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Jeff Rowland Continuum S2 vs Mark Levinson 585.5

Hello All

Do you have an opinion on which of these two integrateds you would go with, the Jeff Rowland Continuum S2 or the Mark Levinson No. 585.5? I am leaning towards the Levinson but do not yet know very much about either brand. Is one considered superior to the other in overall quality? I like that the Levinson has an RS232 so in theory it can be controlled with something other than the house Levinson remote.
https://www.jeffrowlandgroup.com/continuum-s2/#specifications
https://www.marklevinson.com/products/integrated-amplifiers/NO585.5-.html?cgid=integrated-amplifiers&dwvar_NO585.5-_color=Black-GLOBAL-Current

Choices out there are more limited than I'd have thought, for an integrated with (i) 200+wpc and (ii) a built in DAC. The Goldmund and McIntosh are two others I've come across that meet the criteria. Any others out there I'm missing?
gmercer

Showing 1 response by divertiti

divertiti
222 posts
 
I've heard the ML 585 a couple of times at dealers and at shows, mostly with Revel speakers, and to be honest thought they sounded mechanical, restrained, and uninspired.

On the other hand I've auditioned the Continuum S2 with Spendor D7.2 speakers, it was an incredibly incisive yet musical pairing. The inky black background of the CS2 was stunning, and made for a very deep and open sound stage. The instrument timbre was also very "right". If it's the choice between those two, CS2 has my vote.
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