Dated but still A rated DACs

Ayre QB-9 DSD is still an amazing unit.  Digital doesn't get much better, and certainly not at the price point you can find a used one.

Thank you all for your recommendations... and yes, Redbook only

Redbook only..then possibly...buy a Adcom GDA-700, and have someone mod it out.

Tough to beat.

The assemblage dacs are also very hard to beat. rare. Assemblage 3.0 and 3.1. 24/96 r-2-r dacs. last of the best.

Years ago I bought a second generation Cambridge DacMagic from a dude who said he liked it but it could use a better power supply. I liked it because it had 2 SP/DIF inputs (used for cd player and streamer) and balanced outs, 3 filter options, blah blah...Soon  Audio Advisor started selling a Peter Madnick designed beefy low noise power supply called the P100 for this DAC and a couple of other things and, of course, I bought a couple of those (inexpensive). Sounds astonishingly great, or at least music going through it does. Seriously…Redbook upsampled for days (whatever upsampling 24/192 does…hard to understand as I'm not very smart), and in this case seems to work very well, and I've actually done an a/b comparison with a friend's MUCH more expensive and well regarded DAC and we agreed it was pretty much indistinguishable from his. I'm keeping the damn thing until it dies.

Weiss DAC2 or DAC202. No USB input though. Will not handle DSD but will do redbook and up to 24/192.
Firewire, optical Toslink, and S/PDIF inputs. Bal and SE output.
Both can be had under $3k used. 
Stunning built and sonic qualities.

Hi, 

I have been using an AudioSpace CD8A and a Ric Schultz modified Oppo 105 as redbook CD players in my system (Prima Luna Dialogue Premium preamp, Coda CS amp, and Thiel CS5 speakers.

Anyway, the upgrade bug bit.

I have two great dealers in my area who will let me try various components at home. Over the last right weeks, I have auditioned a Naim CD5si, Levinson 390S, Rega DAC R, and Bryston BDA1.

Also listened, in the showroom, to the current Esoteric streamer that lists for $7,500. Just too clinical for my taste - all detail but no music - no PRAT.

Right now I am listening to a Hegel HD25 with the AudioSpace as the transport. 

This is the best my system has ever sounded. Lots of detail and presence, better sound stage, and really smooth (liquid)? Keeps the beat and is MUSICAL.

If I had to make decision right now today, it would be deciding between the used HD25 or spending more bucks on a new Hegel HD30.

FWIW!

Dsper