R2R next? Don't like ESS

+1 for the Schiit BitFrost 2/64. No ESS chips and clever engineering to use 4 chips to optimize performance. Like most Schiit products, it's a phenomenal bargain. I'll upgrade mine eventually but it'll take something special to impress me. 

Go find an Audio Note dac or SW1X dac and you will be set.

Good Luck

Don

@drmuso when I looked Friday it said 20%.

Anyway, I just went through a review because my Topping D90 AKM4499 needs replaced.  The tariff has many people confused, including manufacturers.  I will list some brands that are good IMO. 

Border Patrol, Denafrips, Gustard, Holo to name a few.  You can find the model that suits your budget the lowest cost R2R i would buy is a Denafrips Ares.  Used $750.

I can never make up my mind.  I just purchased a Denafrips Pontus 12 used.  Used hold their value.  They have sold lots of them.  I would have purchased a new one but the current situation made me want to steer away from getting one here from China. People are selling any new ones at or above list.

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).   

Another vote for Denafrips. Haven’t heard the Aries but I’ve really been impressed with their Pontus ll 12th.  You owe yourself a listen!