOQGLEAINIMING UD ieee aa Mens ali i a a a a a 37 f ct ry defa ltiNpUE NINES said seus Ass ai stu ai a aaa ima 37 USING CUSTOM INPUE NAMES soeces erae ceo kn a 2 eranen 37 paming AAA DUE SSP es she Hah oi de S EA Eaa 07 Ta ast 27 NAMING AN IN PUL EO inias aa i i aa L e a a a 38 SOTUIIG MADE GAP iets ei as Nile Os NN eal A Ma sale Son AN Ae es 38 setting JADE ONS GS a Kai eng Ak Rade Sat i See Rey aR oe Ss 39 Seting aa QUI i srt nite 8 hin teen T TTT 40 configuring phono INPUtS esse eee eee 40 PHONO SCLUP Na a S AAS Ia I ai LIN SN GALA A a 40 Phono eels Ls a aiste aa a lee caved V eh ges as REN 41 continued next page teach IP aga Poco E 752 eR T Ea T a EE TRER YR setting a mute leVel 0 setting a maximum level eee configuring the DC trigger sss sese eee eee checking the software version eee Using the N 32 with Learning Remote Controls sccssseseereees using the teach MONG ainas Ji ia eta ii ead et pected ei heme Erra available ir COMMAMNGAS
24. allel with one another as are the RCAs to facili tate biamping and other applications Although the N 32 Reference Preamplifier may be used as it arrives from the factory without further setup or modifications it may also be customized rather extensively to suit the particulars of the system in optional phono modules which it is used For full information on this subject please refer to the section of this manual entitled Customizing Your N 32 For the purposes of this introduction you should know that every in put can be given alternative custom names e g CD instead of INPUT 4 and that many details of the preamplifier s operation may be customized For example each input may be set up for its optimal combination of gain 0 6 12 or 18 dB and volume offsets to ensure that all sources are the same perceived volume when switching between them to within 0 1 dB If you purchase the optional phono modules see below they too may be extensively customized in their operation The N 32 Reference Preamplifier also has as an option two mono Ref erence Phono preamplifiers that can be installed within the Preampli fier chassis by your dealer This phono preamp is itself fully balanced phono cartridges are inherently balanced being push pull devices that do not reference ground All active circuitry resides on Arlon 25 cir cuit boards even more important here than elsewhere given the tiny voltages pres
25. anate ester In the N 32 Reference Preamplifier a new circuit board material is in troduced to the Mark Levinson product range Arlon 25N This new material outperforms even the already remarkable material used in the N 380S preamplifier in terms of its uniformly low dielectric constant and other critical characteristics Interestingly the benefits of Arlon 25N accrue only on circuit boards that contain active devices such as transistors On a board such as the input board which contains only signal traces and high performance switches neither Arlon 25N nor cyanate ester have been found to im prove performance Thus in such areas we use the highest quality FR 4 glass epoxy circuit boards which while still being premium quality provide significant cost savings over the more exotic materials without any performance penalty While in some ways it might be easier to simply use Arlon 25 every where doing so would not yield good value We understand that the N 32 represents a big investment for anyone to make in their music system and are careful to ensure that it is money well spent The N 32 Reference Preamplifier includes two pairs of main outputs per channel a pair of balanced outputs on high quality XLRs and a pair of single ended outputs on Madrigal designed RCA jacks The XLR and RCA outputs are buffered independently of each other and may be used simultaneously without degrading performance The XLRs are wired in par
26. ard surround sound processor extremely diffi cult over the years In fact until the Mark Levinson N 38 was intro duced in 1993 it was virtually impossible to combine the two and have the system work reliably well 51 Dolby Pro Logic decoders incorporate a form of Dolby noise reduction similar to 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 differently 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 circuitry It is for this rea son that one finds Record Calibration features on better guality cas sette decks It is therefore inappropriate to feed a surround sound de coder with the variable output of a preamplifier Were you to do so ev ery change of the volume control on the preamplifier would cause the Dolby circuitry to mistrack In extreme cases severe distortion can re sult as the Dolby circuitry overloads The next logical alternative might be to use the surround sound pro cessor ahead of the preamplifier sending its Left and Right outputs through the preamplifier as a selectable Source Sending the Right and Left Outputs from a surround sound decoder to a pair of inputs on a conventional preamplifier is also inappropriate since any change of the preamp s volume control would then throw the carefully calibra
27. ay from the phono cartridge Separate balance settings may be saved for Phono 1 and for Phono 2 20Hz HPF is a 20 Hz high pass filter sometimes called either an infra sonic or a subsonic filter It is designed to reduce turntable rumble and the cartridge arm resonance which can often be stimulated by even small warps in the record as it turns You may either turn it on or off 42 teach ir depending on whether it seems needed for a particular cartridge arm combination One way to determine this is to play a quiet passage of a recording at a relatively high level with your speaker grilles off Watch your woofers If they are moving in and out noticeably without there being a clearly correlated low bass sound you should probably engage the 20Hz HPF Otherwise you are wasting both amplifier power and woofer excursion on something you cannot hear directly the indirect effect of modulat ing the woofer s output with non musical sub 20 Hz information can only be deleterious to the performance of the system R Load refers to the resistive load the phono preamplifier presents to the cartridge Of course any resistance in the phono cables is beyond the preamp s control and added to this figure This number is nor mally 47000Q for moving magnet MM cartridges and can range from about 3Q to 47kQ for moving coils MC Specifically we include precision resistor values of 3 3 5 0 7 7 10 33 50 77 100 330 and 47kQ plus a se
28. choose to send only the left channel to both speakers in which case L only will be displayed You may also choose to send only the right channel to both speakers in which case R only will be displayed Lastly you may send the difference between the left and right channels to both speakers in which case L R will be displayed The L R flavor of mono is particularly useful when aligning a phono cartridge s azimuth play a mono test recording listen to the L R signal and adjust azimuth for minimum output Left minus Right in a mono recording should equal silence cartridges are never perfect in 49 this regard but you can get surprisingly close with the good ones The N 32 allows you to invert the polarity of the music to which you are listening with the press of a button People vary in their sensitivity to this aspect of the sound and the difference frequently ranges from subtle to inaudible depending on microphone technique and other factors in the recording itself However some recordings simply sound correct in one position and irretrievably wrong in the other We encourage you to experiment with the polariy feature to see what you think works best for any given recording understanding that the recordings themselves are anything but consistent If necessary it is possible to reset all of the factory default settings for the N 32 Reference Preamplifier so as to start again with a clean slate Resetti
