Best Budget HDCD D/A Converter?

I would recommend either a Theta Chroma or an Assemblage DAC 2....the Chroma is more money and is a much more handsome piece of equipment...I can sell you mine since I just got a Classe .5 player...I've had both the x-dac (too warm to my taste) as well as the gda700 (more to my liking - more detail, great soundstage and depth, very dynamic BUT a bit, just a bit mechanical in sound)....the DAC 2 or the Chroma sits in between these two dacs....good luch

Check the Camelot Arthur at: www.camelot-tech.com

The Parasound 1100, 1500 and 1600 DAC's are readily available and very good value.

The Aragon D2A2 is an excellent budget DAC, if you can find one. Better than the above, in my opinion(I haven't heard the Camelot gear). Good luck...

The Parasound 1600 HDCD DAC that Sfar mentioned is excellent value, although the CEC DX51 (which does not have HDCD, however) is better quality electronics and sound and should start appearing on the second-hand at discount market since CEC just released a Mk. 11 version (unless the owners decide to upgrade their old ones). Both have good power supplies, excellent input/output flexibility, and very good sound--with the CEC about 20% better than the Parasound. Parasound discontinued it's low-cost DAC series a few years back and you can find plenty of 1600's second-hand for about $400-500. I would not pay more than $700-800 for a used DX51. This is slightly more than your original price range, but worth it when considering the difference in quality between this and what is available for $300.00 used. You will probably not be upgrading this part of your system for a while with these units. CAVEAT: Do not buy a Parasound DAC "new" from a store as they are probably "second-hand" at a "new" price.

Musical Fidelity X-DAC.

C'mon guys, you knows dacs don't all sound the same. I'd suggest that Jedisqueezer first try some out in his setup at home. All the suggestions are good, but it's a bit on the personal side.