Boutique DACs

APL hi fi dac

@hilde45 I'm not asking for absolutes.. I was curating a list based on my personal preference. 

Jk_richards - I agree that the DS sr dac was/is a great dac, especially for the money. What made it sound better was getting the PS Audio Airlens using I2S.

In the last month, I bought the PS Audio Stellar Gold dac which bettered the DS sr dac. 

@kray I have had the full gambit of Asian, European and North American DAC's come through my listening space, Tubed, SS, Hybrids and I keep the LessLoss DAC’s in my systems. They just work for me, in both systems organic, non colored and they are so engaging. Key is having a strong server/streamer and decent cables and power supplies. I have throughout my systems the LessLoss 640X and power cables all entropic. Lois and Vil are pure geniuses. 

I’m a big fan of older R2R chip based DACs like the AD1862 and AD1865.

LTA Aero DAC has the AD1865 or you can get the Audial S5b with the TDA1541.

You could also hop onto DIYaudio and build one. I’ve got an AD1862 DAC with a tube I/V stage using a NOS GE 6DJ8 and it sounds amazing.