Mark Levinson n°39 or dedicated DAC?

Greetings,
I have a ML39 and it sounds pretty good to my ears. got some GREAT reviews when it came out. I gave up on ML when my beloved ML20.6's died and could not be repaired, they were at the Service Bench for 14 months and they could not fix the problem. The ML39 is the only ML gear in my system now, I went for a different pre-amp and amp.
If they do need service? The Service Bench is a cetified ML repair center. They can service most all of the ML gear except for ML amps like the 20.6's (ML/Harmon Kardon are really a bunch of jerks (IMO) for not servicing their gear.
A new high end player 2011 would probably be the best way to go.
With some great music servers out there today I'm not sure if a CD player is the way to go anymore. When my ML39 dies I will probably go with a server, I might get one sooner.
Joe Nies

I used the #39 straight into (no preamp) an Audio Research VT-100 Mk-III (Audio Artistry Dvorak speakers).

I much prefered the sound of the Rega Apollo into a BAT VK-300 SE (Thiel 1.6 speakers).

Pmichellon,

I emailed my tech. friend.
The laser is no longer available, for this piece...

Thank you for all the feedback.
I took my decision and will buy a dedicated DAC. Probably the Bryston BDA-1. Let's face it, CD is dead and despite the fact that I really like having CDs and LPs, it's probably time to move on for good... dematerialized media = future.

Pmichellon,

Very wise decision. I use to own a No. 39 and really loved the sound but that was ten years ago - a lot of water has flowed under the bridge since then.