Mark Levinson N40 User Manual

Nº40MediaConsoleOwner’s Manual

1-2Getting Started Mark LevinsonSpecial Design FeaturesModular DesignAs seen from the rear panel, perhaps the most obvious characteris-tic of the Nº40

5-34Menu System Mark LevinsonWe also specify video input connectors verbally by a simple “slot & connector” system. The slot numbers are engraved

5-35Nº40 Media Console Menu SystemAnalog Input OffsetIf you have an analog connection associated with the input you are defining, you can set an analo

5-36Menu System Mark Levinson4. Continue to monitor the recording through one or two more loud passages to ensure that the ADC does not clip; save the

5-37Nº40 Media Console Menu SystemSome videophiles, however, might prefer to have the video signal pass through the Nº40 with a bare minimum of proces

5-38Menu System Mark Levinsonto do this is by using a test DVD such as Video Essentials, with your DVD player connected through the Nº40 with all its

5-39Nº40 Media Console Menu SystemSharpnessThe sharpness control is an input-specific version of the same control on your television. It controls the

5-40Menu System Mark LevinsonNote that the tint control is only available to composite and S-video inputs; it is not available to component inputs (an

5-41Nº40 Media Console Menu Systemyou change your mind about deleting it, press menu to cancel the action. (You can always re-create the input if you

5-42Menu System Mark LevinsonThe Audio Defaults MenuThe audio defaults menu allows you to direct the Nº40 to automati-cally switch to a particular sou

5-43Nº40 Media Console Menu System

1-3Nº40 Media Console Getting Startedstereo analog outputs, a digital audio output, and a zone-specific IR input for control purposes• 2 PHASTLink™-co

5-44Menu System Mark Levinsonto place identical information in each of two “stereo” channels, creating an oxymoron: the mono, two-channel recording.Th

5-45Nº40 Media Console Menu SystemThe User Options MenuThe user options menu is where you can change many aspects of the routine operation of the Nº40

5-46Menu System Mark Levinson• Absolute On a scale of 0.0 (no sound) to 80.0 (extremely loud)• Relative On a scale which is measured “plus or minus,”

5-47Nº40 Media Console Menu System• Sound profile To display the current sound profile whenever it changes.• Surround mode To display the current surr

5-48Menu System Mark Levinson•Menus & MessagesBoth full-fledged menus like the setup menu itself and the tran-sitory messages as defined above wil

5-49Nº40 Media Console Menu SystemMain text positionModern video systems need to accommodate a wide variety of aspect ratios, ranging from an almost-s

5-50Menu System Mark Levinson•EnterThe enter function performs exactly as the enter button on the remote control would.•Zone knobThe Nº40 video proces

5-51Nº40 Media Console Menu SystemTriggers 1, 2, 3Each of the three DC triggers provided on the rear panel of the Nº40 Video Processor can be programm

5-52Menu System Mark LevinsonSelected modes are indicated by a change in the color and a + next to their names.Two channelThis allows you to choose wh

5-53Nº40 Media Console Menu SystemOutput Zones MenuThe last major area of the setup menu system is the Output zones menu. In it, you specify certain d

1-4Getting Started Mark LevinsonSound profiles capture the many characteristics you can define for a particular activity, and make them available at t

5-54Menu System Mark Levinson• cap Toggles the characters between capital and small letters• save Saves the current Name Line and returns to the menu•

5-55Nº40 Media Console Menu Systemthat uses RGB information with a separate, composite sync connec-tion. If you require this sort of output for your t

5-56Menu System Mark LevinsonThe goal here is to make sure you can always see the information you want to see from the Nº40, while minimizing the chan

5-57Nº40 Media Console Menu System•Left/right audioA normal, stereo signal in which information from the left side of the room goes to the left speake

5-58Menu System Mark LevinsonThe name of your RZone can be up to twelve characters long (e.g., “Bedroom,” “Kitchen,” “Den,” or “Record”). We suggest u

5-59Nº40 Media Console Menu System• NTSC video is used for audio/video zones (either record or remote) that will be used with NTSC video signals. This

5-60Menu System Mark LevinsonDolby downmixThe last item in the RZone menu determines the type of Dolby downmix you prefer in this zone when you elect

