Need help picking a new DAC

Trying to upgrade to a similar priced DAC is almost never a good idea. Typically you trade one set of weaknesses for another. Instead I would wait and save up to be able to jump up a level of performance. Given the category you are in I would recommend a 3x increase in investment to get up a level. All aspects of the sound should improve with this jump up. You must do your research of course, you can’t blindly buy something. You have to make sure its characteristics align with your values in sound… musical or hyper detailed for instance. 

What streamer are you using?  Chances are a $1500 DAC will outperform the internal DAC of a budget streamer, especially if you throw a LPS into the mix.  From the sound qualities you’re looking for Chord would seem to be a very good choice but not familiar with the Frerot.  Another one I’d take a look at is the Musician Pegasus R2R DAC, which I own and think it also possesses the sound qualities you’re looking for.  Plus, you can add a DDC like the Musician Pisces or Denafrips Iris (that I also own) down the road and get a further significant performance bump by using an i2S connection.  Pretty sure you get a 30-day return option if you buy from Amazon BTW.  Just another potential option, and here’s a good review just fyi…

https://soundnews.net/sources/dacs/musician-audio-pegasus-r2r-dac-review/

Hope this helps, and best of luck.  

I currently own a blue sound node but have a ever solo dmp a6 master edition enroute.

The rest of my system is comprised as so:

Audio Hungary x200 Integrated

Falcon Acoustics Ram Studio 30’s

Audio quest niagara 1200

I love tube amps and have some kt150s enroute to give a bit fuller presentation as well.

Give the Merason Frerot a whirl, call Constantine he will send you one to demo in your system. https://www.atelier13-usa.com/merason-frerot-dac Swiss goodness. Oh and get some KT170s for your X200 worth every penny. 

Choice of a pleasing DAC is such a personal thing that it is hard to see testimonials getting to Nirvana.

Ears and features (including form factor and reliability) seem more important.

Maybe best to wait until you audition the Chord Qutest, then tell us what you like/dislike. It would give us a baseline on which direction to go. Also, a budget would be very helpful. Make sure you put enough break-in time for the QuTest before evaluating.

I’ve just acquired an Okto Research dac8 stereo and it’s really something special. Very detailed, nuanced, transients. Balanced, great stage, placements, etc. So engaging. Closest thing I’ve come to really hearing the recording without any clinical sheen.

Long wait time, however. I was fortunate enough to grab it used. Only mentioning it as it falls within that price range. Not to mention I’m also sorta giddy about it!