Mark Levinson 432 vs 532 vs 532H

I have a 532 (previously owned 4 436's) and its light years ahead in sound. I auditioned most of the high end stuff -Classe Krell Bryston Belles CJ Pass etc and really liked the 532 in comparison. The other amp I would choose is Pass.

I have a 432 and really like it. I have not compared it to the new 5xx models. It seems like the No 532 is an update to the 432 (although at a much higher price) and the 532H is a new, different model. Just from a weight perspective the 432 and No 532 are comparable (120 lb), but the 532H is 40 lbs lighter. Obviously, weight is not necessarily correlated to the sound, but the 532H does seem to be a new line. The 532H is 300 watts/channel versus 400 for ther 432 and No 532. The 532H also does not "double down" when going from 8 to 4 ohm, whearas the 432 and No 532 do. The 532H really looks like a new design for home theater use. I would not be surprised to find that the 432 sounds at least as good if not better than the 532H. The No 532 is twice the price, so should sound better than the 532H and probably the 432. Again, I have not heard these new amps so am just speculating. Maybe someone who has followed the line more closely lately will have more information

Yes Dtc, I am thinking the same as you. Thats why I am curious at the 432, as its specs look more like the 532.

The 532H was very good though.

The #532 is the little sister of of the famed #53 , and uses the same technology . Harmon insists there not digital . The #532H is from the old technology . Both sound great to me but the #532 is far superior .

Tmsorosk - Thanks for the insights. But I am a little confused (which is not unusual). It looks like the 532H is a new development for home theater. It is lighter, it is optimized for quick, high peaks (according to ML literature) and does not double down. If it is based on the 432 technology, it looks like they made some significant changes to it.

The 53 is a switching design that uses MOSFETs for its output stages. I do not see any reference to either of those technologies in the No 532 literature. The No 532 looks more like it is a traditional design, updated to be fully differential. Do you have any reference to the No 532 using the 53 technology?

I heard the 53 with the big Revels, but unfortunately it was in their traveling truck. The "accoustics" made it difficult to really evaluate them. I have not heard the No 532.