The Legend Continues...

Nº502Media Console

www.marklevinson.com

Specifications are subject to change without notice.

Mark Levinson and the Mark Levinson logo are trademarks of Harman International Industries, Incorporated, in the United States and/or other countries. Logic 7 is a trademark ofHarman International Industries, Incorporated, registered in theUnited States and/or other countries.

Dolby is a registered trademark of Dolby Laboratories.

DTS is a registered trademark of DTS, Inc.

Gennum is a registered trademark of Gennum Corporation.

High-Definition Multimedia Interface and HDMI are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC.

Not responsible for typographic errors.Part # 072-18528

The Legend Continues...

The Legend Continues...

Nº502 Media Console

Modern home entertainment systems are comprised of anassortment of components; however, it’s the media console thatdefines the boundaries of the systems’ overall potential. It isresponsible for accomplishing many different critical functionsand has a direct influence on everything from the picture on thescreen to the sound that emanates from all of the speakers.From the precisely machined aluminum surfaces of the chassisto the elegant backlit engraved glass logo embedded in thefront panel, the Nº502 is a modern interpretation of the MarkLevinson aesthetic, but that is only the beginning.

The Sound

Mark Levinson products have always been highly regardedfor their sound quality and the Nº502 is no exception. Towardsthat end, every part of the audio path from the input to outputwas carefully considered and designed to ensure optimalsound quality.

Starting with the chassis, it was designed to double as anintegrated radio frequency (RF) shield providing immunity fromthe RF emissions that are commonly radiated by other devices.These emissions are a common source of noise that can find itsway into the sensitive audio circuits and degrade sound quality.Another way for noise to enter a system is through the inputand output connectors which are usually connected directly tothe chassis, providing a direct path for noise to getin. To prevent this from occurring on the Nº502, the input andoutput connectors are electrically isolated from the chassis.

Inside the chassis, the Nº502 utilizes two AC power supplies tocompletely isolate the digital and analog signal paths. A digitalsupply is used to power the digital circuits, and a toroidalpower transformer is used to power the analog audio circuits.In addition, both power supplies are carefully shielded in achamber inside the chassis to further prevent transformer noisefrom leaking into the delicate analog circuits and degradingsound quality.

Another method employed to reduce noise isthe use of 18-layer circuit boards with minimalsurface etches. They help to lower radiatedemissions within the chassis. We also isolate thecontrol signals from the audio signals to ensurethat they do not interfere with them. In theevent that any common mode noise is presentinside the system, all of the analog audio signalsare routed inside the chassis as differential(balanced) signals, to cancel this noise out.

To reduce jitter and digital noise, a speciallydesigned low voltage differential signaling circuitis utilized. A proprietary direct digital synthesizerfrequency locked loop controls the audiomaster clock resulting in extraordinary jitterperformance. This is a closed loop control algorithmwhich improves bandwidth and resolution.

Great care was also taken in the implementation of the levelcontrols for the Nº502 which offer an adjustment range of120dB, preserving the full resolution of the signal.

Fewer passive components were employed to reduce noise anddistortion, and digital quantization noise is exceptionally low,even at the lowest volume settings. This ensures that the levelcontrols do not significantly degrade the sound of the audiopassing through them, common in many other less rigorousdesigns.

The Nº502 features Harman International’s proprietary Logic 7®

technology in addition to the standard suite of Dolby® andDTS® listening modes. Logic 7 processing is widely regarded inthe industry as the best surround-sound process available. Insimple terms, Logic 7 processing works by utilizing a uniquealgorithm that engages all of the speakers in a system toenhance the realism of the sound. By analyzing the spatial cuesincluded in the original sound, Logic 7 processing presentsthem in a manner that makes the overall experience muchmore engaging and enveloping.

Another important detail is the Nº502’s bass managementsystem which utilizes phase-matched signal paths to preventsignal cancellation. Whenever two signals are combined, asoccurs in all bass management systems, the potential for sound-altering signal cancellation increases. By phase matching thesignal path, the Nº502 ensures that you hear every detail, theway it was intended, regardless of the speaker configuration.

The Picture

Although Mark Levinson products are known for theirsuperlative sound quality, the Nº502 also establishes a newbenchmark for picture quality. In addition to providing an arrayof analog and High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)inputs and outputs, the Nº502 also includes a state-of-the-artvideo processor that can convert all of the inputs into a singleoutput and scale them to the optimum resolution for driving thedisplay device. This simplifies the overall system configurationwhile providing the absolute best picture quality possible.

