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Mark Levinson Sound that Speaks for Itself

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Old 05-28-2017, 11:11 PM
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Default Mark Levinson N° 519 Audio Player

Has anyone had an opportunity to audition the new Mark Levinson N° 519 Audio Player? It looks to be an attractive component that features a discrete, direct coupled, fully balanced, dual-monaural signal path, six high-resolution digital inputs (balanced, coaxial, optical, and USB asynchronous), plays from networked drives and devices, streaming services, Bluetooth, and connected media, and plays up to 32-bit, 192kHz PCM, double-speed DSD (DSD128), CD, and virtually all two-channel formats.

Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer, Rhapsody/Napster, internet radio, and podcasts are built in. The Mark Levinson N° 519 features an analog output volume control for direct connection to amplifiers or active loudspeakers, and it is designed and handcrafted in the USA.






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VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A

Last edited by jdandy; 05-28-2017 at 11:15 PM.
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Old 05-29-2017, 07:33 AM
Ritmo Ritmo is offline
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Dan - I did at Axpona. A very good looking piece. To me, it sounded ok under show conditions.
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Old 05-29-2017, 12:34 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ritmo View Post
Dan - I did at Axpona. A very good looking piece. To me, it sounded ok under show conditions.
Mike.......Yes, show conditions are often not ideal for auditioning new components. I do think this new Mark Levinson № 519 Audio Player looks very nice, although I am surprised by the slot loading disc player. For some reason that doesn't strike me as a premium way to handle compact discs. The slot loading player handles Redbook CD's and MP3 discs but doesn't play SACD. That seems unusual to me since the digital streamer side of the component decodes and reproduces DSD as well as PCM, FLAC, ALAC, WAV, MP3, AAC, WMA, OGG, APE, AIFF, and WMV files. MSRP is $17K.
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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
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Old 05-29-2017, 01:41 PM
rnrmf1971 rnrmf1971 is offline
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It's also slated to decode MQA, as well.
It would be nice to know if it uses the current top line ESS Sabre chips.
I have a feeling it probably doesn't because the 519 was first displayed back in January, 2016, before the latest ESS chips were released.
I read that the 2017 MSRP was amended to 20K, if I'm not mistaken. 17K was originally suggested back in 2016...
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Old 05-29-2017, 02:05 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rnrmf1971 View Post
It's also slated to decode MQA, as well.
It would be nice to know if it uses the current top line ESS Sabre chips.
I have a feeling it probably doesn't because the 519 was first displayed back in January, 2016, before the latest ESS chips were released.
I read that the 2017 MSRP was amended to 20K, if I'm not mistaken. 17K was originally suggested back in 2016...
Christian.......Yes, the price may have been bumped to $20K. You're probably right about the ESS DAC, too. It is most likely the ESS ES9018 SABRE32 Reference 32-bit 8-Channel Audio DAC.
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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
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Old 05-29-2017, 02:14 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jdandy View Post
Mike.......Yes, show conditions are often not ideal for auditioning new components. I do think this new Mark Levinson № 519 Audio Player looks very nice, although I am surprised by the slot loading disc player. For some reason that doesn't strike me as a premium way to handle compact discs. The slot loading player handles Redbook CD's and MP3 discs but doesn't play SACD. That seems unusual to me since the digital streamer side of the component decodes and reproduces DSD as well as PCM, FLAC, ALAC, WAV, MP3, AAC, WMA, OGG, APE, AIFF, and WMV files. MSRP is $17K.
Dan - I believe the likely reason that it doesn't support SACD playback is due to the lack of currently available SACD transports. Since Esoteric stopped selling their transports to other manufacturers several other companies similarly no longer handle SACDs even though their digital sections support DSD. Some companies like Luxman and Marantz now manufacture their own in-house SACD transports for use in their top gear, but that takes a pretty significant investment to achieve.
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Old 05-29-2017, 02:49 PM
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Dan, this device has indeed interesting features.
Plays CD + streams virtually every format and has a (digital) preamplifier on board.
But, as you stated, its build quality doesn't look premium.

The multitude of functions puts it in a field with just a few competitors.
Everyone shopping in this segment should also consider the T+A MP 3100 Multi Player, which looks definitely more solid, does have a SACD reader and FM, but lacks the preamp function.

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Old 05-29-2017, 07:39 PM
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Bart.......Thanks for mentioning the T+A MP 3100 HV. I remember you posting about this component a few months back but I didn't take a good enough look to get interested. This is a unique audio component that looks very attractive. I see it uses a double laser system: SACD: 650 nm, CD: 785 nm. Interesting to note, T+A developed and manufactures their own transport.





The T+A MP 3100 HV includes an FM, FM-HD, DAB, and DAB+, plus Internet radio. That is a bonus feature not typically seen in streaming type multi-source audio component. This is an impressive player/DAC/streamer/tuner. Looks like about $15K US price.


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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
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  #9  
Old 05-29-2017, 10:17 PM
Karl Maga Karl Maga is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bart View Post
Dan, this device has indeed interesting features.
Plays CD + streams virtually every format and has a (digital) preamplifier on board.
But, as you stated, its build quality doesn't look premium.

The multitude of functions puts it in a field with just a few competitors.
Everyone shopping in this segment should also consider the T+A MP 3100 Multi Player, which looks definitely more solid, does have a SACD reader and FM, but lacks the preamp function.

Bart, I have not seen the No. 519 in person so take this with a grain of salt, but I own a No. 523 and a pair of No. 536's; regarding these 3, the build quality is top notch. I'd assume the same for the No. 519, though as I said I've not seen it in person.
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Old 05-30-2017, 02:57 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Karl Maga View Post
Bart, I have not seen the No. 519 in person so take this with a grain of salt, but I own a No. 523 and a pair of No. 536's; regarding these 3, the build quality is top notch. I'd assume the same for the No. 519, though as I said I've not seen it in person.
Karl, I've heard and seen your gear in person.
My dealer also carries ML.
Fantastic!

That is why I am a bit disappointed when I look at the pics of the 519.
For a price tag of 20K, it pales in comparison to T+A (look at that hefty transport!), and Esoteric (ditto!).
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AV: Hegel C-53, Marantz AV8802A, Oppo BDP-203EU, Pioneer Kuro 60", Vivid Audio C1 & V1w's, Wireworld Platinum Eclipse, SE & E
Second system (veranda): Halgorythme preamp and monoblocks, Burmester 061, Avalon Avatar, Sharkwire & Wireworld cables
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