External DAC

I had a Schiit Bifrost and it was better than the DAC in the Hegal HD 30 and that swas a  while ago. The new Bifrost would be much better.

The Schiit Gungnier would ba another step up and the  YGGDRASIL would be abother step up from the Gungnir.

There are many other great DAC's out there, so I'm sure other members will suggest some varied and great alternatives

Regards

A Benchmark will be a better DAC, but I doubt you will hear the difference. DACs are so good that they are rarely the bottle neck in a system. Speakers and the room always are, but I see elsewhere that you have nice Spendors. So, if your room is big enough, how about two decent subwoofers (always only with room eq like the Antimode 8033)?

Benchmark DAC 3 is excellent - exceptional measured performance.

Ignore the Measurement Brothers.

I had a Hegel HD-12 (which I liked) that is said to be very similar in sound character to yours. Moved up to a used Exogal Comet Plus. The latter is much more detailed, textured, and refined sounding with more air and soundstage depth & layering. Opens up a new listening experience with well recorded  music.

The Hegel was a bass monster (in a good way mostly), the Comet is faster in the midbass with less heft in the lower mids. Both have smooth, musical midrange with the Hegel being more forward.

Dave

Auralic Vega or Chord Hugo TT