Thoughts on DAC option

I would look into isolation for components, and adding super tweeters, that got rid of any harshness left in my system... Also power conditioning, I use equitech and that also wiped out any harshness remnants 

My DAC is a Schitt Yggdrasil OG with all the upgrades, and I did install Synergistic Research fuses everywhere I could which added a very analog quality to things and I highly recommend 

I have the PL hybrid also and have been dealing with the same issues you’re describing. And that is with a tube DAC. In the last couple weeks I managed to solve (at least it feels that way) the problem. 
I watched a YouTube video about speaker placement and followed the steps. I replaced my RCA and speakers cables with Cardas Parsec cables. These two remedies made an enormous difference in my system. 
That said, a nice R2R DAC should also help out. 

Sounds like you've already made some progress.  I'll just say that I love my Chord Qutest, but I have an all-tube system and I was looking for a "faster" DAC than the tube-output Doge 7 I had before.

Huey said it best:

 I want a new drug
One that won't make me sick
One that won't make me crash my car
Or make me feel three feet thick
I want a new drug
One that won't hurt my head
One that won't make my mouth too dry
Or make my eyes too red

[Chorus]
One that won't make me nervous
Wondering what to do
One that makes me feel like I feel when I'm with you
When I'm alone with you

You need a new DAC.

Your experience with DACs is similar to mine.  I originally purchased a Cambridge Audio DAC Magic and then upgraded to the Auralic Vega.  HUGE improvement in sound quality!  I then started reading about the Chord DACs and was able to demo a Chord Hugo TT2.  WOW!!!  The difference in sound quality to me was STUNNING!  I would recommend you demo a Chord Hugo TT2 and skip the Chord 2QUTE.  It may cost a little more, but the difference is amazing! 

I use an AudioQuest Carbon USB cable between my PC and DAC and the sound is incredible!