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Mark Levinson founded Mark Levinson Audio Systems in 1972, but sold it, and the right to market audio gear under his own name, to Madrigal Audio Laboratories, then owned by the late Sandy Berlin, in 1984. Harman International bought Madrigal in 1995. As well as Mark Levinson, Harman's Luxury Audio Group now also includes digital processing pioneer Lexicon, speaker manufacturer Revel, and JBL Synthesis. The Mark Levinson brand is now headquartered in Elkhart, Indiana, at the Crown Audio facility, another Harman-owned brand. The No.53 ($25,000 each; $50,000/pair) is Mark Levinson's first new…
Sound Quality
When I first listened to the Mark Levinson No.53, its sound most reminded me of that of the Soulution 710 stereo amplifier that I reviewed in August 2011: fast, precise, detailed, somewhat lean overall, and more interested in correctly producing the initial transient than in fleshing out the texture-producing sustain. In "Yulunga," from Dead Can Dance's Into the Labyrinth (LP, 4AD), the hand drum crackled with taut definition, while the metal percussive accent that floats above was noticeably and appropriately metallic. The shaker was reproduced as cleanly as I've ever…
When I first listened to the Mark Levinson No.53, its sound most reminded me of that of the Soulution 710 stereo amplifier that I reviewed in August 2011: fast, precise, detailed, somewhat lean overall, and more interested in correctly producing the initial transient than in fleshing out the texture-producing sustain. In "Yulunga," from Dead Can Dance's Into the Labyrinth (LP, 4AD), the hand drum crackled with taut definition, while the metal percussive accent that floats above was noticeably and appropriately metallic. The shaker was reproduced as cleanly as I've ever…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Solid-state, monoblock power amplifier with proprietary "class-I" output stage. Inputs: 1 unbalanced (RCA), 1 balanced (XLR). Outputs: 2 pairs binding posts. Maximum output power (20Hz–20kHz, at <0.1% distortion): 500W into 8 ohms (27dBW); 1000W into 4 ohms (27dBW). Frequency response: 10Hz–20kHz, ±0.1dB. Input impedance: 100k ohms balanced, 50k ohms unbalanced. Voltage gain: 26.8dB. Output impedance: not specified. Input sensitivity: 2.89V input for full output. Signal/noise ratio: 85dB ref. 2.83V RMS (1W at 8 ohms). Power consumption: not…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: Continuum Audio Labs Caliburn, Cobra, & Castellon turntable, tonearm, & stand; Wave Kinetics NVS Reference turntable; Graham Engineering Phantom Supreme II, Kuzma 4Point, Durand Telos tonearms; Lyra Atlas & Titan i, Miyajima Labs Premium BE mono cartridges.
Digital Sources: MSB Platinum Data CD IV & Diamond Platinum DAC IV CD player & D/A converter & Platinum Studio A/D converter; BPT-modified Alesis Masterlink hard-drive recorder; Meridian Digital Media System; Pure Music software.
Preamplification: Ypsilon…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
To perform measurements on the Mark Levinson No.53 Reference, I used Stereophile's loan sample of the top-of-the-line Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see www.ap.com and the January 2008 "As We See It"). Before testing one of the monoblocks (serial no. 9800004396), I ran it at one-third its rated power into 8 ohms for 60 minutes, which thermally is the worst case for an amplifier with a class-A/B output stage. As the No.53 both uses a switching output stage and is very much more efficient at turning power from the wall into voltage and current to drive the…
Helm's Impossible Symmetry—one of my favorite records of 2012.
In the January 2013 issue of Stereophile, I list my 15 favorite records of the year (p.53). Here is an expanded, slightly more detailed list.
Note: Due to the timing restrictions of our January 2013 issue, which went to press in the beginning of November, this list is mostly limited to records that were released through October 15, 2012: There are probably another dozen or so LPs that would have otherwise made this list—Kendrick Lamar’s Good Kid, M.A.A.D City and Andy Stott’s Luxury Problems are two…
Editor's Note: We were saddened earlier this month to learn of the death on December 7 of loudspeaker manufacturer Brian Cheney of VMPS, from prostate cancer. He contributed this review to Stereophile almost a quarter-century ago.—John Atkinson
The single-brand, self-contained music system has been popular at both ends of the price spectrum. A few hundred dollars at Macy's gets you a rack chock-full of offshore electronics, big speaker boxes, one plug (for the AC outlet), and—bingo!—instant music. Or, call your local Cello specialist and spend 60 times that amount, to roughly the same…
Specifications
Description: digital home music system.
Dimensions: 63" D by 38" H by 56" W. Weight: 330kg. Clearance height for dustcover: 67".
Price: $7355.
Manufacturer: Yamaha Intl., 6660 Orangethorpe Ave., Buena Park, CA 90620. Tel: (714) 522-9240. Source: dealer loan. Web: www.yamaha.com/musical-instruments/keyboards/.
In order to get in the right mindset for the Dallas Wind Symphony's first ever Christmas CD, Horns for the Holidays, from Reference Recordings and recording engineer Keith O. Johnson, you have to understand something about Dallas. The last time its residents saw snow on Christmas Eve, there were 357 vehicular-related fatalities, all caused by people slamming on their brakes in disbelief. The "traditional" American or European Christmas is, to them, a distant idea that, on its way to Texas through the cornfields of Kansas, has taken on unusual proportions. Think Christmas trees as tall as oil…
It's once again time for holiday-gift recommendations. These 12 go roughly in order of ascending price, from the very affordable to the rather unaffordable. To be included, a gift had to strike me as being exceptional in quality while also representing excellent value for money. But by "excellent value for money" I don't necessarily mean low-cost; I mean a high return on investment.
12. Requiem for a Pink Moon: $19.98
The idea of classical bass Joel Frederiksen and Ensemble Phoenix Munich's putting together an Elizabethan tribute album to British singer-songwriter Nick Drake (1948–…