What about all those Chinese DACs?

I have two Musetec DACS the MH005 and MH006. They are both fantastic and unfortunately got hidden in the Holo May's shadow. 

They are more than capable of upping their performance to whatever system changes you implement. I've heard many, many high end DACS but for me I'm more than happy with this underrated brand.

+1 specs are nearly irrelevant in determining the sound quality of components
 

Gotta disagree 100% on that one.  Specs and measurements are the ONLY way to determine ACTUAL sound quality.  Ignoring that fact can be a slippery slope. 
 

just to once again demonstrate that one person's high tea is another's fingerbowl rinse slop

Had the ESS 9039-based Topping D90SE and SMSL DO400.  Swapping back and forth I cannot tell the difference between them (on ribbon headphones).  Both great - clean but not analytical in the bad sense.  

Some sound good others don't.  Some can be modded (by those who know what they're doing) to create a very nice DAC.  

I have two Chinese DACs that were modded by a manufacturer in VERY limited quantities for friends.  They are quite nice but not up to the best quality cost-no-object units.  

Sometimes, you pay your money and take your chances.