Mark Levinson 600 Series Unleashed at HIGH END Munich 2025: All-American, All-Attitude, and Proudly Overkill

Mark Levinson didn’t come to HIGH END Munich 2025 to play nice—and neither did Harman. Fresh off its headline-grabbing acquisition of Sound United, Harman Luxury Audio has dropped the new Mark Levinson 600 Series like a hammer on the hi-fi world. This is Mark Levinson doing what it does best—pushing the limits of performance through precision engineering and a focus on usability.

Designed, engineered, and assembled in the USA, the new 600 Series is built for serious listeners who want state-of-the-art power and control without compromise.

The № 626 Dual-Monaural Preamplifier, № 632 Dual-Monaural Amplifier, and flagship № 631 Monaural Amplifier are unapologetically high-end, with build quality and circuit design that reflect decades of experience. Of course, this level of American-made performance—tariff-free and built to exacting standards—doesn’t come cheap. But for those chasing real fidelity, it’s not supposed to.

While the 600 Series has been in development for more than a year, its arrival comes at a pivotal moment for Harman. With the recent acquisition of Sound United, Mark Levinson now shares the same corporate roof as Marantz and Classé—two brands with serious high-end credibility of their own.

That raises an interesting question: how will Harman position the 600 Series in a portfolio that now includes Marantz’s 10 Series models and the latest Classé Delta series? These new flagship components will need to stand out not just through performance, but also through identity and differentiation in a suddenly more crowded—and competitive—top tier of the market.

That also applies in the headphone category where Harman, Samsung, AKG, Mark Levinson, and now Bowers & Wilkins will exist under the same umbrella.

The Mark Levinson No. 5909 was a surprising but impressive first entry into the high-end headphone category—especially from a brand that had never built a headphone in over 50 years. With engineering talent pulled from across Harman, AKG, and Levinson, the result was a wireless ANC headphone that delivered serious sonic performance, excellent build quality, and a clear sense of purpose.

True to form, Mark Levinson doesn’t update products on an annual cycle, but it’s been three years—and in the world of premium wireless headphones, that’s a lifetime. With increased pressure from Focal, DALI, T+A, and their new stablemate Bowers & Wilkins, we’re hoping Harman isn’t asleep at the wheel. A second-generation No. 5909 would be very welcome right about now.

“The Mark Levinson 600 Series reflects more than 50 years of mastering the art and science of sound,” said Jim Garrett, Senior Director, Product Strategy and Planning at HARMAN Luxury Audio. “It’s about more than technical excellence—it’s about capturing the emotion, power, and nuance of a musical performance with breathtaking clarity. With its bold new design and uncompromising performance, the 600 Series pays tribute to our legacy and sets out to exceed the expectations of the most discerning listeners.”

Engineered for listeners who demand more than just high-end specs on a brochure, the 600 Series carries forward Mark Levinson’s reputation for no-compromise design with a deep focus on signal integrity and mechanical isolation. Each component is built around the company’s proprietary Pure Path circuit architecture—a fully discrete, dual-monaural layout designed to eliminate noise and preserve dynamics at every stage of the signal chain.

The new models also feature the brand’s latest take on the Tectonic industrial design, machined from solid aluminum with mechanically decoupled feet and internal substructures to reduce vibration. The clean geometry is accented by subtle red lighting beneath the glass display—more purposeful than flashy, and in keeping with the brand’s detail-oriented approach. From the internal layout to the outer shell, every element is engineered to protect and enhance the signal, not just dress it up. This is design that serves the sound.

№ 626: Where Analog Backbone Meets Digital Brains

The № 626 Dual-Monaural Preamplifier is Mark Levinson’s answer to anyone who still thinks you have to choose between analog warmth and digital clarity. At its core is the Precision Link III DAC, capable of handling 32-bit/384kHz PCM and native DSD without breaking a sweat.

But this isn’t just a digital control center—it’s built on a fully balanced Pure Path analog architecture, with separate left and right power supplies, modular isolation, and a phono stage that takes moving magnet and moving coil cartridges seriously. Add in a Main Drive Class A headphone amp and you’ve got a preamp that does everything short of filing your taxes.

Preamplifier Specifications

• Preamplifier Type
  • Dual-Monaural Analog Design
• Analog Audio Inputs
  • 2 × Balanced XLR stereo pairs
  • 3 × Single-ended RCA stereo pairs
  • 1 × Single-ended RCA Phono input
  • 1 × Phono ground post
• Digital Audio Inputs
  • 1 × AES/EBU (balanced XLR)
  • 2 × Coaxial RCA
  • 2 × Optical Toslink
  • 1 × Asynchronous USB-C (high-resolution audio input)
• Analog Audio Outputs
  • 1 × Balanced XLR stereo pair
  • 1 × Single-ended RCA stereo pair
  • 1 × ¼” (6.3mm) TS headphone output
• Control & Integration
  • 3 × 3.5mm mono trigger connectors (1 input / 2 outputs, 3–12V DC)
  • 1 × 3.5mm mono IR input
  • 1 × ML Source Link connector
  • 1 × USB-A (for service use)

№ 632 and № 631: Big Iron, Bigger Sound

If the preamp is the brains of the system, the № 632 and № 631 are the muscle—and not the flashy, bloated kind either. These are workhorses built for real-world performance. Both amps run in Class A/AB, with fully balanced signal paths and toroidal power supplies you could anchor a boat with.

The № 632 gives you dual-mono in a stereo chassis for those who value symmetry and floor space, while the № 631 throws subtlety out the window and goes all-in as a monoblock designed to grab your speakers by the throat and not let go. These amps are about control, slam, and nuance—delivering everything from whisper-level detail to full orchestral fury without flinching.

Amplifier Comparison

Debut at HIGH END Munich 2025

The 600 Series makes its world premiere at HIGH END Munich on Thursday, May 15, 2025, during Harman’s private Summit of Sound event. It kicks off at 16:30 CET in Atrium 4.1, Room E119, with a keynote and listening sessions at 17:00, followed by a celebration party that should be every bit as overbuilt as the gear on display.

The Bottom Line

The Mark Levinson 600 Series isn’t just a refresh — it’s a high-stakes statement of intent. With the № 626 Dual-Monaural Preamplifier ($25,000), № 632 Dual-Monaural Amplifier ($30,000), and flagship № 631 Monaural Amplifier ($40,000 each), this American-built trio leans into precision engineering, premium materials, and decades of R&D to push the envelope in ultra-high-end audio.

But they’re not launching into a vacuum — with Marantz to be under the same Harman roof and Classé gearing up again, the 600 Series will have to justify its price point not just against European heavyweights, but against talented siblings looking to prove they can run with the big dogs.

Pricing & Availability

None of this gear is cheap—and it’s not supposed to be. The № 626 preamp comes in at $25,000 USD. The № 632 stereo amplifier will set you back $30,000 USD, and the flagship № 631 monoblock clocks in at $40,000 USD each.

All three are slated to ship in Q4 2025 through select Mark Levinson dealers. Tariff-free and made in the USA—consider it one of the few imports from High End Munich that won’t get stuck in customs.

For more information: Mark Levinson 600 Series

Related Reading:

• Mark Levinson No. 5909 Wireless Headphones: Review
• Limited Edition Mark Levinson ML-50 Amplifier Package
• Samsung’s HARMAN To Acquire Sound United From Masimo For $350M: Denon, Marantz, Bowers & Wilkins Find New Home