29. dangerous voltages to build up between components The presence of these voltages would pose a threat to both your person and your equipment Warm up amp break in period Operating Voltage The N 32 Reference Preamplifier is set at the factory internally for 100V 120V 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 near the AC receptacle of the N 32 Controller indicates the correct AC operating voltage for your location If the voltage indicated on your N 32 Controller is incorrect or if you wish to change the AC operating voltage of your N 32 as the result of moving to a different country than the one in which you purchased your preamplifier see your Mark Levinson dealer The N 32 is easily powered by a normal 15 ampere AC mains line If other devices are also powered from the same AC line their additional power consumption should be taken into account Although your Mark Levinson N 32 Reference Preamplifier delivers outstanding performance straight out of the box you should expect to hear it continue to improve as it reaches its normal operating tempera tures and its various components break in It has been our experience that the greatest changes occur within the first 25 50 hours but that the preamplifier will continue to improve in sound quality fo
30. dicated by the flashing underlines alternating with the current custom name or UNUSED for an unused input connector Recall that setting an input as UNUSED removes it from the rotation of input shown when you turn the select knob dur ing day to day operation You may use custom names with the phono inputs just as you would with any other input See page 36 for more details Ph Gain refers to the gain of the phono preamp You may select either 40 dB for moving magnet cartridges and high output moving coils or 60 dB for low output moving coils 41 Gain is the gain of the line level preamplifier just as with line level in puts It may be set to 0 6 12 or 18 dB You should alter this if you need to only after setting the correct phono gain Offset is also identical to the offset used to avoid unpleasant shifts in volume among line level sources and occurs in the line level section of the preamplifier Balance Bal is unique to the phono preamplifier and should be used to compensate for the small imbalances found in most cartridges The best way to do this is to play a monophonic recording in normal stereo centering the image between your speakers with the balance control Once you know the correct balance offset for a particular cartridge simply enter this number in that cartridge s phono setup and the change will be made for you automatically whenever you listen to that cartridge Normal balance will be restored when you aw
31. e 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 batteries are prone to leaking corrosive chemicals the greenish gunk you may have seen around battery ter minals of other remote controls The N 32 should be placed close to your source equipment thus keep ing interconnect cabling short We strongly recommend mounting each chassis of the N 32 on its own shelf to allow for proper ventilation The N 32 is designed for continuous operation it is designed to be connected to the AC mains at all times for the best performance While we also include a front panel power switch that actually disconnects the N 32 from the AC mains we recommend you use the standby but ton instead which leaves the N 32 warmed up and sounding its best at all times Ventilation Caution Be sure to allow 3 to 4 inches of clearance above the N 32 to allow heat dissipation through air circulation Drawings are included in this manual to facilitate special installations and custom cabinetry see Di mensions It is extremely important that all components in your system be properly grounded Do not defeat a three prong AC cords with ground lifter or cheater adaptors as doing so may allow
32. eamplifier is placed into standby however Single ended RCA Record Outputs Connect these outputs to the right channel and left channel tape inputs of your recorder Make a note of which set of record out puts you used with which recording device It is important to name the inputs you use and to associate the correct record out put with the appropriate recording device By giving the N 32 this information it can prevent accidental record loops that might otherwise create disturbing feedback See changing input names and setting record out on pages 36 39 These outputs are unaffected by the output level control on the front panel of the N 32 or by the source chosen to be monitored The record outputs will be disconnected when the preamplifier is placed into standby however Optional Phono Input Module Bays The optional phono preamplifier modules for the Mark Levinson N 32 slide into place in this location they are shown in place in the illustration for clarity These extraordinary phono preampli fiers are available with either XLR inputs or with RCA inputs in either case the incoming signal from the phono cartridge is treated as a balanced signal internally If you purchased your N 32 without phono modules and decide to add them at a later date please contact your dealer Although not difficult to install we require that a qualified dealer install the phono modules to minimize any opportunity for electrica
33. ed fashion thereafter The rigorous implementation of the balanced circuitry within the N 32 conveys all of the information present in the source signal to the power amplifier without the limitations of assymetrical single ended designs The Mark Levinson N 38 introduced revolutionary volume precision and resolution to the world of high end preamplifiers with the first ever 0 1 dB step volume control In the N 32 this same approach is taken to an even higher level in a discrete attenuator of Madrigal s de sign that uses 66 surface mounted precision resistors per channel Used in combination this balanced volume control gives us over 65 000 possible volume settings between zero and maximum attenua tion Don t worry we don t use them all Arlon 25N circuit boards multiple outputs extensive customization This design implemented on an Arlon 25N printed circuit board with local discrete regulators delivers greater transparency than any volume control technology we have ever experienced It also provides incre ments as small as 0 1 dB allowing you to select precisely the correct volume for any given recording and to do so repeatably Madrigal designs have long explored new technologies that better serve the cause of music some of which have been quite esoteric For ex ample the single biggest difference between a N 380 and a N 380S is the printed circuit board material used in the more costly S version cy
34. elevision as shown below Ground Isolation Adaptor 750 3000 3000 750 w TSO 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 dollars If it seems to correct a problem consult with your dealer regarding a long term solution which does not degrade video performance 53 Note display intensity 54 standby link volume link select link Linked Functions The N 32 has the ability to link several of its functions to certain compatible Mark Levinson components such as the N 30 6 or N 360S digital processors the N 31 5 and N 37 CD transport or any of the current Mark Levinson power amplifiers To take advantage of linked functions you must connect the N 32 to the other compatible Mark Levinson components via their communication ports See Rear Panel and Setup and Installation You must also cycle power on all Linked components after making or changing any of the connections to ensure reliable Linked operation There are several linked functions in the N 32 Adjusting the display intensity on any Linked component will adjust the displays in the other Linked components as well keeping them all at a consistent brightness level Placing
35. ent in a phono section Phono loading and gain settings may be set independently for each of the two included inputs and remembered by the system Even balance may be fine tuned to compensate for small errors in phono cartridges quite common and remembered as you switch among inputs To fully optimize the functioning of your N 32 phono preamplifier please see Customizing Your N 32 later in this manual unpacking installing the batteries in the remote control placement continuous operation Unpacking and Placement Unpack your N 32 Preamplifier and keep all packing materials for fu ture transport Locate and remove all accessory items from the Acces sory Box within the Controller shipping carton Accessories include 1 detachable AC power cord 2 multi pin DC cables 1 N 32 remote control 2 AAA alkaline batteries 1 a Allen key 1 2 hex driver Also included with your new Mark Levinson component is a pair of knit white gloves to assist you in the initial unpacking and placement of your new purchase Please accept them as a token of our apprecia tion for having purchased one of our products Using the supplied Allen key remove the two screws in the bottom end cap of the remote control i e the end opposite the IR transmitter lens Insert the two alkaline batteries found in the Accessories box be ing careful to follow the polarity indications given on the inside of the battery compartment Replace th
