Buy a DAC or buy an SACD player?

The Kora Hermes, an inexplicably overlooked DAC, renders jaw-dropping sound for a mere $1500 retail. Interpose this chrome-faced converter into your system and you'll notice, without trying, that once unintelligible lyrics are suddenly fully articulated. Some of the Hermes' sonic attributes can be ascribed to its triode tube output, 24 bit chips and studiously separated digital/analog power supplies. Have a little faith and buy this French jewel...you'll be glad you did.

There are a lot of good deals available on used dacs and jitter reduction devices (usually necessary to get best sound from dac) so if you have a lot of redbook cd's that would be the best way to go.
If you are going to get an MSB, I highly recommend buying with a right of return. I tried the original MSB Link and was underwhelmed. I got a lot of criticism at the time for returning it, only to subsequently find at least 2 aftermarket modifications released which claim to address the very problems I heard with it (it lacks bass and has a lean midrange).
DAC's I recommend are the Bel Canto or Micromega.

I'm with Dweller...had a SACD player,but limited software and going nowhere. Get the DAC!!

Before getting my Bel Canto DAC 1.1, I came VERY close to getting the Sony SCD777ES. All I had to do was to walk across the street to the Sony Employee Store and place the order. It would have only been $1301 brand new.

What ultimately swayed me was the number of redbook CDs in my collection and the lack of SACD titles I actually wanted which were available at the time. Getting the DAC exposed the weaknesses of my CD player/transport, so I upgraded that too. I haven't regretted my decision for one second.

Even though I love my Bel Canto, I strongly agree that the EVS Millenium DAC should be looked at as well.

Have fun and good luck!

Invest in a good DAC. I recently purchased one of the new Chord DAC 64s from my local dealer for about $3000. Connected to my Arcam DV88 it comes so close to a $12,000 Linn CD 12 that I ditched my Ikemi. It will be years before there is enough SACD material available.