Red Rose Anyone?


Has anyone tried out any of the ultra-premium priced Red Rose line of audio equipment marketed by Mr. Mark Levinson? Are they any different from other high-end brands like Mark Levinson? I guess his non-compete period with Harmon International is over and that is why he is starting a new gig. I am intrigued by its Red Rose Model 5 integrated amplifier, especially with its $8,000 list price tag. Any insight into the Red Rose products would be much appreciated. Thank you.
avguy
I remember hearing the AudioPrism Manas, the precursors of the Model 1 amps. Now, I don't know what the "red rose markup" actually is, but the Manas were very, very good at 12K and I'm wondering what magic wand was passed over their chassis to transform them, via $13K, into the Model 1's?

I remember a story. I was at a CES one year for a mag and talked to a famous foreign designer known for his ultra products. He had just come out with a SS amp and told me that at first he couldn't sell it. I asked why given his reputation and he said because rich people didn't think they were getting something better than the not-quite-as-rich unless it carried a certain elevated price tag. He doubled the amp's price and sales rocketed among that clientele.

I've heard that ML has a grand showroom fronting an art museum to give it that just certain cache...
If he is looking for that certain cache, the decision to retail some of the line via amazon.com seems strange. Ran into a bunch of "Red Rose Music Spirit" line stuff on their site. It struck me as odd at the time, even odder given comments above...

i have the Red Rose Passion amp and it is the best koean amp I have ever heard.. Beating a CONRAD jOHNSON pf-1 pre and a Mc Cormack DNA125 hands down that I now have for sale '  for musicality and expression of instumentation. It just sounds Right and it has some Ommph. 

I had an integrated made by the company in Japan that makes the Red Rose stuff. Best amp I ever had, perhaps until the last one I got.