36. function in the record path when the input selected on the monitor path is named EO When listening to the output of your equalizer you will not be able to select EQ on the record out path since that would set up a potentially dangerous feedback loop The EQ input is intentionally omitted from record output list Each input in the N 32 can be set for one of four gain settings 0 dB 6 dB 12 dB or 18 dB The concept is to use as much gain as an indi vidual source may require in order to drive the power amplifier to ad equate levels without introducing unnecessary gain that might result in a distorted signal In the past the Mark Levinson N 26 and N 26S preamplifiers offered a single gain adjustment to effect this change globally now for the first time this setting can be optimized for each individual input This helps setting input offsets to make the N 32 behave as though each input had the preamplifier all to itself With some non standard sources having outputs as high as 9 volts the last thing you need is gain in the line stages of the preamplifier On the other hand a low output moving coil might need as much as eighteen decibels of gain beyond the gain available in the phono preamplifier Being able to customize this setting by input gives you the flexibility you need to fully optimize your system The factory settings for gain are usually fine at 6 dB for balanced and 12 dB for single ended
37. gain returns you to normal operation and turns of the record out LED indicator Note that the record outputs will be muted when the N 32 is in standby Display Intensity Button Cycles among four levels of brightness including off for the display allowing adjustment for various ambient lighting condi tions When off the display will turn on for a few seconds when ever 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 infor mation see Linked Functions 10 11 12 Setup Button Pressing the setup button places the N 32 into setup mode and lights the LED indicator immediately above the setup button While in setup mode the display is used to show a series of menu choices that allow you to customize the N 32 rather extensively to better suit your system s needs and personal preferences For more information on this customization please see Customizing Your N 32 Enter Button Used in conjunction with the setup button the enter button allows you to save changes made to the N 32 while in setup mode For more information on this customization please see Custom izing Your N 32 Balance Button Pressing the balance button allows you to adjust the relative vol umes of the left and right channels While in balance mode the dis play changes to show you the current rela
38. he Controller turn on AC power on the front panel The Controller chassis acts as both power supply and control panel for the preamplifier leaving the actual handling of the audio signal to the dedicated Preamplifier chassis Connect the DC cables first then plug the Controller into the wall the IEC power connection is on the rear panel of the Controller then make sure that the power button on the front of the Controller is pushed in When power is first ap plied the N 32 will initialize and set its output level to OFF 3 Connect a source to any input noting which you use For example connect the output of your CD player to the Left and Right Input 1 XLR jacks on the rear panel of your N 32 Preampli fier High quality interconnecting cables such as Madrigal CZ Gel will yield superior results and are strongly recommended The Left and Right Main Out jacks on the rear panel of the N 32 Preamplifier 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 Other wise use the single ended Main Outs from the preamplifier to your power amplifier Once again high quality interconnecting cables such as Madrigal CZ Gel will yield superior results and are strongly recommended Turn on your source component turn on your power ampli fier select
39. inputs However should you hear distortion indicating an overly high input signal you may want to reduce the gain on that input by 6 dB or more To do so navigate to the Gain item under the input in question See the menu system on page 26 Then press enter to edit the item and adjust it using the volume knob or use the volume buttons on the remote You will hear the changes of 6 decibels per step Save the change by pressing enter For more detailed information on how to navigate to this item see the point by point description under chang ing input names Similarly if you have an unusually quiet source try adding additional gain before trimming the volume with the input offset adjustment 39 Otherwise you may find that you cannot turn up the quiet source as far as it needs to go Once you are satisfied that the gain settings are appropriate to your source components and remember the factory defaults are usually fine you may also adjust for any small differences between the vol umes of various sources by programming in a volume offset For ex ample if you notice that your tuner seems several decibels louder than all your other source components you can have the N 32 automatically turn the volume down by a certain amount when you switch to the tuner It will also turn the volume back up by the same amount when leaving that input To set the input offset navigate to the Offset item in the menu see page 34 press
40. k Levinson distributor for warranty and service information 58 Important Warning Obtaining Service 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 in formation or parts or to obtain a Return Authorization The Madrigal Technical Services Department works closely with your dealer to solve your service needs expediently Return authorization must be obtained from Madrigals Technical Services Department BEFORE a unit is shipped for service It is extremely important that information about a problem be explicit and complete A specific comprehensive description of the problem helps your dealer and the Madrigal Technical Services Department lo cate and repair the difficulty as quickly as possible A copy of the original bill of sale will serve to verify warranty status Please include it with the unit when it is brought in for warranty service All returned units must be properly packaged preferably in their original packing material and the proper return authorization numbers must be marked on the outer carton for identification If the packaging to protect the unit is in our opinion or that of our dea
41. l prob lems such as static discharges resulting from working without proper grounding etc Each of the two inputs of the N 32 Phono Input Modules may be programmed individually for different gain and loading settings Thus if you have two cartridges on two arms or separate tables 29 you may set up one for your favorite moving magnet e g 40 dB gain 47kQ and 100pF loading and the other for your favorite moving coil e g 60 dB gain 100Q and 0 01 UF loading The built in list of customization options include Gain either 40 or 60 dB for either MM or MC cartridges Capacitive loading for MM 0 pF 50 pF 100 pF 150 pF 200 pF 250 pF 300 pF 350 pF Resistive loading for MC 3 3 5 7 7 10 33 50 77 100 330 and 47 000 Q Single pole 20 Hz infrasonic filter switchable in or out as needed All phono settings may be accessed from the listening position via remote control In addition a set of custom terminals inside the phono modules themselves allow you to use a custom resistor of your choice in lieu of the extensive list of precision resistors we provide 30 Important 10 As with any phono preamplifier caution must be exercised when making connections Never connect or disconnect your turntable with the volume raised Never raise the volume on an unterminated phono input Set the name of unused phono inputs to Unused to avoid any possibility of accidental noise or other
