Wow. That is an amazing set of specifications. The Mark Levinson may be the best pre-amplifier ever invented. Or perhaps not. Convergent Audio Technology manufactured the CAT SL-1 ($9,995.00 USD) which is still in use, today. Now what do you do if you don't have $9000?
Mark Levinson LNP-2 Professional Preamplifier ($1,750.00 USD)
VS
Burson Audio Soloist SL MKII Headphone Amplifier ($499.00 USD)
Let's look at Burson.
The Burson Audio Conductor SL Headphone Amplifer ($1,300.00) offered 2 watts of output via the PCM 1793 DAC (TI) and Burson Amplification.
Signal to Noise Ratio: 96 dB
THD: < 0.03%
Channel Separation: > 73 dB
In 1973, Mark Levison Audio Systems offered ($1,750.00 USD) the LNP-2 Professional Preampliifer (above, $1,750.00 USD) with a channel tracking accuracy of 0.1 dB, all functions, all conditions, and dynamic range greater than 130 dB. This is enough for near-22 bit audio... back in 1973!
Today, Burson Audio offers the Burson Audio Soloist SL MKII Headphone Amplifier ($499.00 USD) in what you could say is Cello Music & Film audio styling with capability for near 16-bit digital audio. THD (< 0.03%) is a factor of six (6) times (in 2015 via Burson) greater than the 1973 Mark Levison LNP-2 Professional Preamplifier ($1,795.00 USD, < 0.005% THD).
We think a fair comparison - for channel separation - would be the Ayre MX-R Monoblock Amplifier ($16,500.00 USD) - completely separated - with regards to technology - leading - a good product.
Sixteen thousand dollars separates the Burson from the Ayre MX-R. $16,000.00 USD is also the price of the Devialet D-Premier Integrated Amplifier. A very swell specified product, with short signal paths.
For comparison, The Pass Labs XP-30 Pre-amplifier ($16,500.00 USD) while only offering 110 dB Signal to Noise (SNR) offers at least 100 dB Channel Separation (and 130 dB at and below 2 kHz).
Could $16,000.00 USD of work improve the specified performance of Burson?
Now, the Mark Levinson LNP-2 ($1,750.00) PreAmplifier is intended as a professional product. That is the reason for it's specification. The Burson Audio Soloist SL MK II Headphone Amplifier ($499.00) is an attractive product. For the money, it does a good job. Better than you would expect, given the budget.
WHILE INTENDED FOR PROFESSIONAL USE, WE WILL LOOK FOR THE CHANNEL SEPARATION SPECIFICATION SPECIFICATION OF THE MARK LEVISON.
We recommend you read our other article on the Burson Audio Conductor Virtuoso DAC / Headphone Amplifier ($1,995.00 USD).
JP 2015/11/04
www.hifiart.ca
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