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The system used with the No.36 consisted of a Denon DP-S1 transport, Rowland Consummate preamplifier, Carver Research Lightstar amplifier, and Energy Veritas v2.8, KEF Reference 107/2, and Thiel CS7 loudspeakers. Other D/A processors in the system were the Theta DS Pro Basic III, the Sonic Frontiers SFD-2 Mk.II, and the Spectral SDR-2000 Professional.

The primary digital link was either Kimber TGDL or AGDL coaxial. TARA Labs Master RSC interconnect linked the Levinson converter to the preamp. The preamp-to-power-amp interconnects were Cardas Hexlinks, the…

Robert Harley generated the test-bench measurements and provided me with the data after I finished my listening tests. The Mark Levinson No.36 has an output of 1.85V (left) and 1.84V (right), unbalanced (3.69V, L&R, balanced) when decoding a 1kHz, 0dBFS (full-scale) sinewave. Its output impedance measured 7 ohms unbalanced, 13.4 ohms balanced—this processor should be able to drive any commercial preamplifier and cable with no adverse effects. The No.36 was non-inverting in its unbalanced mode, with pin 2 positive in the balanced mode. Its DC offset was 0.2mV…

There are five individual categories: Loudspeakers (including subwoofers); Amplification Components (preamplifiers, power amplifiers, etc.); Digital Sources (CD players, transports, processors); Analog Sources (phono cartridges, turntables, tonearms, FM tuners, etc.); and Accessories (everything else). In previous years, we have given an…

EgglestonWorks Andra ($14,700/pair; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.20 No.10, October 1997 Review)

Finalists (in alphabetical order):
Aerial Acoustics 5 ($1800/pair–$2000/pair; reviewed by Robert Harley, Vol.20 No.4, April 1997 Review)
Audio Physic Caldera ($18,995/pair; reviewed by Martin Colloms, Vol.20 No.8, August 1997)
Epos ES12 ($1095/pair; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.20 No.4, April 1997 Review)
Gradient Revolution ($3995/pair; reviewed by Dick Olsher & John Atkinson, Vol.18 No.5, May 1995; & Vol.20 No.3, March 1997 Review)
…

Krell Full Power Balanced 600 power amplifier ($12,500; reviewed by Martin Colloms, Vol.20 No.4, April 1997 Review)
Pass Labs Aleph 3 power amplifier ($2300; reviewed by Muse Kastanovich & John Atkinson, Vol.20 No.4, April 1997 Review)

Finalists (in alphabetical order):
Audio Research VT100 power amplifier ($4495; reviewed by Robert J. Reina, Vol.20 No.3, March 1997)
Ayre Acoustics K-1 preamplifier ($5250–$7100; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.20 No.3, March 1997 Review)
Balanced Audio Technologies VK-5i preamplifier ($3995…

dCS Elgar D/A processor ($12,000; reviewed by John Atkinson, Vol.20 No.7, July 1997 Review)

Finalists (in alphabetical order):
California Audio Labs CL-10 multidisc CD changer ($1975; reviewed by Robert Harley, Vol.19 No.11, November 1997)
Mark Levinson No.36S D/A processor ($6495; reviewed by Thomas J. Norton, Vol.20 No.1, January 1997 Review)
Mark Levinson No.37 CD transport ($3995; reviewed by Thomas J. Norton, Vol.20 No.1, January 1997 Review)
Naim CD2 CD player ($4150; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.20 No.2, February 1997)
Rega…

VPI TNT Mk.3 turntable ($5000; flywheel adds $1000; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.19 No.11, November 1997)
Magnum Dynalab MD 108 FM tuner ($5500; reviewed by Don A. Scott, Vol.20 No.5, May 1997)

Finalists (in alphabetical order):
Immedia RPM2 tonearm ($2495; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.20 No.5, May 1997 Review)
Immedia RPM2 turntable ($4995; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Vol.20 No.9, September 1997 Review)
Rega RB900 tonearm ($995; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Vol.20 No.8, August 1997)
Rega Planar 3 turntable ($695; reviewed by…

I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone to measure the Magico M2's frequency response in the farfield, and an Earthworks QTC-40 mike for the nearfield and in-room responses. The 165lb loudspeaker was too bulky to move outside for testing or to lift onto my computer-controlled turntable. I therefore had to do the quasi-anechoic measurements in my listening room, where the proximity of room boundaries led to more aggressive windowing of the time-domain data than usual, which in turn reduced the graphs' resolution in the midrange.

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Steve visited my place in Brooklyn just before the New Year, and we…