I would never ever purchase an ML product. I worked on a power amp of theirs and there is so much overkill going on that I just don't get it. Thanks for your comments!!
I don't think it had a digital volume control, but rather an optical encoder instead of a potentiometer. If I remember correctly Krell KRC series also used it.
I think I suggested that but have never really worked on or tested gear that had an optical encoder, which I would consider to be a digital volume control of sorts. Appreciate the feedback.
Any chance you can do an episode on the test setup and show the functions on the Quant Asylum? I'm guessing this was made when people were dry humping THD measurements and Levenson was sick of it, hence the owners manual. Looks like a DAC was used for volume control.
Good point about a DAC used for volume control...? I think Levinson just wanted to be different, and maybe snooty as well. II have thought about doing a video on the QuantAsylum analyzer, mainly for the user's forum than for a TH-cam video. It is a great tool, but does have a learning curve and a video covering the basic measurements would really help newbies. I will have to think about it as it would take a bit of time to do... Thanks for the comment!
When you charge that much you better be on the bleeding edge of tech and the DAC for volume would have been just the ticket. If I had to guess that's why there is strange behaviour when testing different levels of output. Where is the user forum? Do you drink coffee? I can bribe you into doing the Quant Asylum tutorial with whole beans : )
@@jameswarren1831 You made me chuckle with your bribing with whole bean coffee. I do drink coffee, but prefer kcups due to their convivence and the taste is usually good enough for my pallette. The owner of Quantasylum is very active in the forums- I will post a link to them. But there are only a few videos, though there are several papers on how to do different things. You can check out Kiss Analog here on TH-cam as he has a QA401 and goes through measuring things with it in a few videos. Back to the DAC for volume- my favorite solution is having fixed, precision resistors soldered around a rotary switch- great for channel balance matching and repeatibility, though the increments most likely would not be as many as with a DAC. forum.quantasylum.com/
I second an episode on setting up the Quant Asylum. I just purchased a QA403 based on your great reviews. Your balance is just right for my limited attention span. Could you have measured the Mark Levinson in balanced mode? Many thanks Steve.
@@SteveBernasconi Thanks for the comment and suggestion about the QA40x training as well. I could do a balanced measurement with the QA40x, but would have to make or buy some BNC to XLR adapters/ cables. As most of the gear that I test is unbalanced, it has not been something I have implemented. Maybe some day. Plus, the unbalanced case would give worse results (most likely) which may give more info as to performance capability. I know that looking at data is not always exciting, but putting it on youtube instead of a website (I have never set up a website) allows for a larger audience exposure and interaction. Will start thinking about the QA40x training series- it is w/out a doubt the most useful piece of gear I have next to a DMM (not counting tools like a soldering iron, desoldering gun etc).
Hello, I have a Levinson 28 preamp, how can I adjust the different phono parameters from MM to MC? on the cards of this pre amp? and what are the measurements and points that need to be changed on the phone cards? Thanks a lot
I appreciate the question, but you will have to get a hold of the manual and move the DIP switches accordingly, as I don't know what the setting would be. The manual explains how to adjust them. You need to have the phono option cards installed.
I am shopping around for a pre-owned Preamplifier for under 4K. I am looking to upgrade the sound of my Parasound Halo P6 Preamp. I have been reading up on various high-end brands as I go in order to educate myself. Some brands that I've am considering are ML, McIntosh, Krell, Pathos and Pass Labs Thanks folks
Thanks for the question. $4k is a lot. To be honest, I have not heard hardly any difference when a/b'ing preamps against my venerable Carver C1. And that includes against ML, Conrad Johnson and a Schit Freya + in the tube mode. Do you need a remote ? Do you need a mm or mc phono input? I don't really want to deal with tubes and they have not sounded any better to me. Of course, most of what I listen to is more "vintage". I really think I would like to find a mcintosh C48 under my Christmas tree one year- will be reviewing (measuring) one before too long. Hope that helps.
I am confused. In your summary of the test data, you thought the unit was looking pretty good...except for some intermittent THD bumps. Yet, you are not a fan of this product. I was wondering what you didn't like about it's performance. Is there another Mark Levinson preamp product that you prefer more. For example, the next generation ML 300-Series of preamp s and amps seem to have received good subjective performance ratings from both owners and audio critics. Perhaps another brand would perform better in this price range. IDK Thanks!
