The best used preamp and d/a converter

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.

It is all a matter of taste. I use a PS Audio UltraLink II and love it about $500.00 used, a Cal Delta transport, about $400.00 used, and a Melos Maestro tube preamp. There is a used one on this site for $1100.00. Other preamps beside the very good Morrisson http://www.surpher.com/MORRISON/ are some tube units. Zen preamp is very good http://www.decware.com/preamp.htm and also Wright preamp WLA12A http://www.wright-sound.com/ These three companies make excellant products and they do not cost over $1000.00.

I don't know about "best", but I've been using a McCormack TLC-1 Deluxe line stage preamp for about 4 months and have been very happy with it; it's quiet and transparent (what more do you want from a preamp?). I also just added an Aragon D2A2 outboard D/A converter to my system and couldn't be more pleased. Aragon is well known for their amps, but their D/A converter is a well-hidden secret. The D2A2 is very smooth and liquid, it opened up the midrange on my system, smoothed out the high end, and brought the low end into better balance with the rest of the musical picture. It's brought great listening pleasure and I think it's worth a look. It's $999 list new, I picked one up used for $525.