Is it possible to find a good DAC for under $50, 000?

@kennymacc +1

The mention of high dollar gear sure brings out the annimosity in these threads. I don't understand the point.  Where do people think the trickle-down technology that goes into mid-priced gear comes from? Somebody has to buy the high-priced stuff or designers wouldn't be able to fund their time and costs necessary to bring us upgraded technology.  Is some of that money going for the name-brand, prestige, bragging rights, and bling factor - sure. However, as already pointed out, that is just the way it works with almost anything.

To quote the TV commercial for dog food:

”What are we doin’ here?”

I am not sure how one ties “envy” to the conversation of buying a $50k DAC? In my comment I stated (not knocking others here) with regard to my desire to spend a ceiling amount on audio equipment. There could be 1,000 reasons why someone would not spend $50k on a DAC and envy would be just one. Where does the assumption come in that “envy” would be the reason? It says something about anyone who would automatically assume this. Audio equipment is fun, it’s emotional, it’s important…. but it is also just boxes of wires. For anyone spending huge sums of money on something they like, great! I am all for it providing it does no harm to me or others and an uber expensive DAC is great, just not for me. Envy has zero to do with it.

Why all the angst?  No one is saying you should buy it.  Don't you ever like to look at say exotic cars or classic cars or boats or for women expensive fashion or jewelry etc?  It is informative.  And gorgeous.  And probably sounds stunning.

I may be in the minority here, but I do think it’s overkill to spend 50K on a DAC. Even if you could afford it, how much better will it help you get into the music, which I believe is the central point of our hobby?  You certainly can do that for a hell of a lot less money. If you want to hear the breathing of the cellist, or the stomp of the conductor on the podium and such, that’s fine.   Spend it.
Audio has reached a point today where 99.5 of what’s on a recording can be produced just fine with relatively modest cost.  
I don’t begrudge the spending of big money for audio equipment for getting that .5 percent.  I just don’t see the point of it.