Mark Levinson 390S Owner's Manual
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Mark Levinson 390S Owner's Manual

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Nº390S
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  • Page 1 Owner’ s Manual Nº390S Processor...
  • Page 2 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.

  • Page 3: Important Safety Instructions

    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 that includes an earth ground connection.
  • Page 4 From all of us at Mark Levinson, thank you for choosing the Mark Levinson Nº390S CD Processor. 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.

  • Page 5: Table Of Contents

    Table of Contents Unpacking and Placement ......8 Unpacking the Nº390S ....... .8 Remove the Transport Screw .
  • Page 6 Basic Operation ....... . .38 Loading a CD ........38 Playing a CD .
  • Page 7 Using Learning Remote Controls .....52 Teaching Nº390S Front Panel Commands ....52 Teaching Other Nº390S Commands .

  • Page 8: Unpacking And Placement

    Included with your new Mark Levinson CD processor is a pair of knit, white gloves designed to assist you in the initial unpacking and placement of your new purchase. Please accept them as a token of our appreciation for having purchased one of our products.

  • Page 9: Operating Voltage & Frequency

    Nº390S CD Processor, as hazardous voltages exist within the unit. If the AC mains voltage or frequency indicated on your Nº390S is incorrect, please contact your local, authorized Mark Levinson dealer or distributor. The Nº390S can easily be powered by a normal 15-ampere AC mains line.

  • Page 10: A Quick Start

    A Quick Start . . . We recognize that many people are understandably eager to begin listening to their new components, and that reading the manual is often done (if at all) at a later time—perhaps while listening to music with the new product itself. We strongly recommend that you read this manual thoroughly, as the Nº390S CD Processor incorporates many unusual features that enhance its operation.

  • Page 11: Break-In Period

    (Please, do read the rest of this manual.) Break-in Period Although your Mark Levinson Nº390S CD Processor delivers outstanding performance straight out of the box, you should expect to hear it continue to improve as it reaches its normal operating temperatures and its various components “break-in.”...

  • Page 12: Special Design Features

    The Mark Levinson Nº390S leaps beyond conventional digital audio technology by employing a proprietary, closed-loop jitter- reduction system in conjunction with a double speed CD-ROM drive.

  • Page 13: Digital Servo Control

    (In effect, they duplicate the functionality and performance of the corresponding outputs on a Mark Levinson Nº37 CD transport.) All digital interfaces have been carefully optimized to deliver the finest performance each interface standard allows. As a direct result, the Nº390S performs optimally with any digital processor,...

  • Page 14: Convenience Features

    In short, the Mark Levinson Nº390S establishes a new standard for performance and practicality among high end CD players and should be auditioned by anyone who desires the finest in digital audio.

  • Page 15: Advanced Digital Filter Techniques

    Advanced Digital Filter Just as with Mark Levinson separate Digital Audio Processors, such Techniques as our Nº30.6 Reference, the Nº390S incorporates advanced digital filter techniques carefully chosen to optimize the sonic performance of its on-board digital processor.

  • Page 16: Balanced Analog Volume Control

    State-of-the-Art The balanced discrete output buffer circuitry used in the Nº390S Output Buffer employs the same topology used in the remarkable Mark Levinson Nº32 Reference Preamplifier. A hallmark of Mark Levinson preamplifier and digital processor design, this circuit has proven...
  • Page 17 2. Infrared Transceiver (within display) Infrared commands transmitted from the remote control are received by a receiver behind this section of the display. Remote control of the Nº390S may be unreliable if there is not a clear line of sight between the remote control and the receiver (if the remote is far off-axis, or if the Nº390S is within a cabinet, for example).
  • Page 18 5. Time Indicator The time section of the display can be set to display any of the following four indications of time in minutes and seconds: • time elapsed in track (neither LED lit) • time elapsed on disc (time on disc LED lit) •...
  • Page 19 function. For example, mode + would either: add a track to a play list; select the next digital input; advance to the next time indication; or raise the volume. Along with mode + and mode –, the mode button is also used to change the option settings.
  • Page 20 10. mode – and mode + buttons Using these two buttons in conjunction with the mode button, any of four different Nº390S functions can be controlled from the front panel: • PROGRAM (for creating custom play lists) • INPUTS (for selecting a digital source) •...
  • Page 21 13. track repeat LED This LED is lit when the Nº390S is set to repeat a single track endlessly. This feature is accessed using the repeat button (see number 7, page 19). 14. next/f.fwd button Pressing this button momentarily will advance the Nº390S to the beginning of the next track.

