Can Harman Resuscitate the Mark Levinson Line?

[MylesBAstor]

Twenty years ago, Mark Levinson amps, preamplifiers and especially digital gear was along with Krell, at the top of the solid-state food chain. Then because of a number of reasons, ML fell off the map and is now trying to rebuild the line's reputation with a series of new products that have been debuted at several shows this year. Will they win back customers and again be among the top high-end companies in the world?

[Rob]

Is that a statement or question? Arguably, John Curl and Tom Colangelo put Mark on the map. The decline has been 30 years in the making ever since Madrigal owned them, Is Krell the same company with Dan gone?

[MylesBAstor]

Question.

[mep]

Is that a statement or question? Arguably, John Curl and Tom Colangelo put Mark on the map. The decline has been 30 years in the making ever since Madrigal owned them, Is Krell the same company with Dan gone?

I think that Madrigal did justice to the Mark Levinson name after they acquired the company. Mark's track record at starting a company and successfully running it is not the greatest. Harman's biggest interest seems to be in car audio and there are Lexus commercials on TV where they are showing close ups of the Levinson car stereo units. The real question is how serious is Harman about hi-end audio?

[1morerecord2clean]

Is that a statement or question? Arguably, John Curl and Tom Colangelo put Mark on the map. The decline has been 30 years in the making ever since Madrigal owned them, Is Krell the same company with Dan gone?

I believe Dan lost all or some part of the Krell company to his X some years ago and the current Krell acquired the name. His newest company is his new venture. Is the current Krell in business? I'm not sure. Levinson electronics have been less than stellar for a number of years. They are trying to revive the brand but if that can be done remains a question. The Revel Loudspeakers haven't had an update in maybe 5 years? Stay tuned.

[Rob]

re Krell, that was a rhetorical question. they are nowhere without Dan, he was the co.

[MylesBAstor]

I believe Dan lost all or some part of the Krell company to his X some years ago and the current Krell acquired the name. His newest company is his new venture. Is the current Krell in business? I'm not sure. Levinson electronics have been less than stellar for a number of years. They are trying to revive the brand but if that can be done remains a question. The Revel Loudspeakers haven't had an update in maybe 5 years? Stay tuned.

Dan and Rondi still have significant or majority control of the shares in Krell. There was a pending court case (2009?) but have no idea where that lies. Or even if it is still being pursued. You know how those things go.

Yes Krell is still around but recently it seems Krell's chief designer Todd Eichelbaum left for Mark Levinson, Bill McKiegan joined Dan and Peter MacKay joined Magico.

[Rob]

I think that Madrigal did justice to the Mark Levinson name after they acquired the company. Mark's track record at starting a company and successfully running it is not the greatest. Harman's biggest interest seems to be in car audio and there are Lexus commercials on TV where they are showing close ups of the Levinson car stereo units. The real question is how serious is Harman about hi-end audio?

agree. Madrigal didn't diminish the brand the way Harman has (for the one size fits all customer). Mark's first ever product was a preamp with a tape head amp no less! everything he did in those days was geared to the perfectionist that was playing with gear at the top level. The gear made under Madrigal was in keeping with ML style/construction but dumbed down somewhat for the average audiophile. When Cello came about, Mark went back to making gear from the recording chain on down.

[MylesBAstor]

Dan and Rondi still have significant or majority control of the shares in Krell. There was a pending court case (2009?) but have no idea where that lies. Or even if it is still being pursued. You know how those things go.

Yes Krell is still around but recently it seems Krell's chief designer Todd Eichelbaum left for Mark Levinson, Bill McKiegan joined Dan and Peter MacKay joined Magico.

http://www.twice.com/news/news/krell-founders-sue-equity-fund-return-company/18287

[Johnny Vinyl]

Like with many things, once you fall out of favour it's difficult to regain your former status.

[mep]

agree. Madrigal didn't diminish the brand the way Harman has (for the one size fits all customer). Mark's first ever product was a preamp with a tape head amp no less! everything he did in those days was geared to the perfectionist that was playing with gear at the top level. The gear made under Madrigal was in keeping with ML style/construction but dumbed down somewhat for the average audiophile. When Cello came about, Mark went back to making gear from the recording chain on down.

If you look at lots of older gear (integrated amps and preamps), you will see that many of them had a tape head input. Cello was another company that Mark started that went up in flames. Then Red Rose Audio was next up to bat. Mark may have had his finger on the high-end pulse, but he couldn't keep his eye on how to run a business.

[MylesBAstor]

But the electronics came from Victor/AudioPrism in Seattle. They were also built in China? Wonder what happened to these investors? http://www.stereophile.com/news/1145...cqKfaRTx27z.97

[Rob]

the Rosette 1 sparked the controversy about Red Rose sourcing from the PRC.

[MylesBAstor]

Thanks, never knew that Rob. Certainly know and have seen Opera/Consonance. Don't know about the performance but their table and electronics are sexy looking.

[mep]

Like with many things, once you fall out of favour it's difficult to regain your former status.

The thing is, Mark Levinson as a brand is just that-a brand. It's a name that is being traded off of because of what Mark Levinson gear used to stand for. You can buy a name, but you can't buy the mojo that made the name magic at one point in time.

[Bill Hart]

And the folks that remember the name during the glory days are, shall we say, not young any more? It would be like rebooting Maybach as an automobile. Benz did it - the Maybach was a glorious pig of a car from the pre-WWII era, so heavy, as I recall, that on the viewing stand at Pebble, an original one started to crack through the floor, but the reboot is really an uber "S" class meant for oil sheiks and those with a preference for Benz over Rolls. Its original followers are pushing up daisies, or however you say that in German. Kinda sad that Levinson had been reduced to a car audio brand. What's Harman's premiere audio electronics line?

