Pre-Owned and Ex-Demo
About the Mark Levinson 331
This amplifier was launched around 1996. Quite a technical advancement for it's time, it was considered one of 'the' machines to go for at anything like it's price. It offered true high-end performance, plenty of power and good measurement characteristics. It was also very transparent and musical.
In terms of the performance opinion at the time, it's worth giving this page from the original Stereophile review a read. https://www.stereophile.com/content/mark-levinson-no331-power-amplifier-page-3
Specifications
Rated output power, 20Hz–20kHz, with no more than 0.5% THD (FTC): 100Wpc minimum continuous into 8 ohms (20dBW); 200Wpc minimum continuous into 4 ohms (20dBW); 400Wpc continuous into 2 ohms (20dBW).
Peak output voltage at rated line voltage: 48V into 8 ohms.
Frequency response: 20Hz–20kHz ±1dB.
S/N ratio (main output): <–80dB (ref. 1W).
Input impedance: 100k ohms balanced, 50k ohms single-ended.
Voltage gain: 26.8dB.
Input sensitivity (for 2.8V output): 130mV. Input sensitivity (for full output): 1.3V.
Output impedance: 0.05 ohms, 20Hz–20kHz.
Damping factor: >800, 20Hz–20kHz into 8 ohms.
Power consumption: typically 260W at idle, 110W in standby.
Dimensions: 17.56" (446mm) W by 18.85" (479mm) D by 9.3" (232mm) H; faceplate curve depth 1.22" (31mm).
Shipping weight: 112 lbs.
The Winters Audio Experience
What a great blast from the past! This amplifier is of course a pretty old design but that does not rule it out as a real bargain upgrade for you to consider. And if you are unapologetically old school, perhaps with a pair of Quad electrostatics, Celestions, or traditional BBC speaker designs, this just might fit right in with the sort of sound you love.
But although older, don't assume this can't keep pace. To be honest it sounds great to our ears, and as this one has been serviced and re-cap'd it sparkles from top to bottom, has great transparency and grips speakers very well. If you are currently using an old solid state amp from the same period, but without this sort of pedigree, then we can't recommend this amp enough.