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Levinson 20.5 monos - Time for a Refurb?

I bought my Mark Levinson 20.5 pure class A mono blocks new in 1990. I loved them for their sound and still do. They have been 100% reliable and I have never had them back to the Levinson or my dealer for anything.

However, they are 16 years old now and except for my Magnum Dynalab tuner, they are the only thing I have not replaced in my system.

Being pure class A amps they run pretty hot.

Question is, is it time I should consider having them checked out, refurbished, capacitors and the like replaced, etc?

If so, who should I consider for this work? Levinson? They are not what they used to be when they designed and made these amps, and I'm not sure they are up to the same quality work they did back then or whether I should trust that their parts will be as good as the original. Someone else? But who?

Has anyone been through this or does anyone have any thoughts about this they can share with me?
Ag insider logo xs@2xcipherjuris
phd
1,008 posts
 
Cipherjuris, that is alot of money. Have you considered putting the money towards new mono blocks/ different technology, maybe the Nuforce 9s or are you determined to refurbish the Levinsons? If you are, thats excellent as well. An example only, I took a car one time in for a tuneup and the dealer told me I needed an engine rebuild. Turned out to be a loose spark plug after I checked myself.
nsgarch's avatar
nsgarch
2,517 posts
 
Joe, you might want to check/clean/replace the 2 fuses on your amp first. They are sometimes a source of noise after many years -- not really bad, but dirty or marginal. Ditto your signal connections (at both ends.)

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porziob
316 posts
 
Since these amps sound fine, I fail to see what cleaning,checking & replacing fuses & connectors will accomplish that a Santaria ritual & the requisite chicken blood won`t.
rwwear
2,692 posts
 
I would use them til they show signs of needing work. Of course if you can have them updated to the 20.6s, it may be worth it to you.
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cipherjuris OP
145 posts
 
Even though the 20.6 update was only one circuit board, Levinson no longer provides the update.

To be clear, as far as I can tell by listening, there is nothing wrong with my 20.5s. However, as I said I love them and 16 years of Class A heat is a long time and a lot of wear on the caps, if not resistors. These amps cost $12,000 in 1990 (that's like $35,000 in todays $$) and even Levinson no longer builds amps like these are built.

I just want to get them checked out and get anything replaced that needs replacing before something goes wrong and does some damage to them. Other than my Magnum Dynalab, which I don't play very often, the 20.5s are the only component in my system that I have not replaced in the last 10 months.

Thanks, guys

Ed
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