USB reclocker pecking order?

Halidge Designs Bridge seems to be the current favourite under $500 at Computer Audiophile. Got one myself.

48khz is the upper limit of the DAC I have. Will eventually replace it with a 192khz DAC for PC audio but I don't want a DAC choice limited by its USB capabilities, when a reclocker could widen my options. Plus SACD can't be digitally output to a DAC, and as you pointed out CD's are 44.1Khz.

Get an async USB DAC and then you don't need reclockers. USB can handle 192Khz easily.

There is a USB to SPDIF converter comparison in a recent issue of Positive Feedback Online. An interesting option is the unit from Audiophilleo, which can be connected directly to your DAC, avoiding the use of a SPDIF cable. (The Halide Bridge does this, too, but you are stuck with the Bridge's built-in USB cable.)

Wavelength also has a converter for $900.

I think the first question you would have to ask yourself is "How much am I willing to spend?" Relative to the cost of your source material, preamp, amplifier, and speakers, do you really want to spend as much as $895 for something like the Audiophilleo? I am currently using a modified HiFace, into a budget-level Beresford DAC. I'm please with the results and doubt adding a $900 USB/S/PDIF converter would greatly improve the system as a whole. As long as the converter supports up to 24bit/192k resolutions and has independent reclocking circuitry, you should be set. To get any more granular would require a great deal of downstream upgrades for proper upgrade justification.

To more directly address your question, I would say that you are most certainly picking the wrong priority. I say this, of course, without knowledge of your system as a whole.

Evan