Mark Levinson No. 436 Monoblock Amplifiers - REBUILT

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These are absolute powerhouse amplifiers, capable of drawing every bit of current from your house electricity to drive your speakers.

These retailed for over $12k in the early 2000's.

Like most 436's however these arrived in need of a bit of TLC.

We noticed some crackling on one channel in testing process, so we sent out the cards to Pyramid Audio to have them updated and rebuilt. Receipts attached.We now have a perfect working set of amplifiers, fully tested (long term and on the bench), and ready to rock and roll for a couple more decades. 

All in all we spent over $2600 plus our own labor to ensure both of these amplifiers are trouble-free for the next owner.

Cosmetically these are very good with only the slightest signs of use.

Please note due to weight and to ensure these arrive safely at your door, delivery is via freight, with both amps securely strapped to a pallet. Local pickup is also welcome from our shop in Glen Rock NJ.

SkyFi Service Notes:
The Levinson 436 has several production details that can contribute to intermittent failures for units of this age.

This set received an extensive preventative maintenance overhaul to ensure stable and reliable performance for years to come.

We sent out both of the voltage gain cards to Pyramid Audio, an authorized Levinson repair center, to receive Levinson official service bulletin modifications and recommended maintenance.

We also asked Pyramid Audio to correct an issue with one of the current gain cards that was causing one amplifier to run hot.

We reflowed all of the solder joints on the main power and standby transformers, and set the DC offset and Bias to Levinson specification. Days into weeks of testing for stable and reliable performance afterwards followed before we listed these for sale.

Click below to add our recommended matching cables from Kimber Kable, all brand new as SkyFi is an official Kimber dealer.

Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Better

Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Best

Kimber Kable - BALANCED XLR Connectors - Better

Kimber Kable - BALANCED XLR Connectors - Best

Kimber Kable - Speaker Cables - Better

Kimber Summit Series Monocle XL Speaker Cables (PAIR) - Best

Kimber Summit Series BiFocal XL Bi-Wire Speaker Cables (PAIR) - Best If Applicable 

Kimber Kable - Power Cords - Better

Kimber Kable - Power Cords - Best

Mark Levinson No. 436 Technical Specifications
Solid-state monoblock power amplifier
Featuring one pair Madrigal speaker binding posts, one 3-pin XLR balanced input, two 1/8" minijacks for remote turn-on, one RS-232 port on RJ-11, two Mark Levinson communication ports on RJ-45, and two PHAST communications ports on RJ-45.

Rated power output (20Hz-20kHz, <0.3%. THD, FTC):
350W into 8 ohms (25.4dBW)
700W minimum continuous into 4 ohms (25.4dBW)
1400W minimum continuous RMS power at 2 ohms (25.4dBW)

Frequency response:
20Hz-20kHz, ±0.2dB

Output impedance:
±0.05 ohm, 20Hz-20kHz

S/N Ratio:
Better than -89dB (ref. 2.83V)

Damping factor:
>800, 20Hz-20kHz into 8 ohms

Power consumption:
100W in standby, 180W at idle

Current draw at rated output at 120V:
8.5A (350W into 8 ohms)
14.6A (700W into 4 ohms)
25.6A (1400W into 2 ohms)

Dimensions - EACH:
17.75" (455mm) W by 7.65" (194mm) H by 20.2" (518mm) D

Weight - EACH:
85 lbs (38.6kg) net, 95 lbs (43.2kg) shipping

Mark Levinson No. 436 - Owner's Manual

The SkyFi Testing Process for Solid State Amplifiers:

We start with a visual inspection of all internal components to make sure that there are no signs of heat stress or damage. Capacitors are checked for telltale signs of predictive failure including bulging, shrunken wrappers, or physical leakage. We also inspect the PCBs for discoloration from resistors or transistors that may have been running hot. On vintage units we often spot check select capacitors for value and ESR.

If the amplifier passes visual inspection, we move on to a controlled power on sequence using a Sencore safety analyzer to monitor current draw in real time. Once the amplifier is determined to be safe to operate, we connect it to full AC mains for function and power testing. We connect the speaker outputs of the amplifier to a Sencore PA81 Power Analyzer which acts as a dummy load, DC offset monitor, and oscilloscope interface. We start with a low level 1KHz test signal at the amplifier’s input and slowly increase its amplitude while monitoring the output on an oscilloscope for signs of noise, clipping, distortion, or improper channel balance. We continue increasing the signal level until the amplifier reaches clipping. At this point we take an output power measurement and compare it to the spec sheet of the amplifier to verify proper performance. If the device under test has both balanced and single ended inputs they are both tested at this time. We finish off the bench evaluation with a 1KHz square wave check and a 20Hz to 20KHz sine sweep to assess the amplifier’s frequency response characteristics. This battery of tests will usually reveal if the amplifier has any issues that need further attention.

Before the device leaves the bench, we perform a listening test with actual music using a variety of preferred test tracks. Our benches are outfitted with familiar monitor speakers which help us identify inconsistencies that will not always show up on our test gear. The main things that we are listening for are hum or noise with no signal present, proper center image, clicks, pops, or any other obvious undesirable audio characteristics.

If the unit passes all of these tests it is moved to our long term testing rig where we simulate real word operating conditions for 6-8 hours. This allows us to monitor the unit for signs of thermal runaway or intermittent issues that only crop up when the unit has fully come up to temperature.