what dacs are fast, lively, energetic?

Have a listen to Benchmark also. From your description you are not looking for analog like sound... but the open / detailed sound that @hk_fan refered to.

@audiocanada What DAC do you have now?

I predict ’ll get flamed for this answer, but perhaps consider one of the Topping D90 variants for $799. It has a crazy low noise floor and is super fast sounding, quite close sonically to the $14K Mola Mola Tambaqui.

Use any available remaining funds on a Synergistic Research Tranquility Pod, which projects an electromagnetic field to deflect inbound EMI while also sucking out any trace EMI in the unit. This will take any edge off the DAC while further improving control, speed, clarity, texture and effortlessness. Then, outfit the DAC with the best possible power cable you can with remaining funds. You can likely outperform the Tambaqui in its stock form for less than $5K. 

I know, I’m bringing up Synergistic Research and am an authorized dealer, which tends to be a very polarizing brand of discussion on this forum. But let’s not let this ruin this thread. I’m just speaking from direct experience and am trying to be honest and helpful. 

My reference DAC is a ~$40K T+A SDV 3100 HV which I purchased before becoming a dealer, but I still have a Topping D90 on personal backup. They are very different sounding, but the D90 is quite zippy in an exhilarating way. I have no professional affiliation to Topping.

current dac is a LAIV Harmony

i think i need chip based for that fast sound, I like your use of 'zippy'

adding Topping to the list

Do you have speakers that can keep up? 

I went from my exasound to my weiss, and I don't think it got any "speedier". 

My Magneplanar's definitely deliver a fast sound, no overhang in the bass department. 

Since you are in Canada look up exaSound. 

Chord