Recommend me a DAC under 3k

I bought the Gustard R26.

I agree that it sounds analog. Very good layering and instrument separation. Bass is articulate as well.

I also use the Wiim Pro. I am using coax out from the Wiim to the Gustard.

I have an Audible Illusions Modulus 3A tube Preamp with a new LSA Warp 1 Amp. 

The Gustard R26 sound now rivals my vintage Pioneer PL-707 turntable in sound quality. It has the ability to be upgraded as well.

I have a variety if systems with DACs. My base system is a Denefrips Ares II. it is a really good basic dac. My mid system has a FIIO K9 Pro ESS. it is a dac and streamer. it has two ESS 9038PRO dac chips and costs less than $1k. Absolute bargain of the century. My high end system has a Cary Audio DMS-700. It is good, not great and definitely not worth the high $8k price tag. 

I also had a RME Adi-2 and a Schiit Bifrost, which I didn't like. Sold them.

I really think the FIIO sounds fantastic. Especially for the money.

+1 for the Denafrips Pontus II.  I don't have the 12th anniversary edition, but I did upgrade the firmware to the current version.  This is a fantastic DAC for the price and perhaps even higher price.  I tried to avoid Chi-Fi, but after trying and returning a few Sabre based DACs, the Pontus II just presses all the right buttons.  Note...it is not a streamer.  You will have to add a network bridge to stream from hard disc storage or streaming services.

+2 for the Pontus 2 12th. BTW, if you installed the lastest firmware, you are at the 12th level. Great detail and smoothness especially with OS and smooth filter. Adding the Iris DDC added even more detail for a USB streamer. 

I second the recommendation for a Black Ice FX Tube DAC. I have this DAC and like it very much but it is not my primary DAC. It did very well in a blind shootout at the Arizona Audio/Video Club DAC Shootout and I have had good experience over the years with equipment designed by Jim Fosgate.

I have two other DACs - a Berkeley Audio Reference 2 MQA and an Audio Mirror Tubadour IV. I also have a Marantz KI Ruby SACD player. Before these DACs/Players I had a PSA PerfectWave MK II and a Marantz SA 8005 SACD player.

The main point I would like to make is that in my experience there just isn't a lot of difference between modern DACs in how they sound. If you do a careful A/B comparison with matched volumes you will probably find that you are hard pressed to tell one from the other. If you are after a certain "sound" a DAC probably isn't the place to find it. It's nothing like changing phono cartridges, for example. One might think that my Berkeley Audio Reference 2 would blow away the other DACs but I have to admit that the differences are very subtle. I found this unit for a very good price used and I have a collection of HDCDs which it will decode but it certainly doesn't sound 20 times better than my Black Ice. Having the Berkeley gives me the satisfaction of listening to a DAC that is considered as one of the best and I don't think I'll need to upgrade again. If I wasn't so OCD about my stereo the Black Ice would have served me very well for the rest of my days. I got the Tubadour because I wanted to try a NOS DAC to see what the hoopla is all about. It's still breaking in but it also sounds pretty darn similar to every other DAC I've had.

The reason I recommend the Black Ice is that it's well within your budget and at least you can try different tubes which gives you some ability to modify the sound. Otherwise I suggest that you select a DAC that has the features you want, a story you connect with, and gives you the best pride of ownership. Then sit back and enjoy the music.