Mark Levinson Gurus: Vintage Three Mile Island

Delighted to see such enthusiasm for the anti-WAF design statement!

SC53, I am not the original owner of them, but I also longed for Tympanis and Levinson amps when they were out of my price range, so last year I assembled the retro high end system of my college daydreams.

And Zaikesman, I agree, triamped would be even better!

If anyone has any suggestions for fire hose sized speaker cables and especially -- the sonic and power differences between the Class A/B 23.5 stereo and the Class A 20.5 and 20.6 monoblock amps please let me know.

TWL

Are you the proprietor of Mothra Research?

For those of you who haven't seen the ads, these cables, although hard to find, are truly monstrous -- even shocking in their size.

Since this seems to be turning into the anti-WAF fantasy thread, how about a museum like pedestal about 5 feet high, crowned with a VPI TNT V or a late model Oracle, with a couple of tonearms, a large plexiglass cube as a cover, all conspicuously lit from overhead with low voltage halogen lights.

I have also found that late 70's studio reel to reel machines, connected to a digital timer, integrated tube amp and a pair of mini monitors, makes a great looking "alarm clock" by the bed. I dont know about you, but screechy clock radios just make me want to hit the snooze alarm and go back to sleep, but Beethoven played from an original master tape through a single ended triode amp somehow manages to gently get me out of bed.

How is that for anti WAF?

Maybe 2.5 pairs of Tympani IVs for surround sound, each out at least 6 feet from the rear walls of course.

Nothing beats the beauty of car whose trunk is chock full of amplifiers, with the back seats removed to accomodate monitors.

Obviously there is no car audio -- regardless of price -- that can match the sound or finish of a pair of Wilson Puppies. And your wife can always stow her luggage by her feet!

As originally requested, however, I sure would appreciate it if any knows the sonic and power differences between the 23.5 and the 20.6 monoblocks.

6chac thanks

"heart felt midrange and stunning authority" sound good on the 20s although two space heaters in the middle of the room might not be the best thing in the Summer.

Funny how some people say 100 class A watts are at least equivalent to 200 A/B watts, but feedback generally suggests that the 23.5 is the real workhorse powerhouse.

Compared to other opinions I have solicited, you were gentle on the sonics of the 23, compared to the 20.6.

But it still sounds great to me.

lp12

How do you wire your 23's to achieve that?

Thanks for the feedback.

One more vote for the Class A watts pack more punch than Class A/B, but the score is still surprisingly divided!

Any other experts on the Levinson amps?