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 destination of all source signals, the Nº383 must be the final comm port in the chain. (In technical terms, it terminates the communications bus.)
Thus, if the only other Mark Levinson Link-compatible component you have is a digital audio processor, connect its master port to the Nº383’s comm port using a “straight-through” RJ-45 cable. If there are additional Mark Levinson Link-compatible components in the system, place the Nº383 at the end of the chain by connecting the last slave out port to the Nº383’s comm port.
In short:
master (processor) → slave in (transport)
slave out (transport) → slave in (next transport, as needed) slave out (last transport) → comm (Nº383)
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.
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 requires that one connector be “tab side up” and the other “tab side down” when the cable itself is lying flat. (Flipping the connector over compensates for the fact that it is pointed in the other direction.)
| | | To Mark Levinson® | | | | |
| | | Linked component | To Nº383 | | | |
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| | | Locking tab | Locking tab | | |
| | | (on top) | (on bottom) | | |
Connecting the communication ports other than as described in this manual can damage the Nº383 and the associated Mark Levinson components, and will void those products’ warranties.
