2. amps-preamps
  3. 154655-116481

Jeff Rowland Continuum S2 vs Mark Levinson 585.5

Hello All

Do you have an opinion on which of these two integrateds you would go with, the Jeff Rowland Continuum S2 or the Mark Levinson No. 585.5? I am leaning towards the Levinson but do not yet know very much about either brand. Is one considered superior to the other in overall quality? I like that the Levinson has an RS232 so in theory it can be controlled with something other than the house Levinson remote.
https://www.jeffrowlandgroup.com/continuum-s2/#specifications
https://www.marklevinson.com/products/integrated-amplifiers/NO585.5-.html?cgid=integrated-amplifiers&dwvar_NO585.5-_color=Black-GLOBAL-Current

Choices out there are more limited than I'd have thought, for an integrated with (i) 200+wpc and (ii) a built in DAC. The Goldmund and McIntosh are two others I've come across that meet the criteria. Any others out there I'm missing?
gmercer
4425
861 posts
 
the 585 and 585.5 are identical in every respect except for a built in phono stage for the 585.5
unless you hear it in your home you won’t know how good it is. the 5805 is built to a lower price point but regardless ML is building their gear at the highest level.comments based on past lore and hearsay are not meaningful. also i’ve had great support from harmon on a couple of revel issues.
Post removed 
4425
861 posts
 
I I have met Jeff and owned his products and both are stellar. He’s an audio icon.
All that said the ML 585 integrated amp is a really fine piece of gear. At 6k used it would be very hard to exceed. I doubt that JRDG would disappoint as well. IMHO
mikey8811
259 posts
 
Based on auditioning the JRDG 625 S2 and the ML 532 in my system as an indication, I would go with the ML.
This is of course if the above stereo amp equivalents are good proxies for their respective integrated amps.
gmercer OP
193 posts
 
I ended up going with McIntosh C2700 and MC462. Demo'd the Mark Levinson in person and while good it didn't quite do it for me. 
More to discover