How do you know if you are upgrading your DAC?


As auditioning is nearly impossible and most of the "Hot" brands are small, made
in China and none too well distributed, how do you know if a given DAC will be  a significant upgrade?
I have an Oppo 205.  Love to hear from other 205 owners who have been shopping/buying recently.
chorus
Generally as you move up the food chain you get more DAC for the money.  Sort of like buying wine.  I started with a Schiit Yggdrasil- nice DAC, then a Wyred4Sound DSDv2.2SE- better DAC, then Denafrips Terminator- really really good DAC and now Denafrips Terminator Plus- kinda special DAC - may be my last DAC ever.
Denafrips is a Chinese company, prompt excellent support and customer service.  I also have their Iris DDC and am blown away by the benefit of USB to I2S conversion and clock out with the Terminator Plus.
How do you know? You listen to many of your trusted reviewers who have tested them. When they, and others, are all dumbstruck on how good it is, well, you make a decision.

Which is why I have a Denafrips arriving next Tuesday. Not sure it will compete with my vinyl rig, but most seem to think it is a big step in that direction. Sold me.

As good as the Oppo is, it’s internal DAC can probably be ‘beaten’ by a number of newer stand-alone DAC’s today.
I had a 205 and never thought much of its CD playback.  But I will tell you that putting a Vibrapod 3 under each foot made a considerable improvement.  I never thought Vibrapods did much until I tried it under the Oppo.  Another user here said his 105 improved quite a bit when he put some brand of spring footer under the unit as well.  IMO, any of the dacs mentioned here are far superior to the Oppo, but that is no guarantee you will hear the difference in your system with your ears. I now use a Heed Abacus dac and it is miles ahead of the Oppo, IMO.  No comparison.  But do try the Vibrapods. Really.