Mark Levinson No. 534newMark Levinson  534 "Brand New In Box"The pursuit of perfect amplification is a well-known theme in high-end audio. New technologies present new approaches, while looking to the past provides inspiration for the future. It was in that ...11999.00

Mark Levinson 534 "Brand New In Box"

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Condition
NEW
Payment methods
Ships fromYardley, PA, 19067
Ships toUnited States
Package dimensionsunspecified
Shipping carrierFedEx
Shipping costFree
Original accessoriesBox, Manual
AverageResearch Pricing

The pursuit of
perfect amplification is a well-known theme in high-end audio. New technologies
present new approaches, while looking to the past provides inspiration for the
future. It was in that spirit that the Mark Levinson® № 534 amplifier was developed: a design advised by the traditions
and art of classic Mark Levinson amplifier designs, and with a specific target
sound: a deep, expansive soundstage, accurate image placement, extended low
bass response with good pitch definition, and detailed high frequencies free
from “etching.” To that end, the Mark Levinson engineering team started with
the following requirements:


  • Harmonic distortion <0.02% at 1kHz and <0.2% at 20kHz
  • Bandwidth extending from 0.2Hz to 120kHz, and beyond if possible
  • Critically damped square wave response, with leading and trailing
    edges free of any slewing artifacts, and a slew rate of at least 100V/µs
  • Maximized open-loop linearity and bandwidth, with global negative
    feedback in the range of 12-20dB and without nested feedback loops

This fully
differential, fully discrete, dual-monaural Pure Path amplifier drives
virtually any loudspeaker effortlessly for impeccable imaging, musicality, and
openness. A direct-coupled signal path; a highly linear, low-feedback design;
and voltage gain and drive stages operating in class A, are joined by the
modern system integration capabilities provided by Ethernet, RS-232, and USB
for monitoring and network control. Housed in a 6000-series
aluminum chassis, like all Mark Levinson equipment, the № 534 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 № 534 include Folded Cascodes, an extremely
high bias current, and usage of very little negative feedback.


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 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 then 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.


Gain Structure


The
audio circuitry in the № 534
has been optimized for the best possible open-loop performance. As a result,
very little negative feedback is necessary, and the amount employed could be adjusted
to achieve certain subjective or objective results. The open-loop gain and
bandwidth of the circuit were painstakingly set using precision resistors and
compensation capacitors, and additional precision resistors were employed to
compose the feedback network.


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 №
534 features extremely high build
precision, to exceedingly low tolerances.


Completing
the Signal Path


The № 534 offers balanced and
single-ended inputs
for use with virtually any preamplifier or source player with variable output. For
connection to loudspeakers without needing tools for a secure link, the № 534 features four pairs of
gold-plated binding posts with Mark Levinson Hurricane terminal
knobs to support either standard or bi-wired loudspeaker connections. Speaker
cables terminating in banana plugs can be used in the USA and other non-European
countries.


System-integration connectivity
includes Ethernet/IP control, RS-232, USB for monitoring and configuration via
web page, plus 12V triggers.


Designed and Handcrafted in the USA


Like all Mark Levinson equipment, the № 534
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.

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Return Window

Item can be returned within 14 days of receipt.

General Terms

Items must be returned in their original condition, with all included packing materials and no signs of use. Buyer assumes responsibility for all shipping return costs unless the item was not received as described.

Refunds

Buyer will receive a full refund in the original payment method less any shipping charges.