The Mark Levinson № 585.5 occupies a purposeful place in the brand’s 500 Series: it is an integrated amplifier designed to reduce system complexity without treating integration as a compromise in architecture. Rather than combining a basic preamplifier and power amplifier section with a token digital input, the № 585.5 brings together a discrete dual-mono analog platform, a substantial Class AB output stage, an onboard DAC, and a fully developed phono module. The result is a single component aimed at listeners who want a high-performance control center for analog records, digital sources, computer audio, and conventional line-level equipment.
A 500 Series design with meaningful internal changes
The № 585.5 follows the earlier № 585, but its changes are not limited to cosmetics. The exterior is updated with a new three-piece extruded, machined, and anodized aluminum top panel, aligning its appearance with the broader 500 Series visual language. The front panel keeps the familiar Mark Levinson contrast of a black chassis with gray elements, supported by a red display and LED indicators.
The updated remote control also matters in a product like this. An integrated amplifier is often the day-to-day interface for an entire hi-fi system, so convenient source selection, volume adjustment, and phono configuration from the listening position are not secondary details. The № 585.5 is still operable from its front-panel controls and function buttons, but the remote reinforces its role as a full system hub rather than a power amplifier with added inputs.
Pure Phono brings serious vinyl flexibility
The most important documented addition is the Pure Phono module. This is the same phono board used in Mark Levinson’s № 523 and № 526 preamplifiers, which gives the integrated amplifier a phono stage with a more ambitious basis than many all-in-one designs. It is built around a fully discrete, ultra-low-noise circuit, with RIAA equalization implemented through a combination of active and passive filter circuits.
For prospective owners with a turntable, the practical appeal lies in adjustability. The Pure Phono module offers four gain settings, multiple resistive and capacitive loading options, and a subsonic filter. These parameters can be adjusted from the front panel or the remote control, making cartridge matching less of a set-and-forget compromise. Moving between cartridges, optimizing a moving-magnet or moving-coil setup, or taming low-frequency rumble with the subsonic filter can be handled inside the amplifier rather than by adding an external phono preamplifier.
That integration can be especially useful for listeners who want a cleaner system layout. A turntable-based system often accumulates extra boxes, cables, and power supplies. By placing a configurable phono stage inside the integrated amplifier, the № 585.5 gives vinyl playback a central role while preserving the simplicity that makes integrated amplifiers attractive in the first place.
Discrete dual-mono analog architecture
At its core, the № 585.5 is based on a fully discrete mirror-image dual-mono analog circuit. This means the left and right channels are treated with symmetry and separation throughout the analog signal path. The design also uses individual signal switching relays for each of the four stereo analog inputs: one balanced XLR input and three single-ended RCA inputs.
Volume control is handled by discrete 15-bit R-2R circuits and low-noise analog switches. In practical terms, this approach is intended to preserve signal integrity while giving the listener precise control. The amplifier is not simply relying on a generic volume chip; the volume system is part of the wider analog design philosophy.
The analog input arrangement also gives the product a clear role in mixed systems. A balanced source, such as a higher-end DAC or disc player, can use the XLR input, while three RCA inputs can support conventional line-level equipment. With the phono section included separately, the № 585.5 can serve a system that includes both legacy components and modern sources without demanding an external preamplifier.
Class AB power with substantial reserves
The power amplifier section is a fully differential Class AB design. Its power supply is built around a large 900 VA toroidal transformer with separate secondary windings for the left and right channels. That separation supports the amplifier’s dual-mono layout and reflects the product’s emphasis on channel independence.
The documented output is 200 watts per channel into 8 ohms and 350 watts per channel into 4 ohms, with stated 2-ohm stability. For owners, these figures suggest an amplifier intended for a broad range of loudspeaker loads rather than only easy-to-drive designs. The source material also lists a damping factor greater than 400 at 20 Hz, referred to 8 ohms, along with a rated frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz within ±0.13 dB.
The output stage uses 12 output transistors and many small local capacitors placed close to the amplifier circuitry. The design aim is fast access to power when demanded by the signal. Without making claims about subjective performance, this architecture indicates that the № 585.5 is designed as a serious amplifier first, not merely as a convenience component with moderate output.
Digital input options for modern libraries
The № 585.5 is not limited to analog sources. It includes six digital inputs: one balanced AES/EBU input on XLR, two coaxial S/PDIF inputs on RCA, two optical Tos-Link inputs, and one asynchronous USB-B input. This makes it suitable for systems built around computers, servers, disc transports, streamers, televisions, or other digital sources that use conventional digital outputs.
Its internal DAC is based on an ESS Sabre 32-bit platform and is described as fully balanced with a jitter elimination system. The Cmedia USB audio processor supports asynchronous data transfer for PCM up to 192 kHz/32-bit and native single- and dual-rate DSD. For a user with a computer-based library, that gives the integrated amplifier a direct route for high-resolution files without necessarily adding a separate DAC.
The inclusion of HARMAN Clari-Fi technology is another noteworthy digital feature. It is intended to help recover useful signal information from compressed music files. Not every listener will build a system around compressed sources, but many real-world music libraries include them, so having this processing available expands the amplifier’s practical usefulness.
System expansion and 2.1-channel integration
Although the № 585.5 is a substantial two-channel integrated amplifier, it is not locked into a basic stereo-only configuration. It provides full-range RCA stereo preamplifier outputs, allowing connection to external amplification or other downstream components if a system evolves over time.
It also includes a switchable 80 Hz second-order crossover network. This enables integration with active subwoofers in a 2.1-channel system. For listeners using standmount speakers, smaller floorstanders, or rooms where low-frequency management is desirable, this is a meaningful feature. It allows the integrated amplifier to support a subwoofer-based setup without requiring a separate processor.
Control connectivity adds another layer of system flexibility. The documented connections include RS-232, IR input, programmable 12V trigger input and output, and Ethernet. These features are particularly relevant for custom installations, equipment racks, or systems where the amplifier needs to coordinate with other components. They also underline that the № 585.5 is intended to operate both as a traditional front-panel hi-fi component and as part of a more integrated home audio environment.
Usability without abandoning depth
A product with phono loading options, digital filters, multiple input types, and control ports can become intimidating if those functions are buried or inconvenient. The № 585.5 addresses this by allowing operation from the front panel as well as the supplied remote control. The ability to adjust phono parameters from either interface is especially useful, because cartridge setup often benefits from small changes and direct comparison.
The physical build also supports its positioning. At 72 pounds net, with a chassis measuring 17.25 inches wide and 19.95 inches deep, it is a substantial component. Owners will need appropriate rack space and ventilation, but the size and weight are consistent with an amplifier that houses a large transformer, analog circuitry, digital conversion, and a configurable phono stage in one enclosure.
Its speaker connections are specified as locking posts with banana jacks that accept spade tips up to the stated dimensions. This is a practical detail for users working with heavier speaker cables, and it fits the amplifier’s role in a serious two-channel installation.
Conclusion
The Mark Levinson № 585.5 is most suitable for listeners who want a single high-end integrated amplifier to anchor a system built from multiple source types. Its strongest documented qualities are its discrete dual-mono analog architecture, configurable Pure Phono module, substantial Class AB power section, broad digital input array, ESS Sabre-based DAC, and flexible 2.1-channel integration. It will make the most sense for owners who value vinyl adjustability, computer and digital-source compatibility, and a powerful integrated format that can reduce box count without giving up meaningful system control.
