Is Levinson 33 still a reference standard today???

Windriver. You are right on the mark! I paid the price too. But after learning that I would most likely have to continue to shell out cash every few years just so I could keep the amp going, I decided it was time to cut the ties with Levinson. I traded my #333 for a Pass X350.5 and never looked back.

FrankC

Levinson 33 and 33H are still statement products, and it's really unfair to bring the crappy support for 3xx series capacitor issue to 33 and 33H that do NOT have that issue.

However, being a previous owner of 335 that ended up in landfill due to the dreaded capacitor issue, I share the same sentiment. I'll never recommend another Levinson product to anyone. I've also replaced the dead 335 with Pass design, First Watt F5. I'm very pleased with the result.

The No.33 are still a reference amp. Ask JA at stereophile as I think he still has his 33H. The 3XX sound nothing like the 33 and the 4XX sound more like solid state amps. The 33 needs a ton of amps to preform at it's best that is why the 33H works for most people better. I miss my 33H and will own one again. You will never hear real bass until you hear the 33. Levinson reference products like the No.32, 40 30.6 and the 33 the real deal and worth the money. But you can have there 3 digit products.

Hardesty uses Vandy 5A so I can see why the Theta would sound better. They also work better with the crossovers.