Build quality, dynamic power, non fatiguing sound quility, configuration versatility, second to nons speaker binding posts!

Not the best amp to use in a large room with power hungry, (low sensitivity) speakers.

Simply Amazing! The 334 is very involving. The Levinson lets all of the music flow through. It takes control of your speakers instead of the other way around. Powerful bass control without over bloating. Midrange is sweet and highs are extended and decay with ease. Very heavy amplifier so ask for installation help, 110lbs! Oh, and use the provided Madrigal gloves, (nice touch). Jazz, Rock, blues it's all good. Be sure to partner it with quality components and I suggest using solid core cabels.

Similar Products Used:

Classe 201, Classe CA100

It possesses everything a amp should.

None.

I think this is by far the most satisfying amp I've owned, I've actually owned quite alot "lesser" amp before, tube and SS. Properly set up and the sound; you name it you get it, rich tonality, details, warmth or should I say harmonically complete. The music is so involving through the 334 that I could listen for whole day, even CD. For those 334 owners, I recommend running them with JPS power AC, definitely breathtaking!

Similar Products Used:

Pass Labs, Krell, Accuphase, Classe, Coda, Perreaux, Audion, ASL mono, etc.

Dynamic, transparent, powerfull, build quality to die for. Does everything.

Very large, very heavy. Must be partnered with the best.

I have been an audiophile for some years and always dreamt of buying the "ideal" power amp that would see me content for many years before having to win the lottery to reach the next, or ultimate level. With the 334 I believe that I have achieved that goal. The 334 is quite superb, able to drive any speaker without clipping and the build quality is without parallel. I initially bought it with the 380 pre-amp but have since upgraded to the 380S and as a partnership I cannot recommend them too highly. The sound is accurate, pure, dynamic and makes the very best of any source connected. This does mean that any weaknesses in the source components will be revealed, but at this level such things are to be expected. I have tried more pre/power and integrated designs than I care to mention and this is the one I'm staying with. Take care of the Levinson's and they'll see to your musical needs forever. (Until the lottery comes in.)

Similar Products Used:

Electrocompaniet, Naim, Pass Labs, Advantage.

Quality Sound, Construction, an ability to give a live feeling and not so overpriced as krell (in uk)

none at present

Since buying these products, I have not listened to so much music in a long time. I was hearing things that I have never heard before, all my old collection has been renewed together with Ml39 and Sonus faber amator 2 and Transparent cabling it makes an outstanding real music hifi system, so go and check it out.

Similar Products Used:

Krell, Audio research and naim

INCREDIBLE BASS RESPONSE AND CLARITY.

NONE

I OWN A PAIR OF THIEL CS 2 2'S. THE PARTYLINE HAS BEEN THAT THESE SPEAKERS LACK GOOD LOW END RESPONSE. WELL I THINK A MORE ACCURATE DESCRIPTION IS THEY ACCENTUATE ANY DEFICIENCIES IN YOUR SYSTEM E.G. POOR BASS OUTPUT FROM YOUR AMP.

RIGHT AFTER I HOOKED UP THE MARK LEVINSON THERE WAS A IMMEDIATE PERCEPTIBLE DIFFERENCE IN THE LOW END, MIDRANGE AND TREBLE. THE SOUNDSTAGE IS UNBELIEVABLE. BUT IT'S NOT AN IN YOUR FACE TYPE OF AMP. THE MUSIC SOUNDS VERY NATURAL.

I FEEL LIKE I NOT ONLY BOUGHT A NEW AMP BUT ALSO A NEW PAIR OF SPEAKERS. I GUESS I'LL KEEP MY THIEL'S FOR ANOTHER 10 YEARS

I bought replaced my Goldmund Mimesis 28 with the Mark 334 yesterday. The 334 is absolutely a winner in every aspect when compared with Goldmund. The 334 sounds very musical and yet transparent, with very good control in bass. The mids are warm and the highs are airy. My preamp is 380s, and my speakers are Isabel by Egglestonworks. Interconnect are the One and the Two. Speakers cables are the Two. In Hong Kong, it is widely known that 380s+334+Egglestonswork speakers represent PERFECT MATCH.

334 is good sounding power amplifier, but it is not as good as Goldmund Mimesis 28. I have A/B tested these two amplifiers (Levinson 334 and Goldmund Mimesis 28). Goldmund is much more natural with more detail, better transparency and better bas control and definition. I have tried it with rock, jazz and classic music and result was the same. I have not heard big Levinson monos which are better then 33x series.

