DAC finalist please help


Hi all,
hope everyone is doing well this holiday season.
I’m back on the DAC hunt and I have narrowed down to these different but compelling DAC’s.
Unlike a lot of you guys on Audiogon I’m not a millionaire : (  My budget is only 1,500 bucks but I think there are some good choices in that range.
If any of you folks have experience with any of these pieces I would greatly appreciate your thoughts.

I’m replacing a McCormack DAC-1 that I have owned since new.
I still listen and continue to buy Redbook CD’s so something that would be kind to those is important.
I’m trying to make the determination on overall what would work and sound the best.
NOS with tubes is intriguing as is R2R as is just a good chip set.
I’m looking at a Aragon D2A used $600 for redbook playback and maybe teaming it up with a Xiangsheng 05B to handle modern formats DSD etc, less than 500 bucks the two together would be just north of a grand.
On the NOS front the Audio Mirror Tubadour III NOS w/tubes, new $1,500.

The Denafrips Ares II R2R used about 800 bucks, or the Musician - Pegasus, new around $1,100.
And then there is the Line Magnetic 502CA tube, used 700-800 dollars.
I love the look of the LM and it's got a great tube stage, I definitely have a bit of a crush on this one.

I realize I’m a little bit all over the Map here, but again if anyone has thoughts or has /had one of these DAC’s I’m all ears...Many thanks and Happy Holidays!HG
grossman616
RME ADI 2 fs DAC (current model) with Teddy Pardo linear power supply. It’s not going to butter things, but it’s accurate, musical and will keep you up real late rediscovering music you thought you knew. Give it a great shielded power cord, coax with balance out and never look back.
I too have an MHDT Orchid with the upgraded tube - costs $1,200. Lovely sounding DAC, very high quality build and look, great customer service from both MHDT and the dealer. They are a steal for their quality. I recommend also considering their Pagoda balanced.
https://www.lineartubeaudio.com/products/mhdt-labs-dacs?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8IqXsr7Z7QIVxZyGCh3y7A7fEA...

https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/mhdtlab/2/
I recently bought a Schiit Bifrost...a future proof upgradeable great sounding multi-bit Mike Moffat DAC for 700 bucks.
I third the Schiit Yggdrasil GS. Unbelievable deal! Smokes anything near it I have heard 


Border patrol dacs are very nice and well received and have a Tubed power supply. That’s what I’ll get when money allows. For now my musical fidelity v90 dac does the job @ $299.....😁, a border line class A recommended component in Stereophile. It is an amazing little box for the money. I still got a new in the box Jolida glass dac 10 I’ve yet to try. That one too is a well received and reviewed dac. Especially if you replace the stock tubes with the Tung sol 12ax7 gold pins...and maybe a AQ nrg z3 power cable, thata my plan for that one.