The best used preamp and d/a converter

Hi Matc. Forget about the DAC and buy a used Sony XA7ES CD player-- about $1200. and a Sonic Frontiers Line 1 pre-amp, about $1200. to $1400. The XA7 makes an excellent "stand alone" CD player or an excellent transport. The SF Line 1 adds smoothness and helps take the etched, electronic character out of ordinary CDs. I use this set up either with or without a Muse Model Two DAC, and the differences in music character/quality between the to systems are neglible. I've noticed that the Muse can be had for about $700. used, and it is an excellent DAC if you choose to use one. The Muse only has BNC inputs, but high quality BNC to coaxial RCA adaptors are available from Muse.

I really don't think I want to get between Carl and Hagen, will try to keep my response relatively short. I strongly believe from all I hear, the BEST VALUE in a DAC at the present time to be the MUSE MODEL TWO with the AES/EBU and the 4th Order Reconstruction Filter option, or BETTER YET, the MODEL TWO PLUS on which these options are standard and also includes the MUSE I2S Interface as well. Both would afford you a future upgrade path to the TWO NINETY SIX (96kHz/24Bit) processor Muse offers. As a mate for the TWO PLUS, you may want to try and pick up a MUSE MODEL FIVE Transport. It also comes with the I2S connection and you would then have what I believe to be a vastly superior front end on which you can build the rest of your system. As for the Pre-Amp, I would strongly consider the MUSE MODEL THREE as well. Listing new under $2,000 it has enjoyed great acclaim as well, being compared by many as an equal with pieces several times it's price. There is also a stand alone power supply and display for the MODEL THREE available which I believe can be added at any time. In the used market I believe you should be able to go with all three pieces and most likely stay within your price range. I feel when putting together the front end of a system, perhaps staying with one highly acclaimed manufacturer, as Muse certainly is, makes a lot of sense. I find it hard to beleive that a marrying of these critical pieces of electronics in particular, would not have been of prime consideration in the mind and goals of a design engineer.

The BEL CANTO UPsamples (with a slow roll off filter that doesn't kill the top octave like Wadia's) and has much jitter reduction ciruitry (as well as the highest quality caps and resistors), therefore it plays CD's better than a 24/96 DAC that DOESN'T UPSAMPLE. IT'S ALSO MUCH MORE AFFORDABLE THAN THE MUSE UNITS. HOWEVER...I DEFINITELY don't doubt the superiority of the I2S connection, BUT FOR THAT MONEY MY CD 50 WOULD BLOW YOUR MUSE RIG AWAY playing CD's (NOT DAD's of course). Because: While Muse makes great product with high inherent value, YOU STILL NEED A PREAMP FOR THEM. GARFISH: Sony XA7 with a Sonic Frontiers Line 1? NOT AS GOOD A VALUE, OR AS HIGH IN PERFORMANCE, as my CD50!! With it, string tone EXCEEDS MY BENZ GLIDER in warmth, roundness, solidity; all from FEEBLE old CD...and that's just stringed instruments...which is partly why I upgraded to a LO4 cartridge...Not that the Glider didn't have some leg up over my CD50, but I tell ya, IT'S ALMOST FRIGHTENING HOW GOOD THE CD50 IS...it's just killer! IT'S A CRIME THAT EVERYBODY DOESN'T HAVE ONE!! OK, that was over the top, but you get the idea.

these people above really haven't helped you out. the units they are suggesting aren't even in your price range. sure the units they are suggesting are excellent units, but comparable can be had for much less. a good dac that is hard to find however is the counterpoint da10a. they can be upgraded to the 24/96 dvd standard and are upgradeable to 192khz when that standard is introduced. they can be had for about $600. the bel canto mentioned above is also another great choice and is available still. as for a transport, a good tube player that can be had for what you are asking is the cal tempest mkIII, it has a separate power supply and is dang close to analog. preamps are always hard to shop for, you're best bet is trial and error, try it and if you like it stick with it if not dump it. the sonic frontiers sfl-1 and sfl-2 is good but i suggest the morrison elad if you are using 2 sources or less. it has the best measurements ever taken in any critique. all in all, its going to be a matter of what sounds good to you.

The CD50 is indeed in your price range, so Fenix is less than accurate there. It'll blow away anything that doesn't upsample, guranteed.