How do you make a final decision on a DAC

2nd @lordmelton would have my vote at that level or Holo Spring 3KTE

If you're thinking Terminator+... That's not a bad choice either from what 've heard.

Audition in your listening environment is the only way.

Any new component has to have synergy with your existing system.

Don't be influenced by a brand name, reviews or technical numbers.

Listen passively and, if you are drawn away from what you are doing by the sound, you will be on to something.

When you feel that you are being entertained more by the music and you stop thinking about your system, that will be a good indicator to help you make a choice. 

I would be interested to know what you don't like about the Benchmark? I am considering moving on from my RME ADI2--DAC, and the Benchmark DAC3 is being considered as its replacement.

I’ve got a very different suggestion & that is the Border Patrol DAC designed & built by Gary Dews in Maryland. He designs & builds really good tube equipment albeit quite pricey. The fully optioned model is just under $2K & sounds excellent! It’s a controversial piece which several well respected reviewers love & some hate because it doesn’t measure very well. 
 

I find it clean, tight but most importantly not at all fatiguing. It has one rectifier tube for the power supply which is not in the signal path. If you listen to R & R & appreciate  the sound of a hood turntable w/o typical vinyl drawbacks, check it out!!

I am another Denafrips fan.  I’m running a Gaia/Venus II combo and it’s wonderful.  Smooth as silk and easy to listen to, while still being very detailed.  I recently tried out the Classe Delta PRE preamp and it has an ESS DAC built in, and it didn’t even come close to the Denafrips combo.  (The Classe is still an amazing preamp, though).  Also, I have dealt with Todd and he fixed an Avatar CD transport that was a little off and did a great job.  Plus one Denafrips for me.