Mark Levinson
4 February 2022
Aqua La Diva M2 – Part 2
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After my review of the La Diva M2, Marco of Hexagon Audio was so kind to leave both La Diva models with me for some time. This has allowed me to carry out some more comparisons.
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31 January 2022
Welcome To Playground
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In addition to showcasing the finest audio equipment in an inspiring setting, Welcome to Playground buys and sells used, demo, and new high-end audio equipment. Upon request, Ray will also go and hunt down and assemble the ideal high-end audio system within a given budget.
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27 August 2019
The 5805 is a very complete and absolutely great sounding amplifier that will give the competition a very hard time.
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25 March 2019
DAW stands for David Andrew Wilson. Developed by Daryl and the Wilson team, they are a homage to the man who started it all.
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18 March 2019
Audio Show Alkmaar 2019 – Part 3
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Between the Xfi show in Veldhoven and the High End show in Munich, the Audio Show Alkmaar is the always pleasant and relaxed variant where you go to meet people, listen to precisely enough systems so as not to get an overdoses, shake some more hands, eat a nice croquette and perhaps enjoy a few Westmalle beers.
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14 May 2018
In addition to Mark Levinson, Wilson, Transparent Audio, JBL, Revel and Ayre, Dutch distributor Reference Sounds has now also taken the distribution for Dan D'Agostino on board.
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22 November 2017
Reference Sounds Company Visit
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Official Benelux Distributor of Mark Levinson, Revel, JBL Synthesis, Lexicon, Ayre Acoustics, Wilson Audio and Transparent Cable
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17 April 2017
An overview of the main system as it was in place for most of 2017.
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16 April 2017
Truly excellent CD transport with S/P DIF and i2S connections
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10 April 2016
Leema Acoustics Libra
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Highly versatile DAC with a smooth, refined and seductive sound
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3 February 2015
Leema Elements DAC
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It wasn't until very recently when I heard a Leema DAC in a friend's setup, and it was playing so effortlessly musically, that I felt it deserved an in-depth review in my own setup.
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27 April 2014
Genelec 8050 and Wadia 121 with a Computer Source in the secondary setup.
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7 July 2013
The Nordost Valkyrja is something of a spin-off from their top of the line Valhalla model.
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14 May 2013
For the longest time Mark Levinson was the epitome of high end, and to this day, their products hold their own.
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21 December 2012
The above picture illustrates where we left off on the previous page, with no more room for the Meridian MD600. Once it seemed proven to me that integrated CD players invariably beat separate transport-DAC combos and that going by the results obtained so far, this also seems to extend to streaming (as evidenced by the […]
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9 October 2012
CD Mechanism Masterpieces
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Remember when CD players were built immaculately and used heavy, smoothly operating CD mechanisms?
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16 July 2012
The very best Meridian Sooloos Streaming Audio.
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27 May 2012
Meridian Sooloos MD600 and MS600
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After being so enthusiastic about the MC200 and almost having purchased one, I decided to first review its bigger brothers.
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5 April 2012
Naim NDX, CDX2, DAC and XPS2
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After being so enthusiastic about the UnitiQute and Uniti, I was curious to find out how much more there would be in the Naims higher up on the scale.
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1 April 2012
Wadia S7i CD Player
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Wadia S7i is compared to the Wadia 861, PS Audio PWD MKII and Linn Klimax DS/0.
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24 January 2012
Linn Klimax DS Network Player
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The Klimax DS/0 was the first high end music streamer.
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26 December 2011
WAV and Tagging
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WAV or AIFF files may appear to have tags when they are accessed through applications such as iTunes and Winamp, but in fact the data may only reside in these apps' database, because they don't actually write tags to these files themselves.
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26 November 2011
Musical Fidelity Clic
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Comparable in size to the Naim UnitiQute, the Musical Fidelity Clic promises even wider compatibility, albeit without built in amplifier.
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13 October 2011
The UnitiQute is a smaller version of the Uniti, minus the CD player, but lacking none of its bigger brother's functionality.
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18 September 2011
There are a couple of methods for sending audiodata over an usb cable. Here's an explanation of the principles behind them and the advantages of one over another.
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12 August 2011
While my Levinson 390S was away for repairs, I had an Ayre CD player on loan, and once again tried a bunch of Marantzes. This time not just any Marantz though: after concluding that the CD80 was nice enough as a transport but not great as an integrated player and trying the ancient CD74 and […]
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2 August 2011
Ayre CX7 CD Player
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The CX7 was meant as a temporary replacement for my defective Levinson 390s. Soundwise the two players couldn't be more different.
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13 July 2011
Audio Synthesis DAX Decade DAC
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An older dac but recently overhauled at the factory to bring it to current spec.
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8 July 2011
The PWD initiated quite a chain reaction Network cables, switches, power cables, and NAS placement were all examined and found to have an influence on the sound. Here is the final installment of the PWD review. Compared to the Audio Synthesis DAX Decade In the meantime, I had received an Audio Synthesis DAX Decade DAC for […]
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26 June 2011
Here's part two of the review of this interesting netw0rk player.
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10 June 2011
The PWD has long been on my list of things to do but there was such high demand for this unit that I couldn't get one in for a review.
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21 May 2011
Accuphase DP400 CD Player
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No doubt the DP400 is a fine looking unit. But how does it compare to the Mark Levinson no.390s?
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26 October 2010
Mac compared to PC, two iTunes sound enhancements and a range of DA-converters and USB interfaces
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10 October 2010
This is the first 'S' category Levinson that I've had in the system and I have to say that it seems to really make a difference.
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10 October 2010
A lot better than the 36, in fact a different animal: much better detail, control and spaciousness.
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24 August 2010
Treble
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Open, airy, rolled-off, dark, edgy etc, there is a lot to say about the high frequencies, but this is easily misinterpreted
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8 August 2010
August 2010 The setup is now completely and utterly tweaked to my liking and is configured in a perfect way. For the first time in a very long time I feel that I can live with the setup for a while without tweaking it… The main picture above shows the setup in its entirety. The […]
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5 May 2010
The 360s is a very sophisticated and neutral sounding dac. It is neither clinical nor warm.
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4 December 2009
DAD AX24 compared to the Audiomeca Enkianthus and Mark Levinson no 360s.
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2 August 2009
How does this beautifully crafted player stack up against the Audiomeca Enkianthus and the Mark Levinson 390S?
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26 June 2009
Mark Levinson no.390s, CEC TL1x and Audiomeca Enkianthus
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5 June 2009
As always, both methods have their own advantages, but there is one unique clear advantage to taking the integrated player route.
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10 February 2009
The Wadia 27 used to be the best Wadia DAC available, being the replacement of the original Wadia 9, which was the successor to the famous 2000.
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14 June 2004
Relaxed and full sounding player that is essentially quite natural, with a warm midrange.
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