Best amp I have ever heard

None

I compared the Mark Levinson 334 to the Pass Labs X-350 though B&W Nautilus 802 speakers. While the Levinson and Pass Labs are very similar in the bass region (both great), in the upper region the Levinson is superior. The Pass Labs X-350 highs are sharp and bright to the point where it grates and offends - not a good match with the Nautilus speakers.

I then compared the Levinson 334 to the Arye V-1. This amp has a very good midrange and realistic treble but is weak and lethargic in its bass extension. Because of this, the Arye seems dynamically compressed and does not convey the same emotion as the 334. The Arye does have a good sound stage and is sweet sounding, however, because of the weak bass and poor dynamic range; I did not care for it.

Next, I compared the Levinson to the Bryston 4B ST. I have owned Bryston amps for almost 20 years, the 4B ST for the last several. Bryston amps are very good sounding and the company's service and warranties are the best in the industry. The 4B ST and the 334 sound surprisingly similar overall but do differ in several aspects. Both have terrific bass extension, but drums sound tauter and more realistic on the Levinson. They both present a wide and deep sound stage. I cannot discern much of a difference here. The midrange is somewhat sweeter on the Levinson, but not by much. It is in the treble range where the Levinson really outclasses the Bryston. Cymbals tend to sound more realistic and less like 'hiss'. Compared to the Levinson, the Bryston also sounds very slightly veiled or electronic. Over the years I have used Bryston amps (I have owned 3), this was never evident until I did A-B comparisons with the Levinson. The 334 is just smoother, cleaner and more natural sounding.

Lastly, I auditioned the Levinson 334's bigger brother, the Levinson 335 (250 watts) and could not justify the added expense ($2,000 more). They sounded identical; I could not discern any difference. The only reason to go with a 335 would be for more power, with inefficient speakers this may be preferred. While the 334 is conservatively rated at 125 watts into 8 ohms (250 @ 4 ohms, 500 @ 2 ohms) I found that with the B&W Nautilus 802, at loud levels it plays with finesse, clarity and tremendous dynamic range. The 334 possess seemingly unlimited reserves and does not clip or sound compressed even at very loud concert levels. Unless you have very inefficient speakers (the B&W Nautilus 802 is fairly efficient at 91 dB spl), you will not ever require more power than the 334 can offer.

In conclusion, the Levinson 334 is the BEST amplifier I have ever heard - I bought it to replace the Bryston 4B ST. It is smooth, dynamic, and has great bass extension. It also has a beautiful midrange and a natural sounding treble without the edginess and sharpness sometimes evident in the highs. It projects a wide, deep and three-dimensional sound stage. It is very musical with a resolution and clarity that allows you to 'see' directly into the heart and soul of music. The combination of the B&W Nautilus 802, Mark Levinson 334 and Threshold T-3 pre-amp are simply terrific sounding. I do not think I could do any better. Highly recommended.

Similar Products Used:

Bryston 4B ST

many

see below

Proceed PDT3 transport
MSB Link DacII
Monolithic Power supply (to Link Dac) ungrounded.
Other amp: Bryston 3bNRB
Mod Squad line drive preamp
Carver tuner
Speakers: Infinity 'QE'
XLO and AQ Diamond interconnects
Straight Wire Rhapsody speaker cables
Canare Digiflex coax or Toslink optical digital
Kimber PowerKord


The 334 and the Bryston 3B NRB, my reference amp, both have comparable wattage at around 125.
If music were only about detail, then component design would be easy. But alas it isn't. It's about musicality. The 334 is a champ with detail yet fell short in some areas, which I will try to describe here.
All details, even the most minute and low-level, were captured and brought to the forefront by the 334, while through the Bryston backgound details stayed more in the background and intruded less. The older amp also has a more pleasing balance in my system, with a set back midrange, more air in "live" recordings, and more deep bass presence. The 334 bass is deep and firm, but sometimes drowned out by the midrange.
While very quick dynamically, the Levinson dynamics were slightly underwhelming, the contrasts not so convincing. In comparison, the Bryston had more startle factor and, more dynamic expressiveness, all increasing listener involvement. Maybe the 334 would be helped by an active preamp, which I did not use in my audition.
Good points of the 334? There are many. Point for point, it would be easy to prefer the Levinson. But for me the scales ultimately settled in favor of the tried but true Bryston.

Similar Products Used:

Bryston 4bst, Plinius, Pass Aleph 3, Byrston 3bNRB