This topic has cost me a ton of money over the years.
When the upgrade bug sets in I always seem to change out my DAC thinking there will be some magical moment. This opinion is worsened by the many reviews who proclaim one DAC is so much better than the next. Steve Huff on youtube is one of my favorites. Great videos and he's so passionate.... The Wiess DAC is so warm, the Dave is holographic, omg... the May and Terminator... on it goes.
I've owned almost off of them.... most recently the DAVE. When compared to my Benchmark DAC3, the differences are so amazingly slight I'm left disappointed. There is a difference, but you almost need instantaneous ABing to tell and even then I'm trying to convince myself it's really there.
Best to get a good DAC and keep it. Even my Topping DAC is almost identical to the Benchmark. I've sold all those expensive DACs and put the money toward the amp and transducer.
Hope this wasn't useless
steve