Mark Levinson positions the N°626 as the new flagship preamplifier of its 600 Series, first shown at High End Munich, combining a fully discrete analog signal path with the brand’s newest digital-to-analog conversion platform. Every channel of the Mark Levinson No626 runs dual-monaural from input to output, with the proprietary Pure Path architecture keeping the signal direct-coupled and fully balanced throughout, governed by a discrete R-2R ladder volume control rather than a conventional digital attenuator.
US retailers list the Mark Levinson No626 at around $24,999, positioning it as a genuine flagship preamplifier rather than an entry point into the 600 Series. That price places the Mark Levinson No626 alongside the most ambitious dual-monaural preamplifiers on the market, and reflects a chassis built entirely around discrete, fully balanced circuitry rather than shared, off-the-shelf analog stages.
Pure Path Analog Design with a Built-In Phono Stage
Each of the Mark Levinson No626’s line stage inputs, two balanced XLR and three single-ended RCA, uses individual signal switching relays rather than a shared analog bus, keeping crosstalk and bandwidth loss to a minimum. A dedicated Class A MM/MC phono stage and a Class A headphone amplifier are built into the same chassis, alongside configurable balanced and single-ended analog outputs that can run full-range or through a fourth-order 80Hz filter for seamless integration with a powered subwoofer. The digital source circuitry and power supply are physically shielded from the analog and phono stages, and the whole chassis uses a modular layout with rubber-isolated components sitting on Mark Levinson’s latest vibration-damping feet. Every stage of the Mark Levinson No626, from the phono input to the headphone output, is built with the same discrete, dual-monaural philosophy rather than shared circuitry between channels.
A New Precision Link III DAC
The Mark Levinson No626 is the first model in the range to use the brand’s new Precision Link III digital-to-analog converter, built around an ES9039PRO 8-channel Hyperstream IV DAC from ESS Technology paired with Mark Levinson’s own jitter-elimination circuitry and a fully balanced, discrete current-to-voltage stage. Six digital inputs cover one AES/EBU, two coaxial, two optical and an asynchronous USB-C input capable of handling high-resolution PCM and DSD up to 32-bit/384kHz, so the preamplifier can sit at the centre of a fully digital source chain as easily as an all-analog one. That combination of a discrete analog core and a state-of-the-art DAC platform is what Mark Levinson points to as the defining feature of the No626 within the 600 Series.
Tectonic Design and Control
The Tectonic exterior wraps an aluminium and steel chassis, anodised black with a silver plinth, around a glass centre panel lit with the brand’s signature red accents; the same red lighting surrounds a glass “Core” element on the top panel, framed by ventilation for the internal linear power supply. An ultra-low-noise toroidal transformer feeds the whole preamplifier, and a full-function handheld remote covers day-to-day operation. For the amplification to match, Mark Levinson’s own coverage of the 600 Series launch at High End Munich 2025 outlines the matching power amplifiers in the range. Full specifications and dealer locations for the Mark Levinson No626 are listed via marklevinson.com.
Key specifications
- Type: dual-monaural preamplifier with built-in DAC and phono stage
- Analog inputs: 2x balanced XLR, 3x single-ended RCA, 1x MM/MC phono
- Digital inputs: 1x AES/EBU, 2x coaxial, 2x optical, 1x asynchronous USB-C (up to 32-bit/384kHz)
- DAC: Precision Link III with ES9039PRO 8-channel Hyperstream IV DAC
- Analog outputs: 1x balanced XLR, 1x single-ended RCA, 1x 6.3mm headphone output
- Built-in: Class A MM/MC phono preamplifier, Class A headphone amplifier
- Volume control: discrete, balanced R-2R ladder
- Power supply: ultra-low-noise toroidal linear transformer
- Design: Tectonic aluminium/steel chassis with red-lit glass top panel; designed and engineered in the USA
- Price: approx. $24,999 (US retail)