To clean up and sharpen compressed images from sources suchas standard DVD and satellite/cable TV broadcasts,

the Nº502 includes advanced noise reduction anddetail enhancement. Combined with the built-inscaler, standard definition sources look like truehigh definition sources. The Nº502 also includesmotion adaptive video de-interlacing with edgeinterpolation for improving both standarddefinition and high-definition sources. And forthe highest quality video sources currentlyavailable today, the Nº502 readily handles1080P/24Hz video inputs and outputswith ease.

The Nº502 features an impressive six HDMI™

inputs, each with its own receiver to deliverexceptionally fast HDMI switching and the

ability to “preview” one HDMI input whilewatching another. It also features two HDMI

outputs, so it can alternately drive two differentdisplays. Combined with the impressive video

processing capabilities, the Nº502 sets a new standard forpicture quality, even when compared to dedicated,stand-alone video processors.

Audio Performance

Frequency Response 20Hz to 20kHz, +/– 0.1dB

Digital Audio Sample Rates32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, & 192kHz

A/D Conversion 24-bit/192kHz, PCM Multibit SD

D/A Conversion 24-bit/192kHz, PCM Multibit SD

Input Impedance 100k ohms

THD + N 94dB (Reference level: 1kHz, 30kHz LPF)

Signal-to-Noise Ratio94dB ohms (Reference level: 30kHz LPF)

Dynamic Range94dB (Reference level: 1kHz, 30kHz LPF)

Maximum Input Level 7.5V/15Vrms RCA/XLR

Maximum Output Level 7.5V/15Vrms RCA/XLR

Reference Input Level 2Vrms

Reference Output Level 1.5V/3Vrms RCA/XLR

General

Power Requirements120V~, 60Hz / 100/220/230V~, 50-60Hz;factory set for destination country

Power Consumption 175W

Dimensions• Height (with feet): 9.46 inches (240.4mm)• Height (without feet): 8.70 inches (221.0mm)• Width: 17.48 inches (444.0mm)• Depth: 17.4 inches (442.4mm)

Weight• Net weight: 54.5 lbs (24.6kg)• Shipping weight: 71.0 lbs (32.5kg)

Operating Environment

Operating temperature 0º to 35ºC (32º to 95ºF)

Storage temperature –30º to 75ºC (–22º to 167ºF)

Relative humidity95% maximum without condensation

Rack MountingOptional Rack Mount Kit is available,refer to Chapter 1: Getting Started for ordering details

Remote ControlHandheld, back-lit IR operation;requires two AAA batteries (included)

The Legend Continues...

Nº502 Main Video Board

• Video board with twin Gennum® VXP® 10-bit broadcastquality processors for 7.8 gigaflops of processing power

• ZBC technology allows the power and ground planes to act as a distributed capacitor which functions much better at high frequencies than conventional bypass capacitors. This reduces radiated emissions and helps to lower the overall noise in the system.

• 18-Layer PCB allows more of the signals to be routed oninternal layers. When signals are routed between ground and power layers, they are effectively shielded and radiate considerably less. This significantly enhances video signal to noise ratio.

Nº502

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Nº502 Specifications

Inputs

HDMI Six HDMI Type A, Version 1.1, 19-pin connectors

Analog Video• Four component video – one BNC & three RCA

connectors (Y, Pb, Pr)

• Three S-video connectors

• Three composite video, RCA connectors

Digital Audio• Six S/PDIF coaxial (RCA) and three S/PDIF optical

(TOSlink) connectors

• Coaxial and optical input connectors conform to

IEC-958, S/PDIF standards

• Two AES/EBU inputs, XLR connectors

Analog Audio• One unbalanced 8-channel input array, RCA connectors

• Four unbalanced stereo pairs, RCA connectors

• Two balanced stereo pairs, XLR connectors

• Four microphone inputs, 3.5mm mini plug, accepts either

stereo plug (tip/ring/sleeve) or mono plug (tip/sleeve)

Outputs

HDMI | Two HDMI Type A, Version 1.1, 19-pin connectors

Analog Video• One component with three BNC connectors (Y, Pb, Pr)

• One composite monitor, RCA connector

Analog Audio• One unbalanced 7.4-channel array, RCA connectors

• One balanced 7.4-channel array, XLR connectors

• Remote Zone

• One unbalanced stereo pair, RCA connectors

HDMI Formats

HDMI Input• Video: 480/576i, 480/576p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p

• Audio: Dolby Digital, DTS, and PCM (32, 44.1, 48, 88.2,

96, 176.4, and 192kHz)

HDMI Output• Video: 480/576i, 480/576p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p

• Audio: Dolby Digital, DTS, and PCM (32, 44.1, 48, 88.2,

96, 176.4, and 192kHz)

