Mark Levinson № 523

£17,499.00

The Mark Levinson № 523 is the definitive preamplifier for the analog music lover. Six line-level analog and phono inputs

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Mark Levinson № 523

The Mark Levinson № 523 is the definitive preamplifier for the analog music lover.

Six line-level analog and phono inputs travel through the Mark Levinson proprietary Pure Path discrete, direct-coupled, fully balanced, dual-monaural signal path for breathtaking purity and performance.

With precision control including a discrete, balanced R-2R Ladder volume control, class-A Pure Phono stage, and class-A Main Drive Headphone output, the № 523 preamplifier delivers an uncompromising performance regardless of analog source.

Housed in a 6000-series aluminum chassis, like all Mark Levinson equipment, the № 523 is designed and handcrafted in the USA.

Mark Levinson Pure Path Circuit Design

Since 1972, Mark Levinson has been dedicated to the uncompromising art of sound, with the guiding principle of musical purity above all else.

To achieve that goal like never before, Mark Levinson engineers scoured company archives, ultimately developing a circuit-design philosophy called Pure Path.

On a conceptual level, its hallmark principles include a discrete, direct-coupled, fully balanced, dual-monaural signal path that delivers unrestricted, uncompromised sonic purity.

Far from merely arranging high quality components in an intelligent manner, Pure Path is the meeting of science and art:

Mark Levinson engineers are tasked to create the best possible measured AND subjective performance.

To quote Albert Einstein: “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.”

Pure Path highlights in the № 523 include Folded Cascodes, an R-2R Ladder volume control, the class-A Pure Phono stage, and class-A Main Drive Headphone amplifier output.

Analog Mastery: The Folded Cascode

Mark Levinson components are designed around a Pure Path amplifier circuit concept that makes heavy use of a circuit design element called a cascode.

Originally created for improving the bandwidth of vacuum tube circuits in radios, Mark Levinson engineers deploy cascodes in Pure Path circuit designs to both improve bandwidth and enhance linearity.

A cascode combines two transistors so that they operate as a single composite device that functions like a single transistor, using the wanted characteristics of each component transistor, and rejecting the unwanted characteristics.

Mark Levinson engineers began their design of the preamp gain stage with pairs of JFETs (junction field-effect transistors), chosen for their low noise and high gain. JFETs achieve these characteristics in part by being large, and with their large size comes nonlinear gain – or distortion.

To mitigate this, BJTs (bipolar junction transistors) were added to the circuit. The BJTs exhibit very low input impedance and very high output impedance, which translates to excellent bandwidth and linearity. By creating a cascode of the JFETs and BJTs, they created a design with the best characteristics of both sets of devices.

Engineers than connected the output of the cascode to another transistor of the opposite “gender.” Current flows through it in the opposite direction to “turn around” the direction of the signal current. This special connection is called a Folded Cascode and it is a hallmark of the Pure Path circuit: high gain with low noise, wide bandwidth, and excellent linearity.

Superior Volume Control: The R-2R Ladder

The basis of many volume controls is the venerable analog potentiometer – a device with a number of performance drawbacks.

The mechanical connection wears out, creating scratching or crackling noises; it is nearly impossible to manufacture an identically performing pair, and mismatches in a stereo pair can cause level imbalances between the two channels; and due to their varied reaction to parasitic capacitances at different volume settings, the sound changes depending on where the volume is set.

Rather than attempting to improve upon this flawed design, Mark Levinson engineers abandoned it. Instead, they employed a complex circuit architecture called an R-2R Ladder.

In the R-2R Ladder, a string of resistors, all with identical resistance (R), form the side of the ladder, with another set of resistors forming the rungs, all identically with double the resistance (2R). This unique circuit takes whatever current appears at its input and successively divides it in half at each “rung” of the ladder.

Different combinations of “rung” currents can then be selected and added together, precisely delivering nearly any output current, and thereby, volume setting.

