Without a doubt my Channel Islands Audio VDA 2 DAC. Exceptional sound and build quality for $599. The price to performance ratio is high, you will spend much more to obtain better sound. I felt that it sounded better than the Benchmark, which while very good has too many bells and whistles for my tastes. In addition the VDA 2 uses a fully discrete analog out.
Best bang-for-buck purchase you have made?
For me, it was buying a pair of used Magnepan MG-12 speakers for $550.00 from a dealer in Oregon. I had heard the 1.6 before, but not the smaller 12's. These speakers have TOTALLY changed the way I listen to music - I may eventually upgrade to larger Maggies, but I think I will always keep the 12's around.
What about the rest of you?
What about the rest of you?