Acoustic system mark levinson. HiFi-Trade is the official dealer of Mark Levinson. reasons to opt for Mark Levinson

Mono Amplifiers Mark Levinson No.53 As with all Mark Levinson reference products, it goes without saying that the core function of the Nº53 is to reproduce sound at the most uncompromising level possible. In keeping with the tradition of Mark Levinson solid state power amplifiers such as the ML-2 and Nº33, the new Nº53 continues to prove that solid state electronics can rival the best-sounding tube designs. More specifically, the Nº53 is the very first Mark Levinson Switching Power Amplifier. Despite their many advantages - increased efficiency, high power, compact size, reduced weight and less heat dissipation compared to their linear counterparts - switching power amplifiers were generally viewed with skepticism by the audiophile community due to technical limitations. inherent in impulse circuits, and assumptions about the resulting sound quality. Nº53, however, is the end result of extensive research and development work devoted to finding ways to highlight the advantages of switching power amplifiers, overcome their weaknesses and create an iconic product that truly deserves a name - the reference Mark Levinson.

The Nº53 has an impressive 500W into 8 ohms, with dimensions of only 533 (H) x 227 (W) x 533 (D) mm and a weight of only 61 kg - undoubtedly maintaining the efficiency for which switching amplifiers are widely known. It is capable of delivering phenomenal power levels to virtually any loudspeaker load in order to maintain both instantaneous and continuous power draws. Still more expressive, the Nº53 does this trick without the slightest change in performance while maintaining a constant, thermally balanced temperature during operation. Unlike most switching amplifiers, the Nº53 has amazingly efficient power management so its operating temperature does not change, no matter how hard or how long the amplifier is loaded.

These power amplifiers are called switching power amplifiers because they turn the output devices on and off in a very rapid sequence, simulating the input signal. One set of outputs drives the positive half-wave and the other the negative half-wave. The result is that less power is consumed in the form of heat, since the workload is essentially halved. Unfortunately, this also poses significant design problems in terms of how to cope with switching noise that is created by constantly turning the output devices on and off, as well as a phenomenon called "dead zones". Traditionally, these have been two factors that have contributed to switching amplifiers to a reputation for second-rate sound quality. However, in his Nº53, Mark Levinson has overcome these obstacles and raised the bar for quality to unprecedented heights.

The Nº53 eliminates switching interference without compromising sound quality with a new, patented and original interleaved switching technology (IPT - Power Sequencing), which, among other things, raises the switching frequency of the Nº53 to the extremely high 2 MHz. The advantages of this are twofold: First, it carries the fundamental frequency of the switching interference and its harmonics far beyond the limits of human hearing, so that they do not directly affect the sound quality; second, it makes it easier to remove switching noise from the signal with much weaker filters without negatively affecting the critical audio range. The result is a range of operating frequencies — flat across the entire audio spectrum and only a few dB below 100 kHz — impressive for any power amplifier, but striking for a pulsed circuit.

Nº53 also overcame the "dead zone" problem. Deadbands are intervals of silence in the audio output created when the output devices driving the positive and negative halves of the signal are both turned off. This usually occurs at the "zero crossing point" whenever the audio signal is routed from positive to negative amplitude or vice versa. This is a fairly common occurrence - in a 20 kHz audio signal, this point crosses 40,000 times per second. Such transitions become a problem because even the best outputs are not capable of turning on and off instantly, so the result is a series of signal dead spots every second. Obviously, the larger the zone, the more harmful its consequences for sound signal... Many designs minimize dead zones by keeping both output devices off for as short a period as possible. Unfortunately, this increases the possibility that both output devices will be turned on at the same time, which could damage or destroy them. On the other hand, the Nº53 was developed using a proprietary technology that allows both sets of output devices to be turned on simultaneously for short periods of time to completely eliminate dead zones without damaging the output devices or reducing their lifespan. In other words, it solves the deadband problem and preserves the long-term reliability of the Nº53.

The main purpose of power amplifiers is to amplify the input audio signal without distortion and work effortlessly with a wide range of speaker impedances at any volume level, with all the power and grace that reference quality sound requires. The Nº53 is designed precisely in this direction. The chassis is a compact vertical design with three separate internal compartments to provide shielding and isolation of various circuits - the power supply at the bottom, four amplifiers in the middle, and control circuitry at the top. The power supply is completely isolated and shielded from the rest of the amplifier to reduce interference from magnetic fields and high current devices. The extremely low noise toroidal transformer has a huge 2800 VA headroom, and the regulator circuit uses four 47000 μF capacitors with low ESR. The four amplifiers in the middle compartment, each equipped with a pair of coils, are mounted symmetrically and mirrored to maintain channel separation. Working together, the four amplifiers increase the effective switching frequency from 500 kHz to 2 MHz to provide best quality sound known for a switching amplifier. The control circuit has its own independent regulated power supply and is shielded from the rest of the amplifier to prevent interference with audio circuits. 2074103 1

Many audiophiles regard Mark Levinson Audio Systems as a symbol of true High End. There are not many companies in the history of High End Audio that have such a high and undeniable reputation. Every high-end amplifier in the world is habitually compared to the Mark Levinson # 33 Reference Mono Power Amplifier, a true High End legend, the benchmark for everyone else.

