DAC, amp and headphone for the following 5 attributes

look at Schitt for ya

https://www.schiit.com/products/loki-max?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwytS-BhCKARIsAMGJyzqXNOhCf4YtulDnfP0vLv15yfOsn4clPTnqbfb6fcP6JacP65fdHkwaAtviEALw_wcB

What's that? Doesn't look like a DAC or an amp.

https://www.schiit.com/products/yggdrasil
https://www.schiit.com/products/mjolnir-3

sorry was unaware that you could not search for products on a webpage, but these two are their top-of-the-line Offerings. 

I have a setup very similar to this that has all the characteristics you’re looking for in spades…

https://www.amazon.com/HIFIMAN-Arya-Organic-Full-Size-Audiophiles/dp/B0C5RFXMM5/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1AEHGHOYG515G&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.0WmDWUDAdqWeTrT7fgpvJEfN5p9-5JXnYAXNBAuUb_GLHe6QLhQYJXZIJN71jUn1174v7LEzGkZPVoylq-k7E0RyFPnlGIRpwagNE99smQif-D6h7x4WWAQZQPSSvqO3FG3ET8QCRL160b7mQ0ih7Gp-vDeqV-Mj4q_dad7B_m5xj3E8b1eFef_O3Yh5pqW4GTewmMPQAsOzxKaoPvxuZ4FJlY-BcvpRh1KxIz42JkM.PUtTUHGhb2jtk8whzM3ViKndWeXAF5zIi_1o5LgHbgg&dib_tag=se&keywords=hifiman+ananda+stealth&qid=1742072425&sprefix=Hifiman+Anan%2Caps%2C145&sr=8-4

https://www.amazon.com/Singxer-Balanced-Discrete-Single-Ended-Amplifier/dp/B08QMDM631/ref=sr_1_1?crid=36FHFRFPAWEJ9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.a_4YB_UsbYMayP223OeQKZU4N4VTqol0sYmiKbbvq3Ke65iTjPLYl1qDQvHZEntMhdfWj3VoE8tCPpBtp_2oDEMr6NzyMg--sMnMkKXMih0VOfjSu3dSR5Tho6GgNrob.XKCnv0uXTNEYhr9JtI3RzjqyhTbqJrpxhWsib-K_79c&dib_tag=se&keywords=singxer+sa-1&qid=1742072591&sprefix=Singxer%2Caps%2C102&sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.com/Musician-Draco-Entry-Level-Decoder-DSD1024/dp/B096S6HBQY/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2MUYAX2S3Y7DL&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.xQRP4OUTi3myi6qq-KqkSKdpLvyXyNL8upeg2FeZLjc4ON1NJEWJRWjfNXkhuzd-bHUPX8i7-yd_5iy-AmkG6pog0qyPT7WVb3EE4rM1lNM5HTwKKIgmR91kl2UdL9b24ROfd4pWT6HtSxD96Caflgmle67JfC7k87wpUOiGcsVa5O4PSGxhKdPj0-qQELEf5wRlK8EzI0l3bwHnWxPUrGMWH9iTmRWBkOlLCO_jzko.qQ7mKV3VUhsFthkrDr9mS9ToQGmccqyxmrSG_maFpWI&dib_tag=se&keywords=Musician+DAC&qid=1742072661&sprefix=musician+dac%2Caps%2C94&sr=8-3

Best of luck. 

• Detail retrieval
• Instrument separation - like clarity between distinct sounds, which doesn't feel muddied at all. I think this is the most important for me

There are no headphones that have as much detail as the RAAL SR1b | Magna | Immanis. I love the SR1b more than the more expensive Magna and Immanis because the SR1b is a 2-channel presentation compared to the traditional headphone presentation of the other 2 phones.

The only issue with the SR1b is that is has some brightness to it and needs some warmth in the chain. I use the Schitt Yggi+ Less Is More DAC. You can get this on the used market for about $1700.

I have 2 ways to power the SR1a (same as the SR1b).

• Schitt Kara F preamp ($799) | Schitt Aegir v1 amp ($500 used) | RAAL TI-1b interface ($800) | Yggi+ LIM ($1700 used)
• RAAL VM-1a tube headphone amp | Schitt Yggi+ LIM

Someone previously posted to look at the Schitt Mjolnir v3. I sold mine 3 days ago and replaced it with the Schitt Kara F preamp, The MJ3 is warmer, and I loved it in the system where the Kara F currently resides. I used the Mj3 as a preamp because the headphone amp on the MJ3 cannot drive the Sr1a.

My friend Danny at RAAL-Requisite has 1 more VM-1a left to sell, I do not think it is made anymore by the Serbian designer.

Requisite Audio | High-End Audio For Creators & Connosouirs

Thank you all for the valuable inputs.. Certainly helpful!

@yyzsantabarbara, Looks like estats are the way to go, the only problem is budget. Getting a headphone + energizer is usually well above 5k. Maybe I will get used ones.