Info on Levinson 390S????

Hi Krocdoc; I read the info. on the 390S too, and it seems to me that the ML 360 is to the 360S as the ML 39 is to the 390S. So, my take is that sonically the 390S should compete fully with the ML 37 and 360S. I have the 37/360S combo.

But, I think the greater importance of this up-grade is the confidence that Madrigal Audio is showing in the future of the CD, ie IMO, they believe that the CD is going to be the primary music format for quite awhile yet.

I talked with a Madrigal Rep. awhile ago and he did say that they were of course, working on a multi-format digital player-- no time line though. Cheers. Craig.

The Analog Devices 1853 DAC in the 390S is one-fifth the price (per channel) of the Burr Brown 1704-K in the 360 and 360S. Of course, cheaper is not necessarily inferior, but it is interesting fact.

I happened to hear this player a few weeks ago at Audio Outlet in Mount Kisco, while I was principally listening to some amplifiers. I believe it upsamples (I'm not talking just about oversampling, but using some kind of filters, etc. like the Purcell), and it was worlds better-sounding than the old 39, which always sounded comparatively sterile and thin to me. This unit had some harmonic richness and dynamics. A nice piece. Not sure how it compares to the separates, but a pleasant surprise.