Need a DAC Recommendation.

Nice to see I'm not the only one that finds the RME great bang for buck and a keeper. I tried the Chord Qutest it was nice but found it a little bass shy and hifi sounding. One thing I enjoy with RME is the balanced output along with rca output. 

I run a Audience au24 se balanced to one input on pre and a Acoustic Zen silver ref 2 rca to another input on preamp and can switch inputs on the fly to adjust to the sonic quality of recording. The AZ comes across a little softer. I run all settings on RME flat. 

As small as it is it responds very well to footers. 

Get the Denafrips Pontus ii 
Excellent Dac. I have Pontus with Iris DDC and using is2 connection.

Check out this R2R dac for $1195, it’s Very natural sounding 

https://headphone.guru/audio-gd-r2r-1-fpga-pcm-dsd-dac-done-right/

Hard to go wrong these days.  Features like usb input, balanced outputs, linear power supply, volume control options are probably what set apart dacs in this price range.

Another vote for MHDT Orchid. Plus you can do a bit of tube rolling if you desire.