Owner’s Manual Nº32 Reference Phono Modules R Madrigal 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.
Important Safety Instructions Please read all instructions and precautions carefully and completely before operating your Mark Levinson® preamplifier. 1. ALWAYS disconnect your entire system from the AC mains before connecting or disconnecting any cables, or when cleaning any component. 2. This product must be terminated with a three-conductor AC mains power cord which includes an earth ground connection. To prevent shock hazard, all three connections must ALWAYS be used. 3.
From all of us at Madrigal Audio Laboratories, thank you for choosing the Mark Levinson Nº32 Reference Phono Preamplifier Modules. 4 A great deal of effort went into the design and construction of these precision devices. Used properly, they will give you many years of enjoyment.
Table of Contents Special Design Features of the Nº32 Reference Preamplifier ....... 6 modular approach .............................................................................. 6 input connections .............................................................................. 6 input loading network ........................................................................ 6 ac regenerated power supply ............................................................. 7 fully balanced design .................
Special Design Features of the Nº32 Reference Preamplifier modular approach The Nº32 Reference Preamplifier and Reference Phono Preamplifier Modules were designed together. All the high performance power supply, extensive control and high isolation input circuitry that characterizes the Nº32 Reference Preamplifier allows the purpose-built phono modules to perform at a extraordinarily high level. Each channel of the Nº32 reference phono preamplifier is a removable module.
tion, optional custom termination is provided via a pair of gold-plated terminal posts within each phono module. No soldering is necessary when using these binding posts. ac regenerated power supply The foundation upon which any audio component is built is the power supply. Without an extremely clean, noise-free power 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.
able from our balanced circuitry by including a balanced XLR input connector version of the phono preamplifier modules. No32 XLR phono module recommended wiring NC 1 2 LEFT + 3 LEFT - TONE ARM GROUND NC 1 2 3 RIGHT + RIGHT - Combined with a shielded, twisted pair cable from cartridge to preamp, the XLR input phono preamp offers the ultimate in noise rejection and low level signal resolultion. (An RCA-equipped version is also available for wider compatibility with existing phono cables.
width and open loop gain to provide uncompromised performance even at the 60db of gain required by a moving coil preamplifier. The instrumentation amplifier stage offers high common mode rejection, a noise-cancellation feature usually limited to transformer-based designs, while avoiding the serious limitations of those same designs. high accuracy RIAA equalization A balanced pair of active RIAA equalization circuits follows the gain stages. The filter is built with 0.
Unpacking Warning! Do not attempt to use your Nº32 Reference Phono modules unless your Nº32 Controller is using version 1.03 (or greater) of its operating software. Prior to installation, check your software by pressing Setup and turning the Select knob one click to the left, and reading the resulting display. If you need new software, please contact your authorized Mark Levinson dealer.
Operating Voltage The Nº32 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 Nº32 Controller indicates the correct AC operating voltage for your location.
Installing the Nº32 Reference Phono Preamplifier Modules Important! Installation of the Nº32 Reference Phono Preampllifier Modules should be done by a qualified and authorized Mark Levinson dealer. The following description is provided for your reference (and that of the dealer). Failure to observe proper ESD (electrostatic discharge) procedures may result in damage the preamplifier.
material needed The following materials and tools are needed to perform the installation of the Nº32 Phono modules into the Nº32 Preamplifier: 1 – Nº32 reference preamplifier 1 – pair Nº32 phono preamp modules 1 – wrist strap for ESD protection 1 – 3⁄32" hex driver 1 – 5⁄64" hex driver 1 – 5⁄32" hex key 2 – 10-32 socket head cap screws installation procedure Carefully perform the following procedure after having read it through at least once from start to finish; taking it one step at a time should make
3. Remove the two screws from rear bottom of Nº32 Preamplifier top cover that hold it in place (using the 3⁄32” hex key supplied with the Nº32). These are located at the bottom outside corners of the rear panel. 14 4. Slide top cover back slightly then up and off. Once you have slid the cover back approximately one-half inch (or about a centimeter), the cover can be lifted straight up and off.
5. Peel off the protective film covering the copper strip on the end of the wrist strap, and attach it so that the copper strip contacts the chassis of the Nº32; wrap the other end around your wrist. Grounding yourself to the chassis on which you are working, using a conductive ESD wrist strap, ensures that no voltage can build up between you and and part of the chassis. This is important since the chassis includes some components that are sensitive to electrostatic discharges (ESD).
this Warning: , not The cables must lie flat against phono preamp top cover to slide in to Nº32 preamp. 8. Gently slide the left phono preamp module into the opening in the left channel of the Nº32 preamp. Repeat for right channel. 16 Do not force! The phono preamp modules should slide in easily. If a phono preamp module does not slide in easily, remove it and repeat step 7. 9.
