R2R next? Don't like ESS

OP here - some quick answers:

budget?  as little as possible. There are products that punch way above their weight class -- that's what I want -- just shy of diminishing returns.  Most of my setup is DIY (transport - rPi & digiOne, Interconnects, speaker cables, phono stage, etc.).  This is why the opAmp swapping appeals to me.  

Here's what I've tried so far (in order of preference): 

Maverick Audio D3 - AD1955 (w/ upgraded opAmp)

Khadas Toneboard -    ESS ES9038Q2M

Fozi zd3 - ES9039Q2M (w/ Upgraded opAmp)

SMSL Sanskrit - AK4493 DAC 

Hint 6 Dac - ESS Sabre32 Reference ES9018K2M

Don't get me wrong -- these are all good dacs and do what they're suppose to.  Out of all of them, I preferred the Maverick Audio D3 (10 years old!) over the others.  Especially with the Sparkos upgrades ... it really opened my eyes to digital capabilities.  I found the ESS dacs that I've tried in my system have 2 things in common: 1. digital glare or sheen, 2. emphasized treble.  Both of which I find fatiguing.

So, do I go R2R or spend more for a better ESS implementation (geshelli J3 for example).   

OP here again:

thanks everyone for the recommendations.  MHDT seems like a good place to start.   

I’m quite sure based on the forum experience that there is nothing wrong with ESS.  My findings are subjective and are my own, in my room, with my setup.  

Heh @iseland - yep, great comment.  That's the lesson I think.  I was spoiled with the tone board - it was my first dac for like $100 and it was surprisingly acceptable.  Moving around that same pricepoint - even doubling it - didn't seem to offer any more.

Seems Denafrips for the easy win and they're all of the place used.  Though, I must admit, I'm slightly intrigued with the tube dacs.  I will look into these more.  The Maverick audio was tube and I really enjoyed it.