Who heard the Mark levinson 53 monos?

thanks to everyone for their responses (especially SGR). i wonder how their RECENT repair record has been for levinson customers. if this situation has not improved, then (unfortunately) i would no longer be inclined to finance a pair of $50K amplifiers. however i am quite sure Harmon has received alot of unfavorable feedback in the last few years, SO they MUST be aware that they aren't going to sell much of anything if the situation doesn't improve.
i ALSO had to repair a #37 transport (it made a scratching noise when spinning discs and started to skip towards the end of discs as well)- it cost about $1000- this should have been more on the order of $500 IMO. i also had to repair one of the 33H amplifiers- $1800 plus shipping both ways plus... however the turnaround times were reasonable for both components. plus the tech in TEXAS spent several minutes on the phone with me describing what had failed in the amplifier (plus he did some preventative cap replacements).
after reading the audiogon forums for some time now i see alot of things out there that need adjustments, repairs, and replacements from some very
"holy grail" manufacturers either on arrival or 2-3 years thereafter. as much as i believe high-end gear should perform flawlessly for 10 years or more before the first sign of (even the slightest) trouble, the reality is that that may have applied more for pioneer receivers in the 80's than krell, rowland, or levinson NOW.
anyway, hopefully HARMAN is paying careful attention to customer concerns both now and into the future. I really REALLY do hope they do not destroy altogether the incredible reputation that these components have earned.

French Fries,
I believe the reasons above are why there are few dealers. They got so discouraged with not being able to get any new product and the service issues they found other lines to replace the Levinson/Revel products. A good friend of mine worked for the largest Levinson dealer in the country and they begged Harman to change their ways to no avail so they were forced to drop the line.
I'll always be a Levinson fan, just not a Harman fan.
Have fun!
Sgr

have not heard anything newer the the 400 series amps but still consider myself a Levinson fan. guess i'd have to be a fan as a current owner =). fell in love with the 33's and 300 series way back when. 400's only reinforced the feelings. dark or whatever you'd like to call it, Levinson amps (400's on back) have always sounded fantastic imho.

then came the 300's cap issues, crazy repair bills and turn around times. horrible customer service all around, from almost everything i've read. it's a shame what "they" have done to the brand. as a happy owner, i still dread the day if/when my 432 needs work. so far it's been fantastic (please knock on some wood for me). but if i ever have to go through the hell others have described.....i'll be done with the brand too.

cheers
Lev

If you need service on Levinson products contact Alpha Tech on St. Louis, MO. (314) 645-5250
Mike can fix just about anything.
Happy listening,
Steve

I just noticed this thread and thought I would add some perspective. First, I empathize with those who have had "nightmare-like" experiences with various companies (i.e. Harman). I have had my share of nightmare-like experiences with a variety of different companies which include banks and financial institutions, automotive manufacturers, insurance companies, airlines, and yes...audio manufacturers. I have canceled policies, dropped product lines, and have taken my business elsewhere. In some cases it has led to the demise of the company or product, but in other cases it has led to people's butt's being kicked out the door and has led to the reorganization, restructuring, and the rebirth of a company and/or product line. I believe Harman has realized this and has already taken steps to take the Mark Levinson and Revel brands to the next level. I am personally very impressed by the new ML 500H series amps, but moreover, the new direction these brands are taking under the Harman umbrella. I would also feel some reassurance that they are under Harman. Just take a look at the marketshare and the awesome product offerings available under Harman on the pro audio side. Anyway...just some perspective.