Page 22 - Hi-Fi_News_-_December_2020 video

NEWS We reveal the latest products and upcoming events

Levinson swells

NEW PRE AND POWER AMPLIFIERS JOIN 5000 SERIES TURNTABLE AND STREAMING PLAYER
Harman’s luxury audio brand Mark Levinson
continues to add to its 5000 Series.
Joining the £6000 N 5105 turntable
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[reviewed next month] are the
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N 5206 preamp and N 5302 power
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amplifier, both priced at £8599
and available this quarter, plus
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the N 5101 SACD/streaming DAC
[pictured opposite], on sale now.
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The dual-mono N 5302 boasts
a rated 2x135W/8ohm, doubling to
2x270W/4ohm, and increasing still
further to 550W in bridged mono
mode. A fully discrete, direct-coupled
Class AB design, it uses an ‘oversized’
1100VA toroidal transformer and a
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voltage gain stage trickled down from the Mark Levinson N 534 mono line-level preamp section. Trickle-down technology again
[HFN Jun ’18]. Thermally-compensated output devices also features in the form of a configurable MM/MC phono stage and

guarantee stability regardless of load or temperature. Audio ‘MainDrive’ headphone output derived from the 500 Series.
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inputs include balanced XLRs and single-ended RCAs, with For silver disc devotees, Mark Levinson’s N 5101 combines an
comprehensive system integration offered via Ethernet, USB, IR, SACD/CD transport with onboard high-resolution Wi-Fi/Ethernet
RS-232 and 12V trigger connections. network player (with Android and iOS control), plus digital inputs
Designed to partner the N 5302 is Mark Levinson’s N 5206 including coaxial and optical S/PDIF and a USB-A port supporting
o
o
preamplifier. This includes the company’s ESS Sabre Pro- playback from external HDD/fl ash drives.

powered ‘Precision Link II’ 32-bit DAC stage (with associated Harman International Ind., CA, USA,
AES, S/PDIF and asynchronous USB inputs) and patented dual 01223 203200; www.marklevinson.com
A very big Mac

MCINTOSH LAUNCHES ITS LARGEST EVER INTEGRATED
Unrivalled connectivity and analogue inputs include MM/
enough power to drive any MC phono and two balanced
loudspeaker is the promise XLR connections, while the
of the MA12000 (£16,500). pre-installed (and upgradeable)
Claiming 2x350W – more DA2 digital audio module allies
than any previous McIntosh seven digital inputs, including a

integrated – this flagship is a proprietary MCT connection for
The grandest master tube/transistor hybrid design McIntosh’s SACD/CD transports,
with a quartet of 12AX7A
to an eight-channel 32-bit DAC.
triodes in the preamp and solid- Styling of this handbuilt 48.9kg
DS AUDIO REDEFINES THE ‘OPTICAL’ PICK-UP
state amp output featuring the heavyweight is straight from

Seven years after launching the world’s first optical pick-up, brand’s Autoformer speaker- the company playbook, with
Japanese brand DS Audio has re-engineered the concept for a third matching technology. Its ten its blue illuminated meters,
generation. Within the machined Duralumin body of its £11,995 monogrammed heatsinks and
Grand Master cartridge are independent L/R channel LEDs and a mirror-fi nish stainless
photo-detectors, resulting in a claimed improvement in stereo steel chassis.
separation and output voltage (40mV to 70mV here), all without McIntosh
adversely affecting its S/N ratio. The pick-up is also equipped with Laboratory
a diamond cantilever and microridge stylus. It’s partnered with the Inc, 01592
Grand Master phono stage/equaliser (£38,000), a twin-box system 744710; www.
with a ‘more robust’ independent power supply. mcintoshlabs.
Digital Stream Corporation, Japan, 0118 981 4238; com; www.
www.ds-audio-w.biz; www.soundfowndations.co.uk fi nesounds.uk

22 | www.hifi news.co.uk | DECEMBER 2020