Mark Levinson N383 Stereo Amplifier User Manual


 
7
Special Design Features of the
Nº383 Integrated Amplifier
why an integrated? For over 25 years, the Mark Levinson brand has been associated with
the world finest separate components. So why, after all this time, do we
introduce an integrated amplifier?
Actually, we have been thinking of creating an integrated amplifier that
we would want to put the Mark Levinson name on for years. But creat-
ing such a product, one that does not compromise or tarnish the repu-
tation of the Mark Levinson brand, required a great deal of thought
and work. Sonic performance, construction details and sophisticated
operation all help define what is a Mark Levinson – and what is not.
We had no desire to simply put our name on a product that many
would not consider a “real” Levinson.
Thus the challenge was clear: we needed to create an integrated ampli-
fier that would do justice to Mark Levinson’s reputation. Some of the
strategies necessary to achieve this goal include:
the power supplies Three power supplies divide the task of providing clean and stable DC
power to the various circuit elements. Common mode and differential
filtering capacitors are used on the AC mains input to pre-filter high
frequency noise. Both AC mains fuses and an AC mains relay are used
in the overall protection scheme.
All communications and control circuitry are powered from a separate,
low-voltage DC supply. This approach also prevents noise generated by
control and communications circuitry from finding its way into the au-
dio circuits.
As one would expect in a Mark Levinson amplifier, left and right chan-