  • Page 22: The Extended Pause Mode

    17. play button As you might guess, press this button in order to play a disc. If a programmed sequence of tracks exists for that particular disc, the program will be played from its beginning. Also, as you might expect, you may press the play button immediately after placing a disc in the Nº390S’s drawer;...

  • Page 23: Sleep Timer

    While the Nº390S is in standby, the LED above the standby button flashes approximately every five seconds. (When the Nº390S is Linked to other Mark Levinson components, all their standby lights will blink in unison.) When the Nº390S is ready to operate (that is, when it is not in standby mode), this LED remains lit continuously.

  • Page 24: Rear Panel, Nº390S

    Rear Panel, Nº390S 1. AC power input and switch This input accepts AC power from the AC mains (via the sup- plied AC cable). Warning! The Nº390S is set internally for 100, 120, 200, 220, or 240VAC mains operation at either 50 or 60Hz. Make sure that the label on the bottom of the unit indicates the correct AC operating voltage and frequency for your location before connecting it to AC mains.
  • Page 25 Pin 2: Signal + (non-inverting) Pin 3: Signal – (inverting) Connector ground lug: chassis ground It has been Mark Levinson’s experience that the AES/EBU interconnection standard offers the best quality of all digital transmission interfaces when fully optimized, and we recommend its use wherever possible between Mark Levinson components.
  • Page 26 3. digital inputs These inputs accept digital audio signal (DAS) via cables equipped with either EIAJ optical or RCA (S/PDIF) coaxial connectors from digital sources such as a compact disc transport, laser disc transport, digital audio tape transport, or digital broadcast receiver. The EIAJ input accepts digital audio signal (DAS) via optical cable equipped with the EIAJ optical connector (sometimes called “Toslink™”) from digital sources such as a compact disc...

  • Page 27: Ir Input Tip Polarity

    5. single-ended analog outputs These outputs provide single-ended line-level analog audio (via cables equipped with RCA-type connectors) to a preamplifier, integrated amplifier, or receiver. Alternatively, you may elect to use the variable output capability of the Nº390S as a volume control, driving the power amplifier in your system directly.

  • Page 28: Linking Connections

    Nº390S is illustrated at left. The Nº390S’s master out port normally sits at the beginning of the chain, and is connected to the slave port of a Mark Levinson preamplifier using a “straight-through” eight conductor modular cable. The preamplifier, in turn, serves as the “master” for the power amplifier(s) with which it is used.

  • Page 29: Standard Link Cables

    The modular cable needed for the Link connection between the Nº390S and other Link components may be purchased from your Mark Levinson dealer. It may also be easily made to length using two modular connectors and the appropriate length (up to 100 feet/30 meters) of flat, eight conductor cable.

  • Page 30: Remote Control, Nº390S

    Remote Control, Nº390S 1. IR Transmitter window The Nº390S’s Remote Control sends infrared (IR) commands through its projection lens, and the Nº390S receives IR commands through its Remote sensor window. (See “Front Panel, Nº390S”). If either of these lenses is obstructed, no IR commands can be received by the Nº390S.
  • Page 31 • stop/dwr ( ) Press to stop play. The same button will operate the drawer if stopping the disc has no relevance (e.g., if it is already stopped, or if there is no disc inside the Nº390S). • pause ( ) Press to pause play in the current location.

  • Page 32: Random Play

    5. Numeric Keypad The numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 may be used to directly access individual track numbers of discs played by the Nº390S. For example, to go directly to track 13, press 1 followed by 3, and then press play.
  • Page 33 • intensity/ standby Pressing this button momentarily cycles the Nº390S (and any Linked Mark Levinson components) through their four levels of display intensity (bright, medium, dim, off). When pressed and held (denoted by the bold dot •), this button will place the Nº390S into standby.