Control Inputs & Outputs• One RS-232 port, RJ-11 connector

• One Ethernet port, RJ-45 connector

• One ML link port, RJ-45 connector

• Four programmable trigger outputs, 3.5mm mini

plug, accepts either stereo plug (tip/ring/sleeve) or

mono plug (tip/sleeve)

• Output Voltage: 12V

• Output Current: 100mA

• One IR receiver, on front panel

• One IR Input jack, 3.5mm mini plug, accepts either stereo

plug (tip/ring/sleeve) or mono plug (tip/sleeve), 12V

Component Video Performance

Compatibility480/576i, 480/576p, 720p, 1080i

A/D Conversion12-bit, 110MHz (4x SD, 2x ED, 1x HD oversampling)

D/A Conversion14-bit, oversampling to 216MHz

Input/Output Levels• Y: 1.0Vp-p with 75 ohms load (700mVp-p video)

• Pb/Pr: +/–350mV with 75W load (700mVp-p)

S-Video and Composite Video Performance

CompatibilityNTSC/PAL

A/D Conversion

12-bit, 110MHz (4x SD, 2x ED, 1x HD oversampling)

Composite Input Level

1.0Vp-p with 75 ohms load

S-Video Input Level• Y (Luma): 1.0Vp-p with 75 ohms load (700mVp-p video)

• C (Chroma): 300mVp-p with 75W load

Composite Monitor Output Level• 1.0Vp-p with 75 ohms load

The ExperiencePerhaps the most unexpected aspect of the Nº502 is theimpressive graphical user interface (GUI). Utilizing a separategraphics engine with bit-accurate graphics for all outputresolutions, setting up and using the Nº502 is an absolute joy.

Set-up can be accomplished by using the remote control andthe screen in the theater, or by using the buttons and the screenon the front panel. The GUI on both is the same, so if you can’taccess the screen in the theater for whatever reason, you canstill use the front panel and benefit from the same beautifulGUI. This is essential for systems where the Nº502 is located outof sight from the screen in the theater. It also facilitates easierconfiguration of other components connected to the Nº502that also utilize on-screen menus for set-up.

The hierarchal structure of the menus makes it easy to navigateand further simplify its use. Each screen displays a menu path,ensuring that you know where you are in the menu system atall times. Controls are duplicated on both the remote controland the front panel, so access is convenient whether the Nº502is within reach or out of sight. All custom setup features arestored, and the custom configuration can even be saved to apersonal computer through an Ethernet port for additionalpeace of mind.

The Nº502 is equipped with a state-of-the-art auto calibrationsystem that accurately calculates speaker distances, outputlevels and full room equalization in less than ten minutes.Automatic calibration is available for every speakerconfiguration and improves sound quality by removing theinterference of sound reflections that are caused by the roomitself. These reflections, or room modes, can be detrimental toyour listening experience by making the sound appear too loudor too soft at various frequencies and cause lingeringresonances which mask the finer details in the sound. TheNº502 room equalization effectively eliminates these roommodes and makes the entire system, including the room itself,sound more neutral and true to the original recording. Once

set-up, the Nº502 is a breeze to use. Day-to-day controls are kept separate from set-up controlsand all you need do is select an activity such as; “Watch a film,”“Listen to music,” or “Watch TV” and adjust the volume. Eachactivity automatically loads a speaker configuration, an audioprofile and a video profile. This allows the Nº502 to essentiallyreconfigure itself automatically to provide the desired listeningand viewing experience for each and every activity.

Control of the Nº502 is accomplished in a number of differentways. There is the backlit, metal remote control, which feelsboth substantial and elegant in your hand and was designedwith a minimal amount of buttons to make it easy to use. Thereare the front panel controls for when you are within reach ofthe Nº502. But perhaps the most extensive way to control theNº502 is by utilizing its RS-232 port in conjunction with a thirdparty controller, such as those available from Crestron or AMX.This allows true two-way control of the Nº502 and if thecontrol system also has video input capability, the ability to sendthe picture that is normally displayed on the front panel of theNº502 directly into the control system. This puts the GUI of theNº502 and the preview feature right into the touch-screencontroller itself, allowing these features to be used wherever thecontroller is. In addition, the Nº502 includes a proprietary MarkLevinson protocol called ML Net which utilizes Ethernet toprovide additional functions when other ML Net equippeddevices are connected to the Nº502.

The Final WordThe Nº502 is a remarkably powerful and flexible media consolefor the ultimate home entertainment system and is designed inevery detail to provide the absolute best in film and musicreproduction. It is this meticulous attention to detail thatmakes a Mark Levinson product stand above the rest. It sets anew standard for audio and video performance, control andflexibility in a single chassis design. Using only the finestmaterials and parts, the Nº502 honors the Mark Levinsontradition and is sure to satisfy even the most demandingenthusiast.