Current Inexpensive CD Vs High Priced 90's


Looking for advice as there are few dealers in my area to make comparisons with my own ears.

I'm having a bad stereo year & a bad financial year. Latest piece of gear to go is my PS Audio SL3 D/A. Repair MAY be an option, but there are no highly regarded shops anywhere near me.

The PS Audio is HDCD, but tops out at 20/96. I've been running the PS Audio with a 90's Teac/Esoteric P10 & Illuminati Digital Cable. The combined list on the 2 pieces + cable in the 90's when purchased was around $3200. I like the sound of the combination quite a bit.

With that said, how much of a downgrade sonically would the Oppo DV-980H be compared to my current rig?

Any other suggestions for an inexpensive solution (either 1 piece or outboard d/a)? My Esoteric Transport still plays perfectly, but on cdr's sometimes thinks about it for awhile before playing.

The rest of the system is a Mod Squad Line Drive deluxe pre, a mediocre Adcom 555 Mk 2 that I also hope to replace, NHT 2.5I speakers & various 90's Tara cables.
moomoo
Stanwal, I used to own both a Meridian 203 & a 263. I see you're a Meridian guy. Could you compare the MF V-DAC to the Meridians for a point of reference? The NF looks interesting.
The good news is that many low-priced DACs are available through the internet with generous return options. You can try the MF V-DAC, and other DACs from PS Audio, Cambridge Audio, Music Hall and others. If they don't work for you, you're only out a bit of shipping expenses.
Totally unimpressed with the Oppo unit .... note the reviews on it are using the HDMI output ONLY, analogue outs are terrible, and using it as a transport, I found, was marginal. You'd be better off with an old Denon from the early 90's as a transport that might cost $100 and an inexpensive DAC like the Scott Nixon Chibi which I have found to be a nice unit.

YMMV
i agree with the get-an-inexpensive dac responses--use it with your pioneer dv-578a. i had a pioneer elite clone of the pioneer dv-578a and thought it was a very good transport--quick-reading, smooth and reliable.
I'm glad I asked! I was leaning towards the Oppo, but I will look into the Musical Fidelity with some seriousness.