@stuartk -
Re-DAC: Have you looked into a Musetec Audio LKS-005? I had one, sold it, and regret it :-)
It uses dual ES9038pro chips. One torroidal transformer has silver plated copper. Banks of super capacitors that act like batteries, solid silver hookup wire, 4 femtoclocks each costing multiples of the Crysteks, a revised Amanero board, result in a DAC that presents fluidity, clarity and bass extension.
After reading this thread, I went out and purchased one.
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/musetec-lks-mh-da005-dac

