Mark Levinson № 523

Mark Levinson
The Mark Levinson® № 523 preamplifier is a six-input dual-monaural preamplifier featuring Pure Path circuit design, class-A Pure Phono stage, and configurable balanced, unbalanced, and class-A Main Drive Headphone outputs.
The Mark Levinson № 523 is the definitive preamplifier for the analog music lover. Six line-level analog and phono inputs travel through the Mark Levinson proprietary Pure Path discrete, direct-coupled, fully balanced, dual-monaural signal path for breathtaking purity and performance. With precision control including a discrete, balanced R-2R Ladder volume control, class-A Pure Phono stage, and class-A Main Drive Headphone output, the № 523 preamplifier delivers an uncompromising performance regardless of analog source. Housed in a 6000-series aluminum chassis, like all Mark Levinson equipment, the № 523 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 № 523 include Folded Cascodes, an R-2R Ladder volume 

  • Line Stage Gain, Normal Gain Setting 13.5dB balanced; 7.5dB single-ended
  • Line Stage Frequency Response, 20Hz to 20KHz ±0.02dB
  • Line Stage Frequency Response, 0.4Hz to 370Hz +0.1 / -3dB
  • THD+N @ 1KHz (2VRMS Single-Ended or 4VRMS Balanced Output) <0.003%
  • Signal-to-Noise Ratio (REF. To 2VRMS Single-Ended or 4VRMS Balanced, Max Vol.) >115dB @ 1kHz
  • Crosstalk @ 1KHz <-107dB
  • Channel Separation Below Noise Floor (>115dB @ 1KHz)
  • Input Impedance >45kΩ
  • Output Impedance <80Ω single ended, <160Ω balanced
  • Maximum Input Level, Normal Gain Setting >10VRMS, single ended, >15VRMS, balanced
  • Maximum Output Level >11VRMS single ended, >22VRMS balanced
  • Headphone Output Impedance selectable; <3Ω or 75Ω
  • Headphone Maximum Output, Low Impedance Setting, 300Ω, 20Hz TO 20KHz, <0.1% THD
  • Headphone THD+N, 20Hz TO 20KHz, 2V RMS <0.03% @ 30Ω, <0.01% @ 300Ω
  • RIAA Frequency Response 20Hz to 20kHz, ±0.3dB
  • Infrasonic Filter Defeatable, 15Hz, 2nd order (12dB/octave)
  • Moving Magnet Mode, Input Resistance 47 47kΩ
  • Moving Magnet Mode, Input Capacitance Selectable; 50, 100, 150, 200, or 680pF
  • Moving Magnet Mode, Gain 40dB @ 1kHz
  • Moving Magnet Mode, THD+N, 20Hz to 20KHz, 2VRMS Output <0.03%
  • Moving Coil Mode, Input Resistance selectable; 20, 33, 50, 66, 100, 200, 330, 500, 1000, or 47kΩ
  • Moving Coil Mode, Input Capacitance 50pF
  • Moving Coil Mode, Gain Selectable; 50, 60, or 70dB @ 1kHz
  • Moving Coil Mode, THD+N, 20Hz to 20KHz, 2VRMS Output <0.02%, 50 or 60dB settings, <0.04, 70db setting
  • Analog Inputs 2 balanced (XLR), 3 single-ended (RCA) line, 1 single-ended (RCA) phono w/ ground
  • Analog Outputs 1 balanced (XLR); 1 pair single-ended (RCA), 1 headphone (¼”, 6.3mm TS)
  • Control Connectors Ethernet (RJ45), RS-232 (RJ12), Trigger In and Out, IR In, USB-A, Mini USB
  • Mains Voltage 100VAC, 115VAC, or 230VAC, factory set
  • Power Consumption 0.4W Green Standby, 5W Power Save, 67W Normal Standby, 70W On, idle
  • Dimensions Height (with feet)
  • Net weight 39 lbs (17.7kg)
  • Shipping weight 58 lbs (26.3kg)
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