Mark Levinson Audio Systems was founded by Mark Levinson in 1972 when the first JC-1 preamplifier was born - a symbol of Mark's distinctive approach to sound reproduction. He was not only a capable musician with good engineering training and a talented designer, but also had an excellent hearing, which allowed him to rely solely on his golden ears for his own designs. Despite the small volume of production, the company quickly became known in the circles of fans of the most perfect sound, regardless of cost and cost. The High End Mark Levinson machines have consistently used the most expensive parts of the highest quality.

The first Mark Levinson preamp kicked off a series of stunning audio components that have solidified America's reputation as a leader in High End Audio design. In addition, the JC-1 has convinced even the most inveterate audiophile that lamps do not have a monopoly on sounding truthful. The JC-1 preamplifier evolved into the ML-1, followed by the ML-2, a mono power amplifier. Mark Levinson then created the ML-3 Power Amplifier, a massive, ultra-stable monoblock twin that could handle even the most capricious loudspeakers of the day.

In the mid-1980s, despite a number of innovations such as a fully modular preamp and outstanding studio reel-to-reel tape recorders, Mark Levinson Audio Systems found itself in financial trouble. Madrigal Audio Laboratories, a distributor of a related brand, came to the rescue. Mark Levinson's tradition of handcrafted construction of the highest quality has been preserved and key personnel have been regrouped to continue the design and manufacturing process. The reorganization strengthened financial discipline and expanded engineering staff.

The times were favorable for change - the audio industry was rapidly moving to CD as the main source of music. Although the company's digital-to-analog converter was not the very first, the reference processor Mark Levinson No. 30 was immediately hailed by the experts as the new sounding standard. It was an achievement that showed that digital technology has finally reached a level of maturity. A year later, reference CD transport No. 31, fulfilling Mark Levinson's desire to offer audiophiles the most sophisticated digital source playback system ever. It also marked a milestone in the history of design, execution and sound quality.

While the Mark Levinson name has already established itself as the premier supplier of hardware for home systems enthusiasts, Mark Levinson has decided to forge a relationship with Lexus, Toyota's luxury car division. Working closely with Lexus engineers, Mark Levinson leveraged his expertise, as well as the expertise of other automotive divisions at Harman International, to ensure that the audio performance of Lexus vehicles matched their driving excellence.

Today, more than three decades after the company's inception, Mark Levinson continues to expand the horizons for audiophiles, both at home and behind the wheel, with home cinema lovers in mind.

During its existence, the company managed to change its name and owners (as Madrigal Audio Labs is part of the Harman International group), but these changes did not change the main thing - the highest quality of its products. The company is still considered the trendsetter in the world of High End Audio, and the equipment of the Mark Levinson brand is consistently recognized as the reference, occupying the top lines in various tests and ratings.

Today, the Mark Levinson line includes several dozen models of amplifiers, processors and players designed for the most discerning connoisseurs of sound and picture.

Kilogram toroidal transformers are the main fighters with network interference

For a true audiophile, capacitors are characterized not only by capacity, but also by sound

Only powerful heatsinks that surround the amplifier body save 30 output transistors from overheating

In 1972, Mark Levinson, a talented American musician and engineer, founded Mark Levinson in Connecticut. And for 30 years now, Hi-End fanatics have been composing a huge number of legends and stories around this name. One of them says that even the word “Hi-End” was invented by Mark Levinson himself. But the fact that all high-end amplifiers in the world are compared with Mark Levinson No. 33 Reference Mono Power Amplifier, it is no longer a legend, but a fact.

Can a capacitor play

Levinson was one of the first to think about the quality of sound and the reasons that shape it. Before him, it was believed that the better the technical parameters of the equipment (wider bandwidth and less harmonic distortion), the better the sound. Mark, on the other hand, expressed a thought that was almost seditious for engineers, but understandable for a musician: specifications, but human perception of sound, live listening. It never occurs to anyone to evaluate a Stradivarius violin for its ability to reproduce a frequency of 35 kHz. And Levinson began to create his amplifiers not according to technical parameters, but according to the criterion "sounds - does not sound". The criterion for rejection of parts (this capacitor plays, but this one does not) was blasphemous for traditional electronics engineers. Mark sounded not only radio components, but also circuitry solutions. Eventually, after much trial and error, Levinson came up with solutions, many of which persist to this day.

