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Mark Levinson Sound that Speaks for Itself

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  #11  
Old 04-05-2012, 02:59 PM
TOGA TOGA is offline
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My first No.432 had constant noise from right ch., can't be fixed in reasonable time.
The second 432 didn't make any sound at all out of the box. I was forced to buy 436 mono
and add $$ as there was no more 432 left. I like 326s preamp user interface the most of all
pre that I have used. For similar price, I like Pass Labs sonic more. But latest 2012 ML models seem to have better designs than No.512 era. Oh do you see internal of the 5xxH series amplifiers ? not even double down into 4 ohm load. they're cutting cost by reducing power supply capacity. Also I saw many many 33 waiting for luck on spare parts. the color of the exterior become yellowish too, all of them.

Ok for the good part, No 326s+ 436 had served me beautiful music for years. They had distinct sonic signature, but a good one for me.

Toga

Last edited by TOGA; 04-06-2012 at 07:11 AM.
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  #12  
Old 04-05-2012, 05:17 PM
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Wow! That's bad.
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Preamps/tuners:McIntosh C50, C46, MR88, MR73, C2200, C22ce, Cary SPL-98L
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  #13  
Old 04-05-2012, 06:50 PM
trponhunter trponhunter is offline
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even at the used prices the 33h and 33's are not competetive with amps at the same price that you could buy brand new today - and get a warranty.
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  #14  
Old 04-06-2012, 04:35 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TOGA View Post
My first No.432 had constant noise from right ch., can't be fixed in reasonable time.
The second 432 didn't make any sound at all out of the box. I'm forced to buy 436 mono
and add $$ as there is no more 432 left. I like 326s preamp user interface the most of all
pre that I have used. For similar price, I like Pass Labs more. But latest 2012 ML models seem to have better designs than No.512 era. Oh do you see internal of the 5xxH series amplifiers ? not even double down into 4 ohm load. they're cutting cost by reducing power supply capacity. Also I saw many many 33 waiting for luck
on spare parts. the color of the exterior become yellowish too, all of them.
Toga
Toga,

Gee, that sounds like a really unpleasant experience!

I do agree with Jim (Still-One) that there will always be proponents & detractors for every product, and sadly at this juncture, I lie firmly in the latter group when it comes to ML.

That being said, I believe that the ML brand is still revered enough by many including myself (albeit, mostly from it's past triumphs), and if the Harman Luxury Audio Group manages to get it right, then it is still possible for the ML brand to make comeback in a very significant way given the type of resources it has at its disposal with the Harman group behind it.

It will be interesting to see how ML's 40th anniversary collection of new products will be received once they reach the market (No. 52 dual-mono preamp, No. 585 integrated amp, No. 519 SACD player and No. 560 digital audio processor), as well as their tie up as a distributor for Lumagen video processors.

Actually the No. 560 digital audio processor looks quite interesting as it can function as both DAC and digital preamp. It has been reported that it will have up to 10 digital inputs on the back including two HDMI 1.3 inputs (why not 1.4?) with "DSD-direct" input capability, two optical and two electrical S/PDIF inputs, an AES/EBU XLR input and three USB 2.0 inputs, plus RCA and XLR analogue outs. Expected price is USD 6,000, and launch date is sometime at the end of the year.

We shall see!

Philip

Last edited by psjl; 04-06-2012 at 04:47 AM.
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  #15  
Old 04-06-2012, 04:41 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dj_AmTraX View Post
Yeah the recap could cost a boat load of money.

Do all SS amps need a recap sooner or later? How does one know when it's time?
Quote:
Originally Posted by trponhunter View Post
even at the used prices the 33h and 33's are not competetive with amps at the same price that you could buy brand new today - and get a warranty.
Mike,

I have to agree with trponhunter on that one.

Even if you found a darn good bargain for a used pair of ML 33/33H monoblocks, for a little bit more of an outlay, there are a lot of current amps out there worth looking at, and also, you will not be left in the lurch if any unexpected servicing issues cropped up.

Philip

Last edited by psjl; 04-06-2012 at 04:44 AM.
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  #16  
Old 04-06-2012, 07:22 AM
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My Proceed PAV+PDSD were long dead... due to capacitors problem, and they smell really bad. But Proceed HPA3 are still my work horse in home theater, driving center and rear surrounds. Bought in 1998. They were from Madrigal era. I'm quite sure new No.52 will be
really good, No53 shouldn't have be a class-D. I was almost buying No.53, but the new dealer in my country was not very helpful when I ask for an audition, they said 53 were so
heavy, they can't move them from static display to connect to speakers in listening room.
Now I still see that very pair of 53 on the static showroom display after 2 years or so. We buy these stuff when we falling for its sound, driving speakers, not from window shopping. That event was time that I turn to Moon.
Toga

Last edited by TOGA; 04-07-2012 at 01:51 AM.
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  #17  
Old 04-06-2012, 09:02 AM
Still-One Still-One is offline
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Toga
I am not sure if saying an amp shouldn't be class-D is any more valid than saying it shouldn't be Class A/B, tubed, or Class A. It is all in the design.

Jim
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  #18  
Old 04-06-2012, 09:07 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Still-One View Post
Toga
I am not sure if saying an amp shouldn't be class-D is any more valid than saying it shouldn't be Class A/B, tubed, or Class A. It is all in the design.

Jim
+1.

There's no need to dismiss Class D as a whole anymore. Just like A/B, etc...there are plenty of good and bad designs out there.
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  #19  
Old 04-06-2012, 09:20 AM
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The 560 with DSD looks to be one to check out. At $6k which is the same price as a McIntosh MDA, but it doesn't do DSD.

http://www.stereophile.com/content/m...udio-processor
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Mike
~Your pet is your best investment~

Preamps/tuners:McIntosh C50, C46, MR88, MR73, C2200, C22ce, Cary SPL-98L
Integrate amps:McIntosh MA6100, Denon PMA2000ivr
Amps: McIntosh Mc602, Mc2000, Mc275 MK-V, Cary 805ae mono blocks.
Speakers: JMLab Mezzo Utopia, Focal Twin6 BE, Tannoy Mini Autograph
Headphones: Sennheiser HD800, Beyer T1, Denon D7000, Grado RS1i, Sony MDR-SA5000, MDR-Z1000, AKG K701, and many many more
Digital Sources:Sony SCD-1 & SCD777es, CDP-XA7es, 2010 Mac Mini Music Server, Amarra Mini player, Musical Fidelity V-Link & M1 DAC, Apogee Mini-DAC & Duet 2
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  #20  
Old 04-06-2012, 09:47 AM
rw@cn rw@cn is offline
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I had to get the caps replaced on my 335. It was under warranty and received another 10 years warranty on the replacements. I sometimes get the itch to replace it but after auditioning other amps, it stays.
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