An R-2R Ladder is a highly accurate device. The currents through the rungs are determined by fixed resistors, capable of very tight tolerances, able to be closely matched to one another in value. Analog switches “steer” the currents, are precision devices, and have no mechanical contacts to wear out.

In short, the R-2R Ladder solves all the problems inherent to potentiometer-based volume controls. That’s why it is a cornerstone of Mark Levinson Pure Path design philosophy.

Military Grade Components

All Mark Levinson equipment employs electronic components carefully chosen for their specific task.

Gain-stage JFET pairs have high gain, low noise, low distortion, and because they are encapsulated in the same package, the two devices operate under nearly identical conditions. Capacitors used in critical filtering locations are film types, noted for their consistent performance regardless of temperature and frequency.

Finally, resistors in critical gain-setting and feedback locations use tantalum nitride thin-film elements. An extremely costly material, tantalum nitride typically finds use in sensitive military equipment because it is unusually stable with respect to temperature, exhibits very low noise, and is unaffected by magnetic fields.

In fine audio equipment, those characteristics make the sound even more revealing and effortless, free of the low-level nonlinearities caused by lesser resistive materials as they heat and cool under dynamic conditions. Housed in an aircraft-grade 6063-T5 extruded aluminum chassis, the № 523 features extremely high build precision, to exceedingly low tolerances.

Pure Phono: Class A for a Classic Medium

Preamplifying from turntable to line level can a difficult task, and it is an area where some equipment makers skimp on components and design.

The № 523 preamplifier introduce a new Mark Levinson phono stage, Pure Phono, itself following Pure Path design principles including discrete design, free of op amps.

The Pure Phono stage operates exclusively in class A throughout, employing tantalum nitride thin-film resistors polypropylene capacitors with punishingly low tolerances.

The Pure Phono stage also contains physically separated channels and balanced inputs for purity.

The Pure Phono stage offers a fixed-gain MM section with five capacitive cartridge-loading settings, and an MC section with three gain settings and 10 resistive cartridge-loading settings. And an ultrasonic filter intelligently compensates for rumble and warping.

Completing the Signal Path

The № 523 offers five line-level analog inputs: two balanced (XLR), three single-ended (RCA), in addition to the Pure Phono (RCA with grounding pin) input. The preamplifier delivers its signal to balanced (XLR) and single-ended (RCA) stereo outputs, as well as a 1/4-inch (6.3mm) Main Drive Headphone output integrated into the front panel metalwork – a first for Mark Levinson.

The Main Drive Headphone amplifier circuit drives up to 32-ohm headphones in class A by employing the main output circuit rather than a secondary signal path: a perfect example of reducing clutter in the circuit design.

A selectable fourth-order, 80 Hz high-pass filter enables seamless integration of a single or dual subwoofers for full-range performance with a wide range of loudspeaker setups.

System-integration connectivity includes Ethernet/IP control, RS-232, USB for monitoring and configuration via web page, plus 12V triggers and an IR input. An included machined metal remote delivers the robust feel and precise control befitting of a component of the preamplifier’s caliber.

Designed and Handcrafted in the USA

Like all Mark Levinson equipment, the № 523 is proudly designed and handcrafted in the USA. A dedicated Engineering Center of Excellence in Shelton, CT houses Mark Levinson engineering and product development, just a state away from small-batch production at Mack Technologies in Westford, MA by a team of craftsmen who bring all Mark Levinson equipment to life.

