Incredible DAC for $200

[Ruined]

http://www.homehifi.co.uk/TC-7510/about.html

Beresford TC-7510 MK-6 DAC

Amazing DAC - sound that rivals some of the top D/A converters I've heard on hifi CD players. Stunning sound - incredibly detailed but not harsh.

Functional as well - has 2 coax input, 2 optical input, and a headphone amp. It has one analog variable out (RCA) and one line out (RCA). The variable out is controlled by the volume knob on the front of the unit for use with a power amp or powered speakers, while the line out bypasses the volume control for recording.

This unit would be great not only as a DAC for a hifi system, but also a system that uses reference monitor speakers (Taxi I'm looking at you) as it offers much higher quality output than a typical PC soundcard. In addition to the benefits listed above, you will lose all of the buzzing interference noises that go along with analog PC audio and get crisp digital sound. I am running the digital output of my X-Fi to it, and it works great. Highly recommended!