Best DAC for around $2,500 or less

I wish I could say that it was that easy for me. If that were the case, I'd have the Benchmark hooked up and sold the BorderPatrol. Turns out, my preferences don't align to perfect measurement... but when you really think about it, I think most people don't. Not a perfect analogy, but I bet everyone here also knows someone who (some what annoyingly) way overuses Instagram filters in their photography. Is that a more accurate representation of the picture? Definitely not. Does it give them some joy / describe a mood / something else emotional the original did not? Likely.

DAC's aren't at all like Speakers, or even Power Amps when it comes to adding flavor to sound systems. 20 years ago, when I was young and impressionable I might have agreed with you, but when the goal is converting 0's and 1's to an analog waveform, measured performance really should be king, imo. If you want to add a sonic signature that you find pleasing to your system I feel like the equipment to do that with are primarily speakers, followed by amps.

Sources, which DAC's are, now that the majority of people are using computer based front end's, should be as clean as possible, and SINAD is one of the best ways to measure that.

I have a Yiggy with a tube pre and a SEP amp with Zu speakers . I like it very much . But honestly , I’ve very little to compare it to . So many people recommend what they like . But only a few have heard a variety and even fewer in THEIR SYSTEM . Search the threads that give a tonal comparison of numerous DAC’s by a single person. Utilize a return policy . But the Schiit Yiggy gives you 15 days . So you’ll have to burn it in for 14 and try to make a decision. Also having a R2R Dac, I leave it powered 24/7. A good buy used would allow a resale without a loss . I very much am Pining for a Border Patrol, but I’ve never heard one . The Chinese stuff at this price pout looks awesome , if you’re ok with buying Chinese . Happy hunting , Mike . 

I've been auditioning a Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ at home (my dealer kindly loaned it to me) and it's fantastic. It's a huge step up up from the Arcam irDAC (v1) I have. Really, I'm surprised how much of a difference it can make. Details resolve that just weren't audible before.

DAC's aren't at all like Speakers, or even Power Amps when it comes to adding flavor to sound systems. 20 years ago, when I was young and impressionable I might have agreed with you, but when the goal is converting 0's and 1's to an analog waveform, measured performance really should be king, imo. If you want to add a sonic signature that you find pleasing to your system I feel like the equipment to do that with are primarily speakers, followed by amps.

Does that thinking translate to cartridges?  After all, they are a source too. It's an analog-to-analog conversion, but to stay logically consistent, why should deviation from accuracy have any place there either?

This is a hobby entirely of personal preferences -- and I assume most people put their enjoyment of music over the accuracy of a given piece of equipment's measurement.  I would never claim the Border Patrol is the most accurate DAC – I 100% trust the measurements that say it is not.  But given I have a Benchmark DAC sitting inches from it, and have put 100s (maybe 1000s?) of hours into listening to both, in same system, I feel pretty confident knowing which one I enjoy more.  For arguments sake, I could even buy someone saying "there's a mental trick/placebo thing going on and you are fooling yourself" and my response would be "OK, maybe you are right... but I'm not looking to cure cancer with this DAC, and if I'm fooling myself into this much pleasure, please don't give me the real medicine if it lowers my enjoyment"

And isn't maximizing enjoyment ultimately the dimension that the OP is most likely aiming for within the $2,500 budget?  

Of course, if the question was "which is the best measuring DAC where I can be happy with the graphs it produces?" then we are having a totally different discussion and I'd only point to the BP as what *not* to do.

Ayre Codex, hands down!