Last year I arranged a home trial of the new "sensibly priced" 5805 integrated amp, although I'd go for the 5802 digital only version myself as I use no analogue sources.
It's a great amp and includes a good DAC. However, they also offer the new 5101 "Network Streaming SACD / CD Player". So, if you want an all digital ML system, the minimum box count is 2. With the 5101 and 5802, you have digital streaming from Tidal, Qobuz, etc, internet radio, CD player and SACD player - all for a (for Mark Levinson) fairly reasonable price.
However, let's take a closer look. Many of us will have had in the past the excellent No 39 or 390S CD Player / Processor - possibly ML's best selling item of all time - I'm guessing but quite likely - and rightly so. This excellent box of 1990s ticks offered a CD player, inputs for 2 Aux digital sources and a variable output via an analogue volume control. I bought one of these over the Wadia equivalent because of the analogue control compared with Wadia's digital one. Then all I needed was a simple power amp.
Looking at what's offered with the 5000 series, shouldn't we ask:
Why do we need 2 identical DACs in our 5000 system (the 5101 and 5802 / 5805 both have DACs)?
Why doesn't the 5101 include an analogue volume control?
Why isn't there a 5000 power amp?
ML are obviously aiming these products at the cost-is-an-object customer who wants the excellence of ML equipment. I resent having to pay for 2 DACs, I don't need analogue, so also resent having to pay for a preamp section if it's just to adjust the volume.
So, the trick that I think ML has missed is this - add a volume control to the 5101 making it an updated 39 / 390S (adding maybe a couple of hundred to the price) and offer a simple power amp (saving a couple of thousand from the 5802 price). Then we wouldn't be forced to pay for 2 DACs, and we could choose from a range of amps from ML, or even keep our existing one. Then the 5000 range would be a much more attractive and even more affordable proposition.
One could argue an alternative case - for a "Streaming SACD/ CD player TRANSPORT" with no DAC or Aux inputs and that would be great matched with the existing 5805 or 5802 integrated, whilst also saving a bundle of unnecessary electronics.
I'd seriously be in the market for either of those combinations, but I'm baulking at a 5101 + 5802.
What d'ya think? Peter
It's a great amp and includes a good DAC. However, they also offer the new 5101 "Network Streaming SACD / CD Player". So, if you want an all digital ML system, the minimum box count is 2. With the 5101 and 5802, you have digital streaming from Tidal, Qobuz, etc, internet radio, CD player and SACD player - all for a (for Mark Levinson) fairly reasonable price.
However, let's take a closer look. Many of us will have had in the past the excellent No 39 or 390S CD Player / Processor - possibly ML's best selling item of all time - I'm guessing but quite likely - and rightly so. This excellent box of 1990s ticks offered a CD player, inputs for 2 Aux digital sources and a variable output via an analogue volume control. I bought one of these over the Wadia equivalent because of the analogue control compared with Wadia's digital one. Then all I needed was a simple power amp.
Looking at what's offered with the 5000 series, shouldn't we ask:
Why do we need 2 identical DACs in our 5000 system (the 5101 and 5802 / 5805 both have DACs)?
Why doesn't the 5101 include an analogue volume control?
Why isn't there a 5000 power amp?
ML are obviously aiming these products at the cost-is-an-object customer who wants the excellence of ML equipment. I resent having to pay for 2 DACs, I don't need analogue, so also resent having to pay for a preamp section if it's just to adjust the volume.
So, the trick that I think ML has missed is this - add a volume control to the 5101 making it an updated 39 / 390S (adding maybe a couple of hundred to the price) and offer a simple power amp (saving a couple of thousand from the 5802 price). Then we wouldn't be forced to pay for 2 DACs, and we could choose from a range of amps from ML, or even keep our existing one. Then the 5000 range would be a much more attractive and even more affordable proposition.
One could argue an alternative case - for a "Streaming SACD/ CD player TRANSPORT" with no DAC or Aux inputs and that would be great matched with the existing 5805 or 5802 integrated, whilst also saving a bundle of unnecessary electronics.
I'd seriously be in the market for either of those combinations, but I'm baulking at a 5101 + 5802.
What d'ya think? Peter