11. Carefully lift connector ends of cables out of holes in phono preamp top cover. Being careful to avoid catching the connectors on the edges of the slots in which they have been sitting during installation, set the unattached ends of the ribbons cable free as shown below. 17 12. Plug all four cables from phono preamp modules into their respective sockets on upper circuit board inside Nº32 Preamplifier. Note that the connector will “click” when fully seated.
(closeup) 13. Remove your ESD wrist strap from the chassi and from your wrist. It would hinder your replacing the top cover, next. 14. Replace Nº32 preamp top cover and screws (3⁄32” hex key) 18 When replacing the top cover, note the guide pins at the bottom edges as well as the top “key” you noticed before. All three must be lined up before you slide the top cover forward, flush with the front panel. 15.
Customizing Your Nº32 setup overview The Nº32 Preamplifier has many provisions for custom-tailoring the system’s operation to match your preferences.
Set Phono 1 Name= PH/MC 1 Ph Gain= +60 Gain= +12 dB Offset= 0.0 Bal= <-0.0-> 20Hz HPF=ON R Load=100 C Load=.01uF Set Phono 2 Name= PH/MM 2 Ph Gain= +40 Gain= +12 dB Offset= 0.0 Bal= <-0.0-> 20Hz HPF=ON R Load=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 Nº32’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.
• • • • • between the output level of a given source and the preamplifier’s gain structure. Offset— automatic volume adjustments implemented whenever switching to this particular input, used to ensure that all sources 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. Balance— unique to phono inputs, this is used to correct for the seemingly inevitable small imbalances seen in all almost cartridges.
The Ph Gain selection should be made prior to the gain adjustment outlined below, as appropriate for your cartridge type. Otherwise you may end up attempting to for an incorrect phono setting from within the line level portion of the preamplifier. setting (line) gain Each input in the Nº32 can be set for one of four gain settings: 0 dB, 6 dB, 12 dB, or 18 dB.
setting the balance setting the 20 Hz filter The balance (Bal) setting 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.
setting the capacitive load C Load refers to the capacitive load the phono preamplifier presents to the cartridge. (Of course, any capacitance in the phono cables is beyond the preamp’s control and should be added to this figure.) This number is normally 0.01µ F for moving coil (MC) cartridges, and can range from about 0pF to 350pF for moving magnets (MM). Specifically, we include precision capacitor values of 0pF (“picoFarad”), 50pF, 100pF, 150pF, 200pF, 250pF, 300pF, 350pF, plus 0.01 µF (“micro-Farad”).
Installing a Custom Load A pair of gold plated screw terminals is available inside each of the Nº32 phono preamplifier modules. It may be used to install a “custom” resistor for phono cartridge loading, in the case where a value is desired that not available from the existing set (3.3Ω, 5Ω, 7.7Ω, 10Ω, 33Ω, 50Ω, 77Ω, 100Ω, 330Ω or 47kΩ). These user input load terminals are only accessible with the phono modules removed from the Nº32, since they are internal to those modules.
1. Lift connector end of cable out of hole in shield box if needed. 2. Using the 5⁄64" hex driver, remove four button head screws from top cover of phono module. 3. Carefully lift top cover off over cables and lay it to the side. 4. Touch the metal enclosure of module before touching any component inside module to prevent ESD damage. 26 You must repeat this step if you so much as walk across the room to get something.
5. Loosen each gold thumb screw a few turns. You do not have to remove the thumbscrews—just loosen them enough to slide the leads of your resistor in the gap. 6. Place the leads of resistor between thumb screws and terminal posts. 7. Tighten thumb screws firmly. The result should look something like the photo below (although your resistor may well look different). 27 8. Trim lead if necessary to avoid contact with other components.
9. Guide cables through holes and replace top cover. 28 10. Re-install top cover screws. Be careful not to cross thread these relatively small screws. 11. Put cable ends back into holes in top cover and reinstall as per the instructions in Installing the Nº32 Reference Phono Preamplifier Modules, earlier in this manual. You may now access your custom value by selecting “other” in the phono loading menu.
Care and Maintenance To remove dust from the external cabinet of the Nº32, 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 Nº32, going with the grain of the brushed aluminum. No maintenance of the internally-mounted phono modules is normally required.
U.S. and Canadian Warranty 30 90-day limited 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 Laboratories, Inc., P. O. Box 781, Middletown, CT 06457.
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 information or parts, or to obtain a Return Authorization.
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 Nº32 yield excellent results by any standards. However, only those specifications that apply to its actual operation are included here. ■ Frequency response: ±0.1 dB +0.1, -0.
Installation Notes 33
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 R MADRIGAL AUDIO LABORATORIES is a registered trademark of Madrigal Audio Laboratories, Inc. a Harman International company 630357 © 3/1999 Madrigal Audio Laboratories, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.
