ATI SIGNATURE SERIES 6005 OR CLASSE CT 5300??

I would consider using something like Dirac live to give you more rolled off highs and increased bass at low levels. You really are not stuck with the designer's voicing anymore. You can also EQ with programs like Jriver.

Some years ago when I auditioned the Classe M-400 monoblocks, they sounded a bit rolled off. The newer Classa M-600 does not. I would check to see if the voicing of the newer CT 5300 has changed before I bought it. Classe makes great stuff, in China, hehehehe. Just kidding. Thanks for the excellent insights! I've stuck with Mcintosh so it's likely I might share the same preferences as yourself.

Hi guys,
so i placed an order for the classe CT5300 last week and i should have it this week. The week before that, i had purchase 2 mark levinson units from another audiophile friend (532h and 533h).
Let me just say that i had read bad opinions on the new mark levinson amps. Some say that it didn't sound as good as their older units ( never heard them) so i was under the impression that maybe i can just buy them and if i don't like them, i can at least sell them and use the CT5300 Classe that's coming this week. however, for THOSE OF YOU, who have doubted the new mark levinson amps, you will be VERY SURPRISED. I have been doing a lot of listening today and i STILL CAN NOT believe the level of detail and refinement these amps have. i am simply WOWED with these. They have layer of detail upon layer of detail. I can crank it up and not get ANY EAR FATIGUE of any kind. I find it very smooth, controlled and sweet sounding, but without rolling back the high frequencies which is what most warm sounding amps do.
I DONT CARE what people say that mark levinson is/was built by ati or crown or any other brand. i have owned dozens of amplifiers in the past 12 months and NO OTHER AMPLIFIER has had the level of detail and big soundstage that these levinsons have. Hell, i am willing to say that the 532h edges out the pass labs xa30.8 i had. YES, it is THAT AMAZING. I am really blown away in all senses. The more i crank it up, the more i hear details that weren't there before.
Yes, the 532h is a BETTER amplifier than the ati 6005 signature. It reveals more and makes you feel as if a curtain was opened. Music just flows towards you in a much more direct way. Those of you who think the signature ati is a mark levinson won't like me saying this, but the truth is that it is NOT a mark levinson when it comes to sound quality. it is in my opinion about 85% in terms of sound quality of what the mark levinson is. i am not a firm believer that this entire talk about signal to noise ratio levels, great specs, etc all mean NOTHING. What really matters is once you sit down in front of the speakers and let the music begin. Only then is when you can truly asses an amplifier's true soul.
For now, i regret having purchased the classe audio CT5300 because i wasn't supposed to be overly impressed by the mark levinson 532h but the truth is that i am beyond impressed with it. It is THE BEST solid state amplifier i have hear with my set up. It trumps anything else i have owned when it comes to refinement and detail. I think i have FINALLY found the amplifier flavor that i have been looking for. i now have to probably sell the ct5300 classe audio and begin looking for a good processor for these levinsons (i am thinking of the marantz 8802 once it releases).

Hello Whitecamaross -
thanks for the excellent observations on the Mark Levinson and ATI amps.

Since the first part of this thread dealt with the strong liklihood that they are the same amp, and your listening experience says very much otherwise, I am curious what they look like inside?

Are you comfortable taking off the cover? Just curious if Mark Levinson has done something to voice the amplifier differently.

i wouldn't want to take the cover off the amplifier. I am not sure WHAT they have done inside, but as i have stated earlier (and also confirmed by the buyer of my 6005 ATI), the ati is forward sounding when compared to the classe, mcintosh, pass labs or mark levinson. If you like clear, crisp and slight brightness, you will love the ATI. HOWEVER, this amp likes to be cranked up in order to fully enjoy it. It doesn't really shine when you are listening at low volumes like the mark levison and pass labs do.
I can now finally tell everyone out there that the mark levinson h series ROCKS and excels both, in high and low volume levels. It sounds SPECTACULAR and has unsat all the 30 something amplifiers i have owned. I don't have to even debate this. It is a clear improvement over anything else i have heard. Although ATI might be still producing mark levinson or not, they did SOMETHING inside that is different and strictly exclusive to levinsons and this specific tweak is perhaps something that the ATI simply CAN NOT do to their own amplifiers or else there might be some sort of a lawsuit involved and a lot at stake. It is no different than saying Chevy builds the Corvette z06 and the Camaro and although the Camaro has the same engine as the Corvette, the vette has milled heads, a different cam, better exhaust manifolds,etc,etc because it is targeted to exclusive buyers who are willing to pay more. They couldn't do the same EXACT engine in the camaro as they do in the z06.
Could ATI make the same levinson amp and badge it their own? absolutely. They have the formula to make levinson amplifiers happen, BUT they can't risk that. I am sure if they came out with an amp that is IDENTICAL to the mark levinson sound, they would get a call from Mark levinson immediately and things won't be pretty.

I have now listed the classe audio t5300 if anyone is interested :)