Looking for a DAC under 2k

They don’t run production the way we do in the US. We have in process checks and inspections at most every step. They tend to run a product start to finish and check the results at the very end of the process.

You’re doubling down on a dubious stereotype, and I’m being charitable with my language. Many of the electronics that people rely on daily around the world (e.g. TVs, smartphones, etc.) are manufactured in China, and are obviously highly reliable.

To avoid buying a Chinese product that has received virtually nothing short of rave reviews (e.g. a Denafrips DAC) solely because it is Chinese is analogous to someone having avoided buying Japanese products in the 1970s based on a similarly anachronistic reputation.

Of course there are exceptions, as there are a huge number of companies that operate in China. But the one that we are discussing was incorporated in 2012, is a boutique operation (originally five employees; now 40-50), and has a worldwide sales and distribution agent (Alvin Chee) based in Singapore, who is exceptionally responsive to questions and/or problems with the products.

Denafrips describes its production process and materials used here:

https://www.denafrips.com/single-post/2020/06/26/who-are-we-denafrips-explained

To be clear, I don’t care if anyone buys products from them, even though I am quite happy with my Pontus. I am pressing the point simply because I think that any moderately serious research will reveal that the company is well run, and makes excellent products. The fact that they happen to be a Chinese company is, in my view, irrelevant.

I'll consider looking at a Denafrips, but at the moment I leaning strongly towards re buying a PS Audio that I sold a few months back.
FYI, the company I work for has all of our products made in China, and I work with them daily, They CAN and DO make good products, (and they work really cheap) but it takes having people that work for us in place over there to inspect, lots of communications and supervision. 
They don't run production the way we do in the US. We have in process checks and inspections at most every step.They tend to run a product start to finish and check the results at the very end of the process. 
Therefore it's possible get a whole container load of product that can have many bad items in it, and you usually don't discover the issue until it lands in the hands of the consumer. I think my issue (and some friends) with iFi confirms this. Just my experience. 

@traudio I also use an opticalRendu and recently had the same question. Hear to echo comments about how terrific the Denafrips Pontus II is. 
I've owned many dacs made all over the world from PS Audio -US, Metronome - France, Meridian - UK and others. The construction quality, fit/finish and most importantly, sound quality from the Denafrips are hard to rival. While I own American speakers, amp & preamp, along with a Swiss phono stage, my Denafrips doesn't in any way seem out of place or make you think Chinese = cheap. 
The Chord Qutest was the alternative that got the most consideration from me. After researching, although both are beloved by many, my take was that the Denafrips provided more of the design elements found in SOTA DACs( e.g. balanced, dual mono ladders & power supply). You can see that you're getting lots of value for your investment. That coupled with positive experiences listening to Denafrips, and voila. Cheers,
Spencer 

I would have said the Myth Brooklyn, but apparently Myth is undergoing a major change.  Benchmark

I've had the RME ADI-2 for about 3 years. Excellent w/lots of features. Built in Germany.

Bought a Topping D10 for less than 100,- usd best dac i ever bought. But if i compare my investment to a measuring mic for making room correction measurments with Mathaudio room eq towards the topping the measurung mic changed my sound for the better hands down 70% An the topping made it around 5% better (compared to my replaced Philips reference Cd player with 1541A dac). Don’t know how your current room acoustics is but i want to suggest give room correction a try an buy a measuring mic incombination with foobar2000 Mathaudio room eq is freeware .
https://hometheaterhifi.com/reviews/dac/topping-d10-usb-dac-and-usb-spdif-converter-review/

Not everything that comes from China is junk.  Denafrips is not junk, and ignoring them is your loss. 

The Denafrips dacs are a far cry from the junk end of the market. PS rather rude rhetoric considering too 

I’m very happy with my PONTUS

Thanks.
No more Chinese junk after my ifi experience.

Definitely look at the Denafrips dacs, I have the Ares 2, cracking bit of kit. 

Chord Qutest  DAC  the best

I can't offer comparisons, and primarily use a CD transport source, but I have also been quite happy with the Denafrips Pontus ll.

The absolute best deal for your $$ the Denafrips Pontus 2 dac 
just do a search it is a very good R2R dac with separate analog digital power supplies built in on 2 levels ,just do a search ,
then on You tube.

I really like my Heed Abacus.  There is absolutely nothing about it that bothers me.  Sounds like faint praise, but it means I can listen to it for hours. Just sounds good.  

I have the same streamer, actually 2 of them, and they feed a tube DAC, the Audio Mirror Tubadour (for $1500 or $2800) and a Benchmark DAC3B ($1700). Both are amazing with the opticalRendu. The DAC3B is super clean and clear and the AMT3SE adds a nice bit of warmth and more analog sound, without sacrificing too much. I use the AMT3SE with RAAL SR1a headphones which need warmth and are one best "speakers" I have ever heard. The AMT3SE is great with the RAAL.

there are a lot of threads in the digital section over the past year discussing very good dacs in your price range

search bar is your friend

Denafrips Pontus ll might be just the ticket.  Best of luck.