Harman’s Mark Levinson recently previewed its № 5101 Network Streaming, Super Audio CD (SACD) player and Digital to Analog Converter (DAC), featuring new industrial design and PrecisionLink II DAC. It was designed, engineered, and precision-crafted in the USA.
“The № 5101 is a very exciting new product. There are high-end CD players on the market though few that support the SACD format and feature integrated streaming,” said Jim Garrett, senior director, product strategy and planning, Harman Luxury Audio. “The Mark Levinson level of industrial design and ground-breaking engineering that has gone into this player are remarkable, and we expect the № 5101 will redefine expectations for integrated audio media players.”
With a wide range of supported digital audio sources and formats, the № 5101 allows playback of physical media including SACD, CD-A, CD-R, and CD-RW. It supports FLAC, WAV, AIFF, OGG, MP3, AAC, and WMA formats.
The № 5101 can stream from NAS drives as well and DLNA and UPnP devices connected to the same network as the № 5101 via Ethernet or Wi-Fi. It can also navigate and playback audio files from a USB flash drive connected to the USB type A input. Additionally, with one coaxial and one optical S/PDIF digital input, the № 5101 serves as a premium stand-alone DAC for digital sources.
The Mark Levinson PrecisionLink II DAC allows the № 5101 to deliver improved digital audio quality.
The latest generation ESS PRO Sabre 32-bit D/A converter with jitter elimination circuitry and a fully balanced, discrete current-to-voltage converter directly descended from the № 5802 and № 5805 integrated amps form the heart of the digital audio processing stage. In addition to digital inputs, it has one coaxial and one optical S/PDIF digital output which will pass a PCM stereo signal through to devices such as the Mark Levinson № 5802 or № 5805 integrated amplifiers.
A toroidal transformer mated to 13,600uF of filter capacitance forms the heart of the linear power supply that powers the DAC and all analog circuitry. Individual regulators for each channel assure dual monaural operation. The discrete PurePath class A line output stage delivers the exceptional transparency and dynamic range for which Mark Levinson products are renowned.
The № 5101 offers flexible control with system integration and communication ports include IP (Ethernet), RS-232, IR input, and 12V trigger input. An elegant 5000 Series custom aluminum IR remote control is included. In addition, drivers are available for major control systems.
With attention to detail inside and out, the power supply, transformer and control PCBA’s are encased in a steel cage shield isolated from the digital and analog audio signal path. The robust slot-loading transport is suspended on steel standoffs floating on a PVC and styrene-butadiene rubber sandwich and shielded with a steel cover.
With the № 5101, one-inch-thick solid aluminum front panels are bead blasted, black anodized, and machine contoured to flow seamlessly into the sleek glass display, which itself is recessed into a bead-blasted and clear-anodized aluminum bezel. The № 5101 also features debossed top cover vents, screen printing behind the glass panel and aluminum standby, menu buttons, and transport buttons – all resting on matching custom aluminum feet.
The № 5101 will be available in fourth quarter 2019 with estimated pricing of $5,500.
