Advice on stand alone DAC


I'm putting together a modest system for my "winter getaway" in Florida. Have a Pioneer DV-79avi univeral player, with GMA Callistos on order. Would like to add a better DAC for redbook. Thinking tube-based to but flexible. Prefer to stay under $1000, new or used. A couple of Musical Fidelity A3.24s are listed here in the $500-600 area - any good?

Advice very much appreciated.

Doug
grandpad
You might want to look at a used Bel Canto DAC 1, 1.1, or 2. Good value and great product.
Just last week I added a Bel Canto DAC 2 to my Elite 59avi and Redbooks do sound better. Although the 59's DAC is said to be very good I find the Bel Canto to be better. The Bel Canto is hooked up to a tube pre & I use a tube amp. The combination sounds good.
Jeff
Take a look at a modded Museatex Bitstream. I have yet to hear anything better for the money (or for that matter, several times the money.
Avguygeorge: Sorry, but I failed to mention I'll be using a Yamaha RX-V2500 receiver. So my thinking is to output from the Pioneer's digital to a DAC's digital in, then stereo analog out from the DAC to the stereo analog input of the Yamaha (which has a "Pure Direct" which bypasses all processing by it). Does that sound OK or am I missing something.
Bojack: Thanks for the suggestions. I once owned a BC DAC I, and found it too 'dry' for my taste. I now use an Audio Aero Capitole II cdp in my main system up North, which also includes a mix of ss and tubes (Herron & Joule), which is why I would like to add tubes to this little setup.
Nutella: I frankly hadn't heard of the Museatex, but a little reading on threads make it sound like a very interesting possibility. The only problem would appear to be finding someone willing to part with one!
electrocompinent dac ( goes for $1100- $1200)...a little on the lush side, but INCREDIBLEY musical....
Talk to Vlad at Audio Mirror, The D2 is pretty amazing and well within your budget.
Running into Yamaha receiver? In my opinion buying an external dac would be a waste of money. Why not just run your DVD player into Yamaha via digital cable and use Yamaha's dac to do the work for redbook cd playback? Otherwise, if you really crave external dac, then a dedicated 2ch linestage is a necessity. The potential of a good external dac will not be realized in Yamaha's 2ch mode. Just my $.02