At this week's CES, Mark Levinson is showing off the new N° 519 digital audio player, which combines a slot-loading CD player with a variety of digital inputs (including an asynchronous USB input), Bluetooth support, and integrated streaming audio services like Tidal, Spotify Connect, Rhapsody, and more. The N° 519 has its own DAC, as well as balanced and single-ended analog outputs, balanced, optical and coaxial digital outputs, and a headphone output. The player will be available in July; the price has not yet been announced.

From Harman
HARMAN's Mark Levinson has previewed the forthcoming and CES 2016 Innovation Award-winning N° 519 Audio Player, a remarkably versatile ultra-high-end source component designed to accommodate every digital audio format. The N° 519 was designed to be the heart of high-performance audio systems, with the ability to play back virtually any audio format from streaming music services to networked storage to CD to high-resolution digital inputs and even convenient Bluetooth wireless. In addition, it includes high-performance headphone connectivity and integrated digital volume control, allowing it to serve as a fully integrated digital music source.

"We created the Mark Levinson N° 519 to be nothing less than the optimal digital music playback component for the way today's listeners access their music," said Jim Garrett, Director of Marketing and Product Management, HARMAN. "The N° 519 lets music lovers enjoy music from nearly any source experience whether it's the latest high-resolution streaming audio format, their CD collection or even from their mobile devices."

Designed and engineered at HARMAN's Engineering Center of Excellence in Shelton, CT, USA, the N° 519 provides a full compliment of wired and wireless digital audio inputs and as well as an integrated slot-loading CD player, making it a truly universal digital audio playback device. The integrated high-resolution DAC receives its nine digital inputs including USB asynchronous streaming and mass storage, Gigabit Ethernet, Balanced, Optical, Coaxial, as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless featuring aptX technology for maximum resolution.

The Mark Levinson N° 519 offers high-resolution digital decoding up to 24-bit/192-kHz from PCM and double-speed DSD. Its DAC incorporates an ESS Sabre32 Reference converter for superlative musical accuracy with exceptional resolution and dynamic range. The N° 519 contains a complete embedded Linux computer, delivering outstanding performance headroom for flawless performance, regardless of configuration. It contains Spotify Connect, TIDAL, QOBUZ, Deezer, Rhapsody or Napster and a large library of internet radio stations and podcasts for a virtually limitless library for discovering and auditioning new music. For listeners whose libraries contain older or lower resolution content, the N° 519 contains HARMAN Clari-Fi music restoration technology, which rebuilds musicality and detail lost in the compression process.

The N° 519 features a proprietary Mark Levinson discrete, direct coupled, fully balanced, dual-monaural signal path offering balanced and single-ended analog outputs, balanced, optical and coaxial digital outputs and a high-performance headphone output integrated into the front panel. Digital volume control enables usage as a standalone music playback device connected directly to a power amplifier or active loudspeakers without the need for a separate preamp, and selectable low-pass filtering enables the unbalanced outputs to be used for subwoofer integration. The N° 519 is also the first Mark Levinson component to include a headphone output with the ability to directly drive high-performance headphones.

The N° 519 is built to the absolute finest standards of materials, fit and finish, featuring a 6000-series aluminum housing in black with silver trim. The N° 519 can be operated from its large, front-panel color display, included remote control, Apple iOS and Google Android apps, all major web browsers and via a comprehensive range of system integration connections. Like all Mark Levinson products, the N° 519 is designed and handcrafted in the USA.

The Mark Levinson N° 519 Digital Player will be available in July 2016.

Additional Resources
• Harman Showcases Mark Levinson No 536 Mono Amp at HomeTheaterReview.com.
• New Concerta2 Speaker Series From Revel at HomeTheaterReview.com.