Description: Solid-state CD player with 16-bit D/A converter and 4x-oversampling digital filter. Frequency response: 0.1Hz–20kHz ±0.5dB. THD: 0.005%. S/N: 100dB (A-Weighted).
Dimensions: 17.7" (450mm) W by 11.8" (298mm) D by 4.9" (124mm) H. Weight: 12 lbs.
Price: $1895 (1991); no longer available (2016). Approximate number of dealers: 90.
Manufacturer: The Mod Squad, Leucadia, CA 92024 (1991). Company no longer in existence (2016).
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Sidebar 3: Specifications
I still remember reading about my first Mark Levinson product 14 or 15 years ago. It was a preamp. The model number escapes me, but it sold for over $2000. It was soon followed by the JC-2, designed by John Curl, which was a bit less pricey but still astonishingly expensive for a mid-'70s preamp. We've come a long way since then. The man, Mark Levinson, left the company that bore his name in the early 1980s and founded a new company, Cello. The company Mark Levinson became the core of Madrigal. It is a mark of their continued dedication to uncompromising high-end products that their bread-…
Sidebar 1: System
The reference-system equipment used with both amplifiers included the Rowland Consonance preamp and the Apogee Stage loudspeakers. Program sources were the Oracle Delphi Mk.IV turntable and Oracle 345 tonearm with the Dynavector XX-1L cartridge and the Sony CDP-X77ES CD player. Other equipment used included the Mirage M-3 loudspeakers and (briefly) the Coda Technologies FET Preamplifier 01.
The Rowland Model 1, Threshold SA/12e and Muse 100 amplifiers were pressed into service where needed. Loudspeaker cables were Symo (for the Stages) and AudioQuest Clear (for…
Sidebar 2: Measurements
As can be seen from fig.1, the Levinson No.29 exhibits a very slight rolloff at the frequency extremes, to a degree which should be audibly insignificant. The 10kHz squarewave (fig.2) indicates a small rise-time, with very slight rounding of the leading edge reflecting the gentle HF rolloff above 20kHz. Polarity of the Levinson was non-inverting, the 1kHz input impedance of 57k ohms was just slightly above spec, and 140.2mV were required to give 1W into 8 ohms—a gain of 26.1dB. Unweighted noise was 89dB below 1W into 8 ohms. Channel separation was better than…
Sidebar 3: Specifications
Description: Solid-state stereo power amplifier. Power output: 50Wpc into 8 ohms (17dBW), 100Wpc into 4 ohms (17dBW), 175Wpc into 2 ohms (16.4dBW). May be bridged (for monoblock operation) into loads down to 2 ohms. Rated THD: under 0.3% at rated power, 20Hz–20kHz. Input Impedance: 50k ohms shunted by 1.5nF. Voltage gain: 26dB. Power dissipation: 100W (idle).
Dimensions: 17.5" W by 6.9" H by 14.6" D. Weight (shipping): 60lbs.
Price: $2800 (1991); no longer available (2016). Approximate number of dealers: 65.
Manufacturer: Madrigal Audio Laboratories…
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