Best Used DAC for 1000?

$130 delivered will get you an art di/o. can't say i compared it to the above-mentioned units, but it smoked a resolution audio cd50, a highly regarded $3k cd player. $100-$200 worth of mods take the di/o to another performance level altogether...

doug s.

Many thanks friends to all of the help and responses, I now have a good short list thanks to you all.
Rick

DACs of five years ago are selling for 10% to 20% of their new price.... because thats about all they are worth. Modern less expensive DACs will often out perform the so called "A" rated megabuck DAC's of years past.

For what it's worth I have a Micromega Duo BS2 that was Class C on Stereophile's recommended list in 1996. These do not come up for sale every day, but have seen them sell for less than $300.
So far my Duo BS has "defeated" the following dacs:
Theta Pro Basic II
MSB Link I
Bel Canto
Cal Sigma II
Art DI/O (unmodified with upgraded ps)
Some of the above mentioned dacs had deeper bass, some had more inner detail, some were more exciting at first, but none of them had the overall refinement and were as enjoyable to listen to on a long term basis as the Micromega. This was based on in-home trials, using either a Parasound CBT 2000 or Stan Warren modified Aiwa changer and Audio Alchemy DTI Pro. I prefer a softer, richer, more laid back sound than many audiophiles and am more interested in timbral accuracy vs electronic fireworks, so your mmv.