Marcas

Chassis
The Nº 431, 432, and 433 are designed to accommodate standard shelf and rack-mount installations while retaining a strong visual connection with other Mark Levinson amplifiers and source components. Their thermal management systems all use an exposed internal heatsink. This results in a smooth, elegant appearance and adds a considerable measure of safety while handling the amplifiers. Rear-panel handles also provide an unexpected level of convenience as well as protection for input, output, and control connectors.

Rack-Mounting
Each chassis (three ?rack spaces? tall for the No432 and four for the Nos 432 and 433) fits precisely into all standard equipment racks. For demanding custom installations, proper ventilation, and hidden cable routing, we provide shelves specifically for these amplifiers.

Control and Communication
As music and cinema systems grow more complex, integrating individual components takes on greater importance. To this end, these amplifiers feature an entire suite of control and communications capabilities.

 A DC trigger input allows a remote unit (preamplifier or surround sound controller, for example) to switch each amplifier from standby to fully operational status, even after AC power has been temporarily lost.

 A complementary trigger output lets you or an installer ?daisy-chain? multiple amplifiers so they can be controlled from a single low-voltage source.

 The additional Mark Levinson Link ports allow communication and automation features among components in a complete Mark Levinson system.

 As a final sophisticated touch, RS-232 communication ports extend compatibility to any standard external control system.

Thermal Management
High current amplifiers must expel potentially damaging heat from the chassis. Traditional techniques include passive external heatsink assemblies where heat-producing power transistors are mounted directly on finned aluminum extrusions that are subsequently convection-cooled by the air rising past the fins. This approach has been successfully used by other Mark Levinson amplifiers and we have continued its use in these models.

Protection
The Nº 431, 432, and 433 offer a complete protection system to extend their useful life and guard against damage to adjacent system components.

 Servos correct for up to ± 1V of direct current (DC) offset from a source component. This prevents potentially harmful DC from reaching the loudspeakers.

 Thermal sensors monitor the operating temperature of the amplifier, switching it off before it can over-heat.

 Excessive current drawn from the amplifier may indicate a component failure or shorted loudspeaker connection. In either case, the amplifier will switch itself off to prevent unnecessary damage.

 Expensive power supply components are protected from turn-on transients and power line spikes as is standard on all Mark Levinson equipment.

Audio circuitry
The audio circuits, from power supply to output stage, are designed and voiced to allow seamless use with other Mark Levinson amplifiers. You can build a multi-channel system with full confidence that these amplifiers will integrate fully with your current and future selection of Mark Levinson components.

Power Supply
Each channel of these models benefits from a totally separate power supply. You can rest absolutely sure that each channel?s performance will never be compromised by simultaneous demands from more than one signal. But separation alone does not ensure amplification circuits of sufficiently clean and stable power. Oversized transformers, filter capacitors and conductors make important contributions to performance, while bypass capacitors and voltage regulators further purify the power digested by the audio circuits. Perfectly clean, instantly available power allows the circuitry to perform properly without introducing noise and distortion into the audio signal.

An installation-friendly detachable power cord simply increases flexibility. These amplifiers will go where you want them to. But they´ll do only one thing provide extraordinary Mark Levinson sound quality wherever you put them.

Voltage Gain Stage
I homage to past Mark Levinson successes, the sensitive voltage gain stages in the Nº 431,432, and 433 are powered from DC regulator amplifiers. The voltage gain stages are also fully balanced, with their sonic performance further optimized with Arlon® 25N cyanate ester circuit board material.

We use Arlon rather than less costly circuit board materials for a simple reason: It is better. In particular, Arlon?s stable dielectric constant permits much more precise transmission of the low-level analog AC signals processed by the amplifier?s voltage gain stage. The result is higher resolution, better bass definition, greater focus, and more precise control over dynamics.