The new to me Mark Levinson 585 Integrated Amplifier arrived today triple boxed and in great condition. On first listen it sounds wonderful! To be honest when I first started listening it sounded similar to the Esoteric I-03, which is a Class D design. A very good Class D design. The Esoteric was $12,000 when it was released and had some great reviews! It is certainly no slouch and competes with the ML 585 sound wise, just not on features. Esoteric keeps their products simple and focuses on designing the best product for the money. You want to hear Class D done right listen to an I-03. You wouldn’t know it was Class D unless someone told you.
More listening time with the ML 585 is needed, but from what I’m hearing the ML 585 is proving to be a spectacular piece of audio gear. I just finished listening to Peter Gabriel’s New Blood and Hiromi Uehara’s Spark DSDs and on the ML 585 the dynamics and presentation blew me away. Very pleased with this purchase!
I like to say I’m an audio enthusiast, not an audiophile. I’m learning how to listen critically, but don’t obsess over what I think I may or may not be hearing. I don’t care what “audiophiles” think about my system. I’m pleased with it and that is what matters.
My main system consists of:
Mark Levinson 585 Integrated Amp
PS Audio Directstream DAC
PSAudio Directstream Memory Player
Auralic Altair Streamer
Oppo BDP-103 Blue Ray Player (rarely used)
PS Audio P3 Power Regenerator
Focal Sopra No. 1 Speakers
Definitive Technology 15” Subwoofer
Audioqust CV-8 Speaker Cables
Morrow XLR Interconnects
PS Audio Statement Power Cords
The ML 585 has lots of features, which I like and will use like a high pass filter for the subwoofer, three selectable power standby options, variable or fixed preamp out, HT bypass, three different volume ramping settings, 12V connections for power, rear infrared input, and many other options. Also, it is mostly black, which matches my other components.
The 585 is a beast; it is tall, deep (19 3/8”), wide, and HEAVY at seventy two pounds. It is a beautifuly engineered, great looking, a superbly well thought out design, and American made.
At the end of the day I wish I could keep the Esoteric and put it in my home office, but I can’t afford to keep it and the ML 585. The ML 585 is a wonderful piece of audio equipment I hope to enjoy for a long time!
If there is a weakness in my system I would say it is my 18 year old subwoofer.
