Mark Levinson No: 333 vs. MCintosh MC 352?

I have owned the 331 and currently own the 352. The 331 is a pretty good amp but the352 is a great amp that is more natural sounding without the hard edge the ML brings into the picture. Check audioreview.com for more opinions on the 333 and the 352. There was also another similar thread on this subject in amplifiers. By the way I did have both amps (331 and 352) at the same time for awhile.

I would buy the 333. Its much better sounding than the mc352. The Levinson is much more open and airy sounding layered is a better way to put it. I would go for a 335 instead because the new 300 series levinsons are better sounding than the older ones. The old 300 series are still nice amps but a 335 would be plenty of power to run your speakers. If you read stereophile they used the 383 intergrated to power the revel salons Iam not saying to go that route but it goes to show the high current and power capabilitys of the Levinson amps. I own a pair of N803 and a 335 and a 39 and the combo is just amazing but I am moving up to the Revel Salons or the Studios soon. Good Luck

The audioreview rating for the 333 is 3.7 out of 5 --the 352 is 4.7.

I have heard the 333 driving the N802s at a friends house with a 39 player and Transparent cables. The sound was completely dissapointing, no emotion. To me that combo can be summed up as sounding lifeless. I heard the 352 at a dealer running some Dynaudio stand mounts and the sound was much better, I don't know if it was the speaker or the amp, but I have heard the Levinson/B&W/Transparent system a number of times at the same dealer, and it sounded the same there, uninvolving.

Funny you ask because last year I auditioned at length the MC352 and No.335 on a pair of B&W N802s (I owned N804s for a while) with some Tara Lab cables (amps were swapped out on same setup) and I found that the MC352 had a liquid, involving quality with an openness and effortlessness that the Levinson just did not have no matter how hard I tried to hear it. The levinson looks awesome but as far as sound is concerned I must hand it to McIntosh. I spent easily an hour listening to them with a very enthusiastic employee (the store was deserted) and we both agreed the MC352 is just one of the best there is. I have since also auditioned the 383 and found it somewhat flat too (compared to the Classe 151 integrated). I will buy as MC352 as soon as I can afford it. I can't wait to get it!