2. amps-preamps
  3. 161746-8060

My Mark Levinson preamp dying - looking for new preamp, sound as good, wont break bank

Hi - When I bought my Mark Levinson I thought I was done with upgrading, but over time the capacitors in it failed (and I had a magician with a soldering gun replace the Chinese capacitors with good tantalum ones).  It sounded better than ever! That rescued the unit for about another 8 years, but it is failing again (volume knob not working, some inputs iffy, etc.)  So I figure within the year, I will need a new preamp. I no longer care about a phono section.   I have a Bryston 4b-SST amp driving Dunlavy SC-IV speakers (yes, more power than I need but I wanted to be prepared for whatever speaker I might get in the future as the Dunlavy's are big and heavy and I would like something more manageable, someday).  I don't want a tube preamp as I don't want to wait for tubes to warm up - hence solid state.  What do people like, say in the under $5k range? (or must I spend a bit more to get Mark Levinson quality sound?)
frije03
15 responses Add your response
johnchristian's avatar
johnchristian
7 posts
 
If you like your Levinson, I'd contact Jeffery A.Jackson at www.precisionaudiolabs.com. Jeff is an impeccably honest man and has done beautiful work on SS and tube equipment for me. He can most likely rejuvenate your ML for a fraction of the cost of even a used preamp. Good listening!
soix
9,456 posts
 
For those of us not familiar with your preamp, what aspects of sound reproduction are most important to you?
cardani
160 posts
 
if you like Bryston just go for one of their preamps, 20 year warranty and pefect match for your amp.
oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 
+ 1 on the rebuild.. Have it done correctly...Mark L, is just tough to beat at any price. Unless there is something you want to add, via a newer pre..
Remote, play through, dac, you know, stuff...The old is just fine, actually BETTER if done right..

Regards
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 
Look at Jeff Rowland Capri S2.
yyzsantabarbara
4,802 posts
 
Benchmark LA4 $2500 + $100 remote. They have a 30 day home trial. Only thing is that you will now hear only your source, amp, speakers, not the preamp.

I used to own the 4B-SST so if you want a warmish preamp the LA4 is not for you, it will not add any "tone" to the signal. I actually used the warm SS BAT VK42SE preamp (about $7K) with the 4B-SST but the LA4 is my opinion much better and reference class.

I also used a Bryston BP20 + MPS2 power supply. The BAT was better and the LA4 for me is way better than both.
richopp
760 posts
 
Hard to answer.  ML stuff (from the old days) was terrible.  If yours "sounded" good to you, I would check out other pre-amps that have no "sound" and see what you have been missing.

If ML has improved its products (the parts were always good, the reproduction was horrible), then try a rebuild, I guess.

Cheers!
jg2077
159 posts
 
Pyramid Audio in Austin Texas can rebuild it.  They are certified and have extensive knowledge in all things ML.

No affiliation,  I'm only a satisfied customer. 

Good luck with what you decide, 
Jose
arcticdeth's avatar
arcticdeth
1,572 posts
 
Sanders sound

”The Preamp”

Best straight wire with gain you will ever not hear.
beware, she is very revealing and honest.

 Warranty is not to shabby either,.....look it up at Sanderssoundsystems.  
tweak1
3,655 posts
 
For less than $1K on the used market, you can pick up a Audio Alchemy DDP-1 Dac pre  and their PS 5 outboard power supply
markwatkiss
508 posts
 
What's a little warm up time out of your day and you can definitely improve your musical sound stage with a tube pre amp.You will also have the added bonus of fleshing out the sound of your Bryston which tends to be too linear.Just sayin.
justmetoo's avatar
justmetoo
381 posts
 
Judging by our local pre-used marked it ought not be too hard to find an ML326S pre-amp?

It has all the wistles, hooters and bells, a great remote, is extremly flexible, like ML has it, and pretty robust, even bullet proof, class A, to boot.

Mine is now some 15 years old, it has ’no sound’, at all, more like the proverbial ’straight wire’ - but a fully balanced straight wire at that.

Phono modules can be added, very compact, I did, but no need, if you’re happy with your present phono-pre.

M. 🇿🇦
wejohnson
1 posts
 
+1 on Pyramid Audio in Austin Texas for anything ML. They rebuilt my 20-year old Proceed HPA-2 to perfection!
soix
9,456 posts
 
Flyby alert! OP MIA. 
adg101
1,062 posts
 
Parasound JC2BP will probably eat your ML for lunch. You don’t mention what model you have currently so I’m going to go with it’s before the No.38. If you like your ML you’ll probably love the Parasound as possibly Curl either designed your ML or had a strong influence on it.
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