DAC upgrade

If your system is sorted in terms of noise reductions (clean power and good interconnects) and source jitter (accuracy), The gap in performance across the DACs you listed will shrink.

I'd recommend you consider and budget for those variables as well when choosing a DAC. You'll not be maximizing any DAC regardless of which you choose. From experience, it makes a HUGE difference.

That said, the Qutest is probably the best value of the bunch in terms of build quality and detail retrieval. Its sound isn't as meaty and full as some would like, but that works well paired with Tube Amps and thicker heavier sounding gear. It's the only piece of gear I've heard in your list.

Put the iFi iDSD Pro Signature in your list as well. It's quite good and highly customizable so you can dial in the type of sound you like. It also integrates a streamer with native Tidal, Spotify and Airplay support (via ethernet only, the wireless radio isn't very good at all).

Hi OP, I'd really encourage you to take a look at the Gustard offerings, either the R26 or A26. Chinese, but tank-like, and marvelous sound. I have the R26 and I'd call it dynamic, neutral, and detailed, but with a rich tone. The sound can be further refined to your liking with your cable choice if you want something smoother and warmer.

I bought mine as a set and forget DAC to use with an existing streamer, but I quickly learned how great the LAN input is. It's a Roon endpoint out of the box, or you can use it with a upnp app on your phone/computer, which adds tremendous value IMO. This has unexpectedly opened up a whole new world to me of room correction, DSD, upsampling with HQPlayer, etc, with no additional streamer needed. It even has a 10MHz clock input even if you want to go crazy. Good luck!

+1+++ for Denafrips Pontus II 12th.  If you also want to consider the USB solution, you can add the Denafrips Iris DDC 12th, which made things appreciably better through the I2S connection.

I think this discussion is going in a good direction since the OP is a vinyl guy.  R2R DACs make a lot of sense.  I would take a look at the Holo Audio Spring 3.  It's a  true Non Oversampling R2R DAC (Denafrips is not) that will sound very analogue.  New it's at your price point and second hand would be well below you $ threshold. Very highly rated by Stereophile.   Good luck and cheers.

Thank you for all the great recommendations. I am going to talk about ASR results. Please don’t let this get into a well documented ASR rant. I know they don’t listen to the equipment, just test. But it is a potential tiebreaker & a potential reference. In my mind, if something tests well AND sounds good, you have a winner. The following are my findings:

Chord Qutest: still in the running: everything I need, nothing I don’t, form factor is perfect, ASR results outstanding and a local returnable purchase. In
Shiit Yggy: Sounds great, but expensive, form factor a little large, and those ASR results… yikes! Please don’t come back at me Yggy fans… out.

RME ADI-2: Nice unit, good size, great ASR results, but a little too revealing, clinical, too many bells & whistles, Out

Topping D90 III: Probably sounds good, good size, great ASR results (Amir uses a Topping). Quality control issues with high failure rates. Out.

Benchmark DAC3: Great ASR results, Expensive & Perhaps too revealing. Out.

Weiss: No USB in. Out

Denarfips Pontus II: Fantastic sounding (Steve Huff review was very convincing), recommended by many of you, good form factor, no ASR review, but ASR recommend the Ares II, In.

So I am left with the Chord and the Pontus. I don’t think I can go wrong with either or any on this list!

As I typed, came to conclusion… going with Chord. Local purchase with opportunity to return, great sound & form factor, everything I need, nothing I don’t.
Thank you again for all your outstanding recommendations!
Please no ASR comments… please.