Benchmark DAC3 or Bryston BDA2 or 3

From Bryston website:

BDA-3

Digital to Analog Converter

"the Bryston BDA-3 offers measured performance that is as good as digital can get."—John Atkinson | Stereophile 2016

BDA 1, 2, 3 are DACS, BDP are player/streamers. 

mahler123 reviews says the Benchmark is a tad forward compared to Bryston which would concur your thoughts. Hard to compare though if not in one's own system for apples to apples. 

Mahler123 From reviews and Stereophile apparently the Bryston Dac measures superbly, as good as can get according the their testing. 

Apparenltly due to class a output and no op amps the Bryston sounds almost tube like smoothness and slightly less forward than Benchmark which also scores very high Class A+.