It all depends on what you want your system to sound like. If you can use a soldering iron then change a few parts in your CD and pre and see what happens. Most of the DACs I have heard in the $2K to $5K range really don't float my boat. They very similar characteristics some do on one thing better than the other but not much to my ears in sound differences. The Berkeley Alpha DAC mention was nothing exceptional when I owned it. Same with the Benchmark. The Schitt again to my ears nothing special. To me you are better off modifying one of your components that to buy a cheaper priced DAC. You do not need a very expensive transport either as mentioned above to mate with a higher priced ( better DAC price does not dictate the sound). These DACs if you look under the cover are not using any special parts like V-Caps, Duelands, Caddock resistors so to me they are nothing special. You can but these better parts in your current components and to me achieve a much better sound in your system.
Happy Listening.
Happy Listening.