42. ler inadequate to protect the unit we reserve the right to repackage it for return shipment at the owners expense Neither Madrigal nor your dealer can be responsible for shipping damage due to improper that is non original packaging 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 materi als There will be a charge for this service We strongly recommend sav ing all packing materials in case you need to ship your unit 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 32 yield excellent results by any standards However only those specifications that apply to its actual operation are included here E Power consumption 150W maximum m Mains voltage 100V 120V 220V 230V or 240VAC at either 50 or 60Hz set at the factory R Overall dimensions See Dimensions m Shipping weight Controller 60 lbs 27 kg Preamplifier 46 lbs 21 kg E Preamplifier Inputs 3 pr balanced on XLR 5 pr single ended on Madrigal RCA optional 2 pr phono on either XLR or Madrigal RCA 2 Controller DC cable connectors 1 ground terminal E Preamplifier Outputs 2 pr balanced main output on XLR 2 pr single ended main output on RCA 1 pr record ou
43. ly choose any other input on the N 32 and place your surround sound processor in standby 37 38 4 L Important note naming an input EQ Note setting input gain Make sure that the volume on your surround processor is turned down before changing the input name on your N 32 to SSP When the preamp effects this change it abdicates its control over the volume of your front left and right speakers allowing the surround processor to handle it instead The EO name also deserves special mention if your loudspeaker re quires a dedicated equalizer for proper operation or if you have any other reason for using an equalizer much of the time you may con nect the outputs of the equalizer to an input named EQ By recording the source you wish to listen to that is selecting it on the record path e g when the record out LED is lit and listening to the EO input that is selecting EO with the main selector e g when the record out LED is not lit you will be able to run all signals through the equalizer prior to listening to them This is usually prefer able 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 record path selecting the source to be equalized rather than the monitor path we have enabled the volume control
44. momentary contact switch might make or a 12V level signal where the presence of 12V forces the unit out of standby and its absence forces it into standby N 25 S power port This port provides DC power in a plug compatible format suit able for use with Mark Levison N 25 and N 25S outboard phono preamplifiers for people who wish to continue using their older phono preamps Connect the DC cable that came with your N 25 S to this power port rather than to the PLS 226 you would have been using previously AC mains receptacle This IEC standard AC mains receptacle is used with the remov able AC power cord to supply the N 32 Controller with power Prior to connection to the AC mains please check the voltage label on the rear panel of the Controller to ensure that your unit conforms to the power supply in your area Following the guidelines in the Quick Start section of this manual connect the power cord to this receptacle and the AC mains outlet in the wall When power is first applied to the N 32 the preamp will run through an automatic initialization sequence which displays a software identification code and then enters standby Note 10 For optimal sonic performance and longevity the N 32 is de signed to remain powered at all times the standby button merely mutes the preamplifier s outputs and turns off the display There is an initial break in period of at least 25 50 hours before the N 32 achieves optimum
45. n systems Slave and Master Communicator Ports These communications ports allow the N 32 to link to certain compatible Mark Levinson components See Linked Functions After making or changing Link connections cycle power on all your Linked components to ensure that they see the change 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 destina tion of all source signals the N 32 Preamplifier must be the final Slave in the chain In technical terms it terminates the commu nications bus In turn the N 32 can also control one or more as sociated compatible Mark Levinson power amplifiers hence its amplifier communications port Thus if the only other Mark Levinson Link compatible compo nent you have is a digital audio processor connect its master port to the N 32 s slave port using a straight through RJ 45 cable If there are additional Mark Levinson Link compatible components in the system place the N 32 at the end of the chain by connect ing the last slave out port to the N 32 s slave port See the dia gram left for clarification In short you might refer to the diagram at left master processor gt slave in
46. nents and will void those products warranties 23 External IR Input The N 32 incorporates an infrared repeater input to facilitate a wide range of installation options If desired the N 32 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 N 32 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 no more than 100 milliamps of current with the tip of the 14 mini plug having positive polarity as below pf D 5 volts less than 100 mA If you would like more information on the possibility of using an infrared repeater with your N 32 please contact your Mark Levinson dealer 24 Warning DC trigger in and out On a simpler level than PHAST AMX or Crestron some systems control whether a given component is on or off actually operat ing or in standby by means of a simple control voltage If the appropriate 3 12V level trigger signal arrives at the trig ger input of the N 32 it turns on When the N 32 turns on it passes along a trigger signal to another component say a power amplifier In this way it is possible if you like to set up a daisy chain of components that can be controlled by one another at least to some degree The N 32 can produce and send from its trigger output either a 5V pulse such as a
47. ng factory default settings causes any customization of the preamplifier to be lost including custom names gain settings offsets etc 50 operating without a preamplifier To reset all settings of the N 32 to the original factory settings Turn off power on the Controller You may either unplug it from the ac mains or use the front panel power button standby will not do Wait for a few seconds for the power supply to drain Restore power while holding both the record out and setup buttons This process takes a few seconds as a guard against accidental res toration of factory defaults Continue holding both buttons for about ten seconds after the display reads CLEAR SETUP If you take your fingers off the buttons within these first ten sec onds or so the operation will be cancelled leaving your current settings unchanged If you persist in holding the record out and setup buttons the display will show FACTORY SETUP RE STORED in sequence It is also possible to operate the Controller without a Preamplifier be ing attached This can be helpful if for some reason you need to set up the system without having to actually listen to it e g customizing the names phono loading for a known cartridge etc The Preamplifier may remain in its box while the Controller is preset to operate as it will need to do when finally installed Normally when you power up the Controller it checks to ensure tha
48. nt input pin To achieve the best possible results we suggest using high quality interconnecting cables such as Madrigal s own CZ Gel 1 balanced cables Single ended Inputs 4 8 Accepts right channel and left channel single ended inputs from line level source equipment such as tuners CD players and tape decks To achieve the best possible results we suggest using high quality interconnecting cables such as Madrigal s own CZ Gel 2 single ended cables 27 Balanced Main Outputs If your power amplifier is equipped with balanced sometimes called differential inputs it is generally best to use the balanced outputs on your N 32 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 fre quency interference RFI The balanced output signal is made available by way of precision male XLR connectors requiring fe male 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 s Pin 3 Signal inverting Connector ground lug chassis ground Refer to your power amplifier s operating manual to verify that the pin assignments of its input connectors correspond to the N 32 If not wire the cable so that the appropriate output pin connects to the equivalent input pin 28 Connect the right channel
