@cal3713 I want to reinforce that my post and suggested approach was specific to the OP @hilde45 It is not a general recommendation.
I do not recommend a limited time ’demo’ or ’audition’ given where you are in your journey.
The OP, based on the threads he has started, is in a (complete) system rebuilding phase. Given where he is in his ’journey’ (i.e. not that far along) I stand by my suggested approach.
@hilde45 All of the DACs you are likely to consider, whether returnable or not, are going to work and most likely will work well.
Optimizing a component, in this case a DAC, takes time and effort. Cabling changes, isolation, as well as actions taken upstream from the DAC can result in significant differences in performance. One cannot address the optimizing for your system (synergies) and your personal preferences via short, time sensitive auditions [given where YOU ARE, at this point in time].
Since your component purchase choices / decisions are in flux and not finalized, you need to start somewhere. And that holds across the board.
Don’t get caught up in over thinking this.
Actual hands on and ears on experience, in other words Living With a component and a system, is way more valuable than (excessive) rumination via posting and post responses.
I suggest pivoting to a position that looks at components for their value as Teachable Units over your pursuit of "perceived" performance values (currently unrealized since they only exist in these posts / forum).