Recommend used digital source for $3K used

nice system.... would look for a previous thread for reference dacs'.... there was some really great reviews in there on the differnt sonics....

here are some suggestions since i just added my first dac...

would consider the following:

Muse 24/96
Audiologic
Electrocompinet (this was my choice)
Audio Research DAc III

Transports.... would spend just as much on the transport as the dac....just as important...make sure whatever you buy can be repaired (this is why i moved away from one box players..ie marantz)

Wadia
CEC
Muse
Audiomeca
Pioneer Dv-10ax (my choice, plays all formats..well built@ 60lbs)

dont forget to add power cords, isolation, and digital cable, and cable stands(went with bdr cones/pucks, seismic sinks,bright star sand boxes, and ridge street cable risers ) these made profound differences in the dac & transport..

good listening !!!!!!

forgot to mention tube technolgy dac..... it is the most musical unit(digital) i have heard to date (it smoked the $$$$ buck esoteric)

wc65mustang.... funny..... your description of slow, sluggish, etc. sounds like the sonics of the esoteric as comparded to the tube technolgy...

dont get your thong in a bunch... it is a suggestion..like anything, listen for yourself....

disclosure....

-i am in medical sales and in no way assoiciatd with tube technology or esoteric or have any such units for sale.
-the tube technology is the best digital playback unit i have heard to date in terms of musicality ( my opinion)