49. om panel for additional information Rear Panel N 32 Controller 21 1 DC power output for left and right channels The N 32 Controller acts as both the control center for your two piece preamplifier and as the power supply for the preamplifier proper This architecture ensures that only pure DC power and the audio signals themselves enter the chassis responsible for preamplification Since the N 32 Reference Preamplifier is a dual mono design each channel has its own power supply Two separate DC power cables are used to conduct the power from the Controller to the Pream plifier to avoid any possibility of interaction between channels Connect the supplied DC power cables between the Controller and the Preamplifier These cables are not directional 2 Control Ports PHAST compatible These ports are reserved for future use as PHASTLink commu nications ports For more information please contact your dealer and ask about PHAST home automation systems RS 232 port This port is used both for downloading new operating software into your N 32 Reference Preamplifier should new features ever be added for example and also for external control of the N 32 by systems such as AMX and Crestron For more information please contact your dealer and ask about either AMX or Crestron home automatio
50. on on these mono modes please see page 48 To access the non default modes press and hold the mono button for several seconds subsequent clicks of the mono button will move you through the options Having selected the one you want as your new default simply let the N 32 time out and revert to its normal display The mono button will now toggle between ste reo and your preferred mono 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 out puts When in balance mode this knob is used to vary the rela tive output of the Left and Right channels It is also used during setup for various adjustments see Customization of your N 32 Power Button This button connects and disconnects the N 32 from the AC mains power It is normally intended to be left engaged at all times unless you plan to be away from your home for an extended period By using the standby button rather than power to turn the system on and off the N 32 can remain warmed up and sounding its best at all times Should you disconnect the N 32 from power for an extended pe riod either via this power button or by pulling its plug it may require a few hours to return to thermal equilibrium and optimal performance Record Out Button Pressing the record out button allows you to select the input to be sent to the record outputs using the select knob Pressing it a
51. ons may cause harmful interference to radio communications However there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation If this equipment does cause interference to radio or television reception which can be determined by turning the equipment on and off the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected Consult the dealer or an experienced radio TV technician for help CAUTION Changes or modifications to this equipment not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user s authority to operate the equipment The information contained in the manual is subject to change without notice The most current version of this manual will be posted on our web site at http www madrigal com Important Safety Instructions Please read all instructions and precautions carefully and completely before operating your Mark Levinson preamplifier 10 11 12 13 14 15 ALWAYS disconnect your entire system from the AC mains before connecting or dis connecting any cables or when cleaning any component This product must be terminated with a three conductor AC mains power cord which includes an earth ground connection
52. own major section immediately following this one in this setting a mute level setting a maximum level configuring the DC trigger manual Please see that section for additional details For now it is enough to know that the N 32 can teach any of its infrared commands to a learning remote control by broadcasting the appropriate code from its display window Even if you were to lose the N 32 remote you could teach everything you need to another remote control or order a re placement remote from us of course The N 32 Reference Preamplifier also allows you to customize the mag nitude of the change in volume caused by pressing the mute button The factory default setting is 20 0 dB but you may select a value of anything from 10 0 to 80 0 dB in 0 1 dB increments For example you may prefer to reduce the volume by 35 dB when mute is pressed so as to take a symphony orchestra playing at a realistic level down to a level that allows comfortable conversation when someone enters the room To change the mute level press setup to enter the setup menu turn the select knob until Mute 20 0 shows in the display and then use the volume knob to alter the mute level setting as you see fit When fin ished press enter to save your change Pressing setup one last time will return you to normal operation leaving the setup menu You may also set a maximum volume level for the N 32 a particularly 43 useful feature if the system is
53. p to seven characters long To do so navigate to the NAME level of the menu system and if necessary use the volume knob or use the volume buttons on the remote to choose the name INPUT or whatever other custom name might have been entered press enter to enter the single character editing mode use the volume knob to select each character in turn pressing enter each time to move to the next character when you enter the seventh character you are done Blank spaces count as characters Introduced in 1993 the Mark Levinson SSP mode provides a clean so lution to the problem of integrating a state of the art two channel sys tem with a multichannel system By routing the front Left and Right outputs of the surround sound processor through the N 32 and nam ing that input SSP you can enjoy both systems without compromise If this scenario is important to you please see the section entitled Us ing Surround Sound Processors later in this manual for more detail In brief when the N 32 accesses an input named SSP it defeats the nor mal function of the volume control going to a fixed gain 0 dB for bal anced 6 dB for single ended for that input In so doing it allows the multichannel volume control to control the relative volumes of all the speakers in the system without having to be concerned about a now redundant volume control in the N 32 When you wish to listen to your two channel system simp
54. phanumeric Display This twelve character display provides a wide range of informa tion concerning the operation of the N 32 The information dis played depends on what the N 32 is doing The information dis played is summarized below normal operation selected audible input name and volume setting balance direction and magnitude of balance offset record out RECD and Source to be recorded setup setup menus and settings In addition this display will indicate any known fault conditions For example it will also inform you if a DC cable between Con troller and Preamplifier is not properly connected When used with Linked Mark Levinson power amplifiers this display is used to indicate the presence of a fault condition if any inthe ampli 17 fier 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 please refer to the following sections on the use of the balance and record out buttons as well as the section on Customizing Your N 32 Mono indicator The mono button of the remote control toggles between stereo and mono operation of the N 32 The LED under the word mono on the faceplate within the display window provides visual confirmation of being in the mono mode There are multiple mono modes available in the N 32 L R the factory default setting Lonly R only L R For more detailed informati
