What does your DAC sound like

There are so many DAC choices- tough to narrow it down without a stated budget.  The OPs list hints at a budget, but it’s not very definitive.

I still have a Denafrips Pontus ll.  It’s been everything I’ve wanted in a DAC. R2R for this guy.

Maybe someday I’ll move up the line.

Hello dvdgreco!  Emotiva makes a remarkable deck for the $$. Very smooth and musical. I'm a musician and know how instruments really sound. I've bought and listened extensively to Sony, a couple of  those bug named thumb drive sized plug ins, SMSLs, Meridian, Pre Box, and quite a few others. I really liked the Sony, but when I tried the Emotiva (there is only one model) -  wow, clear winner! I use a homebrew passive preamp, Starke Sound power amp (highly recommended) and Magnepan LRS (and LRS+) with crossovers from GRS labs and DIY subs. Super transparent. On the Messiah recording from the Belgian orchestra with four German soloists, you can tell the wall behind the orchestra is made of bricks. That's transparent! If you can spend thou$ands on DACs, spend it on cruise tickets to places where you can hear lots of live music. Keep smiling!

I got the Denafrips Venus2 12th (R2R) which i got a couple of years ago, is still my got to DAC. It sounds analog like to me as compared to my previous Chord  QuTest and I find it better to my taste as compared to the Holo Dac KTE.

The Holo Dac is very good, but just a matter of taste. either one is a winner.

I dunno, it sounds like it sounds I guess.  It's the DA2 in my McIntosh C2800.  I like it.