Hot but cool

The most famous amplifiers of the company became the model Mark Levinson No. 20.6 (by the way, all the equipment of the legendary brand is produced only under numbers), which appeared in the late 80s. The amplifier consisted of two non-lifting separate blocks - one per channel. In addition to heavy weight and in size, the amplifier did not have a very high output power, heated itself like a stove, but sounded like God. It sounded like the best tube amps, but with solid solidity, velvety bass and open midrange. No. 20.6, even after a decade, no one thinks to give up for scrap - it still delights the ears of its owners.

The amplifier was warming up for a reason. Mark Levinson's engineers use pure class A circuitry, in which the output transistors are constantly on, that is, current flows through them even when there is no signal. This mode has the lowest possible efficiency (up to 20%), but it allows you to achieve minimal distortion. For example, transistors used in class D equipment (usually digital amplifiers) operate in a key mode, and the amplifiers themselves have an efficiency of more than 90%.

The high mass of Mark Levinson amplifiers is also no coincidence. Greatest influence the sound is influenced, oddly enough, by the usual mains supply.

Perfect sine

Even in Moscow, the standard 220 V is different - the spread is, depending on the area, from 160 to 260 V. But even this is not the worst thing - the voltage is heavily contaminated, that is, it differs from the standard sine.

A lot of everyday distortions penetrate into him: a neighbor shaves on the floor above, a child plays Nintendo, a wife dries her hair with a hairdryer. In the same way that low-quality gasoline can cause interruptions in a well-tuned Japanese engine, distortions that enter the amplifier along with electricity spoil the output signal. By the way, it is for this reason that true audiophiles best time for listening, they call the night hours - from 23:00 to one in the morning, when most of the "jammers" are already asleep.

Contaminated voltage, as well as dirty gasoline, is fought with filters. For example, the current flagship Mark Levinson No. 33 has voltage regenerators, the principle of which is to rectify the voltage and then generate an ideal sine using a reference master oscillator. And no compact pulse current sources at the input, which introduce at least small, but their own distortions. Only toroidal transformers with the least electromagnetic radiation, and very heavy and powerful - at peak moments, the amplifier can consume up to several kilowatts of electricity. Moreover, there should be at least two transformers - one per channel. Traditionally, Mark Levinson amplifiers are built on the principle of "dual mono": the circuits are not connected in any way, and in the flagship models they are even enclosed in different cases. This is done for better separation between the channels - they are absolutely separated.

Another parameter that affects the sound is the output impedance of the amplifier. The lower the output impedance, the better the amplifier can handle complex speaker loads. The impedance written on the speakers (4 or 8 ohms) is averaged. In fact, for each frequency, the resistance is different, and at some frequencies it may fall below the allowable value. And if the amplifier has its own high output impedance, then it handles this frequency band poorly.

Transistor chorus

There are two ways to achieve low resistance. For example, increase the amplifier feedback depth. The deeper Feedback, the lower the output impedance of the amplifier. But this negatively affects the perception of sound - it turns out to be smoother, but "dead", as experts say.

Mark Levinson amplifiers achieve low output impedance by paralleling the output stage transistors. This is well known from the school physics course - with a parallel connection, the total resistance falls. The number of output transistors can reach three dozen per channel, while the usual rate is two. Moreover, in order for these dozens to work together, a tough selection is necessary - they must, like a chorus, sing together. If transistors are usually selected according to one or two static characteristics, then in Mark Levinson - six dynamic ones. And all the same, at the same time, the last word remains with the ear - will they play together or not. Hi-End is not measured by any devices - this is its essence.

Mark Levinson - American private company, a subsidiary of Harman International Industries Corporation. The company specializes in the development of Hi-End audio equipment: audio amplifiers, preamplifiers, digital audio processors and other audio components for audiophiles. The headquarters are located in Elhart, Indiana.

Founded in 1972 by the eponymous company Mark Levinson, in a short time it has become synonymous with the concept of High End. Mark was born in 1946 in Oakland, California. His father is Daniel J. Levinson, mother is Maria Hertz Levinson. Mark grew up in the Boston area and then in New Haven. His father, a professor of psychology, worked at Yale and Harvard for forty years. The author of the fundamental work - Seasons of a Man's Life (Stages of a man's life).

Musical inclinations were manifested in his son from childhood. By the time he was 20, he was already playing double bass and trumpet with some of the greatest jazzmen: John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Sonny Stitt, Johnny Griffin, Chick Corea and Keith Jarrett. This was made possible thanks to his talent and his father's professional connections.