STATUS - SOLD
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Description :
The Mark Levinson 36 DAC is paired with the 37 Cd Transport. Internally in the DAC, there are four Burr-Brown PCM 1702 dual-differential 20-bit throughput, eight times oversampling Pacific Microsonics PMD100 HDCD decoder/digital. Madrigal claims the No 36 is capable of 20-bit resolution. And less than 20 picoseconds of jitter, thanks to an Intelligent FIFO memory buffer. All internal circuitry runs fully balanced, be it analogue or digital, and any digital input not in operation through the No 36 is routed to ground to minimise interference.
When played, the intrinsic smoothness and cohesion of the Mark Levinson 36 has makes itself known sonically upon first listen, but it takes quite a while before the machine's full renderings are made apparent. This is in part due to the tonal balance of the No 36, which is lean, clean and eminently "natural". This inherent neutrality which means that its ability is not to impose its character-wise, onto a given system, makes gauging of its characteristics a task upon itself.
The chief strengths of the Mark Levinson 36 is its ability to focus. Details are presented in complete, highly delineated frames. Its fluency in conjuring up images and depicting them in their various shades and details is outstanding. The No 36 throws up a tightly focused, yet fluidly flowing soundscape; amidst the swirl of the guitars and the other instruments, you have her voice all at once partitioned from the mix, and yet remaining together as one, complete as a whole. Ambience portrayal is likewise excellent, as is the pitch definition. The No 36's mastery in expression is another area that ranks high on the points scale. Bass resolution is typical Levinson. If the listener wants to hear extended, articulate and well defined bass, this is one of the means to it. And its ability to conjure up layers and layers of stage depth is astounding. All this without the grain and harshness normally associated with digital.
As usual, HDCD sounds wonderful enough. The soundstage opens up and deepened by shades, and the vivid clarity and sparkle associated with HDCD are present in gobs. The Mark Levinson 36 has RCA and XLR operation. Through the balanced operation, the extra dimension of quietness and increasingly better focus is more than marginally evident. Likewise the choice of digital inputs, balanced operation yields a quieter, tighter and more coherent sound. Overall, when paired with the Mark Levinson 37, it sounds relaxed and full sounding that is essentially quite natural. Rhythm (PRAT) is not its strong suit and it can also be slightly tame dynamically. It needs an agile and open/dynamic system to match. The No 36 is a sophisticated dac that is very refined but not very visceral.
Specifications :
Frequency Response......................10Hz - 20kHz +0dB, –0.2dB
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)........0.001% @ 1 kHz, 0dB, A-weighted
Dynamic Range...............................98dB (or better)
Signal-To-Noise Ratio......................105dB
Channel Separation.........................Better than 110 dB
Intermodulation Distortion.................Less than 0.005%
Digital-To-Analog Conversion............Dual differential 20-bit DACs
Digital Filter....................................8x oversampling, 24 bit throughput
Analog Filter...................................Bessel-tuned, linear phase to 40kHz
Low-level linearity............................Deviation unmeasurable to below –70dB
............................approximately +1.7dB below –90dB
............................(undithered, referenced to 0dB @ 1kHz)
Output impedance...........................Less than 6 ohms
Mains Voltage.................................100V, 120V, 200V, 220V, 240V
Mains Frequency.............................50/60 Hz
Mains Consumption.........................50 watts
Input complement............................2 x XLR-type female connectors
............................1 x RCA-type female connectors
............................1 x BNC-type female connectors
............................1 x ST-type connector
............................1 x EIAJ-type connectors
............................1 x IEC mains connector (on bottom)
............................1 x 1/8" mini-jack connector for IR repeater
............................1 x IEC AC mains receptacle
Output complement..........................1 x pair XLR-type male connectors (analog)
..........................1 x pair RCA-type female connectors (analog)
..........................1 x XLR-type male connector (digital)
..........................1 x RJ-45 communications port
Dimensions(w x d x h)......................40 x 38.5 x 10 cm
Weight............................................10kg
Miscellaneous :
Matching..........................................Mark Levinson 37 Cd Transport
..........................................Mark Levinson 38S Preamplifier
XLR Digital Input...............................Yes
XLR Digital Ouput.............................Yes
XLR Output......................................Yes
Made In...........................................USA
Condition.........................................8/10
Product Information :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Levinson
Reviews :
http://sites.thestar.com.my/audio/story.asp?file=/1996/9/12tymark
http://www.hifi-advice.com/reviews-CD-DAC.html
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