Turntables, Arms & Cartridges

Weighing in at a substantial 34kg, Mark Levinson's No5105 is still a remarkably compact turntable, free of outriggers, suspension posts and pockets of fresh air. The main chassis hosts the AC-DC power supply and speed control for the integrated motor while machined, bead-blasted and anodised alloy structures feature throughout the dense jigsaw of the No5105's mechanical design. This includes the two black, 25mm-thick front panels and naturally-anodised (clear) bezel at the centre of its frontispiece, the latter also hosting a solid glass – not acrylic – setting for the alloy speed and standby buttons.

The 6.5kg platter is also fashioned from the same alloy with a very substantial hardened steel spindle bearing that runs within sintered brass bushings. Even the LP record weight, the shape inspired by Mark Levinson's hourglass motif seen in the arm's gimbal housing and knob design of its preamp/integrated amps [HFN Jun '18 & Aug '19] is fashioned from bead-blasted alloy, its overall density further increased with a solid brass insert. The precision of every facet of the No5105's build – from chassis, bearing, platter and LP weight through to the trio of adjustable feet and exquisite tonearm – is world-class and an object lesson in what can be achieved by 21st century industrial hi-fi design. PM