55. problems Phono Ground Provided to provide a signal reference ground for your phono sys tem and the preamplifier This sometimes reduces the phono cartridge s tendency to pick up hum and other noise We suggest listening to phono both with and without this connection made with the corresponding ground wire from your turntable either might sound better or quieter and the only way to be sure is to try 1t N 32 Preamplifier serial number label Please make a note of the serial number of your N 32 Preampli fier as well as the different serial number of your N 32 Control ler see previous section We suggest writing both into the front of this manual so you can find them easily should you need them without having to pull the equipment off the shelf While you are at it fill out and send in your warranty card so we can stay in touch with you Remote Control 1 IR transmission window eens Infrared IR control signals are sent through this window Aim the remote control toward the N 32 when using the remote For the best results the remote should be within 45 of a line that is perpendicular to the faceplate of the Controller At more severe angles nearly parallel with the faceplate try bouncing the remote s signal off a wall or other surface instead so as to have it enter the display window of the Controller at a reasonable angle 2 IR Transmit Indicator This LED lights when IR control
56. ptional phono modules installed ten inputs The available names are listed below 36 available input names changing input names INPUT custom name may be edited letter by letter UNUSED any unused input removes from the rotation SSP Surround Sound Processor mode of operation EQ Equalizer mode of operation DAT Digital Audio Tape VCR Video Cassette Recorder CASS Cassette RtoR Reel To Reel MD Mini Disc CD R Compact Disc Recordable SAT Satellite LD LaserDisc CD Compact Disc TUNER Tuner AUX Auxiliary DAC Digital to Analog Converter TAPE Tape Player Recorder DVD DVD player No30 Mark Levinson Reference Digital Audio Processor No30 5 Mark Levinson Reference Digital Audio Processor No30 6 Mark Levinson Reference Digital Audio Processor No35 Mark Levinson N 35 Digital Audio Processor No36 Mark Levinson N 36 Digital Audio Processor No36S_ Mark Levinson N 36S Digital Audio Processor No360 Mark Levinson N 360 Digital Audio Processor No360S Mark Levinson N 360S Digital Audio Processor No39 Mark Levinson N 39 CD Processor To change an input name use the setup menu press setup to enter the setup menu press enter or turn the select knob to move to Inputs press enter to move to Input 1 turn the select knob or use the select buttons on the remote to move to whatever input you want to edit press enter Note that enter will either take you down to the next lower level in the menu or if
57. r a few seconds but the balance indicator LED will remain lit as a reminder that the balance is not centered Re storing the balance to its centered 0 0 setting and leaving the balance mode of operation will extinguish the balance LED indicator Precise balance control is essential for obtaining accurate sound staging Output imbalances due to asymmetrical placement of the loudspeakers in the room are common and degrade imaging accuracy To correct this problem place the N 32 in mono L R mode and cen ter the resulting image which should be quite small directly between the loudspeakers using the balance control Differences as small as 0 1 or 0 2 decibels have been found to be significant Try it mono modes phono alignment tip polarity reset defaults Important Note Note that this mono trick can correct only for differences that occur after the preamplifier in the signal chain things like asymmetrical placement of loudspeakers or slight mismatches in sensitivity between speakers If a particular recording is out of balance you will have to ad just the balance more subjectively in stereo as you normally have done The N 32 supports several different types of monophonic modes The factory default setting combines both the left and the right channels equally and sends the resulting signal to both speakers When selected this type of mono will dis play a L R designation in the display You may also
58. r about 300 hours after which time it remains quite constant The only exception to this rule is if power is removed from the unit al lowing it to cool down In this case you should expect a brief warm up period before the preamplifier s sound quality is at its best Fortu nately you do not have to repeat the full 300 hour break in period A Quick Start We recognize that many people are understandably eager to begin lis tening 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 N 32 Reference Preamplifier incorpo rates 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 mu sic quickly The following procedure assumes that the rest of your sys tem 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 be fore proceeding 2 Connect the two DC cables between the N 32 Controller and the N 32 Preamplifier plug in t
59. signals are being transmitted If it fails to light while you are pressing a button or if it seems to be lighting more dimly than usual you may need to change the bat teries see item 13 3 Display Button Duplicates the function of the display intensity button on the front panel cycling among four levels of brightness including off for the display allowing adjustment for various ambient lighting conditions 31 4 Setup Button Duplicates the function of the setup button on the front panel allowing you to access menu functions of the N 32 from your lis tening position For example if you have purchased the optional phono modules you can experiment with different phono loading options while listening to music in your preferred chair This flex ibility makes it much easier to determine the correct values for phono loading 5 Enter Button Duplicates the function of the enter button on the front panel allowing you to save changes to menu items in the N 32 from your listening position 32 Mono Button Pressing this button will toggle the N 32 in and out of the mono mode having the same effect as pressing the front panel mono button Mono mode normally 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 at which time significant noise red
60. sometimes used by people who may not be as careful as you yourself would be Teenaged children come to mind To change the maximum level press setup to enter the setup menu turn the select knob until MaxVol 80 0 shows in the display and then use the volume knob to alter the maximum volume setting as you see fit When finished press enter to save your change Pressing setup one last time will return you to normal operation leaving the setup menu You may wish to use the DC trigger output on the rear panel of the N 32 Controller to turn on some other component automatically when the N 32 itself is on If so you have two trigger options either a 12V level constant voltage that is present whenever the N 32 is opera tional and absent when the N 32 is in standby or a 5V pulse when ever the N 32 s state is changed from one to the other similar to the output of a momentary contact switch This menu item allows you to choose which of these two options you want given the needs of your particular system 44 checking the software version If you are not sure what the receiving component needs for a trigger signal please ask your Mark Levinson dealer for assistance Although we do not anticipate frequent software updates for the N 32 after all it does not have to contend with the ever changing standards for digital audio decoding it has been designed to readily accept new software should it become available For e
61. t it can communicate with the Preamplifier properly If either of both of the DC cables has not been seated properly the display will inform you which one s need to be connected If you need to operate the Controller without the Preamplifier power it up while holding in the mute button This is easy to remember since your system will remain remarkably quiet until you connect and use the Preamplifier the SSP must not come after the preamp the SSP must not come before the preamp Using Surround Sound Processors The N 32 Reference Preamplifier incorporates a special surround sound processor mode which makes it uniquely capable of integrating the highest performance audio with surround sound that is a dual purpose music and movie system 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 multichannel listening is the number of channels that must be con trolled When listening to two channel stereo one must have a two channel volume control so both speakers increase or decrease in vol ume in concert with one another Similarly when listening to six or eight channel surround sound recordings whether movies or music one must have a corresponding six or eight channel volume control This simple fact has made combining a high quality two channel preamp with an outbo
