Is the Mark Levinson 390S still a reference player

The M.L. 390S was a great player, I owned a 390 then upgraded to a 390S, I've seen them for sale at very reasonable prices, don't think you could do better. They can have a slightly dark sound if not connected to the right associated gear. It's no match for the Ayre C5MP and Audio Research DAC8 that I now own, but nothing out there is, including the Linn. I also have all my music on a Mac but much prefer spinning disc's.

Anyone compare the 390S with the 512?

I have the 512 and it is fantastic! I've done blind listening tests and it is superior to the Sony SCD-XA5400ES as well as the Oppo BDP-95. Please feel free to contact me if you would like to listen to any of the players. I'm within 20 minutes of Boston, MA.

Aaronmadler, I certainly would hope so.....the 512 is a 15K player, 10x the price of the Sony and Oppo. Have you compared it to upper echelon players like the Puccini, Playback Designs, Isis, ARC, EMM, Meridian, etc?

Lula - I have not compared the 512 with anything other than the two players that I've mentioned. I agree with you about the price differential. I am so satisfied with the sound, that I don't feel the need to try anything else.