5-61Nº40 Media Console Menu System• 16:9 BottomThe last line of text is just above the bottom of a wide screen 16:9 television screen when in its line

5-62

5-63Nº40 Media Console Menu System• Mono CenterThe mono signal is formed by summing the left and right chan-nels. The result is sent out the center sp

1-5Nº40 Media Console Getting StartedSignificantly, this remarkably effective jitter-rejection circuitry is used for all digital signals, on all paths

5-64Menu System Mark Levinson• NEO:6 Cinema with THXThe same decoding as NEO:6 Cinema, but with the addition of THX post processing: re-equalization a

5-65Nº40 Media Console Menu System• THX Surround EXUse Dolby Pro Logic II matrix processing to create the surrounds and back channels from the surroun

5-66Menu System Mark Levinsonadjusted “forward” to get a better balance. Likewise, if a stereo recording is somewhat too “mono” or “narrow” sounding,

5-67Nº40 Media Console Menu System• SurroundsAdjusts the level of the surround channels, (normally at the sides of the room) relative to the other cha

6-1RZones are the secondary zones that give you the flexibility and power to extend the value of your source components beyond one main room. The stan

6-2Using the RZones Mark LevinsonRZone User InterfaceThe RZones can be controlled from the front panel of your Nº40, from the main zone remote control

7-1The Mark Levinson Nº40 Media Console is a remarkably powerful and flexible control center for even the most advanced home enter-tainment system. Pr

7-2Advanced Features Mark LevinsonPatterns of UseAs you live with the system for a while, you may notice certain patterns of use emerging. For example

7-3Nº40 Media Console Advanced Features• The listener position would be focused squarely on your favorite chair• 2-channel signals would be set to be

1-6Getting Started Mark LevinsonDigital to analog conversionDigital to analog conversion is also done at an extraordinarily high level, as you would e

7-4Advanced Features Mark LevinsonInput associationYou can associate individual profiles with particular inputs in the define inputs menu. If you almo

7-5Nº40 Media Console Advanced FeaturesExternal Control SystemsThe Nº40 has powerful tools that allow a remarkable degree of auto-mation of the system

8-1Refer any service problems to your Mark Levinson dealer. Before contacting your dealer, however, check to see if the problem is listed here. If it

8-2Troubleshooting & Maintaining Mark LevinsonLEDs should begin to blink together, indicating that the system is ready to be turned on and used.•

A-1SpecificationsAudio ProcessorConnectors6 S/PDIF electrical on RCA inputs1 S/PDIF electrical on BNC input2 AES/EBU electrical on XLR inputs4 EIAJ op

A-2Appendix Mark LevinsonDigital to AnalogConverter TypeBalanced 24/192 multibit Σ∆Maximum Output(XLR)12V rmsMaximum Output (RCA)6V rmsDynamic Range&g

A-3Nº40 Media Console AppendixDifferential phase(pass-through)<0.2°Differential phase(through decoder)<1°Differential gain (pass-through)<0.3

A-4Appendix Mark LevinsonDeclaration of ConformityApplication of Council Directive(s):89/336/EEC and 73/23/EEC, as amendedStandard(s) to which Conform

A-5Nº40 Video Processor DimensionsFigure A-1:Nº40 Video Processor side, top/bottom, and front views.

1-7Nº40 Media Console Getting StartedMovie sound tracks are mixed in special movie theaters called dubbing stages, and are designed to be played back

A-6Nº40 Audio Processor DimensionsFigure A-2: Nº40 Audio Processor side, top/bottom, and front views.

A-8Appendix Mark LevinsonFigure A-4: Rack mount instructions Part 2Each mounted Nº40 processor rack mount kit occupies five standard rack units of hei

A-9Nº40 Media Console AppendixVideo Processor Hookup ChartPlease use the following graphic to help keep track of where you have connected various comp

A-10Appendix Mark LevinsonAudio Processor Hookup ChartPlease use the following graphic to help keep track of where you have connected various componen

3 Oak Park, Bedford, MA, 01730-1413 USA | Telephone: 781-280-0300 | Fax: 781-280-0490 | www.marklevinson.comCustomer Service Telephone: 781-28

1-8Getting Started Mark LevinsonIn a movie theater, film sound tracks that have been encoded with Dolby Digital Surround EX technology are able to rep

