Best USB DAC implimenting I2S under $2.5K?

Northstar 192.

The Musical Fidelity X-DACv8 has a USB port (I2S?) input on its DAC. This DAC is well below US$2500.

I evaluated this very combination (MacBook Pro as a transport feeding a MF X-DACv8) a few months ago hoping that the sound would be able to replace a good CD front-end.

Unfortunately, the CD player (Arcam FMJ 36) I was comparing it to was clearly superior in every way. The MF sounded better as the day grew longer but it still was no match for the quality CD player.

Given that I'm a computer geek and a huge fan of the Music Server convenience (I have a Squeezebox2 in another room), I really really wanted the Mac/MF combination to be better. Unfortunately, it wasn't good enough to replace my critical listening requirements.

No, the X-Dac does NOT have an I2S port, and no the USB is not an I2S port, CNiker. They are not the same. USB is a pc-based universal serial bus connection; I2S was developed as a micro-link between circuit boards and has become a sort-of purist connection for DACs as it connects directly into the DAC chip and is typically the native DAC connection, bypassing further jitter-producers. Other DACs that have I2S as options include the Perpetual Tech,Zanden and Audio Logic. I didn't think the Benchmark USB had an I2S connection stock; it needs to be modded (WEmpirical Audio, for example).