DAC Choices - $5,000 to $7,000

All these DACs will give a different end sound out different systems, as most DACs I’ve heard have a frequency spectrum balance/presentation of their own. One more bottom end, one more top end, one having fuller mids or one having a slight dip in the upper mids/lower treble for smoothness or ‘no fatigue’. So if your system already has a slight beefy low end from preamp, amp or even room, the DAC with slight bit more low end may take you in the wrong direction..
I suppose this is true with every piece in a system...but I feel more DACs should strive to be even and linear, with little to no dips or humps in its frequency response and let us do all our personal ‘coloring’ in preamp, amp or speakers... The only one I’ve seen mentioned to be like this so far is the Mojo, as Grannyring has stated this detail here and similar in the EVO thread.. I’m sure there must be other DACs with this evenhanded approach, right?
I also wish more DACs had a dang vol control. The May comes with vol buttons on the remote that are not functional...yet? Makes me wonder if vol control function will be added to it (or a second edition May) in the future.

@oldschool1948 Ha. For me your comment is a perfect example of the point made by @jriggy

I’ve had both the Directstream and Audio Mirror in my system for extended periods and have come to the exact opposite conclusion.

In the end you just have to hear them in your own system.

I highly recommend the MSB Analog DAC with the separate power supply. Pricey when new, probably in your price range now, used.  I use it with the updated Renderer 2 module.  Sounds great, and handles DSD and MQA, and with the volume control, I no longer use a preamp either (although I know some people like to keep a preamp in the mix).

I hope to be understood right...

When we change an electronic component, amp,dac or speakers, we hear a difference in many aspect of S.Q.

Having said that i can say what i want to say and being understood...

In my actual audio system i dont have the impression that nothing is lacking much and more than that the music sound natural and my impression is that my speakers, dac, and amp. has NO sound of their own, no color, no emphasis on certain range of frequencies, and more important the instrument timbre sound right....

For sure my audio system has his personality so to speak, but when his personnality disapear for me and only the music is there the goal is reached....

The reason for that miracles is not coming from my choice of dac only, or amplifier, or speakers, however good they are; the reason is a rightful mechanical,electrical and acoustical embedding....

Then before throwing too much money in upgrade think about vibration control, decreasing the house noise floor, and controlling the acoustical dimension of your room.... If not, like said an acoustical engineer, no speakers can beat the room anyway; i will add no amplifier and no dac can defeat bad embeddings of the audio system either..

If you want to upgrade it must be for the good reason...

Myself i dont want, it is no more necessary...... :)