Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Mark Levinson 383 is the only int. amp. from this company, and they have got it right the first time. The amp. is very well designed aesthetically , and is a conversation piece. More of an art deco design.
The build quality and feel of the amp. is top class, has a very nice remote carved out of a solid block of aluminium, The control knobs are one of a kind in the industry. you will have a lots of people touching them.
I am not good at describing sound, let the reviewers do that, but I will try here.The sound is very impressive, it does not improve or highlight any one thing but the whole presentation is improved upon. You won't be able to appriciate it unless you listen to any other decent comparable amp. from makers like krell, plinius, mcintosh, accuphase, bryston, ......... after listening to the 383 for a long time. Only then will you come to know what is missing in the sound of the other amps.
The sound is very transparent, the imaging is perfecto.... the tone is slightly on the warmer side of neutral and the amp. is reasonably powerful. (not for speakers going below 4 ohms) saying that it can drive almost any speakers to high listening levels without getting stressed.

Strengths:
transparent. neutral, userfriendly, fabulously built.

Weaknesses:
maybe the price but it is a MARK LEVINSON

bjorn_mikkelsen

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 3.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Having had several SS amps and some tube amps I was longing for a maintenance free and user-friendly integrated amplifier with the delicate sweet sound from tubes and the bass controll from SS. After having auditioned several integrated solid state amps I was amazed by the sonic subtlety of ML 383 which is outstanding. Until now I have never heard a solid state amp sounding so sweet, clear, unstressed and open in the treble and midrange. Sopranos and strings sound so natural, relaxed, pinpointed and easy to the ear - no ice picks on the eardrums evan at high . The ML 383 ended some years of seeking the ultimate amplifier. It deserves to be partnered with the best signal sources, cables and loudspeakers.

Strengths:
Best midrange and treble I have ever heard from a solid state amplifier.

The ML 383 has dead silent transformers (unforunatelly a lot of amplifiers makes a lot of mechanical hum and noise where I live). The unit is user-friendly and replays MUSIC to my references. Programmable inputs and adjustable max volume. Very good terminals. Excelent user interface and remote. The volume knob sets a new reference.

Weaknesses:
Expensive, but affordable as second hand.

The ML 383 seems to have some enemies at the Audioreview.com due to bas costumer service which almost persuaded me from taking the time and effort to go and audition this amplifier myself (it is heavy). I am happy I did.

Similar Products Used:
Conrad Johnson CAV50, Cary SLI-80, Electrocompaniet ECI-3, Bryston B-100 SST

cky

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
2.00 of 5, 4.00 votes

Price Paid:  $5000.00 from second had shop

Summary:
Mark 383 Current system - Amp - Mark 383 CDP - Meridian 507 Speaker - B&W N805 Tuner - Dynalab MD90 RCA - Au24 Speaker cable - Cello string 3 *********************************************************** Need a view or comment from a Mark 383 user here regarding something I suspected a performance prooblem from my Mark 383 int amp. coincidently, when I clean up the dust I hear some noticeable noise generated from the tweeter of my speaker (both speaker), "at that time the power was switched on and the standby was turned off,the volume truned to O and no source input" The noise are also combined with a "di di di di" sound, which so much like the sound generated from a desktop quartz clock. At that time I was suspected the noise was caused by the input either from my CDP or tuner, then I unplugged all the input, but the noise still there. then I switched the amp's power cord which directly from wall to my AC filter,,, too bad the noise still there. after a while I believe that something which is beyond my knowledge then I called up my friend, then he advised that many of the amp especially int amp have this sort of problem but he never heard about the "di di di di" sound. At last I called up the local authorized Mark distributor here in HK and they refered me to their maintenance dept. the gentlemen told me that the noise is normal and most of the amp no matter int or pre and power have this situation too, then I asked what about the "di di di di" sound, he replied that the "di di di di" sound is generated from a "clock" and its normal. Later on I talked to my freind regarding the explaination, and he guessed that the "clock" might refer to a remote control component inside of the amp. But why the "di di di di" sound is only found on the left channel??? Thank you very much your time in reading this and if possible please give me some view on this. Many thanks! ***********************************************************

Strengths:
Great details, tight bass, good atmosphere expecially when listening JAZZ, smooth at high and wonderful sound staff, very dynamic.

Weaknesses:
sound not colourful enough, a bit cool.

Similar Products Used:
Ayre AX-7, Jadis DA50 signature, Jeff Rowland Concentra 2.

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rikyman

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Price Paid:  $8000.00 from Interlux

Summary:
I love this amp, but 18 months ago the amp stop responding with the error HIGH LINE on display, and in warrantie was to repair, it took 14 months for a solluction from Mark Levinson to arrive, that was a substitute board, man 14 months is lot to make a repair or substitute a logical board, in the beggining of 2005 it will be back in my home again, but my afraid is, if it brokes again will I have to whait another year and a half for them to repair their products... Very bad support for your products Mark Lenvinson, you must have more respect and consideration for the ones that beleive your products...

Strengths:
Good Amp for me one of the best you can buy in a single box.

Weaknesses:
Don´t buy, or buy two diferent amps because if ML383 has problems expect a year or more without sound.

Similar Products Used:
A lot a this time.

arobot

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 4.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
This amp developed a hiss in the left channel shortly after purchase. Not long thereafter, the hiss was accompanied by an electrical "crackle" on toggle of the power switch (duration 1-2 seconds). I lived with this condition for about two years, all the while intending to send it in for service "soon". The obstacle was the pain in the a** factor of packaging and shipping a nearly 100lb box, not to mention the quoted "four week" turn-around time. Finally, one day I turned on my amp and nothing happened- dead- finally I had to send it in. About two months since shipping, I'm still without my amp. When I call, I get the same answer- "waiting on parts". On two separate occasions, the service person promised to "research" the status and call me back- on neither occasion did they do so. Most recently (today) I am told that maybe they'll be able to ship it in another two weeks (but no promises). IMHO, equipment at this price point and above is well beyond the point of diminishing returns in the area of sound quality. We justify the price of components such as these based more on asthetics, name, and presumably quality of construction and service, rather than any incremental improvement in sound quality they may offer over other significantly cheaper products. With the above in mind, I cannot recommend this unit.

Strengths:
Physical build quality Asthetics

Weaknesses:
Reliability Mark Levinson service