Mark Levinson N° 320S specifications

General : Mark Levinson was founded in 1972 as Mark Levinson Audio Systems by Mark Levinson . Today the company is part of the Harman International Industries group, which also includes Harman Kardon and many other brands. Mark Levinson is a brand that has specialized in the highest quality Hi-fi and high-end products like hardly any other to this day.

The Mark Levinson N°320S: Preamplifier of the noblest kind. In various tests, the device was called an almost ideal amplifier. In one test it was even read that the amplifier would behave like "a reinforcing piece of wire" with volume control. In this way I would also describe the device most aptly. An inherent sound is foreign to the amplifier, it belongs, if you will, to the absolutely neutral genre. The device consists of only one housing. Internally, however, the power supply is strictly separated from the audio circuits. The power supply and the extremely complex filtering and smoothing for a perfect power supply of the sensitive amplifier trains, which are completely separate for each channel, can be found in a shielded box. In accordance with the ML tradition, all conceivable requirements are actually met. For example, the seven inputs can be freely configured and freely given names. Three of them are made symmetrically. A special feature is the volume control, which was realized by means of a network of exact resistors. The phonomodules are optional and of exceptional quality. They can be adapted to MM and MC systems and are beyond any doubt. For a while there was the 320S bulging against the top model 326S. Both devices are identical, work the same and look the same, but differ in the board material. Nelco N4000-13 SI is currently being used. Allegedly, some components have also been adapted to the new material, which should bring minimal sound improvements. But I was able to compare my 320S with a 326S once and could not perceive any differences. If they could have existed, they were in any case less than the influence of power cables, because a change of these cables was audible, although I could not describe the difference. In the meantime, only the 326S is available in stores. The price is from about 11.500 € plus VAT. Phono modules (about 1600 €).