Stereophile: A Design Study: the Mark Levinson No.53

Mark Levinson showed a design study for its Reference No.53 monoblock amplifier in its Hilton suite, which will replaced the previous flagship, the No.33. Although details are not finalized, Levinson's Walter Schofield suggested that each monoblock chassis will be rated in the neighborhood of 500W into 8 ohms, and will be priced at approximately $20,000.

The No.53 employs an elegant new heatsink design, with curved, smaller fins. As a result, the No.53 is lighter—135 lbs—than the 230 lb '33H monoblock. Those of us who have to lift such heavy metal are celebrating the fact that Levinson has included integral handles under the '53's front and rear top plates.

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Reader Comments

Posted Sun Jan28, 2007, 1:16 AM — By Richard Diamond

writer needs to correct spelling: replace not replaced

Posted Fri May18, 2007, 5:53 PM — By Sid Chak

Internet rumours are suggesting that this new amplifier has a Class D output stage. Any truth to this?

Posted Sun Jul22, 2007, 3:02 PM — By pushpulltriode

Wish it's having Class D output stage, cos it's very tuffy to make an outstanding master piece running in class A/B. Refer to some online review, even the Nuforce Reference 9 SE already surpassed the 33H (the 33H is considered better sounding than the 33)!

Posted Tue Sep11, 2007, 7:42 PM — By BR

. . . See. . this is why getting online and discussing audio SUCKS anymore. There's always one of these guys out there. "pushpulltriode"

Posted Thu Sep20, 2007, 7:47 PM — By joaquin matias

how are the pair being priced? $20,000 per block or for the pair. Also how are you able to deliver 5000w in 8Oohms (doubled) at a reduced weight, does not this weight differential impact the quality of materials?

Posted Wed Aug20, 2008, 10:05 AM — By cafyon

Referring to a recent ad of No.53 in Stereophile, there is a bottom line suggesting something like "...with interleaved power supply". Is "this" interleaved power supply, a switching power source; thus a kind switching (even class-D) amplifier No.53 is?

Posted Fri Jan23, 2009, 9:02 PM — By devus

the power supply is transistorised, kinda like a pc one. very small lite and powerfull..

Posted Fri Mar 6, 2009, 5:10 PM — By Marko

I'm wondering how much jitter does switching output stage add to sound. Will all the benefits of low jitter CD and DAC be masked by the swithing output stage? It will surely sound different and may impress you untill some of its aspects start to call your attention.

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