Building a link cable – Madrigal Imaging N380 User Manual

Page 14

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14

4

RECORD OUTPUTS
Connect these outputs to the right-channel and left-channel tape inputs of
your recorder. Make a note of which set of

record outputs

you used with

which recording device. It is important to name the inputs you use and to
associate the correct

record output

with the appropriate recording device.

By giving the Nº380 this information, it can prevent accidental record loops
that might otherwise create disturbing feedback. (See “programming input
names
” and “assigning record outputs” on pages 20-21.)

These outputs are unaffected by the

output level

control on the front panel

of the Nº380, or by the source chosen to be monitored.

5

SLAVE AND MASTER COMMUNICATOR PORTS
These communications ports allow the Nº380 to “link” to certain compat-
ible Mark Levinson components. (See “Linked Functions.”)

MADRIGAL AUDIO LABORATORIES

R

R E F E R E N C E
M O N A U R A L
A M P L I F I E R

N º 3 3

MADRIGAL AUDIO LABORATORIES

R

R E F E R E N C E
M O N A U R A L
A M P L I F I E R

N º 3 3

slave in

master

slave out

processor

slave

master

slave in

slave out

slave in

transport

preamp

power

amp(s)

8 to 8 Link Cable

8 to 8 Link Cable

6 to 6 Link Cable

8 to 6 Link Cable

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 Nº380 Preamplifier
must be the final “Slave” in the chain. (In technical terms, it terminates the
communications bus
.) In turn, the Nº380 can serve as a master to an asso-
ciated compatible Mark Levinson power amplifier—hence its “Master” com-
munications port.

Thus, if the only other Mark Levinson Link-compatible component you
have is a digital audio processor, connect its

master

port to the Nº380’s

slave

port using a “straight-through” RJ-45 cable. If there are additional Mark

Levinson Link-compatible components in the system, place the Nº380 at the
end of the chain by connecting the last

slave out

port to the Nº380’s

slave

port. See the diagram (left) for clarification.

The RJ-45 cable needed for the Link connection between source compo-
nents and the preamplifier may be purchased from your Mark Levinson
dealer. It may also be easily and inexpensively 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 tele-
communications 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” con-
nection is (counter-intuitively) made by introducing a 180

°

twist in the

cable between the two ends, as shown below.

building a link cable

To Nº380

S

To Mark Levinson

®

digital processor

Locking tab

Locking tab

180

°

twist

The power amplifier Link connection is made using a 6-conductor Link
cable. Connect the Nº380’s

master

port to the

slave

port of a compatible

Mark Levinson power amplifier.

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