Better sounding DAC than Cullen mod PS Audio DLIII

I'd consider looking at PS Audio's new Perfect Wave DAC. The list price is a tad higher than your budget, at $2995 USD. However, they are offering a very generous trade-up allowance that is worth up to $1K off.

If you like the modded DL-III, then I think that this would be a logical upgrade option.

I have not heard the new PS DAC. It is my understanding that the 1st run of them is just about to ship. Though I plan to order one, I have not yet done so.

There is a lot of info on PS's website. Essentially, from the ground up this DAC uses a completely different technology in processing the data, and uses top of the line parts. Whereas the DL-III was made at a price-point of $1K retail.

Again, I cannot say that it is a better DAC. However, considering all of the "buzz," if you like the DL-III, one would expect that you should love the new Perfect Wave DAC.

I am sure that as the 1st batch makes it into the field, new owners will chime in.

I did breifly compare the stock DL-III to the Benchmark and Electrocompaniet DAC's.

In my comparrisons of these, I found the Benchmark to be be analytical and non-involving. The Electrocompaniet was the most "musical" with a slight "warmth."

I'd suspect from what I have read that the Cullen modded DL-3, is probably closer the sound of the Electro DAC.

Your mileage may vary. However, I'd suspect that these DACs, in comparrison to your modded DL-3 may be a sideways move, or possibly even a step backwards in musicality.

From what I have read, you have a pretty good value in the Cullen DL-III.

I have also been told that though it is not quite there, the modded DL-III brings you very close in performance and musicality to the Bel Canto DAC3