2. amps-preamps
  3. 185376-102264

Mark Levinson Repairs

I own a Mark Levinson # 331 Power amp and recently the right output channel failed. I called ML service dept to get a quote for repairs and and was shocked when i was told they don't do repairs on this amp anymore and even if they did there are no parts available. They also told me that a 3rd party service center would not be able to help either because they will not have the schematics and they will not give it out to anyone. this was more shocking as based on this information the amp will never be fixed, i do blame myself for not doing research on this company policies prior to buying the amp if i did i would not be in this situation. I own several Mcintosh equi[tment that cost the same or less and older than the ML 331 and i have had them repaired at Mcintosh or my local tech shop i even bought the service manual for one of the amps. 

Does anyone here has the same issue and if so how did you get your amp repaired, any suggestions will be appreciated FYI when the amp was working it was excellent quality sound so the equipment is good just the service sucks !

Thanks for reading.   

raggah

Showing 5 responses by hgeifman

hgeifman
2,113 posts
 

I suggest you contact this company:

Mark Levinson amplifiers Repair Services Link

hgeifman
2,113 posts
 

This is a very difficult situation. Please search on mark Levinson repairs and see what comes up. For examine, I found:

Please see this link

i suggest you investigate these repairs shops and determine if the cost to repair is worth it. In some cases, you repair something and shortly after that, something else breaks. I do not know the age of your #331 amp. You have to evaluate the repair cost vs. the reliability of a new amp.

IMHO, Based on the response from Mark Levinson, I suggest you look for a new amp and a company that supports your purchase. 

hgeifman
2,113 posts
 

I do not know if it is worth repairing a 25 year old amplifier.  Obviously, you have to get an estimate to repair your current Levinson 331 amp.   

This raises several questions.  Are comparable parts available to make the needed repairs and, if repaired, how long will it last?   Does the Tech have the needed skills to make these repairs.   Will the amp require additional repairs in the short term.  Are the other parts in the amp, wires, caps, etc. okay or do they also need work.  Your estimate needs to a complete checkup of your amp. Will the repaired amp sound as good as the original amp?  

If you decide to purchase a new amp, will you get better performance and how much will it cost.

hgeifman
2,113 posts
 

Every company provides different levels of customer service. My 16+ year old Ayre Acoustics AX-7e integrated amp stopped working (no sound). I returned the amp to my retailer. He confirmed it was not working (checked the fuses, etc.) and shipped it back to Ayre for repairs.

My repaired amp was returned about a month later. My repair cost was zero (they paid shipping both ways). Ayre repaired the amp, never told us what was wrong and restored it to factory specs. I thanked both my retailer and Ayre.

This is an example of excellent customer service. I was very impressed. 

hgeifman
2,113 posts
 

I said this before and I am going to say it again.  I do not know if it is worth repairing a 25-year old amplifier. Obviously, you have to get an estimate to repair your current Levinson 331 amp. Are the needed parts available and will the Tech be able to ensure that all the other parts are working correctly to ensure it continues to sound great?  

The availability of the original caps are a concern and, if not, what is the impact on the sound quality if other caps are used.  Some of the posts above said the Techs are available but are they skilled enough to repair a 25-year old power amp?   I do not know.

Your Mark Levinson 331 power amp is 25-years old and maybe it is time to replace it. I suggest you review this repair with the above repair shops and ask for their opinion and the cost to repair including a complete check of the entire amplifier. After this, you should be able to make a decision.  please keep us posted.  Thanks. 

More to discover