Does anyone know of any digital amps that are available out there that are a notch above the Sonic Impact T-amp ($20 @ ecost.com), but not in the unattainable price levels as the Yamaha MX-D1 or the D.A.C. 300.5? I was thinking in the $400-800 price range.

Actually that brings up another question. The T-amp is mass-produced for $20 and it compares favorably to much more expensive amps from well known companies in DBTs (lots of reviews online). So why do the MX-D1 and 300.5 cost $3-5K? I'm not saying there's no difference between the T-amp and these, but that's quite a premium for similar technology.

I think if there was a $500 high-power audiophile level amp out there, it would blow the market wide open. I know that Panasonic and Sharp have integrated and receiver type amps out there, but these low-power products aren't doing well in the marketplace. I wonder how a straight power amp for the hi-fi crowd would do out there instead...