Mark Levinson N390S owner manual

Digital Servo Control

Digital Input/Output Versatility

Industrial Design

The laser mechanism used in the Nº390S uses all digital servo controls of its operations. Critical functions such as focus and tracking are handled completely in the digital domain with mathematical precision. A digital servo remains stable over time, never needing readjustment under normal conditions.

The Nº390S CD player incorporates two digital inputs, allowing two external digital sources such as a laser disc player and digital cable radio to benefit from the excellent digital processor incorporated within. The two most common digital interfaces are supported for the widest compatibility: EIAJ (sometimes called “TosLink™”) and S/PDIF coaxial, via an RCA connector.

Two high quality digital output configurations are also supported in the Nº390S. A new complementary driver for the balanced AES/EBU electrical output delivers outstanding performance to the high quality XLR connector. A single-ended S/PDIF electrical output is also provided via an RCA connector. These digital outputs may be used to feed the input of digital recorders or an outboard digital processor, and they both benefit from the closed- loop jitter reduction circuitry described above. (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 direct13 result, the Nº390S performs optimally with any digital processor, without having to resort to techniques which would limit its compatibility with other products.

The Nº390S shares the handsome industrial design of other Mark Levinson components such as the Nº380 preamplifier. The combination of the hand-brushed, black-anodized aluminum faceplate and bead-blasted custom-machined buttons make operating the Nº390S a tactile as well as a sonic pleasure.

A large, easily read display provides information as to the operational status of the Nº390S from across the room, making the supplied remote control more genuinely useful than on products lacking such a display.

In keeping with its sophisticated design, the Nº390S also incorporates a Mark Levinson-designed loading mechanism. Contrasting strongly with the bulky, plastic drawers commonly used, the slim 1⁄8 inch drawer is machined from a solid piece of aluminum and rides on highly polished bearings. Its variable- speed design opens and closes quickly, but without jarring the disc contained within, nor risking a jam from dislodging it.