Features
| Warranty length | 5 Years |
|---|---|
| Brand | Mark Levinson |
Tech Specs
Line Stage
Gain
- Normal gain setting: 13.5dB balanced; 7.5dB single-ended
- High gain setting: 19.5dB balanced; 13.5dB single-ended
- Fixed mode, normal gain setting: 3.0dB balanced; –3.0dB single-ended
- Fixed mode, high gain setting: 9.0dB balanced; 3.0dB single-ended
Frequency Response
- 20Hz to 20kHz: ±0.02dB
- 0.4Hz to 370kHz: +0.1 / -3dB
THD+N
- at 1kHz (2VRMS single-ended or 4VRMS balanced output): <0.003%
- at 20kHz (2VRMS single-ended or 4VRMS balanced output): <0.005%
Signal-to-noise ratio
- 20Hz to 20kHz, wideband, unweighted: >97dB
- A-weighted: >100dB
- Reference to 2VRMS single-ended or 4VRMS balanced output, max volume: >115dB @ 1kHz
Crosstalk
- at 1kHz: <-107dB
- at 20kHz: <-82dB
- Channel separation: below noise floor (>115dB @ 1kHz)
- High-pass filter: defeatable 80Hz, 4th order (24dB/octave) Butterworth
- Volume control: balanced, current mode, discrete 15-bit R-2R ladder
- Single-Ended (RCA) Inputs
- Input impedance: >45kΩ
- Maximum input level normal gain setting: >10VRMS, high gain setting: >7VRMS
- Balanced (XLR) Inputs
- Input impedance: >45kΩ
- Maximum input level normal gain setting: >15VRMS, high gain setting: >7.5VRMS
- Single-Ended (RCA) Outputs
- Output impedance: <80Ω
- Maximum output level: >11VRMS
BALANCED (XLR) OUTPUTS
- Output impedance: <160Ω
- Maximum output level: >22VRMS
Headphone Output
- Output Impedance: selectable; <3Ω or 75Ω
- Maximum output, low impedance setting:
- 30Ω (0.3W), 20Hz to 20kHz, <0.1% THD: >3VRMS
- 300Ω, 20Hz to 20kHz, <0.1% THD: >9VRMS
- Maximum output, high impedance setting
- 300Ω, 20Hz to 20kHz, <0.1% THD: >7VRMS
- Total harmonic distortion plus noise (THD+N)
- 20Hz to 20kHz, 2VRMS at 30Ω: <0.03%
- 20Hz to 20kHz, 2VRMS at 300Ω: <0.01%
Phono Stage
- RIAA frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz, ±0.3dB
- Infrasonic filter: defeatable, 15Hz, 2nd order (12dB/octave)
- Moving Magnet Mode
- Input resistance: 47kΩ
- Input capacitance: selectable; 50, 100, 150, 200, or 680pF
- Gain: 40dB @ 1kHz
- THD + Noise: <0.03%, 20Hz to 20kHz, 2VRMS output
- Signal-to-noise ratio (Referred to 2VRMS output):
- >97dB (20Hz to 20kHz, wideband, unweighted)
- >102dB (A-weighted)
- >110dB @ 20Hz to 20kHz (spot noise)
- Maximum Input Level: >95mV @ 1kHz; >285mV @ 20kHz
Moving Coil Mode
- Input resistance: selectable; 20, 33, 50, 66, 100, 200, 330, 500, 1000, or 47kΩ
- Input capacitance: 50pF
- Gain: selectable; 50, 60, or 70dB @ 1kHz
- THD + Noise:
- 50dB gain setting: <0.02%, 20Hz to 20kHz, 2VRMS output
- 60dB gain setting: <0.02%, 20Hz to 20kHz, 2VRMS output
- 70dB gain setting: <0.04%, 20Hz to 20kHz, 2VRMS output
- Signal-to-noise ratio (Referred to 2VRMS output):
- 50dB gain setting: >87dB (20Hz to 20kHz, wideband, unweighted)
- 50dB gain setting: >94dB (A-weighted)
- 50dB gain setting: >100dB at 20Hz to 20kHz (spot noise)
- 60dB gain setting: >77dB (20Hz to 20kHz, wideband, unweighted)
- 60dB gain setting: >84dB (A-weighted)
- 60dB gain setting: >90dB at 20Hz to 20kHz (spot noise)
- 70dB gain setting: >68dB (20Hz to 20kHz, wideband, unweighted)
- 70dB gain setting: >74dB (A-weighted)
- 70dB gain setting: >80dB at 20Hz to 20kHz (spot noise)
- Maximum input level:
50dB gain setting: >30mV @ 1kHz; >105mV @ 20kHz
60dB gain setting: >9.5mV @ 1kHz; >90mV @ 20kHz
70dB gain setting: >3.2mV @ 1kHz; >30mV @ 20kHz
DAC
- Output voltage: 3.7VRMS @ full scale (0dBFS)
- Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz, +0 / –0.2dB
- THD: <0.0001% @ 1kHz, full scale (0dBFS), <0.0003% @ 20kHz, full scale (0dBFS)
- Signal-to-noise ratio (Referred to 3.7VRMS / 0dBFS output):
- >117dB (20Hz to 20 kHz, wideband, unweighted)
- >120dB (A-weighted)
- Sample rates/bit depth:
- PCM: 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, or 192kHz; up to 32 bits
- DSD: Native or DoP (DSD over PCM), single- and double-speed (2.8 and
5.6MHz)
General
- Analog audio connectors:
- Line Inputs: 3 pairs single-ended (RCA), 2 pairs balanced (XLR)
- Phono Input: 1 pair single-ended phono inputs (RCA), 1 phono ground binding post
- Outputs: 1 pair single-ended line (RCA), 1 pair balanced line (XLR), 1 TS ¼” (6.3mm) headphone
Digital audio input connectors
- Balanced: 1 AES/EBU (XLR)
- Coaxial: 2 S/PDIF (RCA)
- Optical: 2 Toslink
- USB asynchronous: 1 USB Type B)
Control connectors
- RS-232: 1 RJ-12
- Infrared (IR): 1 ⅛” (3.5mm) phone jack
- DC triggers: 2 programmable 12V outputs (⅛” / 3.5mm phone jack), 100mA maximum/1 programmable 12V input (⅛” / 3.5mm phone jack)
- Ethernet: 1 RJ-45
- USB: 1 USB Type A, 1 Micro USB
- Mains voltage: 100VAC, 115VAC, or 230VAC, factory set
- Standby, Green mode: 0.4W
- Standby, Power Save mode: 5W
- Standby, Normal mode: 72W (№ 526); 67W (№ 523)
- Power on, idle: 75W (№ 526); 70W (№ 523)
- Power on, idle, headphones connected: 88W (№ 526); 83W (№ 523)
Dimensions
- Height 95mm
- Width: 438mm
- Depth: 457mm
- Weight: 18.6kg
Product Description
Mark Levinson No. 526 pre amplifier is designed to perfectly preserve both digital and analogue signals and give life to your music. The no. 526 features a pure phono stage, a precision link DAC and is housed in a sleek and stylish unit that will match your other Mark Levinson units.
523 vs 526
The No. 526 sits above the No.523 as it comes with a Precision Link DAC, which allows you to connect digital music sources and reproduce them with expert detail and quality, bringing all your music to life.
Dynamic Digital Audio
The no. 526 preamp features a custom made Precision Link DAC, which is designed to produce digital audio signals with the highest accuracy and with minimal noise. This DAC design makes you feel like the artist is performing right in front of you, regardless whether it’s a digital music source or analogue.
High Quality Circuit Design
The team at Mark Levinson has taken a no compromise approach to the design of the no. 526. It’s circuitry uses discrete components that have been carefully chosen for their precise function and is designed to produce a pure and unmatched sound quality that captures all the subtle nuances of your music.
Pure Phono Stage
With a Pure Phono Stage, you can connect your turntable directly to the No. 526, without the need to use an external phono preamp. This pure phono stage delivers the best possible sound from your turntable.
High Performance Headphone Out
The No. 526 has a class-A Main Drive headphone output, which allows you to listen to your music, privately, with the best possible performance. This high-end headphone out delivers a magnitude of detail in the music and gets the most out of your headphones.
Remote Control
You can control the No. 526 preamp with a matching aluminium remote control that is easy to use. With this you can play/pause, adjust volume and more in-depth control options such as polarity and EQ settings.
