Levinson Amps: What do they really sound like?

I've been searching for a stereo amp for about 6 months now. I own a ML 360S dac, a 37 transport and a 380S pre-amp. I have not heard any cd player or combo I like better. Although I do think it's a relatively poor value because you can get close for a lot less money including ML's own 390S. I say that to convey that I love ML gear but I'm not bowled over by their amps for my personal taste. I've thoroughly listened to the 33's, 33h's, 336,335 and 334. They are all nice and get better going upward in price with the common ML amp attributes such as resolution, sound stage and transparency. However why people tend to call them analytical is because they lack emotion. Unlike faster amps like Naim or Plinius they tend to round off the attack of notes. Everything is crystal clear but soft in it's delivery. Therefore I, as a listener, do not hear the tension in the music that excites me. How can you listen to Tower of Power with no attack. It just dosen't work for me. But I can see where it would work for somebody else. If you're a smooth jazz fan or light classical person, It's perfect. But if timing and pace float your boat the ML amps might eventually bore you. I currenty own my 2nd Naim 250 but I'm ready to upgrade for more power. I've auditioned Bryston 4b, Plinius mk100, Aragon Paladium, Krell 350, Spectral 150, YBA, and Pass Labs monos. The Plinius mk250 was definitly leading the way as my Naim replacement. I intended to audition the Sim Audio W5 ,Conrad Johnson, McCormack, Bel Canto and Gamut. I picked all based on reviews I'd researched looking for references to speed because that's one thing I tend to equate with being musical, especially in the lower register. However I listened to a pair of Halcro mono amps just because of what a dealer just kind of said on a whim and he did not sell them. I found a dealer and I was stopped immediately in my tracks. I ordered the stereo amp version on the spot.

Jhardy, I found your statement to be true, however, one needs to bring up that speakers are also a very important component in the final anaylsis.

I matched my Levinson with ProAcs and found them to be a suberb combo, however the ProAc lacked punch when I was not listening to Jazz. I picked up a pair of Wilson Watt/Puppy 6es and voila..the sound I was looking for. I did notice that the Wilson were a bit dry and tight at the top end when matched with the Levinson amp.

I too picked up a pair of Halcro DM58s and well...sweet...

I use one 27.5 with Magnepan 1.6QC and a CAL AUDIO tube DAC...
I get the warmth of tubes and the power of solid state.
I love the combination !

Stefano

I got a 27.5 too.This amp along with the 23.5 are concidered one of the best solid state ever.
George

To my ears Levinson amps are very listenable and musical.
I work from home and am able to listen all day long. I never find my ears fatigued.

I will agree that they may not give you the "excitement" that you hear with some amps - but I think that is the key to the fact that I can enjoy listening for 8 hours or more.

I have compared a couple of very well respected amps in my system and typically my experience goes something like this.

"Wow - this thing is great - it sounds more open and unveiled than my amp". Then about 20-30 minutes in - I sense a throbbing in my ears and suddenly I simply cannot enjoy the music because I am so distracted by it. I don't know what exactly is causing it - but I would suspect the upper frequencies. The amps I've compared are NOT described as "bright" mind you.

It may be that I'm just very sensitive - but I've repeated this with several different amps always with similar results.

When I plug my Levinson back in I breathe a sigh of relief and go back to enoying the music. To me that's what it's all about - to other they live for the absolute minutia of detail and attack. I would say that Levinson is not for them.

Levinsons better amps give you the details - but does so with smoothness - at least to my ears. I have heard a few Levinsons that I didn't care for as much as my 336.

My amp has a wonderfull fullness and weight - especially in the mid-bass and bass. The top end is probably a bit rolled off compared to the other amps I've tested - but again I think that is the key to my enjoyment. The mid's are smooth and liquid.

Here's the rest of my system - I wouldn't consider any of my components inherently "bright" or "fatiguing" in nature.

Linn Unidisk (Source)
Meridian 861 (Pre/DAC)
Aerial 10T's (Speakers)

In summary - it really depends on what type of system you are trying to build and what you want out of it. For me the Levinson fits just right.