$1300-1500 DAC

Andrew, it's an r2r DAC with a tube buffer.

I’ll 2nd the endorsement of the Schiit Gungnir multibit DAC. I’ve owned one for close to a year and have found it to be very enjoyable.  It provides a lot detail without sounding overly analytical. 

+another for Ayre Acoustics. A pre-owned QB-9 or Codex will provide neutral sound reproduction and a quiet background with excellent dynamics and detail, but without any edginess. And Ayre’s support and upgrade policies are excellent. My QB-9 DSD has provided 5 years of trouble free and engaging listening. 

the chord qute hd (the most beutiful audio component )and more advanced versions are around 600-800$
you can use the the rest to swap all the freya tubes to a proper nos quad of ge's 

Audio-GD R8 Ladder DAC with out a doubt.
I've heard two systems a few days ago, both much more expensive than mine and both with +20k DACs and I prefered my under 20k system over those +120k systems.
Of course its not just the DAC, but if you have the right components and you properly set them, you can have a system that can compete with multi thousand dollars ones.
But the R8 was up to the task. Of course I feed it with a very good signal, the SOtM SMS-200 Ultra Neo vía the Gustard U16 with I2S signal, much better than just USB. 
You wont have a very very good sounding system until you take care of multiple issues like AC power, vibration control, the digital signal, speaker location, listening position, a pair of well located and integrated subs, room accoustics, etc