If only price were a good guide. There are many DACs that will trounce your DAC, and some may cost less, I don't know about that end, but it certainly would be possible. The problem is that we have limited exposure and we don't all agree as to what we consider diminishing returns, not to mention what we precieve as sounding good. There are a lot of DACs that can better the Gungnir easily. The problem is that when someone recommends x, you don't know their taste in sound, the strengths and weaknesses of their system, etc. This renders their opinion as virtually useless to me. I have more often been disappointed in highly rated equipment than I have been pleased with it. It doesn't matter what magazine the review is in, though through the years I have found several reviewers who have high standards, and with whom I usually agree. Even if stereo shops abounded, paring this with that could negatively impact our impressions of a certain piece of equipment. This is a very difficult hobby to get to a point of contentment in.
How much does a DAC do the more expensive it is?
Having spun an Oppo 105 for many years on its own before adding a Schiit Gungnir (bought for a generous steal from a wonderful seller here), I was immediately struck with how much more presence and detail the Schiit added to the Oppo's presentation.
That Gungnir, even new, pales in comparison pricewise with 4 and 5 figure DACs I see for sale here.
So what do those much more expensive DACS do for sound? I mean, how much more information can be dug out of the digital files? Is it akin to what a good phono stage can do for a cartridge?