Mark Levinson No. 502

Mark Levinson No. 502 surround processor/preamplifier.

All of the below is copied from Mark Levinson's website: http://www.marklevinson.com/productdetail/~/product/no502.html

The Sound
Mark Levinson products have always been highly regarded for their sound quality and the N°502 is no exception. Towards that end, every part of the audio path from the input to output was carefully considered and designed to ensure optimal sound quality.
Mark Levinson engineers designed the chassis to double as an integrated radio frequency (RF) shield providing immunity from the RF emissions commonly radiated by other devices. These emissions are a common source of noise that can find its way into the sensitive audio circuits and degrade sound quality. Noise can also enter a system through the input and output connectors which are usually connected directly to the chassis, providing a direct path for noise to get in. To prevent this from occurring in the N°502, the input and output connectors are physically isolated from the chassis.
Inside the chassis, the N°502 utilizes two AC power transformers to completely isolate the digital and analog signal paths. A digital power transformer is used to power the digital circuits, and a toroidal power transformer is used to power the analog circuits. In addition, both power supplies are carefully shielded in a chamber inside the chassis to further prevent transformer noise from leaking into the delicate analog circuits and degrading sound quality.
Another method employed to reduce noise is the use of eighteen-layer circuit boards with minimal surface etches. They help to lower radiated emissions from inside the chassis. We also isolate the control signals from the audio signals to eliminate interference. In the event that any common mode noise is present inside the system, all of the analog audio signals are routed inside the chassis as differential (balanced) signals to cancel this noise out.
To reduce jitter and digital noise, a specially designed low-voltage differential signaling circuit is utilized. A proprietary direct digital synthesizer frequency lock loop controls the audio master clock resulting in extraordinary jitter performance. This closed-loop control algorithm improves bandwidth and resolution.
Great care was also taken in the implementation of the level controls for the N°502 which offer an adjustment range of 120dB, preserving the full resolution of the signal. In order to reduce noise and distortion, fewer passive components were employed, and digital quantization noise is exceptionally low, even at the lowest volume settings. This ensures that the level controls do not significantly degrade the sound of the audio passing through them — a common problem in many other less-rigorous designs.
The N°502 features Harman International’s proprietary Logic7 technology in addition to the standard suite of Dolby and DTS listening modes. Logic 7 is widely regarded in the industry as the best surround-sound process available. In simple terms, Logic7 works by utilizing a unique algorithm that engages all of the speakers in a system to enhance the realism of the sound. By analyzing the spatial cues included in the original sound, Logic7 presents them in a manner that makes the overall experience much more engaging and enveloping.
Another notable feature is the N°502’s bass management system which utilizes phase-matched signal paths to prevent signal cancellation. Whenever two signals combine, as occurs in all bass management systems, the potential for signal cancellation increases, which will significantly alter the sound. By phase matching the signal path, the N°502 ensures that you hear every detail as it was intended, regardless of the speaker configuration.

The Picture
Although Mark Levinson products are known for their superior sound quality, the N°502 also establishes a new benchmark for picture quality. In addition to providing an array of analog and High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) inputs and outputs, the N°502 also includes a state-of-the-art video processor that can convert all of the inputs into a single output and scale them to the optimum resolution for driving the display device. This simplifies the overall system configuration while providing the absolute best picture quality possible.
To clean up and sharpen compressed images from sources such as standard DVD and satellite/cable TV broadcasts, the N°502 includes advanced noise reduction and detail enhancement. Combined with the built-in scaler, standard-definition sources look like true high-definition sources. The N°502 also includes motion-adaptive video de-interlacing with edge interpolation for improving both standard-definition and high-definition sources. And for the highest quality video sources currently available today, the N°502 readily handles 1080p/24Hz video inputs and outputs with ease.
The N°502 features an impressive six HDMI inputs, each with its own receiver to deliver exceptionally fast HDMI switching and the ability to “preview” one HDMI input while watching another. It also features two HDMI outputs, so it can alternately drive two different displays. Combined with impressive video processing capabilities, the N°502 sets a new standard for picture quality, even when compared to dedicated, stand-alone processors.

COMMUNICATION AND CONTROL

One RS-232 port, RJ-11 connector; One Ethernet port, RJ-45 connector; One 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); 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

FREQUENCY RESPONSE

20Hz to 20kHz, +/– 0.1dB

INPUT IMPEDANCE

100KΩ

ANALOG AUDIO INPUTS

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)

MAXIMUM OUTPUT LEVEL

7.5V/15Vrms RCA/XLR

SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO

4dB (Reference level: 30kHz LPF)

TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION (THD)

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

POWER REQUIREMENTS

120V~, 60Hz / 100/220/230V~, 50-60Hz; factory set for destination country

DIGITAL/ANALOG CONVERSION

14-bit, oversampling to 216MHz

DIGITAL AUDIO INPUTS

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

MAIN AUDIO OUTPUTS

One balanced 7.4-channel array, XLR connectors; One unbalanced 7.4-channel array, RCA connectors / Additional Analog Audio Outputs: Remote Zone: One unbalanced stereo pair, RCA connectors / Additional Digital Audio Outputs: Two HDMI Type A, Version 1.1, 19-pin connectors

VIDEO INPUTS

Six HDMI Type A, Version 1.1, 19-pin connectors; Four component video – one BNC & three RCA connectors (Y, Pb, Pr); Three S-video connectors; Three composite video, RCA connectors

MAIN VIDEO OUTPUTS

Two HDMI Type A, Version 1.1, 19-pin connectors Additional: One component with three BNC connectors (Y, Pb, Pr); One composite monitor, RCA connector

FEATURES

Audio Resolution Capability: Audio Resolution Capability / Dynamic Range: 94dB (Reference level: 1kHz, 30kHz LPF)

WEIGHT

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

DEPTH

17.4 in (442.4mm)

WIDTH

17.48 in (444.0mm)

HEIGHT

(with feet): 9.46 inches (240.4mm); (without feet): 8.70 inches (221.0mm)