Karma-AV have announced the availability of the Mark-Levinson № 526 dual- monaural preamplifier.  The № 526 is a 12-input dual-monaural design featuring Pure Path circuit topology, a class-A ‘Pure Phono’ stage, a 32-bit DAC, and a class-A Main Drive Headphone output. 

Designed and engineered at HARMAN’s Engineering Centre of Excellence in Shelton, CT, USA, the Mark Levinson № 526 offers a signal path that is fully discrete, fully balanced and completely dual-monaural, with a discrete, balanced R-2R ladder volume control to maintain the highest level of sonic purity, resolution, transparency and dynamic range.

There is the choice of two balanced and three single-ended analogue audio inputs, stereo phono inputs and six digital inputs, supported by the Mark Levinson ‘Precision Link’ DAC and HARMAN Clari-Fi® music restoration technology. 

The Mark Levinson № 526 offers digital decoding up to 32-bit, 192kHz from PCM and double-speed DSD.

Its proprietary ‘Precision Link’ DAC incorporates an ESS Sabre32 Reference converter. Six digital audio inputs including asynchronous USB, AES/EBU balanced, TOSLINK optical and coaxial unbalanced, feed the digital signal path. For listeners whose libraries contain older or lower resolution content, the № 526 incorporates HARMAN Clari-Fi® music restoration technology.

In addition the № 526 is equipped with a ‘Pure Phono’ stage, which operates in class-A throughout, offering a fixed-gain MM section with five capacitive cartridge-loading settings, and an MC section with three gain settings and 10 resistive cartridge-loading settings. An infrasonic filter intelligently compensates for rumble and warping. 

The № 526 preamplifier delivers its signal to balanced (XLR) and single-ended (RCA) stereo outputs, as well as a 1/4-inch (6.3mm) Main Drive Headphone output integrated with the front panel metalwork – a first for Mark Levinson. The Main Drive Headphone amplifier circuit drives up to 32-ohm headphones in class-A by employing the main output circuit rather than a secondary signal path.

The № 526 features a 6000- series aluminium housing in black with silver trim. It can be controlled from the front panel, from the remote control supplied and via a comprehensive range of system integration connections. Like all Mark Levinson products, the № 526 is designed and handcrafted in the USA.

Features: 

• Pure Path discrete, direct coupled, fully balanced, dual-monaural signal path
• 32-bit Precision Link DAC with three selectable filters and seven power supplies
• Supports high-resolution PCM (up to 32-bit, 192kHz) and DSD (up to 5.6MHz)
• Discrete, balanced R-2R Ladder volume control for precision and performance
• Class-A Main Drive Headphone output for up to 32-ohm headphones using main circuit
• Selectable fourth-order, 80 Hz high-pass filter allows seamless integration of subwoofers
• Class-A Pure Phono stage with physically separated channels for MC and MM
• 12 analogue, digital, and phono inputs; balanced, single-ended, and headphone outputs
• Designed and handcrafted in the USA  

Mark Levinson No 526 Dual-Monaural Preamplifier typical retail price inc VAT: £15,000 ea