A used EAR Yoshiono Acute 3 is around the $3k budget. The newest version Acute Classic is excellent, but a used one is above the $3k budget limit. Probably around $4500 used. The EAR is the best CD/DAC combo I've heard.
Recommendations for CD Player/DAC Combo
I was slightly surprised that there isn't a very large selection of CD player/DAC combos out there. Yamaha, Marantz, Musical Fidelity, and a few others make them, but not many other companies. It seems like building a cd player into a DAC makes a lot of sense, like an integrated amp. Can anyone recommend one these? My budget would $3000 tops. Thanks, J