#11
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I have an amp and pre-amp from the “in between” era of ownership under Madrigal Laboratories. It is great gear….very musical, accurate, great imaging and very quiet delivery. In spite of being a 250 rms/channel amplifier it is dead silent between passages. I just recently brought my first Mac. amplifier into the House so I am now having the fun of comparing the sonic differences between the two, which early indicators suggest is not subtle.
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#12
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Dan STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113 VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A |
#13
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I sold the amp soon after because I got bored with the very polite sounding amp. But I greatly enjoyed the ML Pre and Sources and they are probably up to par with my other reference gears. I think Harmon still makes an excellent ML line up this day. |
#14
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Speaking of Levinson quality, I'm still using a No. 25s phono pre amp and the matching PLS 226 supply that I've been using for over 20 years. They still sound terrific and never a problem in that whole time.
IMHO, these old units still "hold their own" when compared to much more recent equipment and I'm still quite happy with their sonic quality - as well as the build quality.
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.... I have a record player and a cd player and some other stuff that sounds pretty good. MAIN SYSTEM: . . . Audio Physic Caldera III Loudspeakers, Spectral DMC 30SL Preamp, Spectral DMA 250 Amp, Spectral/MIT interconnects and speaker cable, Basis Debut V Vacuum turntable, Walker Precision Speed Controller, Graham tonearm, [B]Koetsu Rosewood or Grado Statement 1 Cartridges, PASS - X-ono Phono Stage, Esoteric K03 CD/SACD Player, Lexicon RT-20 Universal Player, Exact Power EP-15A & SP-15A power regeneration and conditioning devices. Symposium Acoustics Svelte pads & RollerBlock Jr's under speakers. ASC Tube Traps, Arcici Suspense Rack System, OPPO and Cambridge Streaming Devices. DOWNSTAIRS SYSTEM: . . . Sonus Faber Guarneri Memento Speakers, JL Audio F112 Sub, McIntosh MA7000 Integrated Amp, McIntosh MVP871 Universal Disc Player, OPPO BDP-105 Blu-Ray Player, VPI Scoutmaster with periphery ring clamp, VPI SDS Motor Drive, Koetsu Pro IV, or Clearaudio Discovery Cartridges, Mark Levinson No. 25s phono stage, Wadia 170i Transport with a Meridian Bitstream 203 DAC, VPI HW-17 Pro Record Cleaning Machine, Five Richard Gray RGPC 400 devices scattered around the two systems, Arcici Suspense Rack System, Discovery Essence and Essential Cables, 14,000 ± LPs . |
#15
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Also just to add to this I think John Curl also was a design/builder to back in the day, and stuff was a TANK I think in recent years not so good, but still good gear. |
#16
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If I may chime in and add to JP's remarks, I too owned levinson gear and only experienced one problem with a 335 amp. It was fixed and updated free of charge, without question !!! Had a JC1 preamp, it was made like a jewel.
My background is military electronics, I have worked on the most hi-tech gear you can imagine. LEVINSON BUILD QUALITY IS AS CLOSE TO MIL-SPEC AS IT GETS !!!
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System: ML:5206,5302 Serafino's Nordost Lumin U1 RM15 |
#17
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The amp is #431 and my new Mc. Is 6900 integrated…granted comparing an integrated to a stand alone is not exactly a legitimate comparison it is still a fun exercise. I am a fan of the distinctive “Levinson” sound and an now experiencing the legendary “Mac” sound…..still very new to the latter with many more listening session to go (and to look forward to !)
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#18
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ML is not what they used to be when they were Madrigal Labs. Now that Harmon owns them, I don't even consider them anymore...right or wrong. They (Harmon) won't service Madrigal made products....therefore they are a distant memory for me, although I do have No. 's 380S, 36 and 27.5 mothballed for an eventual second stereo.
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Clearaudio: Master Innovation, Universal Arm Graham Engineering: Phantom II Supreme Pass Labs: XP-30 Preamp, XP-25 phono, XS-150 monoblock amps PS Audio: PWT, PWD Mk.2, 2-Power Plant Premier, P5, AC-10, AC-12 Power Cords Wilson Audio: Alexandria X-2 Series 2 Carts: Koetsu Coralstone, Ortofon A90, Shelter Harmony Stands: Adona Zero GXT (Component & Amps)Wires: Siltech 770i XLR, LS-110 (G6) Speaker wire, Nordost Valhalla XLR Room Treatments: Realtraps |
#19
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I auditioned the Mark Levinson No. 383 integrated amplifier in 2003 at a dealer in Daytona Beach, Florida. The No. 383 integrated amp was driving Revels, and the source was a Mark Levinson No. 390S CD processor. It sounded excellent but the dealer would not budge from full MSRP so I passed. I still find the 383 to be an attractive integrated amplifier.
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Dan STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113 VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A Last edited by jdandy; 12-15-2011 at 05:10 PM. |
#20
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I gave the 383 very serious consideration before deciding to go with either the Mac 6600 or 6900 series integrated instead (ended up with a 6900). Part of why I passed on the 383 was for the reasons cited by rockitman. It can be very difficult to find a service tech. with the Levinson schematics and Harmann International is of no assistance whatsoever. The fact that Mac. Stands behind what it has always sold is an important one to me.
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