MARK LEVINSON No.585

The No.585 is a ´plug &play´ type of device. The only thing to be done is to connect any source and to connect any speakers. Any means any. Analog or digital data, it is up to you, the Levinson handles everything. Its internal topology reflects Mark Levinson’s trademark of strictly mirror-imaged dual-mono architecture to ensure that both channels are fully identical. The device is built around bipolar transistors – though I prefer Mosfets I have to acknowledge that from what I witnessed with new Luxman’s M-900u a M-700u radically changed my view of what I though was achievable with bipolars. No.585 continues confirming that.

Unlike the Levinson’s power amplifiers (No.432, No.532 and No.532H) the No.585 does not provide separate transformers for each channel, rather it provides one single 900VA toroid with individual secondary windings for the left and right channels. Volume controls use discrete 15-bit ladders and low-noise analog switches – it becomes apparent by turning the volume knob when characteristic clicking sound can be heard.

On paper the No.585 provides 2x200W into 8 ohms with guaranteed stability down to 2 ohms which I find quite important as a lot of speakers have minimum impedance there (though not explicitly specified). The No.585 is a Class AB amp so one cannot expect doubling its power rating into a half-load, yet I assume it is safe to estimate that this beast can play to 4 ohms with more than 280 Watts and this is the power enough for even the most dynamic recordings in a standard listening room. Combine the power with respectable damping factor of 400 and excellent signal-to-noise ratio of 100 dB and you can really connect the No.585 to any loudspeakers.

The No.585 supports pure stereo 2.1 and 2.2 modes (two speakers plus one or two subs). You can apply a high-pass filter to the Levinson’s pre-out outputs to cut down everything below 80Hz with 12 dB/octave, which may be useful if you want to set your monitor speakers free and let a subwoofer (or two) do the job. It is standard for the ML that it makes system integration through Ethernet, RS-232 and trigger bus.

The connectivity of the No.585 is more than sufficient: 3x RCA and 1x XLR analogue inputs, one pre-out output and proprietary winged nuts (hurricane they call it in Mark Levinson) of speaker terminals. However, the no.585 goes a step further and expands its possibilities with other attractive features: six digital inputs. An ESS Sabre 32bit DAC is an integrated part of the amplifier – it accepts PCM (32kHz, 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz or 192kHz/32-bit) and DSD data through AES/EBU (1x), S/PDIF coaxial (2x), opticalToslink (2x) and asynchronous USB (1x). In case you fell in love, unlike me, with the hype around so called hi-res formats, here you are.