1-9Nº40 Media Console Getting StartedBGC (Boundary Gain Compensation)If your chosen listening position results in most of the listeners being close to

1-10Getting Started Mark LevinsonThe analog backplane, as discussed, rivals the finest matrix switch-ers used in the professional video world. In addi

1-11Nº40 Media Console Getting StartedInstallation ConsiderationsThe Nº40 Media Console requires special care during installation to ensure optimal pe

i1. Read these instructions2. Keep these instructions.3. Heed all warnings.4. Follow all instructions.5. Do not use this apparatus near water.6. Clean

1-12Getting Started Mark LevinsonIn the Nº40 Audio Processor carton:Product RegistrationPlease register the Nº40 within 15 days of purchase. To do so,

1-13Nº40 Media Console Getting StartedDO NOT install either Nº40 chassis near unshielded TV or FM antennas, cable TV decoders, and other RF-emitting d

1-14Getting Started Mark LevinsonPower RequirementsMark Levinson products are factory-set for 100V, 120V, 220V, 230V or 240V AC mains operation at eit

1-15Nº40 Media Console Getting StartedWhile Reading the Manual...The following brief introductionto the Nº40 Media Console assumes that your installer

1-16Getting Started Mark LevinsonSurround ModeOnce you have selected the source and set the volume, you may find that a different surround sound proce

1-17Nº40 Media Console Getting Startedeasy. You might have two defined inputs labeled “DVD-Film” and “DVD-Music” that would automatically configure th

2-1Video Processor Front PanelFigure 2-1: Video Processor front panel.1. Power (AC Mains) button2. Input Select knob3. LCD display4. Zone knob5. IR wi

2-2Front Panel Operation Mark LevinsonPower (AC Mains)buttonThe power button disconnects the Nº40 video processor from the AC mains.If you plan to be

2-3Nº40 Media Console Front Panel Operation• To “cue up” the next video source prior to sending the signal to the main display;• To monitor what is ha

iiFCC NoticeThis equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pur-suant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. Th

2-4Front Panel Operation Mark Levinsonthe next level. Please refer to “Menu System” on page 5-1 for more information.IR windowAs with most contemporar

2-5Nº40 Media Console Front Panel OperationDisplay Mode buttonPressing this button repeatedly will toggle the LCD display of the Nº40 between always o

2-6Front Panel Operation Mark LevinsonOnce you have reached the end of any particular branch of the menu system, there will be some value assigned to

2-7Nº40 Media Console Front Panel OperationAudio Processor Front PanelFigure 2-2: Audio Processor front panel.1. Power (AC Mains) button2. Surround Mo

2-8Front Panel Operation Mark Levinsonyour components, or you can use the power buttons on your various Mark Levinson components.When first connected

2-9Nº40 Media Console Front Panel Operationthis, turn the surround mode knob. For more information on sound profiles and their use, please refer to “A

2-10Front Panel Operation Mark LevinsonDisplay Intensity ButtonPressing this button will cycle through several levels of illumina-tion on the front pa

2-11Nº40 Media Console Front Panel Operation• SurroundsAdjusts the level of the surround channels, (normally at the sides of the room) relative to the

2-12Front Panel Operation Mark LevinsonSystem” on page 5-1 for information on changing the factory default setting.)Standby Button andLED IndicatorWhe

4-1Figure 4-1: Remote Control.1. Navigation cluster2. Enter button3. Menu button4. Input Select rocker button5. Surround Mode rocker button6. Volume r

4-2Remote Control Mark Levinson12. Standby button13. Battery compartment (on rear-bottom of remote control)Navigation ClusterThe up, down, left and ri

4-3Nº40 Media Console Remote ControlSurround ModeRocker ButtonThe surround mode rocker button cycles through the list of available surround modes, in

4-4Remote Control Mark LevinsonWhen a profile is selected manually using either the front panel sound profile button or the profile button on the remo

4-5Nº40 Media Console Remote Controlthe relative volume of some subset of your speakers to meet your requirements.There is another incremental change

4-6Remote Control Mark LevinsonLight buttonPress the Light button to illuminate the label on the Nº40 remote control with a soft blue-green light. The

3-1Video Processor Rear PanelFigure 3-1: Video Processor rear panel.1. Composite Input Card (slot 1)2. Video input expansion (slot 2)3. S-Video Input

