@holmz I advise finding a dealer that suits your needs, style and preference from anywhere in the country. There are many who are terrific in supporting their clients, irrespective of location. Some are especially strong in modern (current) digital system building.
A resource to start with are the threads in this forum that list recommended dealers. You can also evaluate some of those dealers based on their posts in the digital related and focused threads.
I suggest speaking with at least three and going with the one you have the best gut feel for.
Given your lack of exposure and experience with digital, a guiding hand will likely prove invaluable. It’s also the best way to demo the units within your own system, once you establish a relationship.
BTW, a good friend has the Merging stack and is extremely impressed. It’s outside of your budget but performs at a level significantly above the two DAC models you have been focused on.
I encourage you to think beyond a single component...the DAC in your case. It’s critical to have a comprehensive consideration / approach for everything from the incoming ISP signal through to the DAC.
All the best and good luck.
Find a local audiophile or dealer who has achieved "something" with digital and learn from them.
Good one…- There are no dealers near by.
- The one that I am most familiar with (In SoCal) has the Merging+.