62. t of terminals that may be used for accessing some other custom value of your choice You would do so by placing a precision resistor across these terminals located inside each of the phono modules tightening the screws down and then selecting other in the R Load menu item The best choice for resistive loading is whatever sounds the best with your MC cartridge you cannot damage a cartridge by playing at the wrong resistance With the N 32 for the first time you can make this determination in real time from your listening position using the re mote control to access this menu item C Load refers to the capacitive load the phono preamplifier presents to the cartridge Of course any capacitance in the phono cables is be yond the preamp s control and should be added to this figure This number is normally 0 01KF for moving coil MC cartridges and can range from about OpF to 350pF for moving magnets MM Specifically we include precision capacitor values of 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350pF plus 0 01 uF The best choice for capacitive loading is whatever sounds the best with your MM cartridge you cannot damage a cartridge by playing at the wrong capacitance With the N 32 for the first time you can make this determination in real time from your listening position using the remote control to access this menu item Next in the menu system is the rather extensive teach IR section which has its
63. ted 52 the SSP must not be in a tape loop the SSP amp the N 32 noise in a v systems 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 cali brated 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 The last remaining alternative would seem to be to insert the decoder within a 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 inappropriately changed without changing the Center and Surround outputs It is therefore inappropri ate to place surround sound decoders in a tape loop It would seem that there is no way to properly integrate a surround sound processor with a preamplifier for a high quality dual purpose system The N 32 solves this dilemma by virtue of a specially designed sur round sound processor interface When you select the SSP name for a particular input on the N 32 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
64. ter once to toggle into the edit mode where you can choose which teach ir command you want 4 move the volume knob to select the command you want to learn 5 press enter to transmit that command from the left side of the display window The display window will change to lt SENDING to indicate where the infrared codes are being emitted The frequency of the infrared carrier upon which the command are transmitted is 40kHz This is the most common carrier frequency of any used in remote controls today and should present no problem for any learning remote control If your remote has difficulty learning the command from the front panel of the N 32 Controller try varying the distance and shielding the remote control from any flourescent lights in the area which can interfere with the learning process 46 available ir commands A complete list of the available IR codes may be found below The complete list of available IR commands is Teach IR VOLUM VOLUME DOWN SELECT NEXT SELECT PREV INTENSITY MUTE KEY ONO KEY POLARITY KEY STANDBY KEY ENTER KEY ETUP KEY K G G lv KA J Ww wn D S gt zZ Q Tj Zz a asas as ika o HoH NR Z rd C Q Oo U H H HHHHH Zz O Q C C Q O U I H O OQO Zi zal aA U C CO OA H Ed d KA e OF OAT D OB W GO UNMUTE GO MONITOR GO RECORD GO BALA
65. the N 32 into standby will also place the compatible Mark Levinson digital processor transport and amplifier s into standby except during a digital recording session see record link section be low Placing either digital component into standby will have no effect on the N 32 since you might well wish to continue listening to a differ ent source component such as a tuner Taking a Linked Mark Levinson source component out of Standby will also cause the N 32 to come out of Standby A remote control for a linked Mark Levinson transport can when that transport is properly Linked control the volume and mute status of the N 32 via the Linking system allowing the use of a single remote for both transport and basic preamp functions Similarly a remote control for a linked Mark Levinson transport can when that transport is properly Linked select inputs on the N 32 via the Linking system allowing the use of a single remote for both trans play link record link HDCD link port and basic preamp functions Pressing and holding the select but ton will toggle between switching digital inputs vs switching analog in puts simply clicking the button moves you to the next input in the bank of inputs currently being controlled Note that for Select Linking to work you must have named the associ ated digital processor properly to match the appropriate name from the Name List Thus a N 30 6 should be named No30 6 a N 360
66. the preamplifier s volume knob sending potentially dangerous signal levels to your loudspeakers 47 Lastly the corresponding buttons on the remote control behave in a similar fashion when in normal operation If the volume buttons are held for more than approximately 1 5 seconds the N 32 infers that you would like to change volume more quickly and accelerates the vol ume change When you wish to send a signal out to be recorded push the record out button once to enter the record select mode In this mode the record out LED indicator is lit and the display indicates the name of the input currently being supplied to the record outputs either NONE or one of your defined inputs on the left side and RECD on the right side To select a different input for recording simply turn the select knob while the record out LED is lit Note that the N 32 will not allow a re cording device to serve as its own source while monitoring itself as this would allow potentially dangerous feedback to be reproduced by the loudspeakers See setting record out in the section on configuring line level inputs for more details 48 the balance mode balance control tip The record outputs may be turned off by turning the select knob until NONE is shown in the main display Turning off the record outputs eliminates even the possibility that the input impedance of a recording device could have an effect on the sound quality of
67. the unit If the N 32 is Linked to other Mark Levinson compo nents which are also in standby they will blink in unison The standby button includes a special function that allows you to use the N 32 as the heart of the world s most exotic sleep timer By pressing and holding the standby button for several seconds you will see the display change to SLEEP OFF subsequent clicks of standby will cycle through a list of sleep timer settings ranging from OFF through four hours in 30 minute increments Setting the sleep timer to Ihr Omin for example will cause the N 32 to enter standby after an hour and will also return the sleep timer s status to OFF so as to avoid unintentional interruptions of your music at a later time You may use the sleep timer func tion as often as you like but you will have to set it as you want it to behave each time The default setting is OFF N 32 Preamplifier Power Indicator This LED glows to indicate that the Preamplifer chassis is receiv ing DC power from the Controller and blinks in unison with the standby LED on the Controller chassis when the Reference Pream plifier is in standby control ports bugun compatible ac mains earth me channel A power 2336 Be 6 N 32 Reference Controller sin RS 232 communications ports master slavein amplifier RIGHT CHANNEL LEFT CHANNEL O SC8csccoo M A osito 2 WARK LEVINSON REFERENCE main outputs Please see bott
68. ting defects in materials and or workman ship will be repaired or replaced at our option without charge for ei ther 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 men tioned There are other stipulations that may apply to shipping charges 57 There is no other express warranty on this component Neither this warranty nor any other warranty express or implied including any im plied warranties of merchantability or fitness shall extend beyond the warranty period No responsibility is assumed for any incidental or consequential damages Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts and other states do not allow the exclu sion 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 authorized Mar
