Is it possible to find a good DAC for under $50, 000?

The good news is, one day in the near future, these technologies will be worth $500. I cannot blame the engineers for wanting to capitalize on their research and development. Too bad a lot of us won’t be around to enjoy them. I am glad that digital is moving forward. 

@knittersspouse  - Glad to see that you have been at it for a while. At the end of the day, it’s all about enjoying the music. I am very bullish about digital. I think that’s the future: we will match the best table sound at a fraction of the cost. I also believe that Stereo is here to stay: 2 channels done correctly as intended by the inventor of the stereo format is enough to take you to heaven. Not long ago a 5 MD hard drive was around $30, 000 and could hold 5 photos. It also required a truck to move it. 
I am not lying. DAC will be a solved problem soon, just like class D amplification and preamplifier or automatic transmission. I might not be around to see it but I know it’s coming. I can almost see the promise land. Once we can get AI to design it for us, based on our requirements, it’s going to be cheap. We will be looking at $50,000 DACs the same way I look at my grandparents’  « giant 36 in » TV today. Enjoy the music.