R2R next? Don't like ESS

@carousel I agree.  An R26 might be found used. There's one on US Audio Mart for $1000, but they might take less.  I recently upgraded to a Gustard X-30 and I'm very happy with it.  I haven't heard the A26, but I'm sure it's nice. 

@iseland +1.  My new dac has four ESS9039SPRO chips. It sounds pretty great, IMO.

@dclone I went from a Gustard R26 to a Gustard X-30 (four ESS9039SPRO chips). I was afraid that I would miss the warmth of the R26.  I don't.  The X-30 is very impressive.  I'm sensitive to sibilance and high frequencies.  The X-30 is very detailed, but not bright or sharp.  

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650186437-gustard-r26-r2r-dac/

Gustard R26 dac for $825.  It's an r2r dac. 

I think ESS chips get a bad rap because they are used in a lot of inexpensive dacs. 

I had a SMSL VMV D1SE dac with ESS chips. A nice dac for $700. I went to a more expensive r2r dac and it was better.  I went to an even more expensive dac with ESS chips and it's notably better.  With it, my system sounds better than ever.  If you look at the design of my current dac, the chips are important, but as others have said, it's the overall implementation. 

My dac has four ESS9039SPRO chips and it's not at all edgy. I absolutely hate bright, harsh, and edgy sounds. My tinnitus probably doesn't help. It replaced an r2r dac which are typically warmer and less bright. 

One of the things that I like about my current setup is that recordings that I had written off as sibilant, etc no longer are. With my previous gear, I wouldn't play some of my favorite music because the sibilance or edgy sound drove me nuts.  My system is very clear and detailed. I didn't get rid of the sibilance by rounding off the upper frequencies. That doesn't really work, anyway.