Looking or a Used player/Dac for under 2000.

Look at the Cary 303. Mind you it does take a long time to burn in (mine took 2 months), but it is a remarkable machine.

If you get a chance, try to audition the MUSE 296. This DAC is excellent and a used pair can be bought for less than $2000.

First thanks to all.

I’m still trying to suss it all out. In response to Gunbei, I’ve got the power situation pretty well under control with a Nirvana Power cord running into the analogue section of a Bybee/Curl Signature and a SEEC line conditioner running into the digital section. From that I have Powerflow mains running into all my components.

Regarding the suggestions for the Tube based DAC’s and players I’m thinking that it may be part of the problem. I currently have a fully tubed system, Sun SV2a3PE mono blocks running through the Sun 3000 tubed pre-amp. My gut is telling me I’ll get more definition better imaging and soundstage and resolution (a more analytical sound?), with something like the Mark Levinson 36 DAC or similarly solid state unit but I can’t say for sure since I haven’t been able to audition the ML and as I was unimpressed with the Linn and Naim imaging. So here I am still in my quandary that I’m sure I’m not the first to experience.

Yeah, it looks like you have the power situation under control. So what you suspect is that with all the tube gear, it might too much of a good thing? It'll be interesting to see what happens if you change to an SS DAC. Maybe Natalie's suggestion of upgrading the Audio Note might do the trick for you. Good luck.

If you're not using silver IC's try it, that alone should liven up yout system.