2. amps-preamps
  3. 1128658622

The Levinson 33h? Pros and cons?

I was wondering how the 33h holds up against the competition?
I am considering purchasing a pair, but am unsure if they will meet the demands of my Revel Salons. I believe that the 33h will in fact sound better than the Levinson 436 series (they are Levinson's current Reference since the 33s were discontinued), but I'm biamping (maybe triamping if you count the pair of Revel Sub 30s I'm using also)and with the double pair of 436s I never run out of power. There is no current way for me to hear a pair of 33hs in my system or for that matter for me to hear a pair thus the deleimma. See my system for more info.
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?vaslt&1076767531&read&keyw&zzsgr
128x128sgr
jafant
18,932 posts
 

tmbenn
what are the price points of No. 33h, 53, 436 amps ?
Happy Listening!
brf
1,715 posts
 
My concern with the 33H amps would be did they use the same problematic capacitors as used in the 300 series amplifiers.  
tmbenn
15 posts
 
Price points lol is that your thing just troll people and ask stupid questions 12,20,50  
If you get a chance to grab a pair it is bar none the best amps I’ve heard to date. 
tmbenn
15 posts
 
I was concerned about the caps as well but as good as these amps are I will be happy to replace them when they go. 
french_fries
815 posts
 
I upgraded to the ML-53's from the 33H and they are an improvement both in power delivery, resolution, and do not run as hot. But sound wise they are cut from the same cloth. You should have the 33H's serviced at some point since they were manufactured a very long time ago, and it will cost you $$$$.  But they are excellent and have a lot more current delivery than the 150W/CH rating. And they are heavy! Pick them up with a friend to help you. Madrigal hit their peak when these amps were made for audiophiles with demanding speakers (read-Wilson with low impedance curves). Of course the 33's are even better but were hard to manufacture due to high demand (by the super-power freaks). The 300W per channel and a 220V outlet was std. Good luck with that. Of course Boulder still insists that you do that even now... I like the 53's just fine, so no offense to Stereophile Magazine, but I have extensive experience with both amps. You can have your Dartzeel $150,000 amps. Nothing short of a hand-built tube amp with all silver wiring should cost half that much...
More to discover