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PRESS RELEASE
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MARK LEVINSON SHIPS No51— Brand famed for its unique audiophile products
ships first Mark Levinson media player to market —BEDFORD, MA, May 22, 2006 — Mark Levinson is now shipping the No51 Media Player, the first-ever Media Player to bear the distinguished Mark Levinson name. Designed to the highest level of performance and flexibility, the No51 is built for incomparable enjoyment of DVD-Video and Compact Disc content. Effectively two units combined in one, the No51 provides DVD-Video and Audio playback of extremely high fidelity for cinema-grade movie reproduction of video and sound, plus a Compact Disc music listening experience which far exceeds stand-alone CD players. The No51 was built around five specific areas of design to offer users the finest in both audio and video quality: Video Processor, Audio Processor, Power Supply, Transport and Chassis.
The No51 Video Processor
The Video Processor in the No51 offers the performance and flexibility expected of a Mark Levinson design, with support for resolution up to 1080i and 720p, using custom calibrated scaling and de-interlacing. Exceptional video output is possible through use of 14-bit/216 MHz video DAC’s. The No51 takes advantage of a High Resolution Multimedia Interface (HDMI) output to display signals digitally. Enhancing this, the signal remains in the digital domain from source to display. Adding to the flexibility of the No51, direct connection to the Mark Levinson No40 Media Processor with a monitor-out feed for feature preview is provided.The No51 Audio Processor
The Audio Processor is built around a balanced Low Voltage Differential Signaling transmission line. The DAC’s receive all data and clock signals carrying digital information. As in the No40 and the No390s, this transmission scheme has proven effective. Employing a Direct Digital Synthesis circuit with a very high frequency reference clock, the No51 jitter performance yields an extremely stable, accurate time reference. Using a dedicated sample rate converter the No51 can output 44.1, 88, 88.2 or 96 kHz signals in S/PDIF, AES or TOS formats. Digital to Analog conversion via balanced multi-bit Sigma/Delta DAC’s allow the No51 to deliver superior technical performance. The DAC’s are configured in Dual-mono per channel. By summing the combined halves of the balanced signal, excellent common mode noise rejection along with outstanding audio characteristics are provided. This topology within the digital to analog circuitry yields improved signal to noise ratio, extraordinarily low distortion and superb musical fidelity. The No51 volume control is built around a dual MDAC 12-bit ladder attenuator derived from the No40. Utilizing a hybrid analog/digital attenuation scheme a remarkable range of control of 100 dB with 0.1 dB resolution for the entire range has been made possible.The No51 Power Supply
The Power Supply is the starting point and foundation from which all audio and video signals are started. The analog audio outputs utilize a dedicated power system built around a custom designed low-noise toroidal transformer. Adding to the stable power supply, the No51 has a secondary analog power section allowing for the first stage regulation and filtering, followed by a final stage of regulation at the local level in the output section itself. A “point of load” power distribution method is employed to prevent unwanted interactions, further enhancing efficient power distribution for a very stable operating environment.The No51 Chassis
The Chassis of the No51 was specially designed to complement and integrate with the No40 Media Console and 400 series power amplifiers. Front panel design utilizes thick machined aluminum pieces with a combination of brushed and painted finishes as well as laser engraved etchings. Providing a secondary shield for a seamless electro-magnetic barrier, the chassis cover is constructed of a single piece of heavy weight aluminum. Within the chassis partitions enable electrical isolation of critical circuits.The No51 Transport
The Transport of the No51 was conceived to offer maximum rigidity and smooth operation. With a solid cast frame and a precision milled drawer riding on polished stainless steel guides, the No51 guarantees exceptional stability. Securing the drawer from nearby components, special damping material is used in the custom designed drive lift and the rack-and-pinion drawer actuator. Assuring optimal sound, the transport frame is decoupled from the chassis with shock mounting, further isolating it from audio and video circuitry sections of the player. In addition, the damping bridge is machined of solid aluminum, enhancing the smooth, quiet and consistent transport operation of the No51.After careful examination and extensive research and development, the No51 demonstrates Mark Levinson’s continuing commitment to offering the finest audiophile products. Bringing this unparalleled audio/video product to market further solidifies the name Mark Levinson in audiophiles’ hearts.
The model No51 Media Player is available immediately from authorized Mark Levinson dealers at a U.S. MSRP of $18,000.
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Established in 1972, Mark Levinson is a manufacturer of high-performance electronics for use in home entertainment systems. “Mark Levinson” is a registered trademark of Harman International Industries, Incorporated. U.S. patents and other worldwide patents issued and pending. Other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.
—For more information on Mark Levinson, contact: Mark Levinson, 3 Oak Park Drive, Bedford, MA 01730-1413. Tel: (781) 280-0300; Fax: (781) 280-0490; Web: www.marklevinson.com
—For more information on Harman International Industries, Incorporated, visit: www.harman.com. The company’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “HAR.”
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