Mark Levinson No. 526 Preamplifier Review

It's a very good looking product (just look at the interior photos), the Mark Levinson No. 526 Preamplifier ($20,000.00 USD), and the Clari-Fi digital technology sure sounds interesting, but what has happened to Mark Levinson?
It is 2017, and the SN ratio is 97 db (100 dB, A-weighted). What of 24-bit audio? What of at least 130 dB?
For $1750, back in 1973, Mark Levinson made the LNP-2 Preamplifier, which boasted dynamic range of > 130 dB.
http://www.preservationsound.com/?p=6060
Today, for about $2000.00 USD you would find that in a product like the Brooklyn MyTek DAC.
https://mytekdigital.com/hifi/products/brooklyn/
To my eye, Mark Levinson of today has gone a bit McIntosh, in the box-preservation department, harking back to the days of the 33 (1990's).
Would I take a Mark Levinson No. 526 and associated components over a Daniel Hertz ML 6L Preamplifier and ML 5L Monoblocks?
Ah, there is nothing wrong with 97 dB. That's 1 dB over the CD's 96 dB dynamic range, though not yet into Sony's Super Bit Mapping (20-bit) territory...
BTW, TonyKaz, are you the famous Kaz of inner|fidelity?
Looking at the circuit boards today, they remind me abit of Asus and their Xonar ...
https://www.asus.com/ca-en/Sound-Cards/Essence_STX_II/specifications/
Though I am thinking of their external DAC.
Would I buy the Mark Levinson, if I had more money. Ah, yes, likely to go with the JBL speakers...
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/96/6b/3b/966b3bc31e076c7d3ecbc...
I should probably work on a 97 dB wallet. :)

• edit
• reply

image: http://www.stereophile.com/images/default_user_85x85.jpg

Pure Path new

Submitted by Staxguy on April 20, 2017 - 5:41pm

BTW, I like the sound of the Mark Levinson Pure Path technology.
It is so well in contrast to the Convergent Audio Technology CAT SL-1 Renaissance Black Path ($9995.00 USD), which is so Aghora Tantric!
https://www.amazon.com/Aghora-At-Left-Hand-God/dp/0914732218
http://www.stereophile.com/content/convergent-audio-technology-sl1-renai...
PurePath TM is more Christian, more Promise Keepers!
Ah, Charlie Hayden would have a revival!

Read more at http://www.stereophile.com/content/mark-levinson-no526-preamplifier#qLZGm5HmG6bfhc1E.99

JP 2017/04/20

www.hifiart.ca