PS Audio DirectStream DAC measurements by ASR

Trust your ears not the MEASUREBATORS !

Trust both, as they go hand in hand, that way your not kidding yourself.  

Yes and no, George. Your statement is more useful - if the proper caveats are included.

@elberoth2
Thanks for the link to the review.  Ugghh.  Looks like I made a bad choice in buying the Stellar Gain Cell DAC/pre-amp.  Interestingly, when using the DAC function, it sounds pretty good on quiet and simple music, but when the music gets more complex and louder, something just doesn't sound right. Hard to describe it.
I like the functionality of it, in that it is also a pre-amp and has home theater bypass, since it is part of a family room system that is used for both music and movies.  I wonder if there is some similar product that actually has good performance. 

Yes and no
if the proper caveats are included.

Yes and Yes

OK the proper caveat would be

"Trust both ears and measurements as they go hand in hand. That’s the way all good audio equipment is made, with good electronic engineering design and hours of testing and measuring, then listening, and if need be, design changes using measurements/test again and listening again."

Any designer that doesn’t do this, I suggest all to give a very wide birth to, as they are snake oil peddlers.

Cheers George

Yes, agree with @georgehifi Shortlist few dacs which have good sinad measurements. If you are mostly listening to redbook format get something which can resolve minimum 16 bit ie 96DB dynamic range.
From there pick one based on listening impressions, features price.