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In Reply to: RE: what is your most shocking wikileakesque revelations about the audio industry in the last 3 years? posted by jeromelang on December 10, 2010 at 00:10:44
Back in the 70's, Mark Levinson invented the first decent-sounding solid-state amps and preamps. No businssman, he had financial difficulties expanding to meet demand. So he brought in an investor/manager to help him out (named Sandy Berlin, IIRC). Who proceeded to take the company away from Levinson, forbade him to use his own name and tried to bankrupt him. After that, I would never consider buying a Mark Levinson Audio product, no matter how good it sounded.
Follow Ups:
Risen again?
Des
Sorry to be dense, but I don't know this name, got little from Google and no reference I could see from your link. Can you enlighten me?
Sorry about that--The Amps in the bottom para'
Des
The one, who besides being a nobody and a powerless puppet in hands of criminals, turns out to also be a wannabe audiophile.
In the "About Mark /etc"
You will see he makes "god" Watches
Are they in homage ?
Ha!
Des
LOL, didn't make the connection.
Didn't he import a $300 Chinese amp and call it the 'Red Rose' and put an MSRP of three grand on it?
"Lock up when you're done and don't touch the piano."
-Greg House
Interesting story.Thru the magic of importation a two hundred dollar amp becomes a two thousand dollar amp.
"Lock up when you're done and don't touch the piano."
-Greg House
Edits: 12/10/10
I think Sandy sold to Madrigal, which sold to Harman. Not sure if Sandy is currently involved or not.
Regardless, I like my No. 326S preamp (with phono) and would love to hear a pair of 531H amps in my system.
Happy listening.
Regards,
JerryS
> I think Sandy sold to Madrigal, which sold to Harman. Not sure if Sandy is
> currently involved or not.
Sandy passed away in March 2008, see linked obit below.
John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile
First, Sandy Berlin was one of the principals in Marantz, and from what I recall, ML approached him. Mark had prety much driven the company into the ground, so Sandy did what he had to to keep the company afloat.
That first preamp - the JC1 was designed by John Curl, I forget who did the early amps (Tom Colangelo comes to mind, but I think that was later with Cello).
Keep in mind, that Levinson went on to create (and destroy) 2 other companies - Cello, and Red Rose. He did make a few decent recordings though!
TAS had a pretty even-handed article (don't have the date handy), and I drew my conclusions. Others might conclude differently. As far as Cello and Red Rose, I understand the products were well regarded. But, as I said, he was no businessman. As John Atkinson says, he who pays the piper shall call the tune.
> First, Sandy Berlin was one of the principals in Marantz...
Not as far as I am aware. See the information in the obit linked below.
> from what I recall, ML approached him. Mark had prety much driven the
> company into the ground, so Sandy did what he had to to keep the company
> afloat.
That was my understanding. Once Mark Levinson had taken Madrigal's money,
while he may not have agreed with what Sandy did with the company, it was
as case of "he who pays the piper calls the tune." Sandy did make enemies
readily, however, and to this day, Mark feels that he was very badly treated.
John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile
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