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ML 390S vs dCS Verdi/Purcell/Elgar Plus

Currently owing a ML No 39 as digital source, I am planning to upgrade my system to either the new ML No 390S or (very expensive...) a dCS Verdi/Purcell/Elgar Plus combination. I have no heard the No 390S yet, but people have told me this is an absolute fantastic processor which has little in common with the No 39 and is even near SACD sound (?!). What interests me is whether the quality difference justifies the extreme price difference between these components. Any other recommendations welcome on upgrading my source.
koen

Showing 2 responses by lakefrontroad

lakefrontroad
302 posts
 
Hi. I have another idea for you. I've heard the ML39, ML30.6& ML31.5, EMC-1 I, RA CD55, Sony SCD-1 and Meridian 508.20. To me they are all within the same performance window with slight variation as to sonic signature, but not overall level of performance. After reading and seeing the separate DAC I bought a AudioMeca Mephisto II. I was replacing a Sony SCD-1 which had a near identical level of performance with the RA CD55. Right out of the box the soundstage increased from about five feet deep running from the plane of the speakers back to about fifteen feet deep running from my feet. It sounded like music and felt live and real. Ridiculously I started tapping my foot. Not something I spend a lot of time doing regularly.

Clearly something special happened. So, I'd like to suggest that you look into Mephisto II. I use it with ML335, PS Audio 600 and Dunlavy SCIV's. Seems kinda special.

Good luck.

Bill E.
lakefrontroad
302 posts
 
Every once in a while I re-read something stupid I wrote and this is one of them. What I meant to say was the the ML39, SCD-1, RA CD55 and EMC-1 I were in the same performance window. Clearly the high end separates of ML aren't.

Bill E.
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