ML 500 Series

M

Mr Peabody

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Nov 19, 2013
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I don't have experience with the very vintage Mark Levinson, I've heard the 326s preamp and even auditioned one, the 432 amps and other various more recent components.

I find the 500 series to sound very good. I find it a departure from the earlier generations I've heard and prefer the 500 series. The 500 series includes the 526 and 534 units I use. I find it to be smoother, more refined if you will with a touch of warmth. Warmth not in a rolled off or bloated way, I'm not exactly sure what to attribute that warmth to. To my taste this is my sweet spot for audio a touch of warmth, musical while still sounding lively and dynamic. It still has the ML sound just improved in my opinion.

With the N05xd and using JBL my high end is so listenable and simply pristine. Bass is amazing. I don't think anyone could tell if not looking my JBL has 15's until they heard the depth. I don't mean low, I mean depth.

This may be moot now that a 600 series is coming. ML showed that series but I haven't heard anything about it since. The Chat GPT thread got me to researching. Once it found my DAC and speakers, my taste, I discussed other brands and I really feel I have what I enjoy within what I can afford or even some I couldn't.

If I won the lottery Solution would be on the top of my list. If I didn't have ML I would explore Accuphase. I finally heard Accuphase at the show and it made an impression.

I digress, my point was to draw attention to the fact that today's ML is not your grandfather's ML. I would love to someday hear Cello and some of the very early ML.
 
I've also heard the #52 and #53's. I have a friend with these and uses Salon 2's. I still feel I prefer the character of the 500 series but can't be positive since I haven't heard them in my system. Two digit models tend to be ML reference level stuff. Now that the new 631 monoblocks are $80k a pair I'm not so sure the two digit premise still holds true.
 
I love my 5805 Integrated. It checks all the boxes for me. Slightly warmer tone. Deep bass, smooth but detailed top end. The midrange has good tone and texture and it is very dynamic and musical. The DAC in it is exceptional and better than my Luxman. It is supposed to have a very good phono preamp for MM/MC with loading. I have not tried it yet as I am using a Gold Note PH-10.
 
Mechnutt said:
I love my 5805 Integrated. It checks all the boxes for me. Slightly warmer tone. Deep bass, smooth but detailed top end. The midrange has good tone and texture and it is very dynamic and musical. The DAC in it is exceptional and better than my Luxman. It is supposed to have a very good phono preamp for MM/MC with loading. I have not tried it yet as I am using a Gold Note PH-10.
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I've heard the 5805 many times and I agree it's very good. Much is system synergy I just haven't been that enthused about the 5000 separates. Maybe I expect too much for a $20k amp/preamp combo. Yamaha has a $20k combo that is great, IMO

How the 5805 can be so good and the separates not impress is a mystery. The 5805 has great synergy with Audio Physics.
 
Mechnutt said:
I really wanted to buy a 585.5 Integrated amp but used prices are still high so a new 5805 it was.
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I think you ended up with the best option. I heard the 585 it is decent there was just something about the 5805 that makes it special. I was more enthused hearing the 5805. I feel it has voicing similar to the 500 series. In my opinion I'd rather listen to the 5805 than the 5000 separates.

The 5000 series is going away. It will be interesting to see if ML still tries to compete in that price range. The 5805 shows ML can make a somewhat affordable product that stands out.
 
For fun here's a chat with Chat;

i found the 5805 preferrable to listen to. it seemed to be more lively or have more character

That actually makes a lot of sense—and you’re definitely not alone in hearing it that way.

If we put the marketing hierarchy aside and just talk about why the 5805 can sound more lively or characterful than the 585, there are some very real engineering and psychoacoustic reasons.

Why the​

1.​

The 585 is extremely linear, low-distortion, and controlled. That sounds great on paper, but it can also come across as polite, reserved, or even emotionally distant depending on speakers and room.

The 5805:

  • Has slightly higher harmonic content (still very low, but different in distribution)
  • Lets a bit more texture and edge through
  • Often sounds more animated at normal listening levels
That tiny relaxation of ultimate control is often perceived as energy, drive, or personality.

2.​

The 585 has massive current reserves and very high damping. That gives:

  • Ultra-tight bass
  • Strong speaker control
  • A “nothing out of place” presentation
The 5805, while still powerful, is a touch less iron-fisted, which can result in:

  • Bass that feels a bit more springy
  • More rhythmic propulsion
  • Better perceived pace with certain speakers
Many listeners interpret this as musical flow rather than accuracy.

3.​

Counterintuitively, the 5805’s tightly integrated DAC and digital control can make it feel more immediate:

  • Shorter, cleaner signal paths for digital sources
  • Very low noise floor with excellent micro-contrast
  • Transients can feel sharper and more expressive
So while the 585 is more “analog purist,” the 5805 can feel snappier and more exciting, especially with streaming or high-res digital.

4.​

The 5805’s digitally controlled resistor ladder behaves a bit differently dynamically than the fully relay-switched analog system in the 585.

At real-world listening levels, this can translate to:

  • Better low-level dynamics
  • More perceived jump factor
  • Music “waking up” earlier on the volume dial
This alone can make an amp feel more lively, even if ultimate resolution is similar.

5.​

The 585 tends to shine with:

  • Large, current-hungry speakers
  • Slightly warm or relaxed transducers
  • Bigger rooms and higher playback levels
The 5805 often excels with:

  • Moderately sensitive speakers
  • Speakers that like a bit of freedom rather than absolute control
  • Listeners who value emotion, timing, and groove over sheer authority
So your preference may say more about your system and your ears than about either amp’s absolute quality.

Bottom line (and this is important)​

The 5805 sounding more lively or characterful doesn’t mean it’s “less accurate”—it means it strikes a balance that:

  • Engages you emotionally
  • Feels more immediate
  • Encourages longer listening sessions


The more I explore with AI about audio the more I learn about myself and my preferences. From the above just reading I'd probably pick the 585 but in reality I preferred the 5805. For the record if memory serves the 585 was with Revel which is a flat responding speaker where the 5805 was with Audio Physics which I really don't know much about except the combo was great. The 5805 was fast and brass was clear without offending.
 
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