Remote controlled Single-Chassis Dual Mono Stereo Preamplifier - Excellent Condition - Fully re-capped/restored
All pre-owned product is tested in our service department and have been passed for sale... and comes with a 90 day warranty!
This unit has been professionally refurbished with careful attention paid not only to component replacement, but to preserving the original performance character and channel consistency of the design. Capacitors used during restoration were ripple-current and ESR matched to maintain proper power supply behavior, transient response, channel balance, and low-noise operation throughout the analog stages.
In EXCELLENT condition. Original box, packing and remote are included. See last image for specs. Image with black background is stock.
An awesome preamp!!! NOTE: this does NOT have the optional phono included.
From Mark Levinson: The No326S’s single-chassis design features separation of the audio circuit, control and power-supply sections, a design similar to that of the dual-chassis No32. Inside the No326S, these sections are separated by their physical layout, as well as by a steel shield box that protects against electrostatic and magnetic interference. Filtered AC power is routed outside audio circuit sections, providing audio circuits with the quiet, shielded environment essential for superior sound.
Many high-performance audio components rely on clean, noise-free AC power to deliver maximum performance. Unfortunately, most AC power does not meet these standards. Common household appliances such as refrigerators, televisions and computers often contaminate AC power lines with line noise, spikes and other irregularities that make it difficult for high-performance audio circuits to reach their full potential. To compensate for this, the No326S offers a series of highly effective noise-suppression and isolation technologies. AC power is filtered for noise as soon as it enters the chassis. The audio section and control section have completely independent power supplies, each with its own low-noise toroid transformers. The audio power transformer features a Faraday shield between the AC line and the low-voltage secondaries for improved isolation. The No326S employs two stages of active voltage regulation for the audio sections. A high-power stage absorbs line voltage and temperature variations, while a second high-performance stage provides local high-speed, low-noise power for the audio section.
Featuring an advanced dual-mono design, the No326S is endowed with remarkable channel separation and exceptional sonic imaging. Both audio channels use independent power supplies, communication circuits and audio circuits. In addition, each channel’s audio circuits are located in a separate area of the chassis. This innovative design isolates each channel from the other, allowing the No326S to produce vividly rich three-dimensional sonic images with stunning precision for even greater isolation, the No326S deactivates unused inputs to prevent interference from associated components. When an input is deactivated, the No326S disconnects the input signal and ground connection, eliminating ground loop noise between the No326S and the associated component. As a result, input signals pass through the No326S with exceptional freedom from interference due to other components.
Two Mark Levinson-designed discrete volume attenuator modules control master volume level with unparalleled accuracy and sonic neutrality. Constructed with Arlon 25N circuit boards with local power-supply regulation and bypass capacitors, these modules generate optimal power and isolation for even the most sensitive adjustments. Precision surface-mounted resistors accommodate adjustments in 1.0dB increments up to 23.0dB, and 0.1dB increments above 23.0dB.
Unlike other stereo preamplifiers, the No326S is designed to integrate with multichannel surround-sound processors – minus the drawback of competing master-volume-level controls. A unique surround-sound-processor mode allows the No326S to set its master-volume-level control to unity gain, passing complete control to the surround sound processor. With no interference from the No326S, the surround sound processor can maintain the relative volume level of all channels without distorting its carefully calibrated input and output levels.
A modest connector complement includes three balanced (XLR) and four single-ended (RCA) input connectors. Single-ended input signals are converted to balanced signals upon entering the chassis, and processed as balanced signals thereafter. During this conversion process, meticulously balanced circuits preserve all input signal information, passing it to the power amplifier without the limitations of more asymmetrical single-ended designs.The rear panel includes separate main and record output connectors, as well as two Link communication ports that make it possible for the No326S to be included in Mark Levinson Link systems.
A large front-panel “select” knob provides quick selection of the desired input. When an input is selected, just press and hold the front-panel or remote-control-setup button to open the corresponding “Set Inputs” menu, which can be used to select a custom name, optimize gain levels, set a master-volume-level offset, or assign record output connectors to individual inputs. Following in the footsteps of the No32, the No326S exceeds all reasonable expectations for a stereo preamplifier. Its flexible design, which includes seven configurable inputs, separate main and record outputs, and full surround-sound-processor integration, allows it to accommodate a wide range of demands. All this, plus the addition of a Nelco N4000-13 SI main circuit board, creates a preamp that is equally at home in a dedicated two-channel audiophile listening room as in extensive theater installations.
Highlights:
•Nelco N4000-13 SI main circuit board
•Seven configurable inputs
•Separate main and record outputs
•Three balanced (XLR) inputs
•Four single-ended (RCA) inputs
•Complete surround-sound-processor integration
•Advanced dual-mono design
•Maximum channel isolation
•Independent power supplies for audio circuit andcontrol sections, each with its own low-noisetoroidal transformer
•Effective noise suppression and isolation technologies
•AC power filtering
•Two active voltage regulation stages
•Faraday shield to separate AC power fromlow-voltage secondaries
•Independent audio circuits, communicationcircuits and power supplies for each channel
•Two separate proprietary discrete volume attenuator modules
•Deactivation of unused inputs to eliminate groundloop noise
•Balanced conversion for single-ended input signals
•Intuitive “Set Inputs” menu
•Large front-panel display
•Two Mark Levinson Link communication ports
•RS-232 communication port
•Trigger output connector
•IR input connector
