There is a huge tradeoff between DACs in this price class in terms of soundstage vs. detail. It really depends on what you want and what you prioritize. I have been doing a boatload of DAC testing recently and I would put the Rockna Wavelight and Audiobyte HydraVox as my favorites sub $5k. TT2 and M3 are $6K and $5.5K respectively. The Rockna is soundstage centric while the Audiobyte is more detailed. There are a ton of notes in this thread
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/dac-shootout-starts-this-weekend
In the end, system matching to achieve your taste preference is what is most important. You can select the "best" and it may not be to your liking due to a mismatch or just that it is not your preference.
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/dac-shootout-starts-this-weekend
In the end, system matching to achieve your taste preference is what is most important. You can select the "best" and it may not be to your liking due to a mismatch or just that it is not your preference.