  • Page 34: Analog Input Switching

    Pressing this button on the Nº390S remote control will transparently and automatically raise the volume of a Linked Mark Levinson preamplifier, minimizing the need to juggle multiple remotes. Since this function depends on the ability of the Nº390S to pass the instruction to the Nº380 (for example), the two components must be...

  • Page 35: Conditions That Affect Ir Performance

    Conditions that Affect IR communication between the Remote Control and the Nº390S IR Performance can be affected by: • direct sunlight • interior lighting • wall, window, ceiling, and floor treatments • the angle of the Remote Control relative to the Nº390S If the Nº390S will be subject to direct sunlight, place it no more than 10 feet from where you’ll normally operate the Remote Control.

  • Page 36: Setup And Installation

    Setup and Installation Caution! For your protection, review “Important Safety Instructions” before you install your Nº390S. Connecting AC Mains Plug the female end of the AC power cord into the appropriate socket on the rear panel of the Nº390S, being certain to seat it firmly, all the way into the receptacle.

  • Page 37: Connecting The Digital Audio Outputs

    Linked to compatible Mark Levinson components. (See “Communication Ports” in Rear panel, Nº390S.) If you own compatible Mark Levinson components, connect them to the Nº390S with an eight-conductor modular cable as described on p. 25. You may find that you need to cycle...

  • Page 38: Basic Operation

    Basic Operation Before operating your Nº390S, take a minute to become familiar with its controls and their locations. (See “Front Panel, Nº390S” and “Remote Control, Nº390S.”) Loading a CD To load a CD: 1. Make sure that the main power switch is set to the “|” position. 2.

  • Page 39: Navigating The Disc

    Navigating the Disc You may skip to another track any time while a CD is playing. To move to another track, press next (to go forward) or previous (to go backward) until the number of the track you want to play shows on the Display.

  • Page 40: Pause

    Alternatively, you might want to set the Nº390S to play music for a specific period of time. Say you’d like to listen to music until the evening news begins in 30 minutes. Make sure both the time on disc and time remaining LEDs are on (indicating time remaining on disc, the default display mode when in stop);...

  • Page 41: A-B Repeat

    A-B Repeat To repeat (continuously) a specific phrase or passage on a CD (when learning how to play a favorite solo, for example), press A–B on the remote at the beginning of the passage you would like to repeat. At the end of the passage, press A–B on the remote again.

  • Page 42: Assembling A Play List

    The Nº390S’s memory can store play lists for thousands of different CDs. Saved play lists remain in memory when you place the Nº390S into standby, when you turn off the main power switch — even if AC power is interrupted. When you load a CD, the Nº390S reads that CD’s unique identification code.

  • Page 43: Programming By Omission

    Programming by If you want to play most of a CD, and just “omit” a few tracks, Omission you may want to use this shortcut: 1. Load a CD, and wait for the display to show the number of tracks and their total playing time. 2.

  • Page 44: Deleting A Track From A Play List

    Note: If you try to review a nonexistent play list, the display will show NO PGM. 4. To view the next selection, press mode + again, and so on. 5. After you view the last selection, one more press of mode + will cause the display to show END PGM momentarily, and then move on to show the first track in the play list.

  • Page 45: Overriding A Play List

    5. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for each selection you want to add to your program. Make sure to press mode + after each selection. 6. If you would like to make this change permanent, press and hold mode + when you finish erasing selections from your program;...

  • Page 46: Whole-Disc Polarity Programming

    To complicate matters further, different portions of (or instruments on) the recording may experience even or odd numbers of inversions, resulting in no single “correct” playback setting. This problem is particularly common among multiple-microphone recordings. Ultimately, only you can decide whether one polarity setting sounds better than the other, and if so, which you prefer.

  • Page 47: Overriding A Polarity Program

    displayed, and then press the positive command for program + (see Special Commands table, page 55) to revise the program. Overriding a Polarity If you want to double-check you previously-saved polarity program, Program simply press the polarity button at any time. Doing so will change the polarity of the Nº390S, but will not modify the polarity program (e.g., the next time you play the disc, the polarity you saved in the program will be used).

