Which DAC makers let you do in home trial?

An R2R DAC done well is more expensive to make. It's just the technology. I wouldn't say  overhyped nor over priced since it is  costly to make a good one. . In my opinion if I am using a tube amp I want to feed that amp the clearest distortion free signal I can since I want the sound of the tube amp coming through. Tube DACs add their own coloration, some like doing that , I don't  it's a preference thing. I would rather use something like a Benchmark DAC3 which is a very neutral DAC. Some will probably chime in on getting a NOS R2R DAC which is non over sampling. You might prefer it, some people do but once again unless done well with proper filtering they can be noisy on the analog output so you're not sending a good clear signal to your preamp or integrated. If you can try different ones do so and see what you like its your system,  room and hearing.

Apos audio offers 30 day return, crutchfield I think is 60 days. 

If you're going to have a tube amplifier personally I wouldn't get a tube dac, I would also be carefull looking at R2R dacs they can be expensive for what you get, avoid NOS.

When evaluating DACs one of the most important measurements are what comes out of the analog with the lowest noise and distortion how that is done by using either R2R technology or Delta Sigma isn't that important if the noise floor is below human hearing. There are R2R DACs that do this very well as well as Delta Sigma. 

This is what I was talking about when I said you need to pay close attention to proper implementation and filtering in looking at R2R DACs. R2R DACs that measure and perform are expensive.

The BorderPatrol Digital to Analogue Converter SE's measured performance is dominated by its use of the underperforming TDA1543 DAC chip. Google indicates that the current price of this chip is between $4 and $6, depending on the quantity purchased; I would have expected a D/A processor costing $1850 to have used a better resistor-ladder chip. However, it is fair to note that Philips's much-better-performing TDA1541 DAC, long discontinued, currently costs around $140 each for the basic version, and up to $299 for the premium S1 Crown version—prices too high for that chip to be used in BorderPatrol's DAC SE.—John Atkinson

https://www.stereophile.com/content/borderpatrol-digital-analogue-converter-se-measurements

Vinshine audio doesn't offer in home trial period which kind of defeats the whole premise of the thread .

I think you  can run the CXC through the Node2i 

Speakers first, amplifier either seperate or integrated, source. CD player, Streamer Turn table or whatever your preference is, DAC last it has the least impact or should.

DAC's don't  have sound signatures unless they are purposely made that way. The job of a DAC is to convert the digital signal to analog with the least noise and distortion to convey that signal in the most accurate way. Some DACs add different filter settings to get differing sound characteristics, tube DACs and most R2R DACs roll of the top frequencies to give it a more analog sound. Some prefer that and that's fine I am not criticizing anyone's choice just pointing out things the OP might be interested in. I have not recommended the Benchmark just used it as an example. I don't really like recommendations of what someone else likes as it might be completey different from what I like which is why I said try as many different DACs as the OP could to get a feel for his own preference. 

The Digital Amplifier  Company DAC doesn't have a tube option. It's called Tube Like, the DAC TL. It distorts similar to tubes. 

How can this thing sound so wonderful, but measure so-so?". Well, after taking a better look, we discovered that the distortion characteristics of our shortest-path circuit were similar to that of tube (a.k.a. valve)