Mark Levinson, by Harman, makes audio equipment that many of us can only ever aspire to own. I’ve been able to listen to several of their system set-ups in person, and each time I’ve walked away thinking that if I ever become rich and famous, I’d be tempted. If you’re already in a position to buy, then you’ll be glad to know that they’ve expanded their offering of luxury-line components. Even though the prices are still quite aspirational, they are a little more obtainable than Mark Levinson’s typical price-points.
For nearly 50 years, Mark Levinson has been engineering and building the finest audio components in their industry, driven by “an unwavering belief in the transformative power of music.” In a YouTube launch, which has become the 2020 norm, we got a look at the new Mark Levinson 5000 series products. All Mark Levinson components are designed in their Shelton, Connecticut site, and many are handcrafted in the United States. Mark Levinson system components typically sell for tens of thousands individually; for instance, pricing for their previous turntable, the Nº 515, started at $10,000 without the phono cartridge, and the Nº 53 monoblock power amplifier sells for $25,000. An example of a fully-immersive home theater setup at their Southern California facility sells for $750,000. Obviously, their prices are not for the faint of heart, but if you have ever had the chance to listen to one of their systems, you’ll walk away with stars in your eyes. The new components include:
The Mark Levinson Nº 5105 Turntable
Highlights of the turntable include:
- Custom 10-inch tonearm
- Isolation mounted 12V synchronous motor
- Fully digital motor electronics with 33/45 speed selections
- Stable speed and low wow/flutter
- Massive solid brushed aluminum plinth precision machined from a single billet
- 14lb solid aluminum platter – backside coated with resonance damping material
- Adjustable isolated feet
- Glass and aluminum front panel with speed and standby controls>
- Integrated bubble level
- Mark Levinson 12“ gatefold LP insert
The Nº 5105 is on its way to the warehouse now, and it should be shipping in the next 30 to 45 days. It will be available either with or without a factory-installed moving coil phono cartridge; it will sell for $6,500 for the version without a phono cartridge and $7,500 for the version with a cartridge.
The Nº 5101 Streaming SACD Player & DAC
Highlights of the Streaming SACD Player and DAC include:
- 3-in-1 companion source for Nº5805 or Nº5802 1. Slot Loading SACD Player 2. Network Streamer 3. DAC
- Plays all disc formats, including SACD, CD-A, CD-R, and CD-RW
- Supports FLAC, WAV, AIFF, OGG, MP3, AAC,
- and WMA
- USB –A for USB Drive file playback
- PrecisionLink II DAC
- Linear power supply
- ML PurePath analog output stage
- Balanced and single-ended outputs
- Optical and coaxial inputs
- Ethernet and WiFi network streaming
- RS232 control
- Trigger and IR inputs
- Handcrafted in the USA
The Nº 5101 is available and shipping now; it will sell for $5,500.
The Nº 5206 Dual-Monaural Preamplifier
Highlights of the Dual-Monaural Preamplifier include:
- Pure Path Class-A Design
- Main Drive Class A Headphone Out
- Home Theater Processor Pass-Thru Mode
- Class A High Pass Subwoofer Filter
- MQA Full Decode Certified
- Bluetooth Audio Input Including Aptx-HD Support
- Mark Levinson 5Kontrol APP
- Precision Crafted In The USA
The Nº 5206 will be available before the end of the year; it will sell for $9,000.
The Nº 5302 Bridgeable Dual-Monaural Amplifier
Highlights of the Bridgeable Dual-Monaural Amplifier include:
- Class AB channels: 2 x 135W/channel into 8 Ohms
- 2 x 270W into 4 Ohms
- Easily Bridgeable for Mono 550W at 4 Ohms
- Cosmetic grade external heatsinks
- IP, RS-232, control
- 12V trigger in/out
- Made in the USA
The Nº 5302 will be available before the end of the year; it will sell for $9,000.
These products will not be in my budget anytime soon, but that doesn’t make me appreciate them any less. You can learn more about the brand and their products here.