If possible, you need to listen to DACs in your system. I've been going through the process of trying to replace my DAC for almost a year. This is my experience to date, not an absolute, but based on listening to various DACs in my system.
Rockna Signature: my wife and I hated it in our system...bright in my system, I didn't like the soundstage, and it just didn't sound good
Bricasti M1 SE: lacked detail in my system, not as dimensional as the DCS Rossini or Dave
DCS Bartok(non-APEX): lacked detail, dark tonality, in my opinion it's overpriced for what you get
Mola Mola Tambaqui: very similar sound as the Dave, but the bass wasn't as articulate and defined as the Dave, if I owned the Tambaqui I wouldn't sell it for the Dave
DCS Rossini APEX: does everything better than any DAC I've ever listened to in my system; unfortunately way too bright and couldn't enjoy the music,
I'm looking for a DAC below $20K to replace my Chord Dave. I tried adding the MScaler and didn't like it in my system. I may purchase the Ideon ION DAC without hearing it in my system, but I'm scared to.