[Rob]

to your point, is anyone really fooled that today's Bugatti resembles in any way, shape or form the co. that Etorre founded?

[Bill Hart]

Yeah, I thought of that one too. Wanna see how fast I can empty a gas tank? You wanna go that fast, buy a jet. Man, the old ones though.... You've seen the photos of the -Shakespeare- collection being loaded onto those old train cars back in the day? Classic.

[Rob]

besides the gorgeous art deco bodies, the true beauty was under the skin. the mechanicals like the engine block were, as you know, embellished with 'machine turned' finish like a watch maker would decorate a special hand made movement.

[MylesBAstor]

The thing is, Mark Levinson as a brand is just that-a brand. It's a name that is being traded off of because of what Mark Levinson gear used to stand for. You can buy a name, but you can't buy the mojo that made the name magic at one point in time.

One thing Mark knew how to do--besides sell that is--was hire/work with the right people. Among them included John Curl, Tom Colangelo, Dick Burwen, Paul Jayson (now Viola Labs), etc. With them came some real innovation--like the ML JC2 and later the Cello Palette (from Dick Burwen) and Cello Suite. I even got to hear and review an updated version of the original Cello amplifiers and was amazed how good they sounded even today. (http://www.positive-feedback.com/Iss...lo_encore.htmf) Better in fact, than when when they amplifiers were originally released.

The companies relocations from CT to MA certainly didn't help and they also lost quite a few employees (see Bricasti). Somehow a Class D ML53 amplifier doesn't smack of innovation. And I still don't understand Harley's review. I don't think Harley's or Fremer's reviews were all that different; just that Mikey reached the conclusion that seemed to better fit the review and what I've heard.

Mark Levinson (the man) had a dedicated following; all his loyal followers would faithfully trudge to Lyric to hear and buy the latest and greatest from Levinson. Times have changed though now and there's a lot more competition than back then for the consumer's dollar. Can they as Mark said, recapture the company's original "mojo?"

[Bill Hart]

One thing Mark knew how to do--besides sell that is--was hire/work with the right people. Among them included John Curl, Tom Colangelo, Dick Burwen, Paul Jayson (now Viola Labs), etc. With them came some real innovation--like the Cello Palette--from Dick Burwen. Somehow a Class D ML53 amplifier doesn't smack of innovation. And I still don't understand Harley's review. I don't think Harley's or Fremer's reviews were all that different; just that Mikey reached the conclusion that seemed to better fit the review and what I've heard.

Mark Levinson (the man) had a dedicated following; all his loyal followers would faithfully trudge to Lyric to hear and buy the latest and greatest from Levinson. Times have changed though now and there's a lot more competition than back then for the consumer's dollar. Can they as Mark said, recapture the company's origi "mojo?"

Possible, but as Johnny V. said, once out of the game, it's hard to get back in as a brand. At least Marantz kept their brand going, and still has this "premium" rep as a consumer box good, even if people know zero about the original Saul Marantz stuff . Levinson? I doubt anybody but hardcore old audiophiles know who he is. (Said with respect, of course, for the man).

[MylesBAstor]

Four Decades of Contributions

A partial list of high-performance audio products developed by Mark Levinson:

1970’s – Mark Levinson Audio Systems (MLAS)

LNP-1 Preamplifier
LNP-2 Professional Preamplifier
JC-1 Moving Coil Cartridge Preamplifier
JC-1AC Moving Coil Cartridge Preamplifier
JC-2 Straightline Preamplifier
LNC-2 Electronic Crossover ML-1 Preamplifier
ML-2 Class A Mono Amplifier with regulated power supplies
ML-3 Stereo Power Amplifier
ML-5 modified Studer A-80 professional tape recorder with custom electronics
ML-6A Dual Mono Preamplifier
ML-7 Preamplifier
ML-7A Preamplifier
ML-8 Microphone Preamplifier
ML-9 Power Amplifier
ML-10 Preamplifier
ML-11 Preamplifier
ML-12 Power Amplifier


The world’s first tri-amplified reference system for music listening: The HQD system – 2 x Hartley 24” woofers, 4 x QUAD electrostatic midranges, 2 xDecca ribbon tweeters, powered by six ML-2 amplifiers and two LNC-2 Electronic Crossovers, with custom pure silver interconnect cables and custom speaker wires.


HQD system




From 1974 to 1978, Mark Levinson Acoustic Recordings produced a series of LP’s that set new industry standards for sonic quality in recordings. The series included LP’s of artists such as organist Myrtle Regier, pianist Lois Shapiro, percussionist Bill Elgart, classical guitarist Eliot Fisk, and organist Charles Krigbaum. Levinson’s classic 1978 recording of Eliot Fisk (Bach and Scarlatti) has been reissued as part of the LG Reference CD Collection.

1980’s – mid 1990’s: Cello

Cello Audio Palette, world’s first no-compromise analog equalizer Cello Audio Suite
Cello Performance Mono Power Amplifier with regulated choke power supplies, 6,000 Watts @ 2 Ohms in bridged mode.
Cello Encore preamp Cello Encore 1MΩ preamp
Cello Encore Mono Power Amplifier Cello Duet 350 amplifier
Cello Amati loudspeaker Cello Premier loudspeaker Cello Master loudspeaker
Grand Master Reference loudspeaker Cello Serafin active monitor loudspeaker Cello Legend loudspeaker
Cello Strings cables and interconnects, industry first with Litz construction, Teflon dielectric, and Swiss-made Fischer connectors.
Cello Reference Digital to Analog Converter

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[Johnny Vinyl]

Wow Hartley! Haven't heard that name in a dog's age. My brother still has a pair of the Zodiac 300-A (4 ohm). He sold all of his electronics when he moved to Vietnam, but brought the speakers with him.