So much mumbo jumbo about how expensive DAC's are waste of money, its just changing a box blah blah. Stop talking out of your arses and give the OP some constructive advice.
OP, i have heard a handful of £1000 region DAC's. I can recommend the Metrum Octave MKi, it is one of my favourite of all...
i have tried a handful of £1000+ DAC's including the W4S DAC2, Berkley Alpha DAC
but i gotta say my favourite was the Metrum Octave, very analogue sounding and is at a steal price atm £600 because MK2 is coming out.
CD players are of a past, digital music is the future. DSD anyone; )
oh and...