3-2Rear Panel Operation Mark Levinson11. Main component video outputs12. Monitor output13. PHASTLink- compatible control ports14. RS-232 control ports

3-3Nº40 Media Console Rear Panel OperationFigure 3-2: Composite Input Card. We suggest using high quality 75Ω video cables for all your video connecti

3-4Rear Panel Operation Mark LevinsonFigure 3-4: Component Input Card. These three wires contain a single luminance signal (a black-and-white version

3-5Nº40 Media Console Rear Panel OperationFigure 3-5: Video RZone Card. The RZones are counted from right to left; hence slot 11 is reserved for RZone

ivTable of ContentsSection 1: Getting StartedDocument Conventions ...1-1Special Design Features ...

3-6Rear Panel Operation Mark Levinsondelay to initialize and run some self-diagnostics, the Nº40 will be ready for initial setup and use. Please wait

3-7Nº40 Media Console Rear Panel Operationvideo) is done automatically. All the main video outputs on the Nº40 are active at all times.Figure 3-9: Mai

3-8Rear Panel Operation Mark Levinsonchain them in a similar way. These are fully bidirectional ports, and the order in which they are connected is no

3-9Nº40 Media Console Rear Panel OperationFigure 3-12: RS-232 ports pin connections.Nº40 CommunicationsPortThe two “halves” of the Nº40 (the video pro

3-10Rear Panel Operation Mark LevinsonFigure 3-14: IR input tip polarity. Your Mark Levinson dealer can help you take advantage of these design featur

3-11Nº40 Media Console Rear Panel OperationAudio Processor Rear PanelFigure 3-15: Audio Processor rear panel.1. Balanced analog input (slot 1)2. Audio

3-12Rear Panel Operation Mark Levinson13. Aux 1 and aux 2 main analog outputs (slot D)Balanced AnalogInputAs shipped from the factory, slot 1 is norma

3-13Nº40 Media Console Rear Panel OperationAES/EBU and S/PDIFon BNC Digital InputsAs shipped from the factory, slot 5 is normally used for a digital i

3-14Rear Panel Operation Mark LevinsonFigure 3-19: S/PDIF on RCA & EIA-J. Connectors 1-3 on each card accept digital audio conforming to the 75Ω S

3-15Nº40 Media Console Rear Panel OperationConnect either (or both) of the audio outputs to your intended remote zone system or audio recorder, accord

vTable of Contents Mark LevinsonSection 3: Rear Panel OperationVideo Processor Rear Panel ... 3-1Composite

3-16Rear Panel Operation Mark LevinsonIf additional DSP power should become necessary at some point in the future to perform yet more audio processing

3-17Nº40 Media Console Rear Panel OperationFigure 3-23: Front LR analog outputs.The pin assignments of the XLR-type male outputs conform to the intern

3-18Rear Panel Operation Mark LevinsonIf you have a variety of amplifiers from different companies, particular care must be taken to ensure that all t

3-19Nº40 Media Console Rear Panel OperationAux 1 & Aux 2 MainAnalog OutputsAll eight of the main zone analog outputs of the Nº40 audio processor a

3-20Rear Panel Operation Mark LevinsonOptional EquipmentWe believe that the Mark Levinson Nº40 with its standard equip-ment complement will meet the n

3-21Nº40 Media Console Rear Panel Operationhas significant on-board DSP resources for doing decoding and downmixing as needed.•Slot 12This slot is res

3-22Rear Panel Operation Mark Levinsonoperate properly for all of your audio sources. If you need a Six Channel Analog Input Card, please contact your

5-1OverviewThe Mark Levinson Nº40 Media Console includes a comprehensive and sophisticated graphical menu system that serves several critical function

5-2Menu System Mark Levinsonthe system will be to start at the top, and simply work your way through. This is important, since selections you make ear

5-3Nº40 Media Console Menu SystemTry to remember this “branch” and “leaf” idea. We will come back to it in a few moments.Using the up/down buttons on

viNº40 Media Console Table of ContentsStandby button ... 4-6Battery Compartment ...