  • Page 48: Sound Menu Items

    The Nº390S has the ability to “link” several of its functions to compatible Mark Levinson components (like the Nº360/S Digital Audio Processor and the Nº380/S Preamplifier, and the Nº33 and 300-series power amplifiers).

  • Page 49: Locked Volume

    • Locked Volume Lastly, if (and only if) the volume control circuitry is engaged, you have the option of setting a maximum volume beyond which the Nº390S will not go. This is particularly helpful if you have a combination of high sensitivity speakers and high sensitivity power amplifiers, which might make the normal maximum volume setting on the Nº390S dangerously loud for your particular system.

  • Page 50: Display Link

    • Display Link This links the display intensity functions of the Nº390S and the other Linked components. When the components are linked, all displays will be set to the same brightness. Pressing display intensity on any of the Linked components will affect all the displays.

  • Page 51: Changing Link Options

    input selection process to a simple toggle between the two used inputs. Labeling both auxiliary inputs “N.U.” will effectively disable the input selection process on the Nº390S, although it will still control the analog inputs of a Linked preamplifier. Changing Link Options The following procedure will guide you through changing your Link options, should you decide you would like something other than the factory default settings.

  • Page 52: Using Learning Remote Controls

    To change between manual and timed/ automatic standby: 1. Press and hold the standby button until the display reads MANUAL. 2. Release the standby button and then use the previous and next buttons to either advance or reduce the amount of time you want to transpire between the last activity of the Nº390S and its going into standby.

  • Page 53: Teaching Other Nº390S Commands

    If you change your mind, simply don’t touch any button for ten seconds and the Nº390S will return to normal operation. (Hint: you may remember that this special “hidden” feature of the Nº390S is accessed via a press-and-hold of the repeat button by associating its use with the external IR “repeaters”...
  • Page 54 These “positive control” commands in the Nº390S will place it into a certain mode of operation regardless of its current state. For example, a positive control command to enter standby will leave the Nº390S in standby if already there, or switch it to standby if it is currently operating.

  • Page 55: Special Commands Table

    5. Repeat the process of “teaching” new special commands until all desired commands have been learned by your remote control. If you take longer than approximately ten seconds between button pushes, the Nº390S will time out and return to normal operation.

  • Page 56: Troubleshooting

    Troubleshooting In general, refer any service problems to your Mark Levinson dealer. Before contacting your dealer, however, check to see if the problem is listed here. If it is, try the suggested solutions. If none of these solves the problem, contact your Mark Levinson dealer.
  • Page 57  Some associated Mark Levinson components may have older versions of the system software that do not fully support all Linked functions. Contact your Mark Levinson dealer with the model and serial numbers of your Mark Levinson components.

  • Page 58: Care And Maintenance

    Care and Maintenance To remove dust from the cabinet of the Nº390S, use a feather duster. To remove dirt and fingerprints, we recommend isopropyl alcohol and a soft cloth. Caution! Always apply the isopropyl alcohol to the soft cloth and then wipe the Nº390S with the dampened cloth.

  • Page 59: Specifications

    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 Nº390S yield excellent results by any standards. However, only those specifications that apply to its actual operation are included here.
  • Page 60 2 male XLR balanced audio outputs Output Complement: • 2 RCA single-ended audio outputs • 1 AES/EBU (XLR) digital output • 1 S/PDIF (RCA) digital output • 2 RJ-45 modular Communication Links Other I/O • 1 3.5mm external IR input jack •...

  • Page 61: Dimensions

    Dimensions...

  • Page 62: Installation Notes

    Installation Notes...
  • Page 64 3 Oak Park, Bedford, MA, 01730-1413 USA | Telephone: 781-280-0300 | Fax: 781-280-0490 | www.marklevinson.com Customer Support: Telephone: 781-280-0300 | Sales Fax: 781-280-0495 | Service Fax: 781-280-0499 Product Shipments: 16 Progress Road, Billerica, MA 01821-5730 USA Part No. 070-630457 | Rev 1 | 04/04...

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