Wadia 861, Levinson 390S, or EMC1MKII

Well I love my Wadias because they are so musical and have microdynamics that are so natural, that they are able to extend way beyond my dedicated room boundaries.The Wadias do need a good pc and the modes done by GnSC put them into a class that rivals even so called current players.I heard a 861se GNSC moded that was incredible in its resolution and above all its musicality.If you can afford the player and the mode you soon forget about state of the art and really enjoy the music that they are capable of.Good luck and enjoy the hunt-Dennis

Dbk: I agree with the Wadia 861 supporters. I have the 861-Basic with GNS Reference Upgrade. It's not the top 861, nor does it have the "ultimate" GNS mod (=Statement), yet to my ears it is more musical than your alternatives (both which I have directly A/B'd at home), as nice as they are. Admittedly, it's a bit irritating that one has to get a GNS-mod to smooth out the Wadia. In fact, comparing factory versions, I think the EMC (or AA Capitole) is a bit smoother up top than Wadia. Still, Wadia has a "presence" which is unique, and it sounds unlike any other player I've heard. Of course, in the end you'll really need to try them all out.

I owned the Levinson 37/360S combination for about two years, the EMC1MKII for about two years and have owned the Wadia 861 basic since about August. The Wadia pretty much trounces the Levinson 37/360S, which I'm sure is better than the 390S, and the EMC1 in terms of detail, realism, resolution, etc. Between the Levinson and the Electrocompaniet, I'd choose the EMC1 -- especially at its lower price.

Also, where customer service is concerned, I've had very good interactions with Wadia.