CDP / DAC Advice required

Benchmark Media DAC 1 is very popular right now($1500). You could get the USB version and a mini mac for about 2K.

Is it going to be as good as the 581 ... no(the Wadia is a superb player), but how big of a difference depends on how resolving the rest of your system is.

I agree with Dungn.
For 2 grand I'd pickup a used Electocompaniet EMC 1UP and not look back. Very analoge in sound. I just picked up a very good sacd player but I still keep the Electro hooked up as it has a sound I very much like and don't want to lose,particularily the mid and low bass body.I prefer it in redbook to the SACD unit I'm using.
The electro has a very good and reliable transport but for some reason (perhaps the connection out)didn't work well with the external dacs I tried.

In your price range, I really love the Benchmark DAC3, and you can usually find them here for around $1600 used.

Rich

Audio Research CD3 MKII for around $3k used
The finest audio component I have ever owned

I'm sorry, I meant to say that I really loved the Bel Canto DAC3 for $1600 used, not the Benchmark DAC3 which doesn't even exist.

Rich