Munich HIGH END Show Report 2015
High End Society Munich Germany

Mark Levinson And JBL @ HIGH END 2015 

  Mark Levinson is back! Ok, well, they never actually went away yet they have been a bit dormant these past handful of years. Many years ago, the company had immense research and development funding and created some of the industry's most advanced digital-to-analog converters and amplification products. After about a decade, the brand has strangely gone relatively quiet in the eyes on many within the high-end audio industry.

Now owned by Harman Luxury Group, years have past and am happy to say that their parent company is once again funding further R&D to bring back the Mark Levinson brand to the forefront of high fidelity audio. Being reborn with a commitment to continue their legendary sonic pedigree coupled with an innovative drive, they have invested the past three years in a brand new research and development facility in Shelton, CT. There, they built a new leading edge team coupled with 300 years of experience with a unified goal to create world-class pure audio solid-state electronics. Each unit is made in Westford, MA, to ensure high quality construction within the United States of America. Photographed here is Todd Eichenbaum and Jim Garrett with the new Mark Levinson N^o 536 monaural amplifier that produces 400 @ 8 Ohms, and of course doubles to 800 @ 4 Ohms.

As the first of this new generation of Mark Levinson solid-state amplification, the company wants to ensure many years of reliability combined with superior natural sound. An ultra-low noise 1800VA transformer with 18 small (close to the output stage) power capacitors ensure a fast response. All the high quality parts including Schottky, thin metal film resistors, etc are part and parcel for this design. It is all discrete and no OpAmps are within the signal path.

Speaking of the signal path, it is fully balanced, with both balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA inputs on the read of the unit. The hefty binding posts are two sets of custom Hurricane that make sure your speaker cables are tightly held. Frequency response is from about flat from 2 Hz to 180 kHz.

Another great development from the Harman Luxury Group is they now offer bespoke colors to match any décor or desire for their top-line speakers. Their JBL horn speakers can seamlessly fit into your lifestyle, including the JBL Everest DD67000 ($45,000 each speaker) seen here with Heather, Enjoy the Music.com's Editor and Creative Director Steven R. Rochlin's wife.

Note that Mark Levinson the brand name is wholly owned by Harman Luxury Group is in no way (for many decades) affiliated with with controversial Mr. Mark Levinson the man. Harman's brand Mark Levinson is highly respected, has provided many decades of excellent service and continues to strive in producing the very best high-end audio products.

---> Back to main HIGH END 2015 show report page.