need DAC and Transport or good CD player

cambridge 840 also very very good + has digital input to use as a dac with another devise

Get Benchmark DAC1 ($995)and cheap DVD player or connect it to server (computer). I have both plus HDTV (it has three digital inputs). Benchmark has free 30 day evaluation program (at least had). I would avoid used ones unless you know revision. Early once were less than perfect.

The only difference between expensive transport and cheap DVD is jitter that Benchmark rejects. DVD players are cheap (mine is $70 Sony) to buy and replace, have great tracking and play MP3s. Any digital cable or Toslink will do.

Benchmark is one of the better DACs available but is not designed for warm sound. It is very neutral, clean and transparent but if your system is on the bright side avoid it.

I like the Channel Islands Audio VDA*2 DAC. Couple that with an inexpensive Blu-Ray or DVD player. With your budget you can even get a nice SPDIF cable.

Museatex Bitstream DAC is the best DAC value period. I copmpared it to many DACs over 12 a few years back and have compared it to a bunch of new ones. It still holds it own especially for the used prices it goes for.

Thanks for the info guys. Any other ones I should look at?