Good Entry-Level DAC

DACs don't extract information off CDs or Streams they convert what's been sent to them. The speakers, room placement and treatments will affect the sound a lot more than the DAC. The OP could also try a newer NAD CD player with the newer 24 bit Wolfson DAC cheaper than some of these outboard DACs. I still haven't seen anything here that would be a SIGNIFICANT  improvement over what he has. Especially if he auditions them in a blind setting. Another thing he has never said what the rest of his system consists of, if it's consumerate with the NAD I wouldn't expect changing a DAC unless it's really crap to make much of a difference.

+1 djones51! Certainly a one-box CD player can be the equal of any transport/DAC combination! A good recommendation for the latest NAD player!

dhjjones,

I run my CD Player (and my Rega RP3) through a Sonographe SC-1 Preamp and a Counterpoint SA12 amp and Cabasse Galiote speakers.

Most of the system's 25-30 years old, but I do like it. I'm upgrading in small pieces. Added a phono preamp last year (Project Tube Box) and had the CAL DAC in for some years....

I'm thinking hard of going with used for another DAC. Are there sellers who'll accept returns?

G

PS- Did you mean 'Commensurate'?

Yes I did, sorry about that. There are dealers who take new returns. I think The Music Room has a return policy on used. 

True a DAC does not extract information out of a recording anymore than a preamp or an amp does, but a DAC does have an analog output I believe? Wouldn’t one agree better preamps and amplifiers that have a lower noise floor pass more information through or not hidden under noise... micro dynamics don’t improve? Why are some systems enjoyable at low volume levels over other systems? If a DAC has an analog output stage then why would it be different from a preamp? Guess I should have stated it differently than extracting, but I am hearing micro detail that is lost on the DAC in my Cambridge; oh it’s there likely but it’s being masked to a point one has to try much harder to hear a pianist say move about on their bench where on the RME it’s more pronounced and it’s not because it has a forward sound or the volume is cranked up. I’m sure it has much to do with jitter, the clocks and just an overall lower noise floor. I’m using the same cables both digital and power so what is it then? I’m not understanding how DAC’s don’t change anything but only sound different, but preamps and amps on the other hand do.