which budget DVD player for output to DAC?

My $0.02 personally I think you're about three years too late to be playing with DACs and de-jitter devices like the DIP. I would consider a DVD or SACD player and get it modified by one of the respected modders. For example I currently have an EVS Millennium DAC, but if I lost the unit for some reason, or had to start over now, I would probably get Ric's mod to one of the panasonic DVD players. No digital ICs. Only one aftermarket power cord, one shelf, can get a modified clock, etc, etc. I think you'd be far ahead with performance for dollars, but just thing of all of the nervosa you would avoid!

No affiliation with EVS or Panasonic/Matsushita. Just a satisfied owner.

I would also like to get some feedback on cheap transports. I don't think it is too late to be using external DAC's and for me there are a number of reasons why it makes a lot of sense.

I'm presently using a MSB Gold Link III. I want the transport to be able to read CD, CDR, DVD, DVDA. Any suggestions?

The problem with "budget" dvd players is that they are built poorly. They use cheap parts, flimsy transports and they weigh about six pounds. Any half-decent CD player, even an old one with a quality transport mechanism, will sound better as a transport.