69. tive balance of the left and right channels displaying the magnitude of the offset in decibels If you leave the balance mode with the balance off center the LED re mains lit to remind you that the balance is not even Mute Button Pressing the mute button will reduce the main output level of the preamplifier by a user modifiable amount ranging from 1 to 60 decibels Pressing the mute button a second time without adjust ing the volume will return it to its previous setting If you adjust the volume with either the volume knob or the re mote control while mute is engaged the preamplifier will adjust its volume from the muted volume and disengage the mute func tion This is to prevent an unpleasant surprise when having in creased the volume while muted someone unmutes the system The factory default setting of the mute circuit is 20 dB See Cus tomizing Your N 32 for information on changing the factory de fault setting 20 sleep timer 13 14 Standby Button The standby button toggles the N 32 between normal operation and standby wherein the display is turned off the outputs are dis connected and all controls are inoperable All critical circuitry re mains powered up during standby to ensure immediate optimal performance when you are ready to listen to music The LED above the standby button will blink slowly when the N 32 is in standby indicating that power is still being provided to
70. tput on XLR 2 pr record outputs on Madrigal RCA E Controller Connectors 1 IEC AC mains recepticle 1 earth ground terminal 2 Controller DC cable connectors 1 3 5mm mini jack for IR input 1 3 5mm mini jack for trigger out 1 3 5mm mini jack for trigger in 3 Mark Levinson Link communications connectors 1 6 pin RJ 11 RS 232 port 2 8 pin RJ 45 control ports PHASTLink compatible R Gain 0 6 12 or 18 dB in the line stage either 40 or 60 dB in the optional phono module E Volume control range 80 0 dB R Gain resolution 0 1 dB steps above 23 0 in display 57 dB 1 0 dB steps below 23 0 in display 57 dB E Input overload when gain is set to 18 dB 2V on XLR 1V on RCA when gain is set to 12 dB 4V on XLR 2V on RCA when gain is set to 6 dB 8V on XLR 4V on RCA when gain is set to 0 dB 16V on XLR 8V on RCA E Input impedance 100kQ R Output impedance less than 10Q on XLR less than 20Q on RCA E Maximum output MAIN outputs 16V on XLR 8V on RCA E THD N less than 0 001 E Crosstalk any input to any output input unterminated less than 120 dB input terminated less than 140 dB 59 60 R Residual noise 20 Hz to 20 kHz input terminated less than 120 dBV m Frequency response 10 Hz 40kHz 0 1 dB For more information see your Mark Levinson dealer or contact Madrigal Audio Laboratories Inc P O Box 781 2081 South Main Street Middletown Connecticut 06457 USA phone 860 346
71. uction may be realized There are multiple mono modes available in the N 32 L R the factory default setting e Lonly R only LR For more detailed information on these mono modes please see page 48 To access the non default modes press and hold the mono button for several seconds when the display starts blinking subsequent clicks of the mono button will move you through the options Having selected the one you want as your new default simply let the N 32 time out and revert to its normal display The mono button will now toggle between stereo and your preferred mono Polarity Button Inverts the polarity sometimes inaccurately called absolute phase of the outputs of the N 32 A second press of this button will restore the outputs to their original non inverting polarity Balance Button Duplicates the function of the balance button on the front panel of the N 32 Controller allowing you to then fine tune the relative balance of the Left and Right channels from your listening posi tion using the volume buttons in 0 1 dB increments Mute Button Toggles between normal output level and the user programmable mute 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 10 11 12 13 Select Up and Down Buttons These buttons provide remote selection of the various inputs of the N 32
72. uses a dual mono design that isolates each channel from the other In addition to separate power supplies for the two audio channels and additional completely separate power supplies for the control display and communication circuitry in the Controller the Preamplifier chassis itself offers complete isolation be tween channels In fact there is a die cast aluminum wall between the two channels in the Preamplifier separating Left from Right channels physically as well as electrically The remarkable efforts to preserve isolation between channels in the N 32 deliver superior imaging specificity and accuracy creating a viv idly rich three dimensional sonic image In addition to the isolation between channels isolation between inputs in the N 32 is unsurpassed By using a discrete T switch input switch ing along with special shielding and board layout the selected source effectively has the preamplifier all to itself By effectively unplugging inputs not being used this design delivers better than 120 dB separa tion between even adjacent input connectors ensuring that you hear only the source you intend to hear without even subtle contamination from other active source components As with other current Mark Levinson preamplifiers the N 32 Refer ence Preamplifier is fully balanced from input to output In fact even single ended inputs are converted to balanced upon entering the preamp and are handled in a balanc
73. wer supply no audio circuit can live up to its potential Unfortunately we live in a world in which the quality of AC mains power is increasingly in question The modern conveniences upon which we have become so dependent introduce line noise spikes and various other irregularities Everything from refrigerators to televisions and computers inject their peculiar contaminations back onto the AC line making it increasingly difficult for a high performance audio com ponent to live up to its potential In the N 32 we solve this problem by becoming our own power utility Strange as this sounds it is effectively true There are two independent unusually high quality power supplies dedicated to the two audio chan nels The DC power from these supplies is then used to power a special power amplifier that is fully optimized for reproducing only one fre quency 400 Hz This extremely pure 400 sine wave is then rectified fil tered and regulated again to create extraordinarily pure DC power for the use of the critical preamplifier circuits dual mono design extraordinary isolation fully balanced design discrete attenuator By creating our own dedicated 400 Hz AC power and then using that to create second generation DC power for the audio circuitry we keep the contamination of the modern electrical grid at a safe distance from the sensitive audio circuits we look to for our musical enjoyment As might be expected the N 32
74. xample if we were to add some new convenience feature to the N 32 at a future date your dealer could easily download the new software from our web site to his com puter and from there to your preamplifier all without having to open the product up In fact if the rear panel RS 232 port is accessible you do not even have to disconnect the preamplifier from the system for such an update The last item in the setup menu is a software version number that iden tifies what version of the N 32 control software is running in the preamplifier Your dealer can inform you of the most current version of this software and you can compare that number to the one shown in your display using the teach ir menu technical note Using the N 32 with Learning Remote Controls The teach ir menu within the setup menu lists all of the custom infra red commands available for the various functions of the N 32 Refer ence Preamplifier In every case where a toggle command exists both the normal toggle function and positive control commands for the multiple states are provided Thus the mute key functions as a toggle between mute and unmute but we also provide go mute and go unmute since these positive controls increase the reliability of macros in learning remote control such as Madrigal s own IRIQ To access these commands 1 press setup once to enter the setup menu 2 turn the select knob until Teach IR is displayed 3 press en

Madrigal Audio Audio/Video Preamplifier Owner`s manual

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