Rationalizing the Mark Levinson ML-40

You can check out the online pdf manual
http://www.marklevinson.com/i/manuals/No40_OM.pdf

Looks interesting but 30k (20k for audio + 10k for video)
is too steep for me. I hope one of the audio mags reviews
it soon just to see how "awesome" or not the No.40 is.

Don't bother rationalizing. Theta Casablanca II is a superior product, better support, better upgradeability, and more customizable. And to top it off, it's less expensive even fully loaded.

Thanks for the input Sdrconsultant, where were you able to demo the No40 ? The CII is better and superior in which way ?

Please, the Theta Casablanca 2 is nowhere near the product of the ML-40. In fact, meridian and lexicon better it and by a wide margin. The ML 40 was set out to be a reference piece. 2 seperate boxes with the best technology available today. Levinson took all of the knowledge from their high end preamp (15k) and seperated the video from the audio. Harmon Kardon owns lexicon and the new Levinson will also have logic 7 making it the king of the hill in audio, video and digital processing. Is it overpriced, absolutely. Is it the best available, no question about it.

I dont think anyone can justify this product, you just have to love this hobby to the point of obsession. I myself have over 250 thou in my system and would not even consider the 40. just too expensive for me at this time, also when you get the latest and hopefully best its not long for it to be bettered by something else usually for less money. striveing for excellence is very enjoyable but difficult to ever completely achieve since were always trying to do better, Now if money were not an object and in my situation would want at least 5mil in the bank, i would buy it in a heartbeat,but not there yet so i myself have to look on the side lines and dream. although my system as a package just like many others systems could even sound better than with the 40 in it. it would sure be nice to play with mega dollar pieces,thats my rational ,like you said lot of money for that extra tenth or even less just like my drag car.
regards mike..