2. digital
  3. 1305691273

Mark Levinson No. 36 DAC & High Resolution Files

Hi

Still have a Mark Levinson No. 36 DAC which is sounding very good in spite of its age - it actually sounds more analogue and warmer than the DACs of today.

I have been outputting FLAC's from a Squeezebox Duet to it via the BNC input on the 36 and it has been playing fine. Recently, I have been thinking of buying higher resolution files. The 36 only goes up to 24/48. Would higher resolution files work on it and how would they sound? I presume they would be downsampled to or only play at 24/48.

Thanks
mikey8811
rockitman's avatar
rockitman
417 posts
 
I own the No. 36 too as my old standy dac. I am 99.9% sure it will not resolve anything over 20 bit, 48kHz. Any higher resolution files will be truncated abrubtly and I would expect to not sound very good.

From the manual:
All digital filtering and processing maintains a true 24-bit throughput capability,
providing greater digital resolution than any existing source component. Even the
most stringent requirements of professionals can easily be met with this design.

In addition to true 20-bit capability (24 bits in the digital domain, filtered to the
20-bit resolution of the digital to analog conversion stages)...
ts0711
91 posts
 
Anything above 24/48 won't play... the DAC wont lock onto the signal, and you get nothing. I've been using my Levenson 360s feed from a Mac Mini, using one of the various "software players" out there to upsample to 24/96 (the dac's limit). Anything beyond that fails.

You should be able to use one of the sofeware palyers to to perform the downsampling... and still get to keep the 36. Not sure if the Sqeezebox software will do the same however.

Tony
tmsorosk
1,013 posts
 
Hello Mikey ... I don't want to side track your thread but I wanted to agree with and comment on your observation about the older Levinson DAC's being warmer and more analog like . I own the #360 and feel the same , I rarely use my Ayre C5MP direct into my preamp , the #360 adds some needed body and warmth to an all solid state system , and puts some meat on the bones .
I've tried some newer DAC's and find them some what sterile in comparison .

Regards Tim
mikey8811 OP
259 posts
 
Hi Tim

I was thinking of getting the Wyred 4 Sound DAC 2 otherwise. Was that one of the DAC's you tried?
ts0711
91 posts
 
Danger Will Robenson!

From what I've read the W44 dac2, while being a great player is going to be far more digital sounding than the Levinson. If you like the analog sound of the 36 keep it and spend your money elsewhere.

Tim, you should hear the 360 with tube amps... Pure bliss.

Tony
More to discover