THE NEW MARK LEVINSON ML-50 AMPLIFIER PACKAGE CELEBRATES THEIR 50^TH ANNIVERSARY

The Mark Levinson ML-50 amplifier package includes a pair of monaural amplifiers that will be limited to only 100 pairs globally.

HARMAN Luxury Audio’s Mark Levinson brand kicks off its 50-year anniversary celebration with the announcement of the limited-edition Mark Levinson ML-50 amplifier package – an exclusive creation limited to only 100 pairs globally.

The Mark Levinson ML-50 Amplifier Package

MARK LEVINSON ML-50

The design echoes some of the most popular and important models of the brand’s history. In creating the ML-50 monaural power amplifier, the Mark Levinson team looked to its past to some of the most important monaural amplifiers that each influenced the design in a special way. The ML-50 model name itself calls back to the first Mark Levinson power amplifier – the ML-2 – produced from 1977 to 1986. The No 20 power amplifier and its updated models the No 20.5 and No 20.6 produced between 1986 and 1995 inspired the large front panel handles found on the ML-50. The No 33 (1994-2003) and No 33H (1997-2007) reference amplifiers sparked the idea of the outrigger feet that provide the solid foundation for the ML-50 chassis. The concept of the glass front panel and red backlit Mark Levinson logo on the ML-5 is lifted from the No 53 reference amplifier built from 2008 to 2019. The No 536 amplifier (2015-present) became the starting point platform for the audio performance found in the ML-50.

GLASS COVER

Perhaps the most striking aspect of the ML-50 is the clear glass top cover that showcases the internal beauty of the circuit designs. Elevating the drama of the glass top cover, internal LED lighting casts a glow over the interior and can be switched between red, white, and off.

The solid aluminium front panel design also features a large black glass panel insert with a red backlit LED Mark Levinson logo, and a machined aluminium standby power button encircled with a red LED light ring. The central glass panel is flanked by a pair of silver machined aluminium handles.

MARK LEVINSON ML-50 CIRCUITRY AND POWER SUPPLY

The power supply and audio circuits of the No 536 platform have been enhanced. The hardware engineers started by creating a lower noise floor by increasing the high-voltage supply (voltage gain and pre-driver circuits) capacitance by 50% (from 8,800uF to 13,200uF). Next, they gave it increased dynamic power with a 20% increase in the capacitance of the main high-current supply (169,200uF to 206,800uF) plus reconfigured Schottky rectifiers for a lower-impedance path from the transformer to the filter caps. Distortion has been lowered by doubling the output stage bias resulting in more than quadruple the amount of Class A power: 20W into 8-ohms. The overall Class AB power has also increased to 425W into 8-ohms. The result is an amplifier with the highest levels of subjective and objective performance.

ISOLATION FEET

To provide the most stable platform possible for the increased audio performance, a new vibration-damping, mechanically isolated foot design can be found at all four corners underneath the chassis of the ML-50. These feet mimic the curved shape of the front panel and elevate the chassis further above the surface for increased convection cooling in conjunction with the new twin-channel top panel venting and massive external heat sinks.

BALANCED XLR INPUTS

As a fully balanced design, the ML-50 offers balanced XLR and single-ended RCA audio jack inputs and two sets of Mark Levinson Hurricane binding post speaker terminals. Advanced internal protection and monitoring ensures reliable performance, while Ethernet, serial, and 12V trigger connections provide complete external control.

MARK LEVINSON ML-50 PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

Each Mark Levinson ML-50 amplifier package includes two monaural amplifiers and an accessory kit that includes two 3m power cords, a microfibre polishing cloth, white gloves, and owner’s documentation. The three cartons are vertically stacked on a wooden pallet base and protected with a triple-wall cardboard sleeve and banding straps.

The Mark Levinson ML-50 limited edition amplifier package will be available from select retailers in Q4 of 2022 at a retail price of $50,000 per system pair.

HiFi Pig Says: A very high-end celebration of their 50th anniversary from Mark Levinson!

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