DAC - DCS Bartok or the new Berkeley Alpha DAC 3

OP @efoo 

Both of your choices are great. 

IMHO, I think you should check out the Holo May Dac. It isn't a chip DAC. It is a NOS R2R DAC. I'm leaning towards one myself. 

Either Level 2 or penultimate KTE. 
http://https//www.kitsunehifi.com/product/holo-audio-may-dac/

Best of luck. 

@andyhifiman

For your Node 2i, did you happen to do the PSU upgrade(PD Creative) and get an SBooster LPS or other LPS?

I did all that and added an upgraded power cable and all of that made a very big and perceptible sonic upgrade to the "basic" Node 2i.

All that being said, I would assume that a HiFi Rose RS 250 et al would best my upgraded Node 2i as I am using the Burr Brown PCM 1792 DAC in my Classe SSP-800 processor. Which is very good still....

But I do wonder if a quality external DAC like a Benchmark 3B or Holo May would best a streamers internal DAC. But you are increasing your investment.