I'm thinking already for my next upgrade after MC252 and C2300! I've been using Logitech Duet for source of music (rip all CDs in loseless format), running digital into a Stello DAC. I was thinking maybe the McIntosh MDA1000, but that's a lot of money. Would the CD500 be an option since it has digital inputs? I don't think I'll need more than 2 digital inputs.

I've heard the Logitech Transporter is quite good but I don't know if it can compare to Mac quality!

Thanks.

I'm not familiar with the above mentioned models, but have used both entechs, a rega, kinshaw, and a emu. I believe that none of them are so much better than the others, as much as they are different.

They all have there signature sound, and that sound can match with other components in your system. Sometimes for the better, but just as often for the worse. When it comes to dacs, or digital sources in general, I don't think there are any easy answers, other than experimentation. Sometimes, an inexpensive device matches your systems sonic qualities, more than an expensive device. All a dac does, is take a digital source, and convert it into someones interpretation of what it should sound like.

This is just an opinion, but one I'm sticking too. I'm sure others here will disagree with it. But that's ok with me.

The MCD500 and MDA1000 are very close in sound quality. In my comparisons the MDA1000 adds just a little bit more openness to the soundstage.

If you don't have to have the best and want to save some money, the MCD500 is a great choice. If I did not already have my MDA1000 and I was choosing between the MDA1000 and MCD500, I would choose the MCD500 for my system.