5-4Menu System Mark LevinsonFront panel menu navigationSometimes it is more convenient to navigate the menu system of the Nº40 from the front panel, r

5-5Nº40 Media Console Menu SystemThe About... ScreenThe first screen you see in the setup menu consists of a column of icons (each of which represents

5-6Menu System Mark LevinsonSpeakers MenuThe first thing you need to tell your Nº40 Media Console about is the speakers with which it has to work. The

5-7Nº40 Media Console Menu SystemNote that in many systems, these speakers can be described as “side” speakers. We have elected to use the standard no

5-8Menu System Mark LevinsonIf there is information that would normally be presented to the aux outputs (for example, in a Surround•EX sound track), t

5-9Nº40 Media Console Menu SystemTo summarize, in this setting: • The subwoofer channel becomes the right sub channel• The aux 1 channel remains unuse

5-10Menu System Mark Levinson• The aux 1 channel becomes the surround back right channel (sbr)• The aux 2 channel becomes the surround back left chann

5-11Nº40 Media Console Menu SystemWe have omitted indicating where the subwoofer is located in these drawings, since no one subwoofer location is alwa

5-12Menu System Mark Levinsonsettings, indicated by “sub #1” and “sub #2” in the menu system when this option is selected.Surround back and left subwo

5-13Nº40 Media Console Menu Systemover slope that ought to be used. Thus, you have independent control over the crossover characteristics for each of

viiTable of Contents Mark LevinsonSurround Options ...5-51Output Zones Menu ...

5-14Menu System Mark Levinsonthe sum of all active channels for whatever is being played in the main zone, and is a full bandwidth mono signal. An app

5-15Nº40 Media Console Menu SystemASA back separationIf you have two back speakers, the Nº40 needs to get an indication of how far apart they are in o

5-16Menu System Mark LevinsonLine with a blinking cursor on the currently active character. A keyboard with characters and operations to select is sho

5-17Nº40 Media Console Menu Systemspeaker over another, adjust the output levels of each speaker in turn to 75 dB SPL (C-weighted, slow). (The Nº40 wi

5-18Menu System Mark Levinsonturned up fairly high, it is easy to imagine the woofer being taken beyond its limits.With the bass peak limit control, y

5-19Nº40 Media Console Menu SystemSound Profile MenuThis section of the Nº40 Setup Menu allows you to create custom-ized sound profiles that suit your

5-20Menu System Mark Levinson1. Select the name menu item.2. Press enter (or right arrow, on the remote). Invokes the keyboard window. The current nam

5-21Nº40 Media Console Menu Systemchange. The profile will then make no change to the current listening position. If all of your profiles are set to n

5-22Menu System Mark Levinsonof Dolby Pro Logic II and the mode is called Surround Plus + THX Cinema. One or two surround back speakers are required.•

5-23Nº40 Media Console Menu SystemThe Nº40 provides a variety of processing options for two channel material. They include:•2-ch StereoUsed to play th

1-1Getting StartedDocument ConventionsThis document contains general safety, installation and operation instructions for the Nº40Reference Preamplifie

5-24Menu System Mark Levinsonrial that was not specifically encoded for Dolby Pro Logic play-back.• Dolby Pro Logic II Movie with THXThe same decoding

5-25Nº40 Media Console Menu System• Mono on FrontsPlaces the same mono information in both the left and right speakers, creating a “phantom” center im

5-26Menu System Mark LevinsonThe solution makes use of some specific information provided by Dolby Digital sound tracks to provide some degree of comp

5-27Nº40 Media Console Menu System• 30-100 HzA normal, complementary crossover, available in 10 Hz incre-ments.In the normal setting, your subwoofer w

5-28Menu System Mark LevinsonIf an aux use option that included a single surround back (Sb) speaker is selected, the following options are available f

5-29Nº40 Media Console M169

5-30Menu System Mark Levinson•No change The trigger remains in whatever state it was in prior to switch-ing to this sound profile.•Trigger onThe trigg

5-31Nº40 Media Console Menu SystemThe Define Input MenuAs can be seen from the rear panel diagrams and explanations earlier in this manual, the Nº40 M

5-32Menu System Mark Levinson4. Repeat steps 1 - 3 to fill in the name.5. To end the editing session, use the save or quit operations. The menu button

5-33Nº40 Media Console Menu System3. Rotate the zone knob (or use the up/down arrows on the remote) to select the audio input (first, second or third