Is there any such thing as a bad sounding DAC these days?

I don't know .......I have a 12 year mytek dac I run my TV and streamer through. I disconnected the streamer as Youtube sounded just as good to me (use it like a radio). I have an Ayre CD SACD and DVD player (20 years old) sounds pretty good. In my other system I have a Wadia 921/922 with an Esoteric transport. (I've never heard digital better than this) admittedly I will play vinyl most of the time. That t said without the full commitment to the vinyl playback hobby, I think digital is a terrific alternative. I don't own any modern DACS. I'm generally satisfied with what I have. I haven't heard any streaming setups that got my attention yet. That needs be be addressed if anything can compete with what I currently have. 

Recently compared a Topping D50III ($250) to a HoloAudio May L2 ($5K). SLIGHT differences, where depending on music played I SLIGHTLY preferred one over the other. DACs linked in Roon, volume matched, both connected to preamp, so could switch source on preamp with click of the remote. Differences in musical recordings and personal tastes are more decisive than objective quality.

And yes, I selected the D50III based on excellent measurements and listening reviews on ASR. The May was chosen based on review by Goldenear who infamously debunked MQA.

After reading his NYT interview, ask Chad Kassem if there are any good DACs out there.

The biggest issue is not the chip, it is analog part. Cheap DACS use cheap op amps and electrolytics as well as do not isolate digital and analog power supplies.

This is funny many will choose denafrips terminator because it’s really excellent DAC. When Trelja heard the whole line of Denafrips. He prefers the Ares, this probably 7 yrs ago. So I went to axpona and went to listen to terminator and Ares . Joe was right , the Ares sound bigger but many listeners loves the terminator.I bought the Ares demo.