I am not a fan of ML- this unit required special connectors which I am not a fan of. How good is your hearing? Mine is still pretty good for my age, and since you are asking, I have not heard much difference between the sound of preamps when you do a direct, almost instantaneous a/b test between them. $4k is a lot in my book, but not enough for a McIntosh C48 with has a DAC and both MM/MC phono inputs, though I have not tested one. Do you need balanced inputs is another thing. I don't sell any products and have nothing to gain recommending this or that. Don't get all hung up on what reviewers tell you about how the units sound. Look for the features you need and the price you want (and the look you want/size that works).
hi i have just discovered your very interesting channel and subscribed Thank you very much for your excellent video I am a bit surprised I was sincerely expecting impeccable measurable performance and this is not the case Maybe there are issues with some parts due to aging ? too high THD for a line stage The fact that the channels performs differently also it is not comforting Sometimes i think that less could be more ? this unit looks very complex and i start to wonder if it is not a case of overengineering I am looking for a great line stage and i hope you will test other units soon Kind regards gino
Thanks for subscribing! You hit the nail on the head with "overengineering"! That is my opinion. I would never purchase their gear from the few pieces I have looked. I would never want to try to work on them if they broke. They did not provide any specs, so who knows. By line stage do you mean a normal preamp ? If so, McIntosh is always a good choice and I like Carver Preamps like the C1 or 4000t....
@@vintageaudioreview thanks a lot for confirming my feeling I am not an expert but i can read a graph or a table And in this case i have been surprised in negative way For line stage i intend a preamp to be connected to a cd player Not phono I will follow your test reviews with the greatest interest Thank you very much again Kind regards gino
@@gino3286 There are several nice good vintage preamps out there if that is what you are after... I will be doing a more modern McIntosh Preamp in the next month or two.
@@vintageaudioreview thanks a lot nice brand indeed I will follow your channel for sure I am bored by the poetry of some reviews I like objective evidences Best wishes gino
I think you're right about Mark Levinson's pricing - his motto should be "The more you pay, the more its worth."
I would never ever purchase an ML product. I worked on a power amp of theirs and there is so much overkill going on that I just don't get it. Thanks for your comments!!
I don't think it had a digital volume control, but rather an optical encoder instead of a potentiometer. If I remember correctly Krell KRC series also used it.
I think I suggested that but have never really worked on or tested gear that had an optical encoder, which I would consider to be a digital volume control of sorts. Appreciate the feedback.
Any chance you can do an episode on the test setup and show the functions on the Quant Asylum? I'm guessing this was made when people were dry humping THD measurements and Levenson was sick of it, hence the owners manual. Looks like a DAC was used for volume control.
Good point about a DAC used for volume control...? I think Levinson just wanted to be different, and maybe snooty as well. II have thought about doing a video on the QuantAsylum analyzer, mainly for the user's forum than for a TH-cam video. It is a great tool, but does have a learning curve and a video covering the basic measurements would really help newbies. I will have to think about it as it would take a bit of time to do... Thanks for the comment!
When you charge that much you better be on the bleeding edge of tech and the DAC for volume would have been just the ticket. If I had to guess that's why there is strange behaviour when testing different levels of output. Where is the user forum? Do you drink coffee? I can bribe you into doing the Quant Asylum tutorial with whole beans : )
@@jameswarren1831 You made me chuckle with your bribing with whole bean coffee. I do drink coffee, but prefer kcups due to their convivence and the taste is usually good enough for my pallette. The owner of Quantasylum is very active in the forums- I will post a link to them. But there are only a few videos, though there are several papers on how to do different things. You can check out Kiss Analog here on TH-cam as he has a QA401 and goes through measuring things with it in a few videos. Back to the DAC for volume- my favorite solution is having fixed, precision resistors soldered around a rotary switch- great for channel balance matching and repeatibility, though the increments most likely would not be as many as with a DAC.
forum.quantasylum.com/
I second an episode on setting up the Quant Asylum. I just purchased a QA403 based on your great reviews. Your balance is just right for my limited attention span. Could you have measured the Mark Levinson in balanced mode? Many thanks Steve.
