Need Help with New DAC

Check out the Birdland Odeon l\Lite - sells for 1k new. It has a volume control also so no preamp if you want direct - there is also a higher model that sells for 1400 new.

There's a Classe' DAC1 w/HDCD listed right now for 1K. I really like the one I bought recently. Its a significant upgrade from the highly regarded DAC in my CAL CL-10. Of course, you also have to budget for good digital cable.

I do not think you can get a ML, Theta GenV or MSB Gold for less than $1k used. The Theta GenVa is the best dac I have personally ever heard but it's expensive. I have owned the Bel Canto 1, Cal Sigma II and some others. The Bel Canto 1 is not bad if you do not want to tweak much, but I slightly preferred the sound of an older Micromega to it. Same for the Cal Sigma. I also have an unmodified Art DI/O, which I paid $130 for plus another $40 or so for power supply upgrade, line attenuators and connectors. After an extended break in (almost 3 months) and leaving the tube in it, I have to say that it comes closer to the Bel Canto, Cal Sigma or Micromega than you would think, given it low price. There are mods available that cost around another $225 or so and supposedly elevate its performance even more. The only negatives I have found with the DI/O are that it sprays out some RFI (I have to turn it off to listen to the tuner)and its soundstaging is spacious but a little vague. If your just starting out with dacs, I can't think of a better way to start than the DI/O.

Thanks for all your response, if my budget allowed me to 1500 then can I be better with ML, theta genv or msb gold or the new music fidelity dac or even with bel canto, which one is good for me?
thanks again

Try and find a Muse Model Two Plus. You should be able to find one for no more than $700 used. This is a most excellent DAC for the music lover, not etchy or Hi-Fi sounding at all.

Good luck!