How about a used Bricasti M12. There was one recently that sold for below the 10k mark here on Agon was only on here for a few days and sold. I heard it at Axpona and was mighty impressed.
Best DAC - Preamp Combo $5 to $10K Budget
I'm waiting for the day my Levinson 380S bites the dust like my Chord DAC 64 just did. Both of them are/were 15 to 20 years old with heavy use. Anyway, is there a really reference level DAC - Preamp combination out there for from $5K to $10K? Thanks in advance!