@@SteveBernasconi Thanks for the comment and suggestion about the QA40x training as well. I could do a balanced measurement with the QA40x, but would have to make or buy some BNC to XLR adapters/ cables. As most of the gear that I test is unbalanced, it has not been something I have implemented. Maybe some day. Plus, the unbalanced case would give worse results (most likely) which may give more info as to performance capability. I know that looking at data is not always exciting, but putting it on youtube instead of a website (I have never set up a website) allows for a larger audience exposure and interaction. Will start thinking about the QA40x training series- it is w/out a doubt the most useful piece of gear I have next to a DMM (not counting tools like a soldering iron, desoldering gun etc).
Hello, I have a Levinson 28 preamp, how can I adjust the different phono parameters from MM to MC? on the cards of this pre amp? and what are the measurements and points that need to be changed on the phone cards? Thanks a lot
I appreciate the question, but you will have to get a hold of the manual and move the DIP switches accordingly, as I don't know what the setting would be. The manual explains how to adjust them. You need to have the phono option cards installed.
These were sold with a high-gain and a low-gain option, which were different boards. So switching from MM to MC would require a different board.
I am shopping around for a pre-owned Preamplifier for under 4K. I am looking to upgrade the sound of my Parasound Halo P6 Preamp.
I have been reading up on various high-end brands as I go in order to educate myself.
Some brands that I've am considering are ML, McIntosh, Krell, Pathos and Pass Labs
Thanks folks
Thanks for the question. $4k is a lot. To be honest, I have not heard hardly any difference when a/b'ing preamps against my venerable Carver C1. And that includes against ML, Conrad Johnson and a Schit Freya + in the tube mode. Do you need a remote ? Do you need a mm or mc phono input? I don't really want to deal with tubes and they have not sounded any better to me. Of course, most of what I listen to is more "vintage". I really think I would like to find a mcintosh C48 under my Christmas tree one year- will be reviewing (measuring) one before too long. Hope that helps.
i love mine
Am happy you are enjoying it 😃
I am confused. In your summary of the test data, you thought the unit was looking pretty good...except for some intermittent THD bumps. Yet, you are not a fan of this product. I was wondering what you didn't like about it's performance.
Is there another Mark Levinson preamp product that you prefer more.
For example, the next generation ML 300-Series of preamp s and amps seem to have received good
subjective performance ratings from both owners and audio critics.
Perhaps another brand would perform better in this price range. IDK
Thanks!
Perhaps you could recommend a Carver or Bryston preamp that measured well and that sounded pleasant to you.
Thanks very much
Keep up the good work.
I am not a fan of ML- this unit required special connectors which I am not a fan of. How good is your hearing? Mine is still pretty good for my age, and since you are asking, I have not heard much difference between the sound of preamps when you do a direct, almost instantaneous a/b test between them. $4k is a lot in my book, but not enough for a McIntosh C48 with has a DAC and both MM/MC phono inputs, though I have not tested one. Do you need balanced inputs is another thing. I don't sell any products and have nothing to gain recommending this or that. Don't get all hung up on what reviewers tell you about how the units sound. Look for the features you need and the price you want (and the look you want/size that works).
hi i have just discovered your very interesting channel and subscribed Thank you very much for your excellent video
I am a bit surprised I was sincerely expecting impeccable measurable performance and this is not the case
Maybe there are issues with some parts due to aging ? too high THD for a line stage
The fact that the channels performs differently also it is not comforting Sometimes i think that less could be more ?
this unit looks very complex and i start to wonder if it is not a case of overengineering
I am looking for a great line stage and i hope you will test other units soon
Kind regards gino
Thanks for subscribing! You hit the nail on the head with "overengineering"! That is my opinion. I would never purchase their gear from the few pieces I have looked. I would never want to try to work on them if they broke. They did not provide any specs, so who knows. By line stage do you mean a normal preamp ? If so, McIntosh is always a good choice and I like Carver Preamps like the C1 or 4000t....
@@vintageaudioreview thanks a lot for confirming my feeling I am not an expert but i can read a graph or a table
And in this case i have been surprised in negative way
For line stage i intend a preamp to be connected to a cd player Not phono
I will follow your test reviews with the greatest interest
Thank you very much again
Kind regards gino
@@gino3286 There are several nice good vintage preamps out there if that is what you are after... I will be doing a more modern McIntosh Preamp in the next month or two.
@@vintageaudioreview thanks a lot nice brand indeed I will follow your channel for sure I am bored by the poetry of some reviews I like objective evidences
Best wishes gino