How a pair of Mark Levinson ML2 stands with the best amps today ?


I saw a pair of these.  They appearead overkill amps with superb construction. Just about sound quality (not reliability) how they stand with today best amps ?
legarem
Totally concur with George-hifi.
ML-2 is a legendary amplifier without peers - really.
Not only can it compete with modern designs (2020), it’ll subjectively and objectively outperform 99% of them.

Sonics far superior to anything of the time (70s) from Threshold, Krell, Phase Linear, Harman, Marantz or anything else. Phenomenal build quality & design.

ML later opted for far more complex, massive no. of gain-stages, massive feedback circuits and so was the magic of ML-2 gone forever.

Problems? Low power - read: low sensitivity speakers playing in large, deadening rooms, 25W in 8 ohms is not gonna cut it.
I know some who’ve modified them for higher power, but you’ll need electronics knowledge and tools to do it, so not recommended for John Doe.

I’ve heard a cpl of Chinese clones... they’re not even close, so don’t bother. In one word: If you find one = get it !!
Problems? Low power - read: low sensitivity speakers playing in large, deadening rooms, 25W in 8 ohms is not gonna cut it.
Yep, great sounding amp to a given level. better driving 4ohm speakers then you’ve got 50w first 25 Class-A.
A step further a 2ohm speaker then you have 100w first 25w Class-A!!!

Have a guess where I’m going ?? Wilson Alexia 90db and over 100w available for it's horror load impedance bass, again to a given level, I’d guess medium to medium/loud listening level with efficiency

Cheers George
GeorgeOpinion on using the ML-2 on True Sound Works Diva's.My Classe dr3b works really well therefore my thought of the ML-2.Thanks

I think the ML2’s over the Classe by quite a margin.
The Classe uses Darlington output transistors combined driver/output, not great can’t be controlled as well, never really caught on in hiend audio.
  file:///C:/Users/georg/Downloads/Classe%20DR-3%20Service%20(1).pdf
And the ML’s use separate driver and Bi-Polar output much better scope for tuning for stability etc.
https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/solid-state/268127-reason-people-dont-darlington-power-transistor.html

Cheers George


Those Levinson amps will drive a 2 ohm load for 30 years.

 Power supply, capacitance is off the chart, even by today’s standards.

  Have them serviced by a competent tech, or the factory techs.

 AMAZING AMPLIFIERS, you will love them.
topmshelf audio amps.