2. amps-preamps
  3. 1331918629

Should I buy a new amplifier; and if so, what?

I have a Mark Levinson 336 amp, Levinson 380S pre-amp, Levinson 390S CD Processor and Thiel 7.2 speakers, with Audience interconnects, cables cords and an Audience AR-6TS2 conditioner. Recently, my amplifier's bad caps blew the drivers in my speakers (including the woofer and crossover circuitry) -- that will probably cost me about $3,000, and the replacement of the caps would cost another $3,000. So, I am contemplating purchasing a new amplifier. Can anyone suggest a good amplifier to consider for my system? Thiel said they have used Krell and Simaudio with the 7.2's with nice results, and probably a few others -- I need to re-contact Thiel's customer service rep. Any suggestions, recommendations from Audiogoners would be appreciated.
Ag insider logo xs@2xgapperis123
mapman's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
mapman
15,679 posts
 
Bel Canto recently replaced a bad input board on a $3000 amp for well under $200. I would recommend them based good service alone but the product sounds top notch as well.
hifigeek1
770 posts
 
You sound like an ad for CDE. Your assumption is that I was referring to a high quality capacitor. I wasn't referring to a super cap. Frankly the reason those caps are the price they are is because of the quality of the cap. Point is, many manufacturers are not going to be using caps like that much longer. They are too expensive and take up too much real estate and dictate the height of the product. Generally speaking, newer designs also use power supply caps at the output circuit board so they don't have to distribute voltage from the main filter caps through wires to the output transistors. This somewhat defeats the purpose of using a low ESR part especially if you're using 16-18 gauge wire in long runs, which I have seen. I'm not familiar with Levinson's circuit topology so I don't know what they are doing. Putting additional low ESR caps at the output circuit board is the best place to put them since you now have current delivery right at the point where it's needed the most, the high voltage plus and minus rails. These caps are also used as a 'by-pass' improving the characteristics of the main filter caps. I guess what I should have said was newer, less expensive, high quality, small value radial type caps can be just as good as expensive computer grade electrolytic's. When they are also located at the output transistor circuit board they enhance fast current delivery and improve bottom end performance. I stand corrected.
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
5,112 posts
 
I have heard both Mac and Ayre amps with good results
metman
214 posts
 
I'm sure Jim Nicholls from JWN amps could build you a great tube amp for far below what it will cost to replace the caps in the Mark Levinson. There's plenty of good tube options out there, just bag SS altogether and don't look back.
renjy651
73 posts
 
Gapperis123

I have the caps for Levinson 336. Your best choice is to replace the caps on levinson 336 and save about over 2000 dollars. The Levinson 336 is one of the best sounding amp out there. You need total of eight caps for filter supply four caps at either 50000uF/125V OR 62000uF/125V and four 1900uF/250V caps regulator supply. When caps are replaced you will never have any problems.
More to discover