Is the Mark Levinson 390S still a reference player

Lewinskih01,

Which CD player are using?

I quit using a CD player altogether. I have (but don't use) a Rotel RCD-1082. I was thinking of upgrading, at that time I considered the 390S, but instead decided to jump into computer audio. To me it was a matter of whether computer audio had advanced enough already. I took one of the easiest/safest routes: bought a Squeezebox Touch a year ago and have not used the CD player since. Don't be deceived by the small price, it's a good unit.

My take: computer audio is evolving very fast and doesn't make sense yet to stretch much economically. Whatever you buy will be obsolete in 5 years, so don't go overboard spending there. CD, on the other hand, is becoming mature and if you want to stick with it you are probably safe buying an excellent and reliable CD player now.

Of course, that's MY take on things. I hope it helps.

I agree with Lewinskih01 for the most part... do not go crazy into a DAC setup as things will change as time goes on. What is "crazy money" to some however, may not be to others. I buy as demo or used when possible to get a better quality piece for less than retail.

You will have a tough time beating a discless systems with a decent DAC and the correct ripping/file type/bit rate.

I have compared my LINN Akurate DS to CD players at or over $10k. Add in the fact that your entire music library is at your finger tips (iPad), and any argument against going discless is just silly. If you enjoy searching through a large CD collection, loading the disc, playing the few songs on that disc you like, then unloading it, finding another disc, etc. then a DAC setup may not be for you.

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?