Would the DAC on a high-end CD Player from the '00s be really bad?

[Urushi]

I am interested in an older CD player from Mark Levinson. The model is 390s and it is in great condition. My friend said I could have it for $400.

On that auction site I have seen broken ones sell for over $1k. I only want to buy it if it is worth using. If I can spend $400 on a more recent CD player and get better performance then I will pass.

 

[Robin L]

https://www.stereophile.com/content/mark-levinson-no390s-cd-processor-measurements

 

[RayDunzl]

On that auction site I have seen broken ones sell for over $1k. I only want to buy it if it is worth using. If I can spend $400 on a more recent CD player and get better performance then I will pass.

If your current CD player has a Digital Output, get a modern DAC to take its digits.

If you don't have a CD player with Digital outputs, get something that will play discs with digital outs and a modern DAC.

All assuming you want to spin discs.

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Or get the ML from your friend if that's what you really want.

 

[ElNino]

I am interested in an older CD player from Mark Levinson. The model is 390s and it is in great condition. My friend said I could have it for $400.

On that auction site I have seen broken ones sell for over $1k. I only want to buy it if it is worth using. If I can spend $400 on a more recent CD player and get better performance then I will pass.

Mark Levinson gear from that era is excellent. $400 is a bargain given the performance and what resale value these have. (Although the 390S uses the AD1853 sigma-delta chip and isn't pursued as a cult item like the 360S.)

 

[blueone]

I am interested in an older CD player from Mark Levinson. The model is 390s and it is in great condition. My friend said I could have it for $400.

On that auction site I have seen broken ones sell for over $1k. I only want to buy it if it is worth using. If I can spend $400 on a more recent CD player and get better performance then I will pass.

$400 is a bargain. The challenge is that if it does break fixing it can be very expensive, especially if you go through a Harman authorized service center. The digital boards are known to have capacitor problems, and replacements are $1500, I understand.

The UltraAnalog DAC has definitely been superseded by stuff like the ESS Sabre chips, but I suspect only an Audio Precision system could tell the difference, not a human. With this old ML stuff you're really buying fit and finish and ergonomics, and all of that is quite excellent compared to anything I can think of for even $1000.

 

[Urushi]

okay i will give it a try. I think I should be able to use it with my SMSL SU-8.

He also has a Lexicon RT-10 which he said I could have for $100. This plays SACDs and DVD-Audio (as it is a DVD video player). Kind of tempted to buy both.