DAC for Rega Planet 2000


I have a Rega Planet 2000 and wonder what DAC would go best with it. I would like to pay about $500 or less used. I am looking for more dynamic range and better detail. I would like to tighten up the bass as well.

This all started when a friend loaned me his Meridian 508/24 which has incredible bass and detail, can I approach this sort of performance with the Rega?

thank you
128x128philjolet
I meant:

I had never heard the Rega transport was not that good in fact I had been told I should buy a DAC by someone.
Philjolet, who ever told you that does not know of what he speaks. The 2000 is a very very good player at its price point and even 500/1000 above in lots of cases wont get you better.
A 500.00 DAC even A Bel CANTO that reatils for 1k + wont do it.
Natalie I was responding to Marakanetz comments above. He mentions that the good sound of the Rega comes from the very good DAC and not the transport which he feels is not as nice.

BTW thank you Phild for a very thoughtful reply that really opened my eyes. I think the points you made (power supply etc.)are logical and without doing the research myself I feel I can go by what you said. I will probably not get a DAC as that is my first inclination anyway also my post above explains ther rest.
Try going to www.audionut.com or call 623-487-1116
I was there and they use a rega Planet 2000 with some new DARUMA 3 ball bearing isolation feet and also use a DAC for under 500.00 which very much impressed me.I own a Denon DCD3520 which is about 10yrs old and would like the Planet2000 but BOB at audionut said lets try the DAC which would bring to life the Denon,since the denon I have is not that bad.
Bob is the type of person who beleives you don't have to spend tons of money on over priced brand names to get the same results with other units.
ALSO check into a company called DH Labs (www.silversonic.com)for audio cables.
To any of you who claim that adding a dac to the Planet 2000 will not offer improvements, I'm really not sure how you can say this. I have just recently auditioned the Planet 2000 stand-alone vs. a very inexpensive universal disc player (i mean all out cheap player) along with an MSB link DAC III with Nelson upgrade, upsampling and power base...and let me tell you, the difference was night and day. The MSB setup was FAAAARRR superior.

I'm not saying that the MSB link dac is the best there is, but certainly a modest cd player can be improved upon significantly with the addition of an external DAC, moreso than buying a new all in one unit at double the cost of the dac.