Specifications № 523

LINE STAGE GAIN, NORMAL GAIN SETTING

13.5dB balanced; 7.5dB single-ended

LINE STAGE FREQUENCY RESPONSE, 20HZ TO 20KHZ

±0.02dB

LINE STAGE FREQUENCY RESPONSE, 0.4HZ TO 370KHZ

+0.1 / -3dB

THD+N @ 1KHZ (2VRMS SINGLE-ENDED OR 4VRMSBALANCED OUTPUT)

<0.003%

SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO (REF. TO 2VRMS SINGLE-ENDED OR 4VRMS BALANCED, MAX VOL)

>115dB @ 1kHz

CROSSTALK @ 1KHZ

<-107dB

CHANNEL SEPARATION

below noise floor (>115dB @ 1kHz)

INPUT IMPEDANCE

>45kΩ

OUTPUT IMPEDANCE

<80Ω single ended, <160Ω balanced

MAXIMUM INPUT LEVEL, NORMAL GAIN SETTING

>10VRMS, single ended, >15VRMS, balanced

MAXIMUM OUTPUT LEVEL

>11VRMS single ended, >22VRMS balanced

HEADPHONE OUTPUT IMPEDANCE

selectable; <3Ω or 75Ω

HEADPHONE MAXIMUM OUTPUT, LOW IMPEDANCE SETTING, 30Ω (0.3W), 20 TO 20KHZ, <0.1% THD

>3VRMS

HEADPHONE MAXIMUM OUTPUT, LOW IMPEDANCE SETTING, 300Ω, 20HZ TO 20KHZ, <0.1% THD

>9VRMS

HEADPHONE THD+N, 20HZ TO 20KHZ, 2V RMS

<0.03% @ 30Ω, <0.01% @ 300Ω

PHONO STAGE
RIAA FREQUENCY RESPONSE

20Hz to 20kHz, ±0.3dB

INFRASONIC FILTER

defeatable, 15Hz, 2nd order (12dB/octave)

MOVING MAGNET MODE
• INPUT RESISTANCE

47kΩ

• INPUT CAPACITANCE

selectable; 50, 100, 150, 200, or 680pF

• GAIN

40dB @ 1kHz

• THD+N, 20HZ TO 20KHZ, 2VRMS OUTPUT

<0.03%

MOVING COIL MODE
• INPUT RESISTANCE

selectable; 20, 33, 50, 66, 100, 200, 330, 500, 1000, or 47kΩ

• INPUT CAPACITANCE

50pF

• GAIN

selectable; 50, 60, or 70dB @ 1kHz

• THD+N, 20HZ TO 20KHZ, 2VRMS OUTPUT

<0.02%, 50 or 60dB settings, <0.04, 70db setting

ANALOG INPUTS

2 balanced (XLR), 3 single-ended (RCA) line, 1 single-ended (RCA) phono w/ ground

ANALOG OUTPUTS

1 balanced (XLR); 1 pair single-ended (RCA), 1 headphone (¼”, 6.3mm TS)

CONTROL CONNECTORS

Ethernet (RJ45), RS-232 (RJ12), Trigger In and Out, IR In, USB-A, Mini USB

MAINS VOLTAGE

100VAC, 115VAC, or 230VAC, factory set

POWER CONSUMPTION

0.4W Green Standby, 5W Power Save, 67W Normal Standby, 70W On, idle

DIMENSIONS

Height (with feet): 3.75” (10.2cm)
Height (without feet): 3.25” (8.9cm)
Width: 17.25” (43.8cm)
Depth: 18” (45.7cm)

WEIGHT

Net weight: 39 lbs (17.7kg)
Shipping weight: 58 lbs (26.3kg)

Brand

Mark Levinson

Mark Levinson

Discover Audio Purity

Mark Levinson is for people who want to see sound as it truly is. For people so passionate they want to experience their music exactly as the artist imagined…To feel the very deepest tones and most subtle notes… To touch the very soul of the performance. Mark Levinson is sound for the passionate. Discover musical purity. Discover Mark Levinson. In 1972, Mark Levinson cracked the code of pure audio playback with hand-built stereo components that overcame every known limitation on sound reproduction. Since then, they have created a class of their own by consistently releasing the best sounding, longest lasting, most intuitive audio/video components in the world—products that are just as gorgeous as they are meticulously crafted. That’s the level